A temporary drop-off and pick-up zone for taxis has been created for customers of The Crescent on Queen’s Promenade, Douglas, during the TT period.

With the area in front of the premises coned off due to traffic signals at the bottom of Summer Hill and the expected increase in taxis due to the venue operating a 3am licence at points during the festival, Douglas Council is allowing the use of the car park between the horse stables and Chillies Restaurant as pick up and drop off zone for patrons during TT.

The Isle of Man Army Cadet Force is looking for new adult volunteers.

It is looking for motivated volunteers to join a team of youth workers, working with children between the ages of 12 to 18 years old.

For a few hours every month an adult volunteer will be provided with all the training required and potentially some formal qualifications.

Volunteers must be between the ages of 18 and 65 and can pass a criminal records bureau check.

There will be an open evening at 7pm on June 12 at the cadets’ Tromode headquarters (behind the Water Authority building).

Anyone interested can also contact cadet executive officer Steve Champion on 671210.

Drinkers can toast the achievements of the first Manx TT winner with a special commemorative golden ale celebrating the 90th anniversary of his senior TT win.

The first cask of the new golden ale produced by the Doghouse Brewery at Jurby has been presented to Mr Sheard’s granddaughter Ruth who already has the ideal vessel for sampling it: his glass tankard engraved with the signatures of TT riders. Mr Sheard was the first Manxman to win a TT race - the 1922 Junior on a 350cc AJS. He followed this in 1923 by winning the senior on a 500cc Douglas, which still exists today, persevering for over four hours in terrible weather and road conditions at an average speed of 55.55 mph.

Work on a major highways scheme in Douglas will be suspended for TT race week.

Infrastructure chiefs say the Peel Road works scheme has ‘progressed well so far’ with junction improvements and strengthening of Pulrose Road bridge completed. Work is now underway on the west-bound carriageway of Peel Road, either side of the junction.

This will be suspended during race week, with two-way access maintained.

The main traffic lights at the Pulrose Road junction with Peel Road have been removed.

These have been replaced with a stop sign, to improve the flow of traffic and the Department of Infrastructure says this ‘appears to have been successful so far’.

From June 10, work will expand with outbound traffic diverted via Pulrose Road.

Residents are reminded that shops and businesses in Peel Road and in the Pulrose estate remain open, and will do so throughout the scheme.

Students will parade alongside veterans past and present at Armed Forces Day on Sunday, June 30.

Around 100 students from the DEC’s five secondary schools will join former and serving personnel in a march along Douglas’s promenades at 3pm and at a church service that follows it at the Villa Marina at 3.45pm.

It is the sixth time that schools have taken part in the national event.

Jack Gibney, deputy head boy at St Ninian’s High School, who will study history at Oxford University from the autumn, will read a lesson, as will Sea Cadet and Ballakermeen High School student Kathryn Sharman.

The day culminates in afternoon tea and an evening of entertainment at the Villa Marina.

Andrew Wilkinson, assistant subject leader in history at St Ninian’s, said: ‘Armed Forces Day is a superb inter-generational project, where pupils and veterans can get to know each other in an informal setting after the ceremony itself.’

St Ninian’s will again be setting up a TV studio at the Villa Marina and interviewing Armed Forces personnel past and present.

Among those taking part in Armed Forces Day are contingents from 45 Commando, 12 Regiment Royal Artillery, 103 Regiment (Territorial Army) Royal Artillery as well as Major Andy Bridson and Marine Joel Bridson of the Royal Marines; Warrant Officer Class 1 (Master Gunner) David Moffitt of the Royal Artillery; Guardsman Joseph McDonald of the Scots Guards; Corporal Graham Bell and Sapper Mark Ellams of the Royal Engineers and Sergeant Dave Cheval of the Territorial Army.

Education Minister Tim Crookall MHK said: ‘Armed Forces Day is an important date on the secondary school calendar.

‘Our students learn about past conflicts and the effect they had on life today, but for them to be able to march alongside, and mingle with, veterans like 93-year-old D-Day veteran Hector Duff and his colleagues brings history off the pages and into sharp focus for them.

‘Today’s secondary students have been fortunate to grow up in relatively peaceful times, yet there are young people from the Isle of Man, some not much older than them, serving in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces in testing situations all over the world. For students to march alongside these homecoming personnel is particularly poignant.’

Brigadier Norman Butler chairs the Armed Forces’ Day committee, which has the patronage of Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood, President of Tynwald Clare Christian and Chief Minister Allan Bell and is made up of representatives of all the island’s ex-service organisations.

Brigadier Butler said: ‘The Armed Forces Day committee is delighted once again to receive such tremendous support from schools.

