President of Tynwald, Laurence Skelly, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the King’s 2026 New Year Honours.
The award recognises his “long and distinguished service to the Isle of Man”.
Beyond his parliamentary duties, Mr Skelly is honoured for significant contributions to Manx culture, heritage, and community life.
As former Chair of the Isle of Man Arts Council and later as the political member for community, culture and the arts, he championed the island’s creative sector and Manx language education.
His work emphasised “investment in young people, the preservation of heritage, cultural unity and support for vulnerable individuals and communities”.
As Minister for Enterprise from 2014 to 2021, he led economic initiatives and served as a senior minister during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Skelly’s extensive community involvement includes over 30 years as a Rotarian and roles as a founding trustee of the Rushen Heritage Trust.
He also served as President of the North American Manx Association, promoting Manx culture and economic opportunities internationally.