MacMillan Cancer Support will hold the ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ at Vagabonds Clubhouse, Ballafletcher, on Friday, September 27, from 10am to 2pm.
Various local businesses have donated products and organiser Natalie Dale thanked Vagabonds Rugby Club, Isle of Man Creamery, Robinsons, Laxey Glen Mills, Costa Coffee, Copy Shop and MannVend who have all donated goods and services for free. She also thanked Butler’s Choice, the Lexicon book shop, and Intersport for prizes.
The island’s GPs will not be in their surgeries on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 24.
Instead they will have a training session, which follows similar meetings in December and March.
GP surgeries will still be open and able to deal with simple queries, book routine appointments and deal with requests for repeat prescriptions. Practice nurses will also be available.
The Department of Health will provide GP cover based from surgeries in Douglas, Castletown and Peel to deal with urgent problems which cannot wait until the next day. Patients are asked to contact their own surgery, but may be phoned back by a GP from another area. Urgent appointments and home visits will still be available but in the event of a life-threatening illness it is recommended that the emergency services are contacted by dialling 999.
GPs have been working over the last few years with the Department of Health to provide a primary care service which is accessible and affordable. During this educational afternoon GPs will have presentations about trying to cut the need for A&E attendance, common shoulder injuries and their management, nutritional issues in elderly people and updates on the management of heart failure and diabetes.
GPs have been working with their consultant colleagues to try to reduce hospital waiting lists by developing more skills in primary care.
Dr Alex Allinson, chair GP subcommittee, said: ‘We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by this meeting, but trust that patients on the Isle of Man recognise the need for on-going GP training and development of services provided by their local surgery.’
The babies born at Noble’s Hospital on the same day as Prince George have been given a Manx tartan blanket to celebrate the occasion.
Four babies – a boy and three girls – were presented with the special blankets, embroidered with their date of birth, July 22, by the Department of Health.
Kate Cowley gave birth to a little girl, Aalin. And not only does mum share a first name with the Duchess of Cambridge, baby Aalin – which translates in Manx as beautiful – came in at the same weight as the third in line to the throne: 8lb 6oz.
To top things off, proud parents Kate and David are also parents to a son called William.
The other babies who share the same birthday as the new prince are Rachel Moss, Isabella Lacey and Meidas Svedkauskas.
AXA Wealth International is sponsoring the award for Medium Enterprise of the Year at this year’s Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence.
AXA were winners themselves at last year’s Awards for Excellence, picking up the award for Innovation and Independent Thinking for an industry-first initiative: Quick Response Code.
This was an innovation designed to make product and investment information easier for customers and financial advisors to access.
The award reflects the company’s own commitment to excellence, as managing director Mike Foy explains:
‘We are a financial services company, providing tax efficient products for largely UK-based, high net worth individuals. We strive to give a very good service and very good products, backed by people who care about what they do – we don’t try to compete on price, we try to compete on customer experience. Excellence, high standards and customer satisfaction are embedded in the culture of the business.
‘Our customers are people who are used to dealing with professionals and they have come to expect a very professional level of service.
‘We have customers who stay with us for ten, fifteen, twenty years so that’s a long time to keep up good service and to keep customer loyalty and that’s where we try to be different- essentially to have people who care about what they are doing.’
AXA, part of a global financial services group, was established on the Isle of Man in 1992 and now employs over 180 people. Until recently however, when it came to community involvement, it had been a case of doing good works quietly, as Mike explains:
‘We were conscious that, as a large local employer, in business for over twenty years on the Isle of Man, we had a relatively low profile locally.
‘We are now active partners of the local swimming association: we supported the Isle of Man Swimming Championships, and the swim team that went to the Island Games recently and came back with seven gold medals.
‘We’re also supporting them through to the Commonwealth Games. That was a community sponsorship, whilst the Awards for Excellence sponsorship is a good opportunity to raise our local profile in a business sense.
‘The Awards Night has grown in stature over the years. It’s broadcast around the world and it’s become quite an annual event, very much a showcase for the Isle of Man, hence our desire to have the AXA name involved.’
Mike believes that the Isle of Man is ‘well-tuned’ to business and a good place for a business to grow:
‘Isle of Man plc has a very positive outlook to supporting business,’ he says, ‘we have a highly skilled workforce that’s growing, so there’s still new people being attracted to the island.
‘This is another reason why the Awards for Excellence are important because they help to encourage people to come and work on the Isle of Man.
‘I think there’s a good sense of commitment and loyalty too: you find that the nature of the island and its qualities mean that you get a strong allegiance to the Isle of Man. When we get visitors and staff from the UK our staff here are always very keen to tell them about the Isle of Man’s history and features.
‘It helps to bring together a sense of loyalty and commitment.’
