The next lecture in the Isle of Man College’s History & Heritage lecture series takes place on Wednesday 9 March, when Stacey Astill will be talking about invention and creativity in European prison camps during WWII.

POW memoir literature speaks extensively of creativity and invention within camps. Prisoners lacked many of the objects they would possess in their civilian lives, and this lead to the reinvention of items such as stoves and heaters. A grandfather clock was created from KLIM tins, a pair of scissors and springs from a major’s helmet; radios were made from anything that could be found, sometimes even held together with candle wax; and beautiful artworks were produced with highly limited resources. Often such items were created out of necessity, but the creation and invention of objects also help prisoners to stave off boredom and could be used as a coping strategy to help them deal with the difficult way of life in the camps.

Stacey’s lecture, “Canaries and KLIM Tins: Invention and Creativity in European Prison Camps, 1939-1945”, will take place in the Lecture Theatre at Elmwood House at 6pm on Wednesday 9th March. All are welcome, and no booking is required. Parking for the lecture is at Thie Ushtey (off Greenfield Road).

Stacey is currently studying for a PhD at the University of Liverpool and is an Associate Tutor of the University of Chester. Stacey teaches on the undergraduate degree in History & Heritage at the Isle of Man College. In September 2015, Stacey became the first living recipient to be awarded the title of Manx Bard.

The History & Heritage lecture series showcases new research in history and heritage, both on the Isle of Man and further afield. Further details about the lecture series can be found online at http://catrionamackie.net/lectures/. 

The first lecture in the series, by Dr Sue Nicol on Manx youth delinquency in the nineteenth century, is now available to view online.

Photo - “A sketch by Manx POW - David Gray. Curtesy of Ivor Ramsden, and the Museum of the Manx Regiment”.