An Edwardian silver presentation cup, Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. Ltd., London, 1906

The inscription reads:

'Presented to His Excellency The Right Hon^ble Lord Raglan C.B. Lieut. Governor of The Isle of Man and the Lady Raglan by friends in Castletown and District on the occasion of their silver wedding. Castle Rushen. Feb 28th 1908'

George Somerset, 3rd Baron Raglan (18 September 1857 – 24 October 1921), soldier and Conservative politician, was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was Under-Secretary of State for War from 1900 to 1902 and served as Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man from 1902 to 1919. Although his term of office on the island, especially his involvement in Manx politics, was sometimes controversial, he was personally popular. Lord Raglan’s marriage to Lady Ethel Jemima (8 April 1857 – 22 June 1940), daughter of Walter Ponsonby, 7th Earl of Bessborough, took place on 28 February 1883. They had six children.

‘Lord and Lady Raglan celebrate their silver wedding on the 28^th inst., and the people of the Isle of Man intend to sown their appreciation of the kindness and courtesy of the Lieutenant-Governor and his wife, and of their readiness to help in all movement for the advancement and welfare of the residents of the island, by making a presentation to them on the occasion.’(The Daily Telegraph, London, Thursday, 13 February 1908, p. 12g)

‘Lord and Lady Raglan, for whom the little Man Island is getting up a presentation on their silver wedding, on the 28th inst., have made themselves extremely popular at Government House. Lord Raglan is a splendid type of the bluff English gentleman, and when he was in the Guards he used to be known as “Old Honesty.” otherwise “Chaux.” he is a magnificent shot, who has had great experience at big game in India. He never wears a frock-coat when he can help it, nor, for the matter of that, a collar-stud; and if he were searched at any given moment, two or three old briar-pipes would of a certainly be found on him. Lady Raglan is one of the Ponsonbys – a sister of Lord Bessborough. It will be in the recollection of a good many people that at the time of the Coronation [in 1902] she invented a novel and ingenious method of raising money for charity, for she clad herself in her full robes, and gave receptions from five to seven for the benefit of a cottage hospital.’ (The Sketch, London, Wednesday, 19 February 1908, p. 171b)