Since the original posting below the grave has been refurbished by T E Cubbon Limited and extra research and information has been given to us by Rebecca Preston. We are vey grateful to Rebecca for the extra insights and photographs which are shown below.
A write up for the Callister Family Grave
Douglas Borough Council Cemetery Plot
The images referred to are all attached rather than in the text
A double plot, enclosed with a large Pooil Vaaish slate headstone, the main inscriptions on a single piece across both grave areas and two further smaller headstones standing either side of the main headstone. Inscriptions designed by Archibald Knox for William Callister and his immediate family members on their passing.
William (II) Callister was the eldest child of William Callister and Margaret Knox (sister of William Knox) and first cousin to Archibald Knox.
Jane Christian Callister
Wife of William Callister, Onchan
Died 24th April 1925 Aged 67 years
Dearly loved
William Callister J.P.
Schoolmaster
Beloved Husband of JC Callister
Born 13th March 1857 Died 23rd October 1943
The remaining inscriptions and the headstone are those for three of their five children:
Robert Henry Callister, Eleanor Quayle Callister and Marion Quayle Humphreys (nee Callister) with their associated spouses.
In loving memory of Beatrice Emma
Beloved Wife of Robert H Callister
Died Jan 6th 1954 Aged 71 years
Also the above named
Robert Henry Callister
Who died March 13th 1957 Aged 73 years
Eleanor Quayle Callister
Beloved daughter of William and Jane Callister
Died 24th March 1955 Aged 69 years
Joseph Tennant Humphreys
Dearly loved Husband of Marion Humphreys
Killed in Franc August 25th 1917 Aged 30 years
Interred in Coxyde Cemetry
Marion Quayle Humphreys
Beloved wife of the above and daughter of WC & JC Callister
Died August 9th 1933 Aged 45 years.
The headstone was designed by Archibald Knox and carved by the stonemasons Quayle.
Family photograph from abt 1900 – 1905 (Onchan)
From left to right (front row), Robert Henry, Jane Christian, William (II) and Eleanor Quayle
(back row), Harold John, Marion Quayle and William (III) Callister.
Archibald was a common and frequent presence in the Callister family home, his cousin William and other family members having close relationships with him. Recollections of this time have been recorded in personal letters written by Beatrice Risley Bell (nee Callister) William’s granddaughter describing in her correspondence about this period she writes
“We were brought up in the era when little girls were seen and not heard, not included in grown up conversations like children are now. I can remember Archie Knox coming to the ‘Rowans’ the schoolhouse to see Granddad and Grandma Callister.”
“I can remember Archibald Knox, a small dapper man, always in tweed, tweed hat and long auburn hair to shoulders and a beard, he always addressed Grandma Callister as ‘Mistress’ and all other ladies – the perfect gentleman – an unmistakable figure from far away.”
This family closeness can also be seen visually in the illuminated Testimonial commissioned of Knox and signed by the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of Keys and several local dignitaries including the Captain of the Parish and local Member of the House of Keys which was presented to William Callister on the event of his retirement in 1923 after 43 years of being Headmaster of Onchan School.
The centre piece of the testimonial is a small watercolour of Onchan School at the time.
In 1964 this illuminated address was donated by William Callister’s granddaughter, Beatrice to the Manx Museum and is often seen on display in the main art gallery of the Manx Museum. It was also listed in the exhibition catalogue as being a part of the 1999 Summer Exhibition of the Manx Museum “Archibald Knox – The Man behind the Art”.
About this piece she recalls in her personal correspondence that “Archie Knox, granddads cousin – always reckoned it to be labour of love and his best work”.
William Callister and Beatrice
Risley Callister (Onchan 1939)
Printed copy taken from the original testimonial held in family records.
In addition to his long career in education, William was highly regarded for his contributions to the village of Onchan and the island, saving a young child’s life from downing at the village pond (in 1895), and in his later role as a Justice of the Peace. This is summarised in an entry in the Isle of Man Who’s Who from 1938.
William Callister J.P (Onchan)
Clerk to the village commissioners since creation in 1896 to 1929; a headmaster of Onchan Elementary school for 43 years out of 48 years as a Manx Headmaster.
Born 1857 at Peel; received his education and qualifications as a scholar and student of the Peel Mathematical and Clothworkers’ Schools.
A member for 12 years of the Onchan Voluntary Poor Relief Board; one of the Committee of four responsible for building the Village Hall. Has been Hon. Secretary of numerous local village and parish movements, the latest being the Onchan War Memorial.
Holds the Royal Humane’s Society Medal for life-saving.
Was made a Justice of the Peace in 1925.
Is a captioning Authority, and has been a member of the Licensing Appeal Court since 1926.
On William Callisters’ passing in 1943, his granddaughter Beatrice recalls “Granddad was wonderful – they don’t come like that nowadays. I remember his funeral, the WHOLE village menfolk walked behind the hearse almost like Royalty, he had taught them all in his long career in Onchan.”
The grave has recently passed into the responsibility of William Callister’s Great Great Granddaughter, Rebecca Jane Preston (nee Bell) who has undertaken some recent cleaning and restoration of the headstone and grave area to aid in the preservation of these beautiful inscriptions. Originally the headstones would have had gold gilding (as noted in original family photographs) and the prospect of including this is currently in discussion with restoration specialists.
Another Callister family gravestone designed by Archibald Knox includes that of William (III) Callister who tragically drowned with his young son (William) after looking for crabs off Onchan Harbour in 1918. He was buried at St John the Divine Church in Lytham a location close to the area where his body was recovered from the sea.