‘It is a hard fact of life the majority of veterans are now in their late 70s plus and the only way the flag of remembrance can be carried forward in the long run is by involving our youth. The interest and enthusiasm of our students is a source of great pride and reassurance for us.’

The event will also see the Isle of Man Army Cadet Force’s brand new banner blessed by the Archdeacon of Man, the Venerable Andrew Brown. It will be carried by Ballakermeen student Rob Johnson. The escorts will be Queen Elizabeth II High School students Sebastian and Alexander Devereau.

Application forms for free tickets for Armed Forces Day are available from the Villa Marina box office, the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal, the Manx Legion Club in Douglas or local commissioners’ offices or return the form on page 19 to Ann Wilson, 1 Kensington Avenue, Douglas, IM1 3ET.

Today’s TT schedule is as follows:

The whole course shuts today at 10am while the Superbike/Superstock/Supersport qualifiying begins at 10.30am,

The Sure Sidecar 1 race starts at 12.30pm.

The Lightweight/Supersport qualifying starts at 2.20pm and is scheduled till 3.40pm.

There are two laps of the Superbike/Superstock at 3.40pm to 4.15pm.

From 4.20pm to 4,30 it’s SES TT Zero qualifying.

The roads are scheduled to open to the public at 5pm.

Douglas’s lifeboat was called out last night.

The Sir William Hillary, under the command of volunteer coxswain Neal Corran, went to the aid of a yacht that had reported engine problems.

The yacht, which had two people on board, had been travelling from Widnes to Douglas.

It was found two miles east of Douglas, making its own way under its own power.

Once the lifeboat crew established it did not need immediate assistance, they escorted the vessel into Douglas harbour and stood by until it was securely berthed at the visitors’ pontoon at the Battery Pier.

The fire service says its procedures worked well on Friday evening after a blaze disrputed the TT practices.

Crews from Kirk Michael and Peel were called out to a house fire on Main Road, Kirk Michael, at about 7pm.

The house was on the TT course, meaning the practices had to be halted.

A fire service spokesman said: ‘The comprehensive procedures put in place between the emergency services and the race organisers worked extremely well, with very little delay to the attending appliances.’

The fire was described as substantial, both inside and outside the property.

Eight firefighters brought the fire under control.

One crew stayed at the property to dampen down the fire while the other three appliances went back to their home stations.

The practices were then able to continue.

Did you photograph or film the fire? Email newsdesk@newsiom.co.im

A Barclays employee for 20 years, Manxman Paul has also joined the boards of the Barclays trust companies, Barclays Private Bank & Trust (Isle of Man) Limited and Barclays Wealth Trustees (Isle of Man) Limited.

Paul left St Ninian’s High School in 1993 to join Barclays Private Bank & Trust (Isle of Man) Limited, initially working in support, securities, treasury and investment roles before focusing on trust work in 1996.

He progressed to manager and team leader overseeing a trust and company administration team primarily focused on the East African region.

In February 2012, Paul was appointed head of administration for Barclays’ Isle of Man Wealth Advisory business, with responsibilities including business performance and project management, before becoming a vice president in the Wealth Advisory team.

‘I am proud and delighted in my 20th year with Barclays to have been appointed to this position,’ Paul said.

‘I will be working closely with, and deputising for, local managing director Alan Patrick, to ensure continued delivery of client needs and strategic business objectives.

‘I am looking forward to taking on the rewarding challenge of assuming direct responsibility for several client relationship teams servicing high net worth clients in more than 90 countries around the globe.

‘The Barclays trust business has flourished in the Isle of Man since formation 54 years ago, and now has in the region of 70 client-facing employees and a reputation within the industry for discreet high quality client service and strong staff loyalty,’

Paul added: ‘I am relishing the opportunity to play my part in maintaining and growing that reputation and building on the high quality of service our clients enjoy.’

Alan Patrick said: ‘Paul has made a major contribution to the business over the past 20 years.

‘I congratulate him on his well-deserved appointment, and look forward to working with him in his new role.’

Bath and Bottle, a cocktail bar in Douglas, is helping Crossroads Care mark their 25th year of caring on the island with a new addition to their cocktail menu.

The Quarter Century Spritz, a mix of prosecco, Apple Orphanage Bramley apple juice, elderflower liqueur, cucumber, mint and topped Peychaud’s Bitters will be on the menu May 27 until the end of August with 50p from every Quarter Century Spritz sold donated to Crossroads.

Laura Gill, marketing coordinator at Bath and Bottle, said: ‘We love a cause for celebration and we couldn’t wait to create a drink with which to toast 25 years of such a hard working charity. We worked with the idea of celebration, so something sparkling. We also wanted something light, refreshing and in keeping with the season so that everyone could enjoy it. There are also some local Manx flavours used in there to tie in Crossroads strong links to the community.’

