The Lieutenant Governor and Lady Gozney hosted a reception on at Government House to celebrate the award of an MBE to Ivor Ramsden.

Mr Ramsden was made a Member of the British Empire in recognition of his services over the last 25 years to Manx heritage and tourism through his establishment of the Manx Aviation and Military Museum in Castletown.

The museum has a ’Certificate of Excellence’ from Trip Advisor and has been placed No 1 of the 120 attractions in the Isle of Man on its website.

The Lieutenant Governor highlighted Mr Ramsden’s work, noting that he has put together the displays and conserved and catalogued 9,000 items in the museum’s collection.

A message of congratulations was read out from Air Marshal Sir Ian Macfadyen, a former Lieutenant Governor who remains an active patron of the Manx Aviation and Military Museum.

Mr Ramsden acknowledged the support of his fellow volunteers and their families.

Mr Ramsden highlighted the people who had inspired him, all of whom were guests at the event: Hector Duff; Leonard Stanway; and, his own daughter, Rachel.

Mr Ramsden will formally receive his MBE at Buckingham Palace in February.