Former Speaker of the House of Keys, Victor Kneale, has died at the age of 89.

One of the Island's best known politicians, he was elected as a member of the House of Keys for West Douglas in 1962 and remained a member of Tynwald until his retirement in 1991.

David Callister reports:

In 1974 he was elected to the Legislative Council, but in an unprecedented move seven years later, he stepped down from the Council to stand again in West Douglas where he was successfully returned to the Keys. He did so because of his belief the Legislative Council members should be publicly elected.

This was an issue he was still pursuing until a short time before his death having recently submitted his own system for such elections to the Council of Ministers for consideration.

He will be remembered for his role in Education. From 1951 until he became an MHK he was on the Board of Education. As a politician he became Chairman of the Board and later Education Minister.

Outside of politics Mr Kneale was President of the Isle of Man Scouting Association, founder member and President of the Isle of Man Art Society and President of the Isle of Man Branch of the Royal Artillery Association. He was awarded the CBE in 1989.