Alex Wilson, fundraiser at Crossroads Care, said: ‘I was fortunate enough to try the Quarter Century Spritz before it was on the menu and after I did I couldn’t wait for it to be available so I could have another. The team at Bath and Bottle have come up with the perfect, moreish summer drink that will leave you sipping through the warm summer days and into the wee hours.’

The Quarter Century Spritz will be available from the end of May for three months at Bath and Bottle, 6 Victoria Street, Douglas. Donations for the charity are also being accepted at 14 North on North Quay, Douglas, throughout this time.

Douglas resident Vanessa Simpson, along with friends from Liverpool John Moores University, has won the UK final of the Young Enterprise Start Up Awards.

They beat more than 350 other companies to win the Awards, which sees university teams start a business from scratch.

Vanessa, aged 20, who is studying business and public relations, and her friends identified a gap in the hot beverages market for easily accessible and premium quality loose-leaf tea.

The Teabox Company has been trading since December, and is primarily an online shop. It stocks six restaurants in the North West, with plans to expand further.

The final saw teams submit a business plan and an investment proposal, design a trade stand and attend a Dragon’s Den style interview.

Vanessa, who is head of PR, said: ‘The national final was an incredible adventure. We have all really benefited from the invaluable experience of setting up our own business, but this recognition is a wonderful bonus.’

They will now compete in the European finals in Belgium in July.

The public consultation on plans to establish a Public Services Commission is to be extended by two weeks.

Under government plans for a new Public Services Commission, the Civil Service Commission and the Whitley Council will be replaced with a single employing authority for some 4,000 civil servants and manual/craft workers. Chief Minister Allan Bell says the existing government employment structure is ‘not fit for purpose’.

Deadline for submissions has been extended to 5pm on Friday June 14.

The consultation may be accessed at http://www.gov.im/hr/ConsultationDetail.gov?id=374.

The Tynwald select committee investigating the future of public service broadcasting has appointed a consultant to carry out a review of Manx Radio.

Radio executive, consultant and presenter John Myers was the author of a report on the future of local radio in the UK which was published by the UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport in April 2009.

He will be remembered by many in the Isle of Man for this time as a continuity announcer with Border Television in the 1980s.

He was famous for his sense of humour and his appearances with ‘Eric the Monkey’ on Border Birthdays.

Since then he moved into Border’s radio division and later to the Guardian Media Group’s radio section when, as well as having executive roles, he presented as ‘John Morgan’.

The British Heart Foundation’s annual tennis tournament has taken place at Castletown Tennis Club.

Sixteen players took part in a round robin tournament and the winners were David Wilkinson and Marybeth Coll.

Sponsors this year included Swagelock, which provided T-shirts for the occasion, Bolton and Corlett, which provided the tennis balls and The Vineyard, Castletown, which provided the prizes.

The Mayor of Douglas Councillor Carol Malarkey has launched her 2013-2014 mayoral charity appeal.

She has selected four charities: Junior Achievement Isle of Man, Manx Workshop for the Disabled, Tabitha’s Trust and Victim Support. ‘These are all local causes very close to my heart,’ she said, adding that Douglas Town Band would also benefit from fundraising efforts during her year in office.

She thanked the many fundraisers who had offered to help with the charity appeal and welcomed the growing number of employees at Hansard who had volunteered their support. She also paid tribute to the Mayor’s consort, her husband Councillor Bill Malarkey, who would be at the forefront of the fundraising in order that she could undertake her many mayoral duties.

Councillor Bill Malarkey said the theme for the year would be ‘fun raising’ rather than ‘fundraising’.

The reception also provided an opportunity for Martin Sewell, on behalf of the Manx Workshop for the Disabled, to present the Mayor with a plaque, crafted in wood, of the Douglas Borough Council crest.

Junior Achievement works in schools with the support of more than 300 volunteers to help some 5000 students island-wide gain the essential skills they will need when they leave full-time education.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2013 the Manx Workshop for the Disabled champions the disabled in the workplace and helps disabled people gain meaningful paid employment through the design and production of goods using largely Manx materials.

Newly formed Tabitha’s Trust aims to provide support, equipment and services to families who have suffered bereavement through the loss of a child.

Victim Support Isle of Man offers free and confidential help to victims and witnesses of crime, their families and friends.

The Manx Museum has cancelled this afternoon’s (Mad Sunday’s) screening of A Dangerous Addiction.

The decision has been made following changes to the TT schedule.

This morning’s showing of ‘No Ordinary Passenger’ and VIP talkshow, will go ahead at 11am on Mad Sunday as planned.

Tickets are still available for ‘No Ordinary Passenger’ at the museum shop, with all profits to the Joey Dunlop Foundation, Rob Vine Fund and the Manx Museum and National Trust.

The Manx Museum will also be open all day today.

