Major Charles Wilson has been awarded the Isle Of Man Newspapers Lifetime Achievement Award, for services to the Royal British Legion and local charities.

Alongside being current chairman of the island’s RBL, Major Wilson was also an instrumental figure in the development of the island’s Army Cadet Force, having been its honorary Colonel.

When I asked what the award meant to him, Major Wilson said he felt ’absolutely amazing’.

He added: ’What impressed me, as a former intelligence officer, is how all those people managed to keep it a secret. I sat there all night knowing nothing.’

Introducing Major Wilson, Isle of Man Newspapers deputy chairman Trudi Williamson described him as: ’a thoroughly good man, a role model to others, a strong leader, a man of great integrity and an exceptional family man who has volunteered with many local charities and organisations for the past 50 years’.

His community work even extended to fighting to secure free TV license for over 75s, which was passed in a resolution by Tynwald.

A video played which showed tributes from family, friends and a military serviceman - with one who who served under his command saying that ’his soldiers greatly respected him for his leadership qualities and his wisdom’.

In his acceptance speech he paid tribute to his wife Ann, whom he met in a teacher’s mess hall when stationed in Germany.

’He explained: ’Standing at the door was this young lady who couldn’t get inside [The mess].

’And I pompously said "Oh, German locks turn twice, have you not turned it twice?", and I couldn’t get in either!.

’And that was a the start of a 52 year relationship.’

’I’ve dragged her around the world to all sorts of places, and she’s always been there, and she’s always supported me.’

This is also how he came to live in the island, with them having married at St George’s church in Douglas in 1970.

’I was dragged here by a Manxwoman, of course!,’ he said.

Originally from Middleton, near Manchester, Major Wilson told me what he most likes about the island: ’I love mountains and I love hills.

’I most enjoy getting out into the hills and enjoying the beauty of the Isle of Man, we are so lucky to live here.’

This is one of the things he would still like to accomplish in his future, to climb ’a few mountains.

’Whether I shall ever do the Pyrnees mountains from France to Spain again, I don’t know - because I’m getting on!.’

Mr Wilson, who has two daughters, Ealish and Morag, and three granddaughters, told me how one of the highlights of his long military career was when he held the title of ’Desert intelligence officer, British troops Sharjah’, his favourite overseas military deployments was in Oman.

I then asked whether he had noted, as a chairman of the RBL, how the island - which routinely leads the UK in Poppy Appeal donations per capita - seems to have a stronger connection to its military history and its veterans.

’Yes it does, it is quite remarkable the connection here.

’[And] lots of people who have noticed that, from people who come here to live, to visitors, right up to Lieutenant Governors - they realise that the island has this very strong connection with the Armed Forces - and it’s deep, and it’s real, and it works’.

When asked what the most fulfilling part of his service and community work has been, he said: ’Very difficult to say.

’As I said on stage, I’ve had a portfolio career - which means I’ve done all sorts of bits and pieces’.

’And I have enjoyed everything that I have done so much.

’If I look back on my career, I don’t think there’s anything that I can say: "Well I didn’t enjoy that too much".