Christopher R. Shimmin

Christopher R. Shimmin
Christopher R. Shimmin MHK
Born	September 1870 Peel, Isle of Man
Died	9 January 1933(1933-01-09) Peel, Isle of Man
Occupation	Monumental mason
Nationality	Manx
Period	Victorian, Edwardian
Genre	Plays, stories
Subject	Manx Culture
Literary movement	Anglo-Manx

Christopher R. Shimmin (1870–1933), Manx playwright and MHK.

Christopher Robert Shimmin was born in Peel in September 1870, the eldest son of Robert Donald Shimmin and Eleanor Brew Shimmin. He was an apprentice sailmaker in his grandfather's business before moving to work in England. He emigrated to the USA and there suffered unemployment in c.1895-6. After a period working as a seaman, Shimmin eventually returned to Peel and started his own business as a monumental mason.

In 1919 he was elected as a Member of the House of Keys for Peel as a member of the Manx Labour Party. He was an active and dedicated member of the Labour Party, the president of its Manx wing, often travelling to Britain for meetings and conferences. He served as an MHK until his death at his home at 23 Mona Street, Peel, on 9 January 1933, leaving behind him £3,300 in his will. At the first meeting of the House of Keys after his death, W. P. Clucas eulogised that Shimmin had "lived an unselfish life of service, and his real feelings and character were a burning hatred of injustice wherever met." In the subsequant election for his vacant seat in the House of Keys, his wife Marion Shimmin was voted in, making her the first woman member to be returned to the House of Keys.

He was president of the Manx Society (1924–25), an amateur actor with The Peel Players, a "brother" of The Independent Order of Rechabites (an (alcohol) abstinence Friendly Society), and author of a number of plays and stories in Manx dialect, as well as of an outline of Manx history.

"Luss ny Graih" by Mr. Christopher R. Shimmin, of Peel, secured 270 marks (out of 300), but his play exceeded the word limit and was therefore ruled out for a first prize. On the recommendation of the judges, however, the Manx Language Society gave a prize of £10 to "Luss ny Graih." It is an extremely clever play, with an amusing plot. It will be acted by the Peel Players during the present winter, and the words will be found in the present number of Mannin.