A book written by Manx descendants from around the globe has been presented to the Manx Museum.

First-time visitor to the island Anthony Callow, from Costa Rica, presented a two-volume book giving accounts into his family history called ’A Book of Callows from Lezayre’.

The book is the combined studies of four Manx descendants: Nigel Crowe from the island, Lois Ralph from America, Bruce Callow from Australia, Andy Barnes from England and George Callow from Canada - who is Anthony’s grandfather.

They have together traced the family line from 1616 to the present.

George Callow, whose parents were from the Isle of Man, compiled and edited the book as well as contributing his own research.

The process took more than 30 years.

His grandson, who studies business administration at the Costa Rican Institute of Technology, said: ’My grandfather’s idea was to record the histories for the benefit of people living abroad who are losing contact with the Isle of Man, and go back in history as far as possible.

’I found the whole concept of the book in general very interesting. What impressed me the most were some of the detailed war stories and seeing the progression of the lives of my ancestors. I believe that the work my grandfather and many others did can be beneficial to the Manx Museum and anyone interested in genealogy or the history of the island.’

He added that visiting his ancestors’ home for the first time was ’really a nice and fun experience’.

’Being born and raised as a Canadian and Costa Rican, it was fun to learn about a different culture and history that is part of my heritage and I didn’t know much about.’