Ellen (Cissy) O’Brien and Inkerman Faragher remember life in the Douglas Children's Home, Laura Briggs recalls a frightening incident during World War II, Charlie Webster and Geoff Cannell recall the first days of TT broadcasting in the mid 1960's and Leslie Garrett recalls his childhood living on the Calf of Man.

The heyday of tourism is remembered here too - with stories of the success of Cunningham's Camp, and reversing the fortunes of the failing the Falcon Cliff Hotel.

And in the world of education, Mrs Annie McArd shares her memories of teaching table manners to the youngsters in Marown School between the wars - and Laurie Davies recalls a most unusual Christmas carol choir practice!

Louise Quirk talks with Captain Corteen in 1971 as the Lady of Mann made a farewell trip to the Calf of Man before leaving the Isle of Man for good.

Historian Peter Kelly talks to David Callister about the very early days of the Gaiety Theatre - and we get a first taste of electronic music from the Sulby Phantom Band!

And it's not just the interviews that are vintage - listen out for some vintage advertisements too!

Leslie Bannan was an energetic young salesman between the two Wars, keen to get his drapery business off the ground - and he paints a vivid picture of rural life, and selling textiles to the farming community, in conversation with John Kennaugh

And Tom Cowell is in his beloved Baldwin Valley - taking a walk round the village and chatting with Charles Webster.

Then we go North to Ballaugh - where a young Laura Briggs spent 4 years as a member of the Manx Women's Land Army during the Second World War - but this isn't a straightforward tale of farm life - there's recreation, rioting, and recruiting too!

And we meet husband and wife Kenny and Connie Brew - who remember a very different Ballaugh village to the one we know today - cart tracks instead of a road between the two churches, and no less than EIGHT shops in the village - and then there's the story of Connie's brush with The Law .... !!

And listen out for a 1970's Manx Radio jingle, and a vintage advertisement too!

Plus - two very different poems - one by Patsy Everett and another by Ronnie Fell - offer snapshots of Island life

Born in 1924 and 1922 respectively, they both spent the majority of the childhood in the Children's Home in Douglas, following the death of their parents. Here they share memories of their childhood, including being film extras on George Formby's 'No Limit' and meeting the star himself.

There are stories of their experiences during the Second World War, and they reminisce about their working life which, for Inkerman, meant 40 years in the world of politics, including many years as a Councillor in various Douglas Wards, and a year as the Mayor of Douglas. Cissy had a full working life, but also managed to raise a family of 7 children.

A potted history of the TT Races - from journalist and race commentator Geoff Cannell, teaches us that, in its early days, it didn't involve bikes at all, and even when the bikes did join in, the race was never about speed!

Manx Radio's first Managing Director, John Grierson, explains the mysterious means by which the first race commentaries were broadcast, and there's interviews with race veteran Stanley Woods, and Formula 1 racing car and motorbike champion John Surtees.

David Mylchreest talks about the years he spent doing one of the most sought-after tasks in the TT Festival - driving the Roads Open car - a task he took over from his father Brian, in 1977.

And finally - one of the most original and entertaining additions to any TT Festival was the arrival of the Purple Helmets. In this extended interview, recorded in 2007, Purple Helmet Jim Davidson tells David Callister how they came into being - and other stories!

Johnny Gelling shares stories of marshalling at the Highlander in his native Crosby

Felix Gale explains how he built up a flourishing camping business in Glen Wyllin

Politician Jack Nivison discusses how the Island's road surfaces were improved - and how it affected the road racing!

The 1966 Junior TT made racing history - but why? The answers are here!

And doesn't everyone dream of travelling (or even driving) the Roads Open car?

Brian Mylchreest explains to David Callister why HE wanted the job - and reveals that it's not always as straightforward as it looks ....

And finally there's a word puzzle for you to solve ..... who might have said "It's not easy to join and it's even harder to leave" ?

You can hear the voice in this programme - but to find out the name of the speaker (and other things he said), you'll need to listen to PART TWO of The TT Archive Room, due to air on 13 June 2024 and podcasted soon after transmission.

Leslie Garrett (born in 1932) reflects on the years his Father was Steward on The Calf of Man. Although he was just over 3 years old when they went there (in approx 1936) and he was around 7 when they left, he has cherished memories,  and a collection of great stories from that time - including dealing with a horse with severe wind, being creative during food shortages, and Dad delivering two of his siblings!  There's even a very beautiful lullaby too! 

And in case you've been puzzling over our 'mystery voice' at the end of each programme in this series - I can tell you now that it's JOHN GRIERSON - one of the founders of Manx Radio and our first Station Manager.  As the station celebrates its 60th Anniversary in Summer 2024, I'm sure there'll be a lot more from Mr Grierson in future visits to The Archive Room!
 

Then Evelyn Fraser and Robert Hendry put us 'on track' for next week's programme ..... they have transport stories to share - and Episode 6 of The Archive Room - the last in the present series -  will be packed with funny and fascinating stories told by the people who travelled on, or worked on, the railways in the days when they were the Island's lifeline.

Jack Cannell (father of the legendary TT Commentator Geoff Cannell) was on hand to give expert advice - and more!!  Jack Ward was only a schoolboy at the time,  but remembers how the special effects were done, and Bob Wilkinson - a cinema manager at the time - played an important part in recruiting 'extras' for the film,  and recalls the enduring popularity of the film on the Island.

George Formby himself talks about starting out in film making - and Formby's co-star, Florence Desmond, has some mixed memories of her time working on the film!

Next week's programme will include a selection of stories on a variety of topics, told by Donald Gelling - and there'll be more stories from Arthur and Hector later in the series.