A man whose life was interwoven with the community in Castletown has died at the age of 73.

Tony Kennaugh even learned how to swim so he could enter the town’s famous tin bath championships (he always boasted about coming 8th in the world one year!).

Born in December 1944, at Southview, Ballamodha, the family moved to 59 Malew Street in 1952.

childhood

He spent most of his childhood at his grandmother’s farm at Ballachrink - with sister Barbara pushing him down the hill in an old pram or riding around on the front or back of his father Walter’s push bike.

He went to Ballasalla and Victoria Road schools and then Castle Rushen High School.

His early career involved helping Fred Faragher with the early Castletown Football Club lottery -’Fred’s fiddle’.

He had a varied career at Castletown Commissioners, Ronaldsway Shoe Company, in haulage and freight with Edmundsons Ronagency and Lancaster and Kelly, latterly at AXA Isle of Man (running the tuck shop) and at the Nautical Museum, telling tall tales to unsuspecting tourists.

In 1967, while working at Ronaldsway Aircraft company he met Marian Tuff, from Lancashire. They married in 1969, but never moved far, ending up down the road at 110 Malew Street. They had daughters Suzanne and Caroline in 1975 and 1979 and grandson Charlie in 2013.

He was fully involved in town life. He was the youngest-ever chairman of Castletown Commissioners in 1973. Highlights of the role included meeting the Queen.

He was a founder member of Castletown Ale Drinkers, raising thousands of pounds for charity.

He was also the longest ever serving chairman of Castletown Football Club, remaining a lifelong member and trustee.

Tony loved sport. Although he would have loved to have been a player himself, he was not much of a sportsman. He was more an armchair fan, in particular of football.

Fun

He was an ardent supporter of Manchester United and Preston North End and encouraged Charlie to follow in his footsteps as a Manchester United fan.

Well-known around the town for walking his dogs, pootling on his bike and latterly on his mobility scooter, he was always ready for a chat, a joke and a bit of cheek.

His daughters remember him as being full of fun, ready to play games and go on adventures. He loved his holidays, frequently visiting the same resort in Menorca where he would play on water slides and race the local kids.

He joined in with the locals, despite not speaking a word of Spanish, and ended up great friends with the local barman.

One of his traditions was to always buy his girls a bag of penny sweets on a Sunday and even when they both went to university he would still post them a 20p mix of sweets.

Family and friends remember his huge heart and silly jokes.