A lawyer with links to the island has gone south, very far south.

Andrew Dawson, 57, is the new head of legal services in the Falkland Islands.

His well-known father, Harry Dawson, 86, a retired head teacher, still lives in Cregneash in the house in which he was born.

His late mother Shirley was from St John’s.

In his new role Mr Dawson, who reports to the Falklands’ attorney general, heads a team providing legal advice to the Falkland Islands government and also to the government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

The team includes the islands’ prosecution service and child protection legal adviser. It has the responsibility to advise on a varied range of other public law, land law, contract and commercial matters.

Mr Dawson, who most recently had a legal practice in Cheshire where he was also a Conservative councillor, will also be called upon to deputise for the attorney general as and when required.

As part of his political life in Cheshire, he has represented the United Kingdom on the Council of Europe’s Congress of Regional and Local Authorities.

One of the areas of work he championed was that of minority languages, often addressing the congress in Manx when highlighting the importance of preserving linguistic diversity.

He said his eligibility and suitability for his new role ’are due in no short measure to the experiences I have gained being a councillor and from his Manx family’.

’There are strong links between the Falklands and the Isle of Man,’ he said. ’Leaving aside the weather there are many people, including many Manxmen and women, who have lived and worked in both locations.

’Also you need a particular mentality to enjoy and thrive as an islander. You need to be resilient and self-sufficient for a start. Then there is the love of the sea. I never tire of watching it.’

One of the most prominent wrecks in Stanley harbour is the Lady Liz, once registered in Castletown, which has featured on Manx stamps.

He points to another Manx - Falklands link with Stanley, the port and capital named after the same Stanley family who were once Kings and then Lords of Mann.

Andrew met and married Dianne in Frodsham, Cheshire, 30 years ago. Their wedding service was conducted in both English and Manx and the Three Legs flew over St Laurence church.