Trustees and staff of Manx National Heritage were sad to learn of the death of Martin Moore MBE.
Martin was a Trustee of the Manx Museum and National Trust and closely involved with our Heritage Conservation Charity for over 30 years. He began in the early 1980s as the representative of the Baume Trustees who had made a major donation of John Miller Nicholson’s paintings to the National Art Collection. Martin became Chairman of the Trust in 2002 and continued in that role until 2012.
During his time serving the Trust, Martin supported many significant developments including the new extension to the Manx Museum, opened by HM Queen Elizabeth in 1989; the complete restoration, redisplay and re-opening of Castle Rushen (1991) and the opening of the House of Manannan in Peel (1997). As Chairman, Martin was involved in the acquisition, redisplay and re-opening of The Old House of Keys in Castletown (2002); the acquisition of National Trust land, including at Cregneash, the Sound (2002) and Niarbyl (2005) and the development of the iMuseum.
Former Director of Manx National Heritage, Stephen Harrison, worked alongside Martin throughout those years of major developments and recalls “Martin had a unique background of community involvement, through generations of contact through his legal profession, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of Manx families, farms, and local history. This made Martin a marvellous support and source of wise counsel throughout a 20 year period of development at MNH from the mid-1980s. Martin acted as host to a series of Kings, Queens, Heads of State, Ministers and Prime Ministers”.
In 2009 Martin was appointed MBE for services to heritage in the Isle of Man and retired from the Board of Trustees in 2012 after over 30 years of service to the organisation. Stephen added: “Martin was never afraid to stand by the principles and values MNH stood for, even when this might have been uncomfortable or costly for him personally or socially. He always argued strongly at all levels of society for our heritage to be cared for and promoted as part of the Island’s position in the world”.
As former Director of MNH, Edmund Southworth said “Martin was happy to see change and take the organisation forward. In 2011 he led the Trustees through a major change to the organisation’s legislation which emphasised the independence of the Charity from Government and created a new Board of Trustees. He was also a great supporter of the iMuseum and the development of the digitisation of the Isle of Man Newspapers”.
Chief Executive of Manx National Heritage, Connie Lovel added “Martin is fondly remembered by so many colleagues, past and present. Part of his legacy is the enduring impact he has had on so many people in our organisation. Martin has been a loyal and strong supporter of our work across four decades and right up to most recent times. Martin would always be a friendly face in the audience when giving a talk, and on his many visits to the Museum Library with Elaine. He will be sadly missed”.
Jonathan Hall, current Chairman of Manx Museum and National Trust added:
“Martin set a very high standard for how a Chairman of the charity should conduct business and work with the Chief Executive Officer. Having worked with Martin on a life company board for a number of years I know very well how strongly he fought to retain the independence of the Island and it’s heritage”.
Connie Lovel sums up the thoughts of all at Manx National Heritage, past and present: “Martin’s record of public service in the Isle of Man is admirable and his achievements for Manx National Heritage will be a lasting memorial”.
ENDS