Mike goes on to explain why he believes that the Medium Enterprise of the Year category is an especially important award:
‘We have a vested interest in Isle of Man plc because this is our jurisdiction, so anything that promotes economic growth in the island is key to us.
‘“Medium Enterprise” covers most of the businesses on the island and – with the greatest respect to small businesses and to large businesses like ourselves – what helps drive the Isle of Man economy, essentially, is that middle ground, that whole collection of very successful, very committed medium enterprises.’
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Last year, both small and medium businesses were together in one category and the winners were Paragon Recruitment.
This year small and medium enterprises each have their own category, an acknowledgement of the number of very successful and dynamic small businesses, employing seven people or less, that there are on the island.
The Medium Enterprise of the Year category covers businesses employing between eight and thirty people.
If you think your business could be a winner you have until October 5 to submit your entry.
Forms for all award categories are available to download at www.iomtoday.co.im/afe
Plans have been submitted for a replacement fire station to serve Castletown and Ballasalla.
It would be situated on land next to Forrest House, in Ronaldsway Industrial Estate.
In the Department of Home Affairs’ planning application (13/91065/B), it states: ‘The existing fire station in Castletown is ageing and lacks the space and training facilities required to function as a 21st century fire station.’
Ronaldsway Industrial Estate was identified as the preferred location because ‘this would bring the fire station closer to the “major risks” in this station’s area, these being located in the Ronaldsway and Balthane industrial estates’.
The planning statement continues: ‘The fire station would also be better situated to provide back-up for the airport’s own firefighters.
‘Furthermore, the 2011 census and Area Plan for the South indicate that Ballasalla’s population will be approaching that of Castletown’s in the future.
‘A fire station at Ronaldsway will not only provide better coverage for Ballasalla, but also increase the catchment area for potential retained firefighters.’
FACILITIES
Facilities would include changing facilities, offices, a canteen and a training room.
The two fire engines currently at Castletown fire station would be accommodated in appliance bays.
There would be a car park with 18 spaces – 18 is the maximum number of firefighters required in the event of an emergency call out.
In the application, it states: ‘The site was considered to be the most suitable of five sites that were selected in the initial feasibility study.
‘The proposal makes the best use of the site while taking into consideration the requirements of the Department of Infrastructure’s highways division and the neighbouring landowners.’
The project will involve a capital investment of approximately £950,000 and – if the plans are approved – work could get under way in April 2014, with an estimated completion date of December 2014. The station would then be operational by early 2015.
A Tree blocking the road in Ballaugh has been cleared police have confirmed.
Ramsey Police confirmed that there was a tree blocking the road at Ballaugh and that the road was closed between 9am and 10.45am.
A number of other trees were down in the area but there are no problems with the roads at present.
The Isle of Man Steam Packet brought forward its Sunday sailings to avoid bad weather forecast in the Irish Sea.
The Douglas to Liverpool sailing departed at 2pm instead of 3pm, whilst the return journey from Liverpool to Douglas has been brought forward from a 7.15pm departure to 6pm.
Monday’s sailings to and from Liverpool are both subject to disruption or cancellation due to adverse weather forecast in the Irish Sea.
Sailings to and from Heysham are currently expected to run on time.
For further information on sailings visit http://www.steam-packet.com/LatestSailings
Helen Byrne has been overwhelmed by a tidal wave of good wishes after her decision to resign from Isle of Man Newspapers after a distinguished career spanning 31 years.
Mother of two Helen, 48, has been stopped in the street many times by people from all walks of life to wish her well and emails have flooded in from businesses and organisations throughout the island.
The popular Manxwoman says it typifies how the person who eventually fills her shoes will be working in what is a ‘very public role’.
As part of that role, her replacement will have to be a visinary leader of more than 40 people at Isle of Man Newspapers in Peel Road, Douglas.
The successful applicant will also be expected to ‘fly the flag’ in dealing with the Manx public. This includes forging strong links with the diverse business community, as well as with the many other organisations.
One thing is for sure: whoever steps into Helen’s shoes as the leader of Isle of Man Newspapers will be stepping into an exciting and challenging role.
Helen told her colleagues last month that she had decided it was time to step back from her role with Isle of Man Newspapers and create more time to spend with her family on and off the island, although she does plan to carry on working in a different position in the island.
Helen lives in Governor’s Hill, Douglas. Her son Jack, 18, is preparing for his first term at Oxford University and her daughter Saoirse, 16 – that’s Irish for freedom – is studying in Dublin.
Helen’s partner Tom works in the oil industry.
Helen, whose maiden name was Looney, started at the Courier’s old Ridgeway Street offices in 1982 as a tele-ads operator and rose through the ranks to eventually become commercial director.
During her time with the company, the old Isle of Man Courier Group changed its name and expanded to include the Isle of Man Examiner, the Manx Independent and iomtoday.co.im.
‘One thing I can guarantee about this industry is that it’s always changing,’ said Helen.
