150 years of democracy celebrated in schools

Speaker of the House of Keys now at St Ninnian's High School

Newly minted 50 pence coins are being dished out to students across the Island this week to mark the 150th Anniversary of Manx democracy.

35,000 have been minted to celebrate the first popular election to the House of Keys in 1867 - MHKs are handing them to pupils in their constituency schools.

They show crowds waiting to hear the election results outside the Old Courthouse on Atholl Street between the 2nd and 5th April.

Students at St Ninnian's High School in Douglas are being presented with theirs today (Wed) by Speaker of the House of Keys, Juan Watterson MHK.

Manx Radio talked to him before he made a speech on the gravity of the occasion: