The Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society (IOMNHAS) winter series of presentations continues on Saturday with current society head Frank Cowin FRICS giving his presidential address at 2.30pm in the lecture theatre at the Manx Museum in Douglas.
Frank Cowin FRICS giving his presidential address at 2.30pm in the lecture theatre at the Manx Museum in Douglas.
Mr Cowin has for more than 50 years been actively involved with presenting talks and publications related to the island’s historical past, an interest which he developed from his upbringing in Douglas and winning a scholarship to King William’s College.
He has been a member of many historical societies in the island, including the Manx Victorian Society, the Manx Family History Society, the Manx Philatelic Society and the Manx Methodist Historical Society.
He also co-operated with Gordon Kniveton in producing the books in the Manx Experience series, including the encyclopaedic Here Is The News volume produced in connection with Manx Radio broadcasts narrated by Terry Cringle. He also undertook much of the background research for the Manx Philatelic Society’s Manx Year Book.
Frank has been a member of the IOMNHAS for over 50 years, and the past year has been the third time that he has he’d the role of president of the society.
He was acting secretary in the society’s centennial year in 1979 (also, of course, the year of the island’s millennium of Tynwald celebrations) and among other activities he arranged three public lectures by distinguished scholars from off the island. He was also the author of a number of historical papers in the society’s proceedings.
From the 1960s he took part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme in the island, becoming a leader and assessor for the scheme, and he also had a long association with the Ard Whallian youth centre in West Baldwin.
He is also a co-ordinator of the island’s blue-badge guides, making arrangements for when tourist parties and academic groups visit the Isle of Man and himself introducing many parties of visitors to the island’s sites of interest and unique heritage.
His presidential address promises to be a magical mystery tour of fascinating facts which he has summarised as follows: an opportunity for a second visit to update past talks, articles and activities and to consider works still in progress; where over time further information has come to light; which areas of research need further examination, and which projects have so far failed to come to a satisfactory conclusion; some of his main areas of interest, such as industrial archaeology, buildings and maritime history; there will no doubt be some stories from IoMNHAS-based events.
The lecture will be followed by the serving of tea, coffee and biscuits.
The following day (Sunday) will see the rearranged IOMNHAS excursion to the Point of Ayre gravel pits to see winter waders, with those taking part meeting at Bride village car park at 10.40am or Island Aggregates’ car park (map reference NX 465 040) at 11am. The outing will be led by Stephen Smyth and Sean Gray and will be a joint one with the Manx Ornithological Society.
Next month the IOMNHAS winter programme will continue with Dr Rachel J Crellin speaking on ‘Violent Times? Use-wear analysis of weapons from the later Bronze Age on the isle of Man’ on Saturday, March 5, and th society’s annual general meeting on Saturday, March 19, will be followed by Dave Martin BSc talking on ‘LiDAR and other digital archaeology on the Island’. Both of these lectures will again take place in the Manx Museum lecture theatre, beginning at 2.30pm.