Anyone who would like a refund on tickets bought for Sunday afternoon’s showing is welcome to obtain one from the Manx Museum Shop, although tickets bought online may be refunded by the relevant online payment.

Lynsey Radcliffe, communications manager for Manx National Heritage, said: ‘Manx National Heritage would like to thank the team at Al Jazeera, the race teams and all those who had committed to supporting this special fundraising event, which we hope to re-arrange to a later date.’

This morning’s event features an insight into the daredevil tactics of sidecar racing with former world champion Stan Dibben and TT legend Dave Molyneux, who talk about the thrills and spills of sidecar racing from the 1950s to today.

This special event includes the Isle of Man premiere of Cabell Hopkins’ short film ‘No Ordinary Passenger’ and marks the 90th anniversary of sidecar racing at the TT Races.

Stan is 87 years old and, in his varied life, he has been a professional trumpet player, electrician and sailor, as well as a highly-respected solo motorcycle racer on the GP circuits.

He worked with some of the well known names in BSA and Norton, raced the first ever Dommie Racer and helped in the world land speed record set by Donald Campbell in Bluebird.

The talk starts at 11am. Doors open at 10am.

Today is traditionally known by TT fans as Mad Sunday, a day when many fans enjoy a lap or two of the TT course themselves.

However, this year is different because this afternoon there will be racing on the course.

The Superbike race was put back to today from Saturday to allow for more time for practices.

The schedule for the day is:

1pm: Roads closed, mountain section

1.30pm: Roads closed rest of the course

2.15pm: Dainese Superbike race

5pm: Roads open around the course.

The police have appealed for fans driving or riding around the course this morning to take extra care.

Inspector Derek Flint said: ‘Even though the benefits of the mountain being one way are in place for the entire two weeks these days, Mad Sunday is traditionally a time for that little bit of extra exuberance, which creates us problems when people run out of skill, then run out of road.

‘With a dry and sunny day forecast, we are expecting large numbers of cars and bikes to be out from early doors.

‘We are totally geared up for this, and will be out there at peak strength to quell any over-enthusiasm, and deal with people whose standards of road use fall below the expected standard.

‘The Mountain section of the course is due to close at 1pm, so we expect that people will be making the most of the morning to enjoy it.

‘What needs to be remembered though, is that if we have a collision on up there, then we shut it so we can deal with the scene safely.

If it is a bad one, there is every possibility the police could be the only ones up there from early morning until racing begins.

‘If people want to have a good time, they have to take to the roads in captain sensible mode, otherwise it is going to be an awfully long day waiting around for them, asking the bobby stood doing point duty when the road will re-open.

‘The same applies to the rest of the course, which closes for racing at 1.30 pm.

‘Everything is scheduled to be re-opened at 5pm, and we will still out there pressing home safety until darkness falls. All we ask is for people to stay safe, and keep it real. Mad Sunday doesn’t mean a it’s public racetrack.’

The island has endured its coldest spring since 1979.

The mean temperature for the months of March, April and May measured only 7.0°C, compared with the long term mean of 8.3°C.

It was also the windiest spring ever recorded. The wind speed for the months of spring averaged 16.4mph, beating the previous spring record of 16.1mph set in 1994.

The mean temperature for May measured 10.0°C, almost 1°C below the long-term mean, making it the coldest May since 1996.

There were five nights with a ground frost. On May 2 the ground temperature fell to minus 4.4°C, the lowest recorded in May since 1979.

The maximum air temperature of 17.3°C was measured on May 29.

The mean wind speed for the month was 14.6mph compared with the long term mean of 12.1mph ranking it the fourth windiest May on record.

The strongest winds were recorded on the blustery 23rd, with a gust of 55mph at the airport.

Total rainfall at Ronaldsway measured 53.1mm, slightly above the May mean.

The wettest day was the 27th with 11.1mm.

There were 241 hours of sunshine last month, once again slightly above the long term mean.

Hail was observed on the 11th but there was no thunder or fog at airport during the month.

The police would like to talk to a boy who was knocked to the ground in an incident that took place in the area of the Douglas Promenade fairground between Jaks Bar and Steak House and the Methodist Church at about 10pm on Thursday night.

The police think the boy is about 15 years old.

Anyone with any information, or has witnessed the incident, contact police headquarters, Douglas on 631212.

iomtoday wants to keep the Isle of Man on the move and armed with the latest information during the TT.

So we’ve established a Live News area where newsroom staff will be updating throughout the day using a range of sources to bring you the most reliable information as it happens.

As well as news and travel information, we’ll also be posting links to pictures and videos with things going on around the island which you might otherwise miss.

Click Live News to find out what it’s all about and get involved.

Our colleagues on the sportdesk will also be updating the action as it happens and hosting debate on the Live Sport page.