{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Island Influencer Howard Parkin","description":"Welcome to today\u2019s episode of Island Influencers, my guest this week is Howard Parkin, astronomer, teacher and director of the Manx Retirement Association. Howard has been an astronomer most of his life, inspired by the \u201cSpace race\u201d back in the 60s, he has been an avid astronomer and space enthusiast ever since. For many years Howard has been giving talks and lectures on the subject in the Isle of Man, the UK and abroad. The Manx Retirement Association was formed in 1998; it is a volunteer charitable organisation that has grown steadily. Howard and the team aim to provide a comprehensive range of social and cultural activities for the benefit and enjoyment of retired residents (couples and singles) on the Isle of Man. Howard shares many fascinating stories with Sharon, including how we literally took the Isle of Man into space.&amp;nbsp; Here's this week\u2019s conversation with Howard Parkin\u200b in episode 30 of Island Influencers. ","author_name":"Island Influencers","author_url":"https:\/\/www.thorntonfs.com\/podcasts\/","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/16443671\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/item\/16443671"}