[1] He learned Manx by visiting the elderly native speakers around the Island, who in turn introduced him to the small community of Manx language enthusiasts that included figures such as Walter Clarke, Doug Fargher, and Charles Craine.
[2] He achieved a high standard of Manx and has been described as "one of the most enthusiastic and talented linguists of his generation.
[3] He had a keen interest in horticulture, botany, ornithology, and astronomy and during his lifetime was considered an authority on "all things Manx".
[1] He was known for having a beautifully maintained garden where wild birds would come "to his hand to be fed.
[4] His collection of stories based on his own experiences, as well as a lifetime of research, was published by Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh in 1976.