The post office has released a set of stamps to commemorate Manx singer/songwriter Barry Gibb, the last surviving member of The Bee Gees.

Sir Barry, who was born in 1946 in the Jane Crookall Maternity Home, said: ’I’m very proud of my Manx roots.

’I was born and bred on the ancient, mystical, magical Isle of Man, and I have very fond memories of growing up there, so to appear on a set of its stamps is not only a wonderful surprise, but also an honour and a privilege.’

He lived in the island until 1955, when his family, including the two other Bee Gees brothers Maurice and Robin, relocated to Manchester and then Australia in 1958 before returning to the UK in 1967.

As co-founder and creative leader of The Bee Gees, the group recorded 22 studio albums and contributed to numerous film soundtracks, including Saturday Night Fever and Grease (Sir Barry wrote the title song performed by Frankie Valli).

The Bee Gees have sold more than 200 million albums to date.

They had dozens of worldwide hit singles that featured their singular and highly influential three-part harmonies, including ’To Love Somebody’, ’Jive Talkin’, ’How Deep Is Your Love’, ’Night Fever’, ’Stayin’ Alive’, ’How Can You Mend A Broken Heart’, ’I Started A Joke’, ’Lonely Days’, ’Words’ and ’You Win Again’.

Sir Barry also had success writing, producing and recording for other artists, notably with Barbra Streisand and the album ’Guilty’, Dionne Warwick with ’Heartbreaker’, Diana Ross and ’Chain Reaction’ and the classic ’Islands In The Stream’ for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.

With nine number one singles as a performer, Sir Barry is also amongst the most successful songwriters of all-time (with sixteen number one singles) and is seventh on the list of most successful producers (with fourteen number singles).

He is also tied with John Lennon and Paul McCartney for most number one singles in a calendar year with seven.

The title of sir Barry’s latest album ’Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook Vol 1’ - a collection of duets of Bee Gees’ classics with some of country music’s biggest names - is inspired by the island.

The lyrics: ’Green fields where we used to wander, Purple valleys, Near my home.

’We would play there, Beneath the sky, Then I kissed you Butterfly.’ are a reference to the fields near to where he grew up in the island.

At the request of Sir Barry this stamp issue will help to raise awareness for Nordoff Robbins, a charity dedicated to investigating the impact that music therapy can have for those affected by life-limiting illness, isolation or disability.

The seven stamps depict Sir Barry through various stages of his career, from the 1969 filming of the Bee Gees TV Special Cucumber Castle, the filming of the Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band film in 1977, to playing at the Glastonbury festival in 2017.

People can find more information at: www.iompost.com/stamps-coins/collection/sir-barry-gibb-singer-songwriter-producer/.