This year’s Reih Bleeaney Vannanan - the Isle of Man’s most prestigious cultural award - has been awarded to Nigel Crowe.

Named after the sea god Manannan, this annual award is made to an individual or group who has made the greatest contribution to the island’s culture.

It is the Isle of Man’s highest cultural honour, awarded by Culture Vannin, and decided by a selection panel which is made up of representatives from Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh, Yn Chruinnaght, Manx National Heritage, IOM Arts Council and Culture Vannin itself.

The winner of the award receives a donation of £500 and is invited to name a Manx cultural cause which will receive an additional donation of £500 from Culture Vannin.

Recipients are also entitled to use the letters RBV after their name.

The panel of assessors singled out Nigel’s long involvement with the Isle of Man Family History Society, the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society, and the Manx Music Festival, noting that, without his work and enthusiasm, our understanding of the Isle of Man would be all the poorer.

His generosity in sharing his scholarship in relation to genealogy, land records and historical landscape was also recognised.

Nominations described Nigel as the ’quintessential Manx scholar with a prodigious insight and memory’ who always showed great willingness to share information, reasoning and an understanding of his sources with enquirers around the world.

They talked of his ’deep love of the land itself, from walking over it for as long as he has been able, his head packed with information on the names and histories of people and places to share with his companions.’

Brought up in the East Baldwin Valley, Nigel developed an interest in Manx history and family history in his teens, earning his living as a researcher for some time after his A levels.

He created the manxroots.com website in 2004 to share research into Manx records.

His professional life concentrated on the built environment, estate management, and work as a chartered surveyor, and he is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Nigel is also known for having a very fine voice, someone who has performed as a singer and public speaker at countless Young Farmers contests, eisteddfods, and as a ’Special Bass’ in the Guild - Manx Music Festival - itself.

The presentation was made at a meeting of the Family History Society, and Nigel nominated the Manx Y-DNA Study as the recipient for a donation of £500 linked to the award.

Words from one of the many nominations summed his remarkable contribution up best: ’Everything Nigel does is with passion for matters Manx, and a passion to gather and spread knowledge.

’The island is culturally richer for Nigel’s diverse contributions.’