Police today appealed for witnesses to a ‘disturbance’ outside a pub in Port Erin to come forward.

The incident involved two men outside The Haven public house on Sunday, May 26, at about 10pm.

Two arrests were made. A 51-year-old and a 26-year-old are currently on police bail following this incident.

A police spokesman said: ‘If you witnessed anything or have any information that you think may be relevant, then contact Port Erin police on 832222 or contact the anonymous Crimestoppers Line on 0800 555 111.’

Michael Dunlop was the winner of today’s Superbike race.

Second place went to Cameron Donald and third was John McGuinness.

The race was rescheduled from Saturday.

Find out more in the Isle of Man Examiner, in shops tomorrow, and in the second edition of TT News.

Manx cycling superstar Mark Cavendish today (Sunday) took part in a charity bike ride in London that raised money for Help the Heroes, a charity that supports the Armed Forces.

Cav told ITV News: ‘The Armed Forces are truly special and inspirational people. To see them and the people supporting them today is humbling.’

{http://www.itv.com/news/story/2013-06-02/help-for-heroes-bike-ride/|See a clip of Cav here}

Today’s TT races are on schedule.

The timetable is:

9.30am: Roads closed TT Mountain section (Barrule Park, Ramsey, to Creg-ny-Baa)

10am: Roads closed, rest of the course

10.45am: Race 3. Monster Energy Supersport Race (4 laps)

12.30pm: Sidecar Practice Lap

2pm: Race 4. Royal London 360 Superstock Race (4 laps)

3.40pm: TT Zero Practice Lap

4.10pm: John McGuinness Lap on a Paton

4.40pm: Scheduled roads open (except Mountain section)

5.40pm: Scheduled rest of the course open

A man who had collected more than 83,000 indecent images of children has been jailed.

Today’s Isle of Man Examiner has the full story.

The paper’s page one photograph is of Michael Dunlop, after he won yesterday’s (Sunday’s) TT Superbike race. Needless to say, that’s the main sports story on the back page.

Inside the paper, we look at the two letters that have raised concerns about Noble’s Hospital.

One was written by consultants at the hospital.

As the bus strike enters its 10th day, we hear the chief minister’s views about the union’s safety claims.

We also ask members of the public for their views about the strike.

Our main page three story is about an elderly woman who was injured after being trapped in a door at a shop in Onchan.

The paper also has a review of Saturday’s Darkness gig.

The island’s favourite newspaper is in the shops now.

Police have thanked motorists for their patience and care on Mad Sunday.

Inspector Derek Flint said: ‘What we experienced on Sunday was in fact quite remarkable.

‘We only recorded four collisions all day.

‘Even with the races taking up the afternoon, none of us can remember anything similar in recent memory.’

He said that what police saw was ‘good standards, respect for speed limits in the main, and people really heeding the message to know their limits’.

Inspector Flint added: ‘This morning (Monday) there are nine in the cells, of which five are visitors, for a variety of offences based around alcohol.

‘There were again no drink drivers which was pleasing to see.’

The BBC continues to ‘rip off’ Manx residents by failing to provide adequate services while still charging the full licence fee.

That was the claim by the Celtic League following comments made by Manx Radio chairman David North to the Tynwald select committee investigating the future of public service broadcasting.

In an astonishing statement, former MHK and MLC Mr North likened Manx Radio to a Syrian state broadcaster because it doesn’t have the funding it needs to ensure true independence from government.

He and Manx Radio managing director Anthony Pugh argued the case for the station to be given BBC funding similar to the arrangement which operates for S4C in Wales.

In a statement, the Celtic League said: ‘The Celtic League has consistently said the Manx government should retain licence fees paid to the UK (currently around £5 million) to fund a range of domestic broadcast services including audio and visual media.

‘However, a Tynwald committee which considered the matter recently failed to grasp the nettle and the BBC continues to rip-off Manx residents by levying its full licence fee and failing to provide the same service it gives to other National areas in the UK.

‘There is perhaps the chance that North’s choice of provocative language before this select committee may wake them up to the fact that the issue needs to be addressed.’

Giving evidence to the Tynwald select committee, Mr North said there was one fundamental question he would like to pose.

