How a chance meeting between two Manx teachers in Africa led to love and a Fairtrade phenomenon

It was a chance meeting of two Manxies some 4,000 miles from home.

Margerat and Malcolm Newton first met in Tanzania in the 1970s.

Both were working as teachers on the other side of the country when they came into contact with each other.

They quickly fell in love and returned to the Isle of Man, where they eventually married in 1981, a marriage that later produced four children.

But despite trading their African adventure for the island’s more familiar climate, the couple never forgot what they had seen.

During their time in Tanzania, they saw first-hand the hardships and hardships faced by the people there.

According to Margerat, they lacked even the most basic services and struggled to access education, depriving them of the means to care for their families and improve their circumstances.

What was perhaps even more shocking was how little local farmers, food and craft producers were paid for their crops and products – a financial disparity that sent ripples through the local economy.

At home, both Margerat and Malcolm were determined to do their part to change things.

Armed with tenacity and a little time, they became early adopters of the Fairtrade movement.

The scheme is a global initiative designed to promote fair trade practices and ensure that producers in developing countries receive a fair amount for their goods.

Furthermore, it seeks to address imbalances in traditional trade, where small-scale farmers, artisans and workers are often underpaid and exploited.

In Margerat and Malcolm’s case, they started small, buying quantities of Fairtrade tea and coffee, which they sold from the front room of their family home in Douglas.

Each product carried the Fairtrade movement’s guarantee that all workers involved in making these products had been paid a fair wage for their efforts.

Margerat said: ‘When I came back I heard about a group called Trade Craft, which was set up in 1978 to import goods to us from third world countries.

‘A fair price was paid for the goods.

“So the people who had plantations paid their workers the right money.

‘I had drunk this coffee in Tanzania, and here it was imported into England by Trade Craft. That’s actually how it started.’

Thanks largely to word of mouth, Newton’s fair trade efforts quickly grew from their front room.

The couple had to transform their small shop into a special event at the Cooill Methodist Church Hall on the outskirts of Douglas.

Incredibly, this event has occurred every October half-term for the past four decades.

Over the decades, supporters have gathered in the venue to enjoy hot lunches and good company.

And the Newton family still sells a huge range of products from their Fairtrade stall at every event.

All products come from different Fairtrade suppliers, ensuring the goods they sell are ethical and humane.

The products now range from tea and coffee to ornaments and Christmas gifts.

Since Malcolm Newton’s death five years ago, the couple’s daughters, Kathryn and Rebekah, have become more involved in the event.

Kathryn said: “The event is still run as a non-profit organization, but my sister and I have become increasingly involved, especially since we lost our father.

‘I now do a large part of the orders.

“I’m really excited about some great things this year that we haven’t had before.

‘It’s a huge amount of work, but the concept of fair trade is as important now as it ever was and it’s a lovely start to Christmas shopping for some people!’

Over the years, the events have also raised money directly for various charities.

This year. all funds raised will be shared between The Corals and Pearls Hostels Trust, Transforming Lives For Good, Transforming Trade – three organizations helping individuals and communities in the developing world.

Despite the creation of the movement, Margerat said the success of the event would not have been possible without the help of a number of volunteers, supporters, friends and family, for which she expressed her sincere gratitude.

* This year the event will take place from Thursday, October 31 to Saturday, November 2. The stall is open every day between 10am and 6.30pm in the Cooill Methodist Church Hall. Hot lunches are available daily from 12pm to 2pm.