- Gerald Campbell, for the past years, has proved to be an asset to our community. Gerald plays accordion, harmonica and is famous for singing may traditional songs. His favorite songs include; "The Sweet Forget Me-Not", "The Young Indian Lass", "The Track to Knob Lake", "Irish Patty" and "The Emigrant from Newfoundland". Gerald is a great performer, and is especially known for his knowledge of Irish music and song. He has performed at numerous local concerts, Newfoundland Festivals and, also, at the Mariposa Festival which was held in Center Island. Center Island is found near Toronto, Ontario. Gerald received his musical ability from his father, Henry, who was, without a doubt, one of the finest singers in the area.
- *The words to "Emigrant from Newfoundland" can be seen under the link to "Local Literature".
- The O'Rourke Family, (Ernestine, Rosemary, Patricia, Gloria, Ross, Carl, Mike and Rube) received their musical talent from their father, Ernest, who played accordion and sang, and from their mother, Madonna (Pittman), who played the organ and sang, as well. The O'Rourke's, in the past, have played, as a band, throughout the area and at Folk Festivals across the island. They have released only one recording, entitled "Fishing Time". The title song was composed by Ernestine O'Rourke. Ernestine, too, has composed another popular song call "Boy by my Side", which was inspired by the Newfoundland fish moratorium.
- *The words to "Fishing Time" can be seen under the link to "Local Literature".
- Rudolph J. Nash is a retired RCMP officer and was, also, a member of the Newfoundland Constabulary. Rudolph, in addition, participated in some of the early boat races at the famous St. John's Regatta. He instituted the first municipal council on the Cape Shore in 1966 and was, also, responsible for the construction of the local swimming pool, community council building, nursing station, fish wharf and the fish gear sheds. Rudolph, too, was the area's mailman and was known for his hard work and dedication to any job he took on.
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Celine Power Kear was born in Branch and is a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas School. She was the first outport student to win both the Junior Jubilee Scholarship for highest marks in the provincial public exams in Grade X and the Governor General’s Medal for a similar feat in Grade X1. After graduation with a BA from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a double major in French and history, she received an MA in French studies from Laval University in Quebec, graduating cum laude. She is fluently bilingual. She has taught at three universities including Memorial and is presently a part-time lecturer at the University of Winnipeg. Her area of interest is 19th century French literature and the role of women in the development of the novel. She is very active in the history and heritage community of Winnipeg where she has lived for many years. She served as president of the Manitoba Historical Society 1996-98 and is presently serving a two- year term 2004-2006 as president of Heritage Winnipeg. She is past president of the Jane Austen Society of North America.( JASNA CANADA). Celine has never lost her affection for Newfoundland and spends her summers with her husband Allen in a 150 year old house in an historic preservation area of St. John’s . She also maintains her membership in the Newfoundland Historical Society.
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- Katherine Ellen (Linehan) Nash, wife of Rudolph Nash, was the principal of the community school, St. Thomas Aquinas, for many years. For a major part of her teaching career Catherine taught all subjects in grades 9 - 11. She was often recognized for the success of her students with letters from the Registra of Education after public exam marks were released each year in August. In these letters, the Registra would commend Catherine on her hard work and dedication to the cause of education in the community of Branch. In the days when the tiny three room schools, where very few communities boasted about the percentages of of graduates from high school, Branch was always rated among the top performing schools in the province. This honor was widely attributed to the dedication and patience of Mrs. Catherine Nash, Many of Catherine's students have gone on to receive college and university education's and to pursue successful careers.
- Katherine E. (Mooney) Lynch, although growing up in an isolated, rural village in the early 1900's, proved successful as a nurse and physiotherapist in many Newfoundland and Nova Scotia hospitals. Also, Mrs. Lynch had a beautiful style of writing that became known and loved throughout the area. Some of her most loved poems are "Rock in the Cliff" and "Nostalgia for a Newfoundland Village".
- *"Nostalgia for a Newfoundland Village" can be seen under the link to "Local Literature".
- Leonard Power, son of Neil and Rose Power, was born and raised in Branch, St. Mary's Bay, April 1942. He, also, attended school in Branch and was taught by Mrs. Catherine Nash. After finishing school in Branch, he found accommodation in a St. John's boarding house owned by a member of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC). While working as an orderly, he often got to talking with members of the RNC when they accompanied injured people to the emergency room. In 1962, he took a job with the Iron Ore Company of Canada in Labrador City, but when he heard about openings at the RNC, he applied. The rest, as they say, is history. Power has been on the force since January 1964, and has been the RNC's chief of police for the last four years. Power, though growing up in a small, rural village, such as Branch, has made a wonderful life for himself and his spouse
- *Taken from the "Evening Telegram" from an interview with Pam Frampton.
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- Mr. John Joe English was born in Branch in 1896. He was well known on the Cape Shore as a first class carpenter and boat builder, having supervised the building and renovation of practically every church in the parish, including the church's in Point Lance and St. Bride's. Mr. John Joe English will always be remembered, furthermore, as a great entertainer. "Lobster Salad" and "The Census" are but a few of the many recitations ha has given at parish functions and folk festivals around the island. Moreover, John Joe has always been a great parish worker. In his youth he organized many plays and concerts and was always one of the principal performers . Up until the last years of his life, he was always willing to perform at parish concerts and was a favorite performer at folk festivals around the island.
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