He said: ‘The question is a quite simple one – is Manx Radio a public service broadcaster or are we are state broadcaster?

‘In other words are we like the BBC or are we like Syrian radio, no more than a government mouthpiece?

‘Editorially we’ve always thought of ourselves as a public service broadcaster but in my opinion, against all the intentions of Tynwald, regrettably we have become a state broadcaster incapable of determining our own future by virtue of our structure.’

Leading Isle of Man law firm Dougherty Quinn (DQ) has announced that Kerruish Law & Trust (KLT) joined forces with DQ from Saturday.

KLT was described as a boutique law firm specialising in HNWI (high net worth individuals), private client, corporate and commercial property.

KLT’s managing director Paul Kerruish joined DQ at the weekend as a director and shareholder and will play an important strategic role in DQ’s successful trust and private client department headed up by Annemarie Hughes.

Paul will also head up DQ’s commercial property department.

Tom Maher, director in DQ, said: ‘This is a very exciting opportunity for DQ.

‘KLT is a very similar firm to DQ and, like us, prides itself on providing the highest levels of service and building strong lasting relationships with its clients. Paul has built up a very successful firm and shares DQ’s dynamic and innovative approach to doing business. The synergies in bringing the two firms together are clear and our clients will benefit from Paul’s expertise in his key areas of practice.

‘Paul is also well renowned by his clients as a trusted business adviser. We are all looking forward to building the business together and continuing the great success DQ has had since its creation just over five years ago.

There’s more on this story in the Isle of Man Examiner

Fairfield School pupils sold a range of products they had made at a Mini Enterprise Market.

Money raised from Thursday’s event will be used to buy items for the school.

On sale were items including plant pots, coasters, key rings, paper weights, cards, badges and cakes. Pupils had been learning about the world of business with support from Junior Achievement Isle of Man. Picture: John Maddrell JM130530 (9)

The Chief Minister has dismissed Unite’s safety claims over bus drivers’ work length as ‘complete nonsense’.

Negotiations failed to end a 12-day strike on Thursday. It’s due to run till tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11.59pm.

Allan Bell said it was ‘very disappointing’ a settlement wasn’t reached, saying it was the third time the union leadership had recommended acceptance of government’s offers.

He said claims a duty length of four hours 30 minutes was a health and safety issue – was ‘complete nonsense’. It would be a rise from the current maximum of three hours 45 minutes.

Mr Bell said drivers already worked the increased length where premium pay was due, and UK drivers – even in London – work up to five hours 30 minutes with Unite calling for a cut to four hours 30 minutes.

‘If it is acceptable there with the vastly different pressure drivers have to face how can it be unacceptable in a small place like the Isle of Man?’

Mr Bell said it looked like ‘certain shop stewards’ wanted ‘to prolong the strike action’.

He said Liberal Vannin leader Peter Karran’s comments the dispute was a smokescreen and government was intent on privatising the service were ‘extremely unhelpful and fanciful’.

‘Mr Karran knows there’s no hidden agenda by government or the DCCL to prolong the strike to privatise the buses. It’s deliberate mischief-making at a time of very sensitive negotiations to ensure a very important public service is maintained.’

We tried to contact the union Unite for a response but were unable to do so.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/bus-negotiations-fail-strike-set-to-continue-during-tt-drivers-are-permitted-to-leave-the-bus-if-they-need-a-toilet-break-1-5723642|Click here to read our story about negotiations failing}

A TT fan who suffered a serious stroke in 2010 will be completing a lap of the Mountain Course tomorrow (Tuesday) to raise money for The Stroke Association.

Ian Ormrod, who lives in Lancashire, will be riding the TT course on his adapted three-wheel scooter.

He will leave the Grandstand, in Douglas, at 11am on his

Mr Ormrod said: ‘I suffered a serious stroke in 2010. I was left with poor speech and serious mobility problems.

‘Walking is a struggle so a mobility scooter and my trike scooter are my main modes of transport.

‘Motorbikes were always my passion, having previously owned a Ducati.

‘With the help of my great friend Stuart, I have set myself a challenge to ride the 37 miles round the TT course on my little adapted three wheeler and hopefully raise some money as I go.’

So far, he has raised more than £500.

