Tony Hopson

Tony Hopson

2000

The Reih Bleeaney Vanannan for 2000 was awarded posthumously to Tony Hopson, the co-founder of the Manx Nature Conservation Trust.  The award was made in recognition of the outstanding contributions that Tony made to Manx natural history and ecological studies. Betty Hopson, Tony’s widow, accepted the award on Tony’s behalf at a ceremony at Government offices.

Born in Nottingham, Tony studied for a Masters degree in zoology at the Marine Biological Station in Port Erin, and in due course he took up a position as a fisheries adviser in the Island. Tony also spent a number of years in Africa as a fisheries officer in Ghana, running a research station on Lake Chad in Nigeria and as a project leader for a fisheries project on Lake Turkana, Kenya.

As the co-founder of the MNCT (now the Manx Wildlife Trust), he became the trust’s secretary in 1987, overseeing its business plans and policy forming. Tony worked closely with the Manx Ornithological Society and had an encyclopedic knowledge of many subjects including moths and fungi, which he photographed. His huge archive of material has been lodged in the Manx Museum.

Tony also made valuable contributions to the development of Manx music and Manx culture in general. He became proficient in spoken and written Manx and was an accomplished fiddler. He created a website on which hundreds of Manx tunes were available. Ill-health forced him into early retirement, but during this time he was still able to contribute to the culture of the island. Tony passed away on Christmas day, 1998.

Each year, the winner of the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan is awarded £500 to donate to a Manx cultural cause of their choice. Betty chose the Manx Wildlife Trust to receive the donation, saying

‘Tony would have been absolutely astounded to received this award. … I chose to give the money to the MWT because … Tony did a great deal of work for the trust and he was the driving force behind it for many years with his broad approach and scientific background. … He would be delighted by the way the trust is going now. He was completely dedicated to it at all levels.’