Described as a tireless supporter of the protection and preservation of the architectural heritage of the island, Peter Kelly MBE was finally awarded with the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan prize, reports Mike Wade.

In a delayed ceremony, caused by the January lockdown, Peter was awarded with the impressive trophy and handed his medal by Chris Thomas MHK, chairman of Culture Vannin, who administer the award, on stage at the Baillie Scott-designed Onchan parish hall in front of a small audience of family members.

Peter was named as the 2021 recipient of the RBV in recognition of more than 60 years of self-driven study and research in to the architectural history of the Isle of Man and also his efforts to share his knowledge and to make others aware of the built heritage around them, through holding talks and tours, his many books, his articles and columns in many different magazines, newspapers and journals and on radio and television.

He founded the Isle of Man Victorian Society in 1975 and is an acknowledged authority on the work of the Victorian architect Ballie Scott, who designed many key and iconic buildings around the island.

After spending more than 60 years engrossed in the island’s architecture and heritage, he joked on receiving the award that maybe people were trying to tell him something.

’It was rather concerning when I was told it was an award for life time achievement,’ said Peter.

’It made me think do some people know something that I don’t!

’It is a privilege and an honour, though, to be named as the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan, Manannan’s choice of the year and I am happy to receive it.

’I am pleased in the sense that, in the history of the RBV award, there have been 33 recipients, with a the majority of them being related to Manx language, dancing, music and so on.

’I am glad that the assessors looked in a broader way towards cultural heritage because obviously what has been built in the past is still around , which I think is still important.

’What is equally important is that such heritage is emphasised and the people have regard to it.

’Otherwise, if bit by bit things are demolished and disappear, then one day we’ll get up and there is nothing.’

Peter’s long interest in Victorian architecture and his subsequent forming of various conservation groups and societies to help protect and preserve, demonstrate his great sense of self-determination.

Such a drive was evident in his early years, after he taught himself the history of architecture while still at school.

He was initially inspired to find out more about the built environment when he visited the Manx Museum as a boy.

’My interest in Manx history stems from the age of nine and my I began my interest in buildings at the age of 12,’ he said.

’I saw a sign at the Manx Museum once - it’s not there any more - that children under the age of 12 must not be admitted unless they are with an adult.

’And so, In 1960, when I just turned 12, the museum had an exhibition, which was the about the Isle of Man 50 years ago, which took you back to 1910. Basically it was a series of Edwardian postcards.

’The exhibition was on the lower floor and next to that was the library. I went in, and there wasn’t a soul there, just myself and the librarian.

’I picked up a book and it turned out to be an old directory for the Isle of Man and I noticed in the Onchan section that I recognised a lot of the properties as still standing. That piqued my interest and it built up from there.

’Equally, when I was at secondary school, I got special permission from the head to drop Latin and take up art, which was a subject I liked and enjoyed and was reasonably proficient at.

’The art GCE exam, as it was then, was partly about painting and drawing, and also the history of architecture, which set me on a more detailed approach.

’However, after a term, the master who was teaching me left the school, so I decided to carry on by myself.

’I got the books from the library and made my own notes for two years and passed the exam.’

A visit by a Victorian society from the UK in the early 1970s opened Peter’s eyes to the amount of valuable Victorian architecture around him, which led him to forming the Isle of Man Victorian Society in 1975.

’Before that time, there was the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society, which was the only such group around then and that covered digging fossils and other items. Then the Manx conservation council came into being in 1973, which gave a broader aspect to the idea of conservation.

’The Isle of Man Victorian society resulted when a UK Victorian society came over to the island.

’One way or another, they got put in touch with me and I ended up organising their trip and, as we went round with them, I would be talking about a grand building or church.

’They would be asking me "what’s this?"

’I would answer, for example "well, that’s just the Barrack Street Mission Hall".

’That made me realise that what we had here was of great interest and importance.

’We had no Blitz here and there has been no other event that would have caused all of our great Victorian buildings to disappear.

’Ironically, since then, a lot of these buildings have been pulled down.

’Parts of the promenade have gone which, when I started the Victorian Society in 1976, were still all there, untouched.

’It is man that has damaged it, nothing else.’

Despite being able to talk at great length about most of the aspects of architectural history, Peter said he finds it difficult to choose a building that he could call his favourite.

’I get asked that question a lot and I probably answer "I don’t know" each time.

’I think that the Castle Mona, while not Victorian, is extremely important and in one sense I am pleased to see they have pulled away the 1960 extension. However I am worried about what will happen to the rest of it.

’ Of course, Baillie Scott features highly with his buildings.

’There are a number of them, but I wouldn’t want to say, for example "Ivydene is better than Oakley", as he applied a different approach to them.

’The village hall in Onchan has to feature high on my list as it is in Onchan if nothing else.

’I couldn’t answer what is my favourite building as they all have something special about them.’