The Stroke Association campaigns to improve stroke care and supports people to make the best possible recovery. And it funds research into new treatments and ways to prevent stroke.

To make a donation go to www.justgiving.com/ian-ormrod

Four-time taekwondo Olympian Sarah Stevenson MBE will lead two training workshop thanks to sponsorship from Celton Manx.

The 2011 taekwondo world champion is now retired and working as a coach on UK Sport’s world-class performance programme.

She will be accompanied by her personal trainer, Steve Jenkins.

The first session takes place on Saturday, June 15, at Onchan’s community centre.

The second takes place the following day at the National Sports Centre, Douglas.

The two-day event was organised by Manx Taekwondo president Rod Nielsen, after he built strong links through his volunteering activities with the British taekwondo team during the London Olympics.

Mr Nielsen thanked Celton Manx for its support, adding: ‘And of course we’re equally delighted to have 2008 bronze medallist Sarah Stevenson conduct these two workshops.

‘Since she retired Sarah has devoted all her energies to sharing her experience and giving back so much to the sport that saw her become a world-class figure in taekwondo.

‘To have someone of Sarah’s stature lead these sessions is a tremendous coup for Manx Taekwondo.’

Celton Manx executive director Bill Mummery said: ‘Sarah and Rod are both working to increase participation and make sport accessible to all, also to develop life skills, objectives we wholeheartedly endorse.’

For more details, contact Rod Nielsen 436181, email manx.taekwondo@hotmail.com or follow the club on Facebook: Manx Taekwondo.

Isle of Man Creamery boss Findlay Macleod says that his dairy has to charge more for milk than cheaper English and Welsh rivals because of higher costs.

He has blamed redundancies at the business on difficult trading conditions and the very poor weather over the past year.

Speaking following the announcement the business is to make 10 people redundant, he said the bad weather and higher overheads in the Isle of Man had both played a part.

Referring to competition from imported products, he said: ‘Scale is an issue here. We deal with around 6.5 million litres of milk a year, whereas Yeo Valley, for example will be handling something like 1,000 million litres per year, so that really puts it in perspective.’

He said he was aware of a dairy in Wales which recently stopped milk production because it did not consider 12 million litres per year to be viable.

‘In addition, we have higher overheads than the UK in terms of our power costs and also our water costs,’ he said.

‘The Isle of Man is an expensive place to manufacture and we also operate on a smaller scale. Elsewhere you wouldn’t have a milk plant serving just 80,000 people.

‘But the advantage we have here on an island is it’s fresher because there are fewer food miles. It’s straight from the cow to the Creamery to the customer.’

Mr Macleod said milk supplied to the creamery last year fell by 11 per cent and in the first three months of this year by a further 11 per cent.

Milk production in the UK fell by around 10 per cent this year. He said farmers had been under pressure because the recent poor weather meant poorer pasture which in turn affected milk yields and they had also faced higher overheads as a result of having to buy in food for dairy herds.

Smaller quantities of milk meant the cost of processing it per pint was higher and they had also had to pay more to the farmers who had been hit with higher feed costs. He said they had been forced to reduce overheads by laying off staff. There are to be five voluntary redundancies and five compulsory. Two staff had also agreed a voluntary cut in their working hours.

He added: ‘Our staff are our most valuable asset, so I will be sad to see any of them go.’

Just 12 months after attaining the IIP Silver Award, Colas has been awarded Gold Award status following a visit from IIP Assessor Mike Lynch.

The Gold Award reaffirms the company’s commitment to its workforce and it is only the third private company in the Isle of Man to achieve the highest IIP award.

Normally, Gold status can be applied for three years after attaining the Silver Award.

However, in special circumstances where an organisation, on reaching Silver status, is so close to the criteria for the Gold Award, it can apply for Gold accreditation within 12 months of attaining Silver.

Colas Isle of Man Group managing director Steph Lowe said the Gold Award was recognition of the willingness of staff to strive to achieve greater things. ‘This is again testimony to the company’s commitment to the training and development of our staff,’ said Steph. ‘It demonstrates our staff are engaged at all levels and involved directly with the company’s strategic targets and continuing success.

‘My thanks go to everyone who took part in the assessment and the continuing support of the whole Colas team.’

