A NEW set of stamps commemorating the life of popular entertainer Robin Gibb, who died in May last year, is being launched shortly by the Isle of Man Post Office.
In conjunction with this, the Post Office is also making an appeal for Bee Gees memorabilia and in particular items relating to his early life when the family lived at 50 St Catherine’s Drive in Douglas during the 1950s.
Dot Tilbury of the Post Office’s philatelic bureau said the idea came about when she heard about Robin Gibb making a music album which was to be called 50 St Catherine’s Drive.
‘Out of all of the Bee Gees I think Robin held the Isle of Man closest in his heart so we approached the family and they were delighted about the issue of stamps,’ she said.
The stamps are to be officially launched on April 24 although the album which inspired them will not be released until the autumn.
As part of the launch, the Post Office is trying to amass as much memorabilia as they can commemorating one of its more famous citizens of recent years.
Mrs Tilbury said: ‘I’m sure there are some people who remember the Gibbs living in their home on the island at 50 St Catherine’s Drive in the early 1950s.
‘We would love to find any photographs from this time which would add an extra something special to this stamp issue and hear first-hand memories from this bygone time.
‘If you have something to contribute, please contact us.’
If anyone has any cine film or any othe memorabilia in addition to photographs taken in or around the house in St Catherine’s Drive in the 1950s, they should get in touch.
Robin Gibb’s parents Hugh and Barbara moved to the Isle of Man in 1946 and lived at St Catherine’s Drive from the late 1940s. Twins Robin and Maurice were born in 1949 while the family lived there.
The family later moved to Spring Valley before then relocating to Chapel House at the Strang, then Snaefell Road in Willaston.
Barry went to Braddan School in September 1951, then Tynwald Street infants and when he was seven to Demesne Road School.
The family left the Isle of Man in 1955 when the twins were five and moved to Manchester.
Barry and Maurice returned to the Isle of Man in the mid-1970s, after a spell in Australia. Anyone who can help with the appeal for photographs and memorabilia of Robin Gibb should contact Lucy Webster-Thompson on 698492 or email {mailto:lucy.webster-thompson@iompost.com|lucy.webster-thompson(at)iompost.com}.
