An Isle of Man surveyor has scored a double first.

Keith Dalrymple, principal of Ramsey-based Dalrymple Associates, has been awarded the accolade of Eminent Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

He becomes the Island’s first and currently only individual to hold the title and also that of ambassador for the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

He joins only 150 RICS members worldwide honoured with the distinction and received the award for outstanding contribution to the construction industry over many years.

The World Council of Fellows elected Mr Dalrymple following nominations from his industry peers and he was presented with his diploma by Richard Coxon, chairman of the RICS Council of England at an inter-professional dinner.

Mr Dalrymple recently finished a two-year post as founding chairman of the Isle of Man Centre for the CIOB and his company was responsible for delivering the project management of the ?40 million Isle of Man Prison at Jurby.

Keith said: ‘Over the years I would like to think I’ve been successful in encouraging an ethos of constructive collaboration within our industry and, having undertaken my first engagement as a freelance surveyor in 1968, I’ve developed my business through every boom and bust the Isle of Man economy has experienced over the past 40 years – all of which prompts me to suggest I could best be described as a chartered survivor.’

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(Chairman of the RICS Council of England, Richard Coxon (left), presents Keith Dalrymple with the RICS Eminent Fellow diploma)