He added:‘Having achieved Gold status, our aim now is to become an IIP Ambassador, a champion for the standard’s framework, where we will be shown as an example to other organisations of what they need to achieve to gain IIP accreditation.

‘We will, of course, also need to undergo regular reviews by the IIP to maintain our Gold status.’

The Gold Award is the culmination of a seven-year programme of staff development and assessment, following the first visit by IIP in 2006.

The Bronze Award was attained in 2009, followed by the Silver Award last year.

For the Gold Award, IIP Assessor Michael Lynch visited the company for two days, interviewing a quarter of the 65-strong workforce.

In his report, Mr Lynch was impressed by the ‘high staff morale’, the work ethic of employees at all levels of the business and the strong core values that everyone works towards. He praised the company’s leadership, in particular the open and trusting approach of senior managers, and focused on the ‘feedback culture’ within the company, with the feedback from managers a major factor in the high morale.

In turn, the assessor commented on the respect staff have for senior management, and the use of the IIP framework to underpin a ‘strong focus on continuous improvement’.

Laurence Skelly MHK, political member for the Department of Economic Development with responsibility for the construction industry, presented the award to Steph Lowe at the Colas Group’s Broom House headquarters in Malew.

Mr Skelly said: ‘I would like to congratulate the team at Colas Isle of Man Group on achieving IIP Gold accreditation. IIP is a highly effective framework to optimise business performance and efficiency through an organisation’s workforce.

‘The award of this Gold status coming only a year after being awarded Silver status demonstrates a commitment to a culture of continuous improvement. I would encourage other local companies of any size to consider participating in this valuable programme.’

More than 30 delegates representing small postal administrations including Barbados, Estonia, Falklands, Greenland and Swiss Post attended the three day forum at the Sefton Hotel, Douglas.

It was hailed a first class success as the delegates found challenges common to all.

With declining mail volumes, technical substitution, economic uncertainty and the changing social tenders of customers, all postal businesses are facing the same kind of challenges, be it a large post or small.

A spokesman for Isle of Man Post Office told Business News: ‘Smaller posts do not always have the resources to invest heavily in solutions to these global problems and instead have to rely on creativity and resourcefulness to continue to compete successfully.

‘The purpose of the forum was to allow small posts to come together to exchange ideas and best practice, explore current and future trends, network, address common issues and identify new areas and opportunities for collaboration.’

There was a varied programme with some very interesting speakers.

Full day sessions covered all aspects of the postal industry from digital and physical integration, innovation in philately, customer service, engaging with government for retail services as well as reform to modernisation and corporatisation.

The spokesman said: ‘They were presented by a variety of key speakers and proved invaluable in bringing together a wealth of experience and knowledge for all the attendees to benefit from, as well as a number of enlightening question and answer sessions.’

The forum, officially opened by the Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK, was by invitation only and aimed at key decision makers and senior officials from postal administrations around the world.

More on this story in this week’s Isle of Man Examiner

Almost all of the TT course will be open from 5pm till 6pm on race days for ordinary traffic to move around the island.

Highways bosses have made the decision after complaints of congestion in previous years.

It applies to the whole course, except for the mountain section between Barrule Park, Ramsey and Johnny Watterson’s Lane, Onchan.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/today-s-isle-of-man-tt-schedule-1-5726321|Click here to see today’s TT schedule}

A Department of Infrastructure spokesman said: ‘This measure will give the public more certainty about when they will be able to travel and allow people living on or inside the course to get home.

‘This will apply on every race day or postponed race day with the exception of Senior Race day (Friday).

‘Drivers should be aware that access will not be available to the Creg-ny-Baa except via the Creg-ny-Baa Back Road.’

In addition normal crossing points and access corridors will be opened during intervals between races.

