The Editor, through a series of questions, obtained the following information regarding Mr Teare’s life and times:-

Eddie was born at the Jane Crookall Maternity Home here in the Isle of Man.
The first six months of his life were spent on a farm at Cronk Ould, Ballaugh, then, the family moved to a farm at Andreas where they lived for 11 years.

Unfortunately his father contracted Weil’s disease, which is a urinary tract disease that is caught from contact with vermin.

It was suspected that his Father may have cut his finger, and then put his hand in some hay that vermin may have been using as home, and become infected.

Eddie remembers his father, deep yellow in colour, being carried out of the farm on a stretcher and being told to say his goodbyes as his father was unlikely to return.
However, much to the Doctor’s amazement, he survived.

In fact he was the first person in the United Kingdom to survive the disease.
Unfortunately his Father was left quite weakened by the disease and forced to give up farming.

The farm specialised in growing early potatoes and one of Eddie’s earliest memories is picking blossom off the potato plants in readiness for the men to come in to pick them – this was in the days when all crop picking was done by hand.

He enjoyed farm life, in particular riding the farm shire horse and, on occasion, the bull that won the Supreme Champion award in the Manx Agricultural Show!

Eddie has one brother, Henry, who is three years his junior.

Henry was a teacher at Castle Rushen but is now retired and, together with his wife, farms sheep.

Eddie has been married to Irene for over 25 years.

They have two children, Steven who is 24 and who is currently studying to be a Quantity Surveyor in Liverpool, and Faye, 22, who is studying to be a Human Bio-scientist at Northumbria University.

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When asked if Eddie would like his son or daughter to follow in his political footsteps, he was quick to respond that he didn’t want his children to follow him anywhere.

Eddie credits Irene with not only being a great support over his time in politics, but also that without her encouragement and giving her wholehearted endorsement; he would never have entered into the political arena.

Eddies’ early education was at Kirk Andreas Primary School followed by Ramsey Grammar School. Funding was not available for him to go to University and, in fact, at the time only 6% of students went on to University.

He did, however, study at home, in his own time, and obtained professional qualifications (A.C.I.B.) via a correspondence course.

Eddie joined the Isle of Man Bank on the 1st March 1965 in their Ramsey Branch.
As was the practice at the time, the Manager lived above the branch and it was usual for the manager to come down from his flat, with his dog in tow, pick up the post, and then return back upstairs for his breakfast and to read his post.

Eddie stayed with the Bank for 36 years until it was taken over by the Royal Bank of Scotland whereupon he took early retirement.
In December 2002 he received a telephone call from Larry Keenan, Advocate, offering him a job, which he accepted and stayed there for 18 months.

At this time Edgar Quine stood down as the Member for Ayre and Eddie received a few telephone calls from people suggesting that he stand. He gave the matter some serious thought, talked it over with his wife, and in June 2004 announced his decision to stand as Member for Ayre.

He then spent four months working on the doorstep - which he found a very interesting and challenging experience.
When asked why he stood for election, Eddie replied that he had enjoyed a super career, and that people tend to think that everything good about the Island will always be there, but he felt it wouldn’t unless there is someone there to make sure it does.

Whilst financially secure, Eddie receives a pension, and could afford to do nothing, he wants to give something back – there is a drive within him to give something back to the people and something back to the Island that has been good to him.