The respected retired sports editor for our news brands on the Isle of Man has been awarded the MBE by His Majesty King Charles III in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List.
John Watterson, who worked for our local publishing company Media Isle of Man, has received the honour for ‘services to the Isle of Man’, having begun his journalism career aged just 15 before working his way up to become the island’s leading sports journalist.
For half a century, his reporting has been a respected part of Manx sporting life, covering everything from the annual TT races through to school football finals and world-class performances by cyclist Sir Mark Cavendish, motorcyclist David Knight and equestrian Yasmin Ingham.
An article on Isle of Man Today said John’s work had been renowned for “honesty, encyclopaedic knowledge, and unfailing accuracy”. The article continued: “If you’ve followed Manx sport over the past half-century, chances are you’ve read the words of John Watterson.
“His coverage of the Isle of Man TT races, including the legendary Dunlop family, helped shape the island’s sporting narrative for generations to come. But John’s influence extends far beyond the printed page.
“He has served on the Isle of Man Sports Awards Committee, worked with clubs like Ellan Vannin Cycling Club and Ramsey Motorcycle Club, and, more recently, chaired the Auto Cycle Union, shaping the very future of motorsport on the island.
“A passionate sportsman himself, both cyclist and runner, he’s known as much for his humility and humour as for his talent.
“From preserving heritage to mentoring young talent, John Watterson has helped define what it means to champion Manx sport, and his MBE is a fitting tribute to a lifetime of dedication. Everyone at Media Isle of Man is extremely proud of John.”
In the weekly Isle of Man Today email newsletter, Andy Dalrymple, Deputy Editor / Head of Sport at Media Isle of Man, paid tribute to his colleague’s achievements.
Andy wrote: “I know I might be biased, but Watty deserves not just this special accolade, but also the countless messages of congratulations I’ve seen flooding social media over the weekend. Being sports editor was never just a job for Watty.
“He has lived and breathed Manx sport throughout his time in the role and beyond and I’ve lost count of the times I’ve seen him beaming with pride at a Manx sportsperson’s achievements as if they were his own. It’s nice that, in some way, the effort, dedication and many, many hours he’s put in over the years have been acknowledged in some way by this award.”
John told the BBC he was “a bit stunned” and “very honoured” to receive the recognition, which was “not what I expected at all”.
Our Gef title added: “From writing up the races to leading committees and championing local talent, John’s done it all – and always with integrity, humour, and a big love for the Manx sporting scene.”