These crossing points and access corridors are at:-

Douglas: St Ninian’s crossroads (Ballaquayle Road to Ballanard Road)

Douglas: Bottom of Bray Hill (Stoney Road to Tromode Road)

A1, Douglas and Braddan: Between Quarterbridge and Strang Road, Union Mills;

A1 (Peel to Douglas main road): Between Crosby crossroads and Ballavitchel Road;

A3: Barregarrow crossroads, Michael;

A3: Kirk Michael, between Douglas Road Corner and the entrance to Faaie-ny-Cabbal estate

A3: Ballaugh crossroads (Station Road to Glen Road, Ballaugh)

A3: Sulby Glen crossroads, Lezayre;

Ramsey Bus Station: (Christian Street to Westbourne Road)

Ramsey: Between Lheaney Road and Barrule Park;

A18, Onchan and Douglas: Between Signpost Corner and Bedstead Corner;

Onchan and Douglas: Between Governor’s Road and Second Avenue on Glencrutchery Road.

On Senior Race Day the roads will close earlier than usual with the mountain road closing at 9am and the rest of the course at 9:30am.

This will allow the race programme to get started earlier to give a better chance of all events being completed before 5pm.

However, if racing is delayed until later in the day it cannot be guaranteed that the course will be opened up between 5pm and 6pm and announcements will be made confirming arrangements.

A DoI spokesman said: ‘The department hopes that the public will benefit in having clear road opening times most days with a more flexible approach to Senior Race day when disruption to traffic is likely to be less as it is a public holiday.’

TWO students from the Isle of Man will be among the congregation at Westminster Abbey tomorrow (Tuesday) for a service of celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation.

Hayley Robinson, head girl at Ramsey Grammar School, and Elliott Alexander, head boy at Queen Elizabeth II High School, will be part of an Isle of Man contingent at the special event.

The Queen succeeded King George VI on February 6, 1952, but it was not until nearly 18 months later that she was crowned at Westminster Abbey.

The service of celebration on Tuesday 4 June will be attended by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, along with other members of the Royal Family.

As this is the only national celebration of the coronation, Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood was asked to nominate a small number of guests from the Isle of Man.

Mr Wood said he was keen for the youth of the Isle of Man to be represented at Westminster Abbey, and Hayley and Elliott were drawn at random from head boys and head girls at the island’s secondary schools.

They will join the Lieutenant Governor and his wife Katie Richardson, Deemster Doyle and Mrs Doyle and Speaker of the House of Keys Steve Rodan and Mrs Ana Rodan at the service in London.

Hayley and Elliott met the Lieutenant Governor on Friday to be presented with their travel and admittance documents.

Manx gambling company PokerStars has announced that it has renewed its sponsorship of TT Races local hero Conor Cummins, the 27-year-old from Ramsey, who is the fastest Manx motorbike racer.

Until this week, Cummins held the lap speed record (131.511 mph) for the Superbike race at the TT and the fastest ‘standing start’ lap in the history of the TT.

He is among the elite motor bike racers who travel the global circuit competing in road races on finely tuned bikes that exceed 200 mph.

PokerStars also sponsors professional sports stars as Spanish Tennis Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal, Dutch Olympic gold medalist Fatima Moreira De Melo, and German tennis player Boris Becker.

‘Conor Cummins embodies the competitive spirit that drives so many successful people,’ said Eric Hollreiser, head of corporate communications for The Rational Group, which operates PokerStars.

‘Conor overcame adversity and continues to be one the best riders in the world in a sport that requires precision, strategy and guts.

‘At the same time, he’s modest, approachable and genuine. These are all qualities that make him a great representative of PokerStars.’

PokerStars also sponsors the biggest race in the TT, the Senior, in which Cummins will compete on Friday.

During the current TT competition and throughout in his future races, Cummins’ helmet, motorbike and protective gear will display the PokerStars logo.

Cummins races for the Milwaukee Yamaha team.

PokerStars also recently renewed its sponsorship of the Isle of Man TT Races, which includes the launch of a PokerStars-supported closing party for the first time that focuses on Manx entertainment.

Conor Cummins is pictured with Eric Hollreiser, head of corporate communications for The Rational Group, which operates PokerStars.

A life-sized sculpture of man racing a motorcycle - based on a Suzuki GSXR 1000K7 - made from welded and rivetted stainless steel, with a rider made from pieces of glass tied up with stainless steel wire is perhaps the most intriguing piece of art on view this TT.

In Bulgarian artist Nikola Nikolov’s own words: ‘The Glass Rider symbolises the fragility (as well as the indestructible spirited nature) of riders who do not stop re-creating themselves.’

