Bertram Kelly
Encyclopedia
Bertram George Kelly was born in Douglas
, on the Isle of Man
, and is credited with bringing electricity
to the Island.
sea-faring family on January 4, 1884. His mother was Margaret Quirk and his father was Captain James Kelly. Captain Kelly was a master mariner
who changed careers later in life to become manager of Southend-on-Sea
Pier, Pavilion and Electric Tramways in 1887. Following this appointment, Captain Kelly moved his family to England
.
Bertram Kelly was educated at Southend High School for Boys
and Walton College before studying electrical engineering at the Royal Technical College, Glasgow
. After finishing his education, Kelly took up electric lighting posts with Midland Railway
, London County Council
and Hornsey
Borough Council. While in London
, he was known as a hugely active member of the London Manx Society.
Bertram Kelly returned to the Isle of Man
in 1920, where he was appointed chief assistant engineer to the Manx Electric Railway
. Two years later, in 1922, he was appointed as the first Douglas
Borough Electrical Engineer – the year the Douglas Corporation Light and Power Act completed its passage through Tynwald
. This enabled him to supervise the building of the North Quay power station.
priest
, he became vicar
of Kirk Braddan
, on the Isle of Man, in 1950. He served the parish
for the next 14 years, until he retired for the second time in 1964. Part of his duties involved taking the huge Open Air Church Services outside Kirk Braddan each Sunday during the summer, a task he adored.
Bertram Kelly married Douglas-born Daisy Christian at Dhoon Church, near Laxey
, in 1911. The marriage produced three daughters, twins Sybil Marjorie and Joan Christian in 1912 and Monica Joyce in 1917. He died in 1976, at the age of 92.
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
, on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
, and is credited with bringing electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
to the Island.
Early life
Bertram Kelly was born into a ManxManx people
The Manx are an ethnic group coming from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea in northern Europe. They are often described as a Celtic people, though they have had a mixed background including Norse and English influences....
sea-faring family on January 4, 1884. His mother was Margaret Quirk and his father was Captain James Kelly. Captain Kelly was a master mariner
Master mariner
A Master Mariner or MM is the professional qualification required for someone to serve as the person in charge or person in command of a commercial vessel. In England, the term Master Mariner has been in use at least since the 13th century, reflecting the fact that in guild or livery company terms,...
who changed careers later in life to become manager of Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea is a unitary authority area, town, and seaside resort in Essex, England. The district has Borough status, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, North Shoebury, Prittlewell, Shoeburyness, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay, and Westcliff-on-Sea. The district is situated...
Pier, Pavilion and Electric Tramways in 1887. Following this appointment, Captain Kelly moved his family to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Bertram Kelly was educated at Southend High School for Boys
Southend High School for Boys
Southend High School for Boys, also known by its acronym SHSB, is a selective secondary Academy Grammar school along Prittlewell Chase in Prittlewell, in the north-west of Southend-on-Sea, England, south-west of the roundabout of the A127 and A1159...
and Walton College before studying electrical engineering at the Royal Technical College, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. After finishing his education, Kelly took up electric lighting posts with Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
, London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
and Hornsey
Hornsey
Hornsey is a district in London Borough of Haringey in north London in England. Whilst Hornsey was formerly the name of a parish and later a municipal borough of Middlesex, today, the name refers only to the London district. It is an inner-suburban area located north of Charing Cross.-Locale:The ...
Borough Council. While in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he was known as a hugely active member of the London Manx Society.
Bringing electric light to the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
in 1920, where he was appointed chief assistant engineer to the Manx Electric Railway
Manx Electric Railway
The Manx Electric Railway is an electric inter-urban tramway connecting Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey in the Isle of Man. It connects with the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway at its southern terminus at Derby Castle at the northern end of the promenade in Douglas, and with the Snaefell Mountain Railway at...
. Two years later, in 1922, he was appointed as the first Douglas
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
Borough Electrical Engineer – the year the Douglas Corporation Light and Power Act completed its passage through Tynwald
Tynwald
The Tynwald , or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, consisting of the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council.The Houses sit jointly, for...
. This enabled him to supervise the building of the North Quay power station.
Church career
After retiring from the highly technical environment of Douglas Corporation Electricity Department, Kelly sought out a second career – this time in the church. After being ordained as a Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, he became vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Kirk Braddan
Braddan
Braddan is an elongated parish in the sheading of Middle in the Isle of Man, stretching from the parishes of Michael and Lezayre in the north, bordering on the parishes of German, Marown and Onchan in the middle and bordering on Santon in the south....
, on the Isle of Man, in 1950. He served the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
for the next 14 years, until he retired for the second time in 1964. Part of his duties involved taking the huge Open Air Church Services outside Kirk Braddan each Sunday during the summer, a task he adored.
Personal life
Laxey
Laxey is a village on the east coast of the Isle of Man. Its name derives from the Old Norse Laxa meaning 'Salmon River'.The village lies on the A2, the main Douglas to Ramsey road. Laxey Glen is one of the Manx National Glens, with Dhoon Glen being located close by...
, in 1911. The marriage produced three daughters, twins Sybil Marjorie and Joan Christian in 1912 and Monica Joyce in 1917. He died in 1976, at the age of 92.