An appeal has been made for volunteers to meet and greet visitors at Port Erin.

There is already a group of volunteers who welcome visitors arriving by train and bus, but more are required during the Island at War event on August 18 and 19.

Period 1940s dress is optional but if worn will help evoke an interesting phase in the village’s history when it served as an internment camp for thousands from Germany, Austria and Italy.

’There is often a lot of interest about when Port Erin was an internment camp,’ said volunteer Sylvia Constantine.

’Thanks to the work of Rushen Heritage Trust, we are well equipped to answer questions.’

At other times, in general volunteers point out the facilities, and share their own passion for Port Erin.

Meet and Greet was set up five years ago by the Port Erin Traders’ Association.

Maps of Port Erin and leaflets with self-guided walks provide information and history for visitors.

To keep it fair, volunteers are asked not to recommend one specific cafe or establishment, but point visitors in the general direction.

Sylvia said: ’After five years of meeting and greeting many of the team have seen the reactions of visitors.

’First-time visitors are often amazed that the island has so much more to offer than just the TT.

’Returning visitors say how much they love Port Erin and the whole island.’

She added: ’One of our team met an elderly couple, who said when they were courting and on holiday with their parents in Lancashire, they sneaked off to the Isle of Man for the day. While here, he proposed, and they bought the ring from a shop in Douglas.

’This was their first visit back to the island some 60 years later, their only disappointment was that the jeweller’s shop was no longer there.

’We often encounter visitors who are returning for the first time in many years, but 60 years has to be the longest gap between visits.’

To volunteer, contact Sylvia on [email protected] or Judy on [email protected].