Nikola spent more than 400 hours creating ‘The Glass Rider’ in his studio in Wormerveer, the Netherlands, which he then exhibited in London and Amsterdam before packing it on to a trailer for its trip to the Isle of Man.

Displayed under spotlights in the window of the Sayle Gallery in Douglas, visitors have been flooding in to see it and talk to the artist/

‘It was a labour of love,’ said Nikola. ‘As a professional chef I had unlimited supplies of kitchen trays, and of course of liquor bottles and broken glasses.

‘I’ve made sculptures from many different materials like old cars and washing machine drums before, but ‘The Glass Rider’ is probably the most complex – and, of course, completely appropriate for the Isle of Man.’

Since first riding a bike, Nikola has been a huge fan of the TT.

‘“This is my first visit to the Island and to the TT,’ he said. ‘I have been overwhelmed by the interest shown to “The Glass Rider” from both bike fans and art enthusiasts and I’d love it if “The Glass Rider” were bought by someone here on the island.

‘Even so, I’m sure I’ll back for another visit - with my own bike – everyone has been so friendly and welcoming. I am very grateful to the Isle of Man Arts Council and to the Isle of Man Steam Packet for their support.’

Nikola Nikolov trained at the school of applied arts in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he specialised in working with metal, while also receiving classical training in drawing and modelling. He then moved to Paris to work with fashion designer Paco Rabanne, and moved to ABK Maastrict in the Netherlands in 1996. He graduated from the Sandberg Insititute in Amsterdam in 2002 and formed Studio-Re-Creation in 2009, developing his art of working with discarded materials.

The Glass Rider has been exhibited at the London Design Festival and in Amsterdam.

‘The Glass Rider’ is now on show at the Villa Marina until Wednesday, and then back at the Sayle Gallery until Saturday. Nikola has signed posters of the sculpture, which cost £5-£10 depending on size, and which can be bought from the Sayle Gallery.

The Isle of Man Post Office is nearly as fast as the TT riders.

It has released two new products celebrating the Dainese Superbike TT race, held on Sunday.

The first features Michael Dunlop, who dominated the six-lap race to take his first ‘big bike’ victory on the Honda TT Legends Superbike, 30 years after his late uncle Joey took his first TT win for Honda.

The limited edition celebration sees a photo of Michael in action on the Superbike accompanying a genuine piece of tarmac taken from the Mountain Course at the Ramsey Hairpin. Dunlop’s domination has continued with victory in the opening Supersport race and the Superstock race, yesterday (Monday).

The final lap by John McGuinness is celebrated in the second new product.

After receiving a 60-second penalty for speeding in the pitlane, the Honda TT Legends racer produced the fastest-ever TT course lap, at an average speed of 131.671mph, to snatch back third place at the flag and beat his own outright lap record.

It was a fitting end to a race in which he paid tribute to the great Joey Dunlop with replica helmet, leathers and livery evoking memories of the Honda Joey rode to his last ‘big bike’ TT win in 2000.

The Post Office has produced a print from the world-renowned TT portfolio of photographer Stephen Davison, incorporating a stamp from the 2009 Honda 50 years at the Isle of Man TT collection and a TT Grandstand postmark for June 2, 2013, the date of the race. Commentary on the reverse of the print is provided by motorsport journalist Kyle White.

Measuring 210mm x 260mm, the portrait print is ideal for framing and essential for all TT fans.

Maxine Cannon, general manager, Isle of Man Stamps and Coins, said: ‘The Superbike race was thrilling as Michael Dunlop took a superb win and John McGuinness showed his class to set a new outright lap record.

‘When John broke 130mph in 2007 we produced a commemorative product within a couple of hours of the historic event. The gasp of excitement around the course when John appeared in Joey Dunlop’s 2000 livery helmet and leathers, plus smashing the outright lap record, made it a ‘must do’ to record the event for all collectors of TT memorabilia.’

The Michael Dunlop ‘Ramsey Hairpin’ tarmac, costing £4.50 (limited edition of 750) and John McGuinness print, costing £12.50, can both be bought from the Regent Street post shop in Douglas, the Joey Dunlop Foundation stand behind the TT Grandstand or online at www.iomstamps.com.