’He was a Manxman through and through, and everybody thought the world of him.’

That’s according to John ’Dog’ Callister, speaking following the sudden death of Kirk Michael man Roy Kennaugh.

Friends and family have paid moving and heartfelt tributes to Roy, 68, a stalwart member of the Manx community, who died suddenly on Thursday.

He was an energetic and enthusiastic member of many societies, groups, cultural movements and activities, and has been described as a dedicated, born-and-bred Kirk Michael man who played an integral role in much of the village’s daily life.

’He was a real village man at heart,’ said his brother, Doug. ’He was very pro-Kirk Michael. He was a parish commissioner for many years, and was instrumental in setting up the Michael Heritage Trust.’

Other friends and colleagues have been quick to highlight the great many varied interests and groups that Roy was a pivotal member of, from the local to the international.

Life-long friend and fellow Michael man John ’Dog’ said that he was well-known and a very popular man: ’He was a great guy. You won’t find a soul who would have a bad word to say about Roy. Everyone knew him, and everyone liked him.

’He took a lot on, and gave himself a lot of responsibilities, which is funny as I always knew him to be good quality ’traa dy liooar’, and being very laid back about things.

’But he was committed and you could rely on him,’ said John, who had worked closely with Roy in helping to preserve the spoken and written Manx dialect, both in dialect groups and with the performance of dialect plays with the Michael Players.

oie’ll verree

’He was heavily involved in organising the Oie’ll Verree at the moment, and always more than prepared to take things on when no one else would.

’But he did it inconspicuously. It was never about him, and he never put himself first, always others.’

Along with his many local activities, Roy was a central member of the Mannin Branch of the Celtic League, and the Manx Nationalist movement Mec Vannin, and was also the secretary of the Manx branch of the Celtic Congress.

’Roy was due to speak at the Illiam Dhone ceremony next week, and I will be paying tribute to him then,’ said Bernard Moffatt.

’He was a very active member of the nationalist movement. He really built a lot of links between the Manx cultural and nationalist-interested groups, which can be quite factional.

’Roy’s great strength was that he was able to see through each individual faction and look towards what we all had in common with each other, and where the strands of each elements of the Manx cause could work together.’

He brought together elements of Mec Vannin, the Celtic League and the Celtic Congress, along with Culture Vannin to organise the centenary celebrations of the death of the Manx cultural activist Sophia Morrison, which involved a concert and a series of lectures in January this year.

’There was a great enthusiasm about him,’ said Bernard. ’He was invaluable on the Inter-Celtic scene. He organised a very successful Celtic League AGM in Peel this year, which involved delegates from all six Celtic nations. It was one of the best meetings we had enjoyed in a long time, and it was all down to Roy.’

Roy was a retired teacher, who had taught Biology and Environmental science at Castle Rushen High School and the Isle of Man College. Born in 1949 to parents Louis and Anna (nee Barron), the former Ramsey Grammar School pupil studied Biology at Leeds University before taking a research post at Salford University. He remained teaching in Manchester, before returning home to the island, and Kirk Michael in 1990.

He lived in Rhen Cullen, and his house was instantly recognisable by the flag flying in the front garden.

’He was very opinionated, and he took a lot of pride in standing up for the underdog and what he saw as oppressed people,’ said John ’Dog’. ’He has a flag pole in his garden, and he would often fly the flags in support of various causes.

’At the moment he has the Catalonian flag flying at his house. He has had all sorts of flags flying there in the past.'

One of Roy’s most passionate interests was the Oie’ll Verree concert, which is due to take place next week. Although it is organised by the Michael Heritage trust, Mike Clague, from the trust, said that it really was Roy’s project.

’It was firmly Roy’s baby, so to speak,’ said Mike. ’Roy’s family have said that they want it to go ahead, and we’ll make sure it will.’

All Roy’s friends and colleagues point to the shock of his death, and said he was always known to be fit and healthy, and could be regularly seen walking in the hills around Michael.

He was even pictured in the pages of last week’s Manx Independent, taking part in the Cammag and sharing a hip flask with his companions.

’He was so active,’ said Sue Woolley, a former journalist who was also a good friend.

’He had that quality that people liked and instantly warmed to, and he had the ability to bring people together. If Roy was involved in something you just knew that everything would be OK.

’He took a great interest in people, he was very kind-hearted and was universally liked.’

Roy leaves a wife Sheila, and children Shauna, Lorna and Alastair, brothers Doug and Alec and sister Dora.