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Fascinating Lectures at the Manx Museum 10 November 2005 Manx National Heritage are currently holding a range of fascinating and informative lectures at the Manx Museum over the winter season. The first two lectures in the series, which took place during October, were a great success and the next opportunity to attend one will be on Friday 18th November when Andrew Johnson, curator of archaeology for Manx National Heritage, will be presenting ‘Where Man and Mountain Meet’, a lecture centred on his fascination for mountains and in particular his interest in the mountains of Pakistan. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start and admission is free. Andrew said: “My enduring professional interest lies in the human exploitation of upland areas, in the archaeological remains that this generates, and in the long-term effect such exploitation has on the landscape. There is nowhere here on the Isle of Man that can be referred to as a truly natural landscape: it is all the product of human activity, even the heather-covered hilltops.” Andrew has walked and climbed extensively on the Island, in the Lake District and in various parts of Scotland including winter climbing in Glen Coe and the rocky Cuillin Ridge on Skye. Ten years ago he decided to broaden his horizons by visiting the western end of the Himalaya - known as the Karakoram, which lies in northern Pakistan - and this was the beginning of an association which has now seen him complete four high altitude trekking holidays to the area. Andrew continued: “Despite the Karakoram including some of the highest and steepest mountains in the world, they are not simply the playground of mountaineers intent on climbing some near-unattainable pinnacle that no-one has heard of. The attraction for me has been the opportunity to go to wild and little-visited places, but in getting there you find yourself travelling through areas where the process of occupying or farming a landscape becomes an increasingly difficult struggle. It’s been an interesting experience to apply an archaeological eye to this process and to see how much, or how little, people have been able to change such a wild and extreme landscape: there are clear similarities in how mountain landscapes on opposite sides of the world have been, or still are, exploited.” Andrew hopes to be able to emphasise these parallels on Friday evening, as well as providing the opportunity to show how people live amongst some truly spectacular mountain scenery on the other side of the world. With topics such as this, ‘Where Man and Mountain Meet’ promises to be an absorbing evening and is just one of many lectures to be held at the Manx Museum over the coming months. Future lectures in the Manx National Heritage winter programme will be covering a range of interesting topics. With the recent opening of the ‘True Glory: Manxmen at Sea in the Age of Trafalgar’ exhibition at the Manx Museum, there are a number of Nautical-themed lectures taking place. ‘Life in Nelson’s Navy’, an illustrated lecture by Nick Slope, President of the Nelson Society, is to be held on 9th December at 7.30pm. A public lecture will also take place on 13th January at 7.30pm; entitled ‘Damnation to the Captain’ where Frank Cowin will talk on events in the lives of Captains William Bligh and John Quilliam. In addition to lectures, Manx National Heritage will be hosting a number of other events at the Manx Museum this winter. ‘Giense Y Nollick – A Manx Christmas Celebration’ is to be held on the 16th December and will be a night of superb festive musical entertainment. Tickets will be available from the Manx Museum priced at £3.00, with all proceeds going to Age Concern. A Film Night is to be presented on 17th February, with a screening of the 1933 film ‘Say it with Flowers,’ including an excerpt by Florrie Forde. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. The final lecture during the winter season will be presented by Professor Trevor Norton. Entitled ‘We do like to be beside the Seaside’, the lecture will be held on 10th March and promises to be an intriguing depiction of the history of the seaside. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. The Manx Museum is part of the award-winning ‘ Story of Mann’ and is open Monday to Saturday from10am to 5pm. It remains open throughout the winter season excluding Christmas Day, Boxing and New Year’s Days. ENDS Issued: 10th November 2005 10th November 2005 More stories >>>
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