Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference
ROBERT EDWARD (EDDIE) CUBBON: born in Peel, Isle of Man, on 18th June 1907. He was the eldest of three children whose father was a shoemaker and Local Preacher of some note on the Peel Primitive Methodist Circuit. Eddie remained proud of his Manx Primitive Methodist roots. He was educated at the Peel Clothworkers School until the age of fourteen, though he returned to its night school for a year as well as spending a year at Cliff College. In 1927 he was accepted for the Primitive Methodist ministry and entered Hartley College.
His circuit ministry began in 1930 at Northwich, followed by a further two probationary years in the Berwick Circuit. Here at Eyemouth, so much like his native Peel, he met Ena and they were married in 1934. Ena was the perfect balance to Eddie, and they had sixty-six years together, with one daughter, Christine. Eddie was ordained at the Leicester Conference of 1934. He was then stationed at Warminster in the Trowbridge and Bradford Circuit, followed by Audley in the Talke Circuit. Whilst at Audley the war broke out, and Eddie first joined the Local Defence Volunteers and then in 1941 he joined up as an Army Chaplain. In his book, Methodist, Mad, and Married, he recalled his experiences in England, India and Burma. He nearly died of typhus fever but his great strength and faith brought him through, though he suffered to the end of his life, especially with his hearing.
His peacetime circuits were Croydon, Liverpool (North), Linacre Mission and Southport. At Linacre he was known for his open-air dockside meetings, where he relished arguing the case for the gospel, but he also succeeded in showing its relevance in practical care. His retirement brought him back to the Isle of Man, firstly as an Active Supernumerary at Laxey, and then to his native Peel.
In 1974 along with others he established the Mariners’ Choir, which still holds the popular Mariners’ Services throughout the island. He was chaplain and still continued to care for his former comrades in the Burma Star Association, and from 1984 to 1991 he served as Chaplain to the House of Keys, the Manx Parliament. In 1992 he was awarded the MBE for services to the community.
Following the death of Ena in 2000, he was cared for in the Corrin Home as his hearing and sight deteriorated. In his book he looked forward to ‘a glorious reunion with a happy band of brothers’, many of whom would owe their place in the kingdom to the ministry of this tough little Manxman. Following a short illness he died on 23″ August 2003 in the ninety-seventh year of his age and the seventy-third year of his ministry.
Family
Eddie was born on 18 June 1907 at Peel, Isle of Man, to parents William, a boot and shoemaker, and Edith.
He married Alexandrina (Ena) Gibson Dougal (1909-2000) in August 1934 at Eyemouth, Berwickshire.
Eddie died on 23 August 2003 on the Isle of Man.
Circuits
- Hartley
- 1930 Northwich
- 1932 Eyemouth
- 1834 Trowbridge & Bradford
- 1937 Talke
- 1941 Chaplain H.M. Forces
- 1946 Croydon
- 1950 Liverpool N
- 1954 Liverpool Linacre
- 1968 Southport
- 1961 Douglas (Sup)
References
Methodist Minutes 2004/27
W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990
Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers
Comments about this page
As someone christened by Eddie over 70 years ago imagine my delight at finding this information about him although sad that’s it’s an obituary. I’m especially interested in finding/buying a copy of his book, Methodist, Mad, and Married. I hope copies are still available.
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