Community
Derry Honoured by King
Mr Kissack has been awarded the British Empire Medal for his outstanding contribution to charitable, cultural and community work on the Isle of Man.
Purple Helmets legend Derry Kissack has picked up a gong in the King’s New Year Honours List.
Mr Kissack has been awarded the British Empire Medal for his outstanding contribution to charitable, cultural and community work on the Isle of Man.
Best known as the MC for the world famous Purple Helmets which he originally formed in the 1990s, Mr Kissack has created a legacy on the island that few would be able to match and entertained people from a cross the world, while always doing so at ‘speeds approaching 100 miles per hour’.
Following an initial event to raise money for a local ambulance charity, he organised annual shows with the Purple Helmets at Onchan Stadium, raising £124,000 for the Southern Motorcycle Club, which enabled the Club to buy 112 acres of land at Cairnagrie and build a clubhouse with rider and family facilities. The Purple Helmets, led by Mr Kissack, went on to entertain thousands of visitors for more than 27 years and raise funds for local charities.
An author of two books about Manx history – his autobiography and one regarding local motorcycle history, Mr Kissack has undertaken many local celebrity appearances, commentating at shows, as well as after dinner speaking and over the years, has raised countless funds in support of local charities, including Breakthrough Breast Cancer, RNLI, Hospice Isle of Man and Cystic Fibrosis Isle of Man.
Other recipients
The other recipients of honours will be featured on Gef across today!
