YOUTH and community adviser Mike Clague will retire this month after 46 years in education.

Mike was born in Douglas in 1945 and went to Murray’s Road School, Ballakermeen High School and Douglas High School for Boys.

His career in education burgeoned despite the fact that, as a trainee teacher in Nottingham in 1964, he set fire to a science laboratory while cutting phosphorous to burn in oxygen.

Mike said: "No-one had told me that it had to be cut under water. There was a very different attitude to health and safety in the 60s!"

After qualifying as a teacher, Mike taught at schools in Worksop, where he met his wife, Liz. They married in 1976.

He later taught science at Hungerhill Middle School in Doncaster, at the same time studying for a BA degree through the Open University.

Mike’s interest in youth work stemmed from joining the 10th Douglas Scout Troop as a boy at Ballakermeen, where he was inspired by teachers/scout leaders Jack Gair and John Timson. He gained the Queen’s Scout Award and represented the Island at the World Jamboree in Greece in 1963.

"John asked me to help him run the 8th Douglas Cub Pack and I agreed," Mike said. "Within weeks he announced that he was leaving the Island and that I would be taking over as leader, which was news to me. I survived the ordeal and enjoyed it."

While teaching off-Island Mike was first a scout leader and then an assistant district commissioner in Worksop. He started his first Duke of Edinburgh’s Award unit in 1968 and has been involved with the ‘wonderful scheme’ ever since.

Mike only applied for the post of youth and community officer with the then Board of Education in 1982 to gain some interview experience and have a weekend back on his native Island. To his surprise he was appointed and he and Liz moved to live in Kirk Michael.

Mike remembers his first day at the office. He said: "As a science teacher, I was used to arriving early at work to get the lab ready and dutifully arrived at Government Office at 8.30am only to find it locked. I returned at 8.45am with no luck. At 8.55am a caretaker unlocked the doors and I found my way to the Education Office, where I waited. A colleague arrived at 9am and greeted me warmly with: 'You must be Mr Clague. Very pleased to see you. That’s your office over there'.

"So ended my induction to the Civil Service and I’ve been making it up ever since!"

Mike was promoted, first to assistant education officer and later youth and community adviser. In his time in the job, the number of people the Youth Service works with has trebled to more than 3,000 a week.

He said: "It’s been a genuine pleasure working with so many people who are committed to improving the lives of youngsters, supporting them and offering them opportunities to have fun.

"Youth work relies on the building up of positive relationships between adults and young people and the Island should be proud of the hundreds of people who work tirelessly each week in youth clubs and projects, often with little recognition.

"I get frustrated when I hear the cry 'there’s nothing for young people to do on the Isle of Man'. I suggest that they try living in rural Lincolnshire or Cumbria, or any 221 square miles in the surrounding islands, and compare what’s available. The number of sports clubs and facilities here is amazing. Arts-related activities such as theatre, music and dance are all readily accessed. Uniformed youth organisations such as Girlguiding, Scouts, St John Ambulance and the pre-service Cadet Units are really successful and, added to all this, we have a fantastic and safe environment in which young people can create their own opportunities to have fun."

Mike recalled how a ceiling collapse during a holiday venture scheme in 1984 led to the first work towards what is now the impressive multi-purpose Douglas Youth Centre in Kensington Road.

"There are plans to develop the building into a Youth Arts Centre for the Island, which is certainly appropriate for what was the old School of Art," he said.

"Eary Cushlin and Ardwhallan are the two outdoor centres managed by the Youth Service and it has been great to have been part of the team seeing them both develop.

"I’ve really enjoyed the variety of work. I’ve had responsibility at various times for lettings, primary PE, the Millennium netball and soccer tournaments, primary school swimming, including the Dolphin Galas, helping to arrange Royal visits, outdoor education, the Library Service and the Careers Guidance Service.

"The Family Library in Westmoreland Road has been transformed into a vibrant, happy place. Everyone who goes in for the first time says 'Wow – I had no idea!' and I’d recommend anyone with children to call in. Likewise, the Mobile Library has expanded its services and is a great help to lots of housebound customers as well as those in care homes and our more isolated communities."

Mike has represented the Department of Education and Children and its predecessors on both the Isle of Man Arts Council and the Sports Council (now Isle of Man Sport) for 17 years – ironic, he thinks, as his sporting achievements are limited to an appearance for an Island representative hockey XI and a reserve medal at badminton, while his art teacher wrote on his report: ‘Michael tries hard but has no artistic ability.’

He helped establish the Prince’s Trust locally in 1986 and was applications secretary until last year. He is a trustee of the Golden Jubilee Trust.

Mike enjoys walking (he is a qualified mountain leader) and photography but his main interest is magic, particularly studying its history – something he hopes to have more time to do following his retirement.

He is secretary of the Magicians of Mann and started the Young Magicians of Mann in 1987. They go from strength to strength, entertaining at public shows and in schools.

Mike said: "Whenever someone said in a work meeting 'I don’t have a magic wand', I was able to offer them one!"

He concluded: "The department has a small team at St George’s Court, working their socks off to support schools, the College and the community, and I’m proud to have been part of it. I’d like to thank everyone for their support over the years, allowing me – in the words of our Youth Service motto – to enjoy 'taking fun seriously'."

Minister for Education and Children Eddie Teare MHK said: "Mike is a quiet, unassuming individual who has devoted a lifetime to the development of children, especially on the Island. We will all be very sorry to see him leave the department but, after 46 years in education, I think that he has earned his retirement. My thanks and best wishes go to Mike and Liz for a long and happy retirement."