Manx RNLI volunteer appointed MBE for 50 years of service

A man who has been saving lives at sea for more than half a century on the Isle of Man is "made up" to be recognised in the New Year Honours.

James 'Mike' Keggen, coxswain at Port St Mary RNLI, has been made an MBE.

Mr Keggen said the honour had made him reflect on his RNLI career, "the lives saved and the families kept together" with "pride".

Doctor John Keith Daniels and Scout Association Isle of Man commissioner Guy Thompson have also received MBEs.

The annual honours also recognised Derry Kissack, founder of a comedic motorbike stunt team the Purple Helmets, who has been awarded the British Empire Medal.

Meanwhile, semi-retired teacher Elizabeth Bankes-Jones has received a Lieutenant Governor's Commendation.

During 20 years of volunteering, Mr Thompson has been dedicated to securing funding for equipment and training, such as the reconstruction of a climbing wall, for the island's 700 scouts.

Working with the island's educational special needs units, he has also created four rainbow scout groups in Manx schools to offer scouting experiences to children with complex needs.

He said he was "gobsmacked" to be given the honour and would strive to make sure Manx scouts continued to have "many, many opportunities".

Dr Daniels, a GP at Palatine Group Practice from 1990 to 2022, has been honoured for outstanding services to primary care.

He was the Isle of Man's first GP postgraduate tutor and also worked as an independent advisor to Manx Care - the island's arms-length healthcare provider created two years ago.

As commentator of the Purple Helmets Mr Kissack helped to entertain thousands of locals and visitors for more than 27 years, while raising funds for local charities.

He said: "I'd get quite emotional, I'd look around at a packed Onchan Stadium and think 'these people are laughing at us', I was so chuffed to be part of it all".

"I'm honoured and surprised, I'm sort of floating on air a bit, I just hope I'm worthy of the award," he added.

In 2005, following a pen pal project, Ms Bankes-Jones set up a charity, School for Uganda [S4U], which raised money to buy land to build a senior school.

Although S4U is being wound down, proceeds of the charity have been awarded to CALM Africa which promotes the rights of young people, so it's "legacy will continue", she said.

Ms Bankes-Jones said the "buzz" of seeing pupils learn about the similarities and differences of "real children, in real situations" had been the driving force behind her work.

Since 1994, James 'Mike' Keggen has crewed 140 rescues, come to the aid of 124 people and saved 13 lives with the RNLI, set to celebrate its 200th anniversary on 4 March.

Chief executive of the national lifesaving organisation, Mark Dowie, said it was "particularly poignant to see recognition for our longest standing seagoing crewmember in the Isle of Man, where our founder Sir William Hillary came from".

Mr Keggen said he was "very honoured and made up to be thought of for the award".

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