‘The new publishing director of Isle of Man Newspapers will have to help to lead that change and help this company to thrive in an increasingly digital era.
‘Who knows what the next 30 years will bring? The new person will be expected to have a vision for the future.’
Indeed, the successful applicant will also be expected to have a proven track record of delivering results and meeting budgets in a fast-paced commercial environment, preferably achieved within regional publishing at executive level.
Helen believes the person who gets the job will ‘have to have their finger on the pulse’ all the time.
But Helen is quick to point out that, as well as being personable and a people person, the holder of the job also has to make very ‘tough and difficult’ decisions sometimes.
‘At the end of the day we are a private company and we have to make the company profitable.’
Helen says that among her toughest decisions was making people redundant.
‘Part of the job is making hard decisions. If any company doesn’t change as the market changes, it would eventually die.’
However, she told how she had even been stopped in the street since she announced she was stepping down by former employees who gave her their best wishes for the future.
Helen said she had enjoyed ‘an amazing role which has been very diverse and very rewarding’.
She said the new holder of the job would find themselves ‘at the heart of the community’ as well as being leader of the staff at our Peel Road headquarters. He or she will report to managing director Warren Butcher.
Helen said that from a personal point of view one of the best bits of her work had been seeing people come to work at Isle of Man Newspapers, developing and advancing their careers.
She said: ‘In many ways you have to be a mentor and I am a strong believer in being a people person.
‘I strongly believe you have to be personable and to be able to communicate with people in all the departments.
‘This is a very challenging job and the successful applicant will need to be someone who can literally talk to anyone.’
Managing director Warren Butcher said: ‘Our challenge is to appoint a strong commercial leader who has the same passion and commitment for the business and for the Isle of Man as Helen has demonstrated, and we will take time to carefully identify the right person.
‘The message from Isle of Man Newspapers is that Helen will be staying until her replacement is found and for the moment it is business as usual.’
Editor Richard Butt said: ‘Helen will be a tough act to follow. She has brought so much to Isle of Man Newspapers over the years and I can’t speak highly enough about her.
‘The new publishing director will have one of the most interesting and challenging jobs in the Isle of Man.’
l If you feel you have the relevant experience you can request an application form by emailing rachel.kay@newsiom.co.im
Closing date is Friday, September 20.
Bookings are now being taken for the last four Pie in the Sky events of the season.
The popular stargazing and supper evenings are held at the restaurant on the summit of Snaefell.
Later this month is the Far Sights In Fall on September 27 and 28, followed by the Meteor Specials on October 18 and 19.
Organised with the Isle of Man Astronomical Society, diners will be treated to an illustrated lecture on the night sky in the event of poor visibility.
Howard Parkin, chairman of the IOMAS, said: ‘This is the third year that we have undertaken these events and they have proved to be extremely popular.
‘The autumn sky is quite spectacular. For our September dates, the moon will not rise until about midnight so the Milky Way will be clearly visible along with the fantastic sight of the Andromeda galaxy a mere 2.5 million light years away. This object is a must see through a telescope but will hopefully also be visible to the naked eye.
‘The October dates will give us the opportunity to see the magnificent sight of the full moon. On all of our nights at the summit there is always the possibility of seeing some meteors, or shooting stars. In October the regular Orionid shower peaks on the 21st, so it is very possible we will see some Orionids a few days earlier. On any of the nights if clear we will almost certainly be able to see various satellites passing over our skies and in October the unmistakeable International Space Station will be visible whilst we are at the summit.’
Pie in the Sky trams depart Derby Castle at 6.40pm and Laxey at 7.15pm, with return trams departing Snaefell Summit at 11pm, arriving back at Laxey at 11.30pm and Derby Castle, Douglas, just after midnight.
Places, priced £29 per person including transport, supper and stargazing, can be booked direct with the Snaefell Summit Restaurant tel: (01624) 673631. Stargazers are advised to bring warm clothes.
Far Sights In Fall: Friday, September 27 and Saturday 28
In September the Manx sky will have no bright planets visible but the faint Uranus and Neptune may be visible through the telescopes. The wonderful group of stars known as the summer triangle will be clearly visible and the lack of moonlight will mean that the Milky Way will be visible stretching right across the sky. In the south eastern sky the Andromeda galaxy – just 2.5million light years away – will be visible.
Meteor Special: Friday, October 18 and Saturday 19
While no planets will be visible, the longer nights of October and the splendour of the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy makes the Manx autumn sky spectacular. This weekend is just a few days away from the peak Orionid meteor shower. As we train our telescopes towards England, look out for some meteors – shooting stars – that often blaze across the skies at this time of year.
To book ring 673631
Hospice Isle of Man has officially unveiled the new look Scholl Centre Day unit.
The day unit is used for patients three days a week and offers a wide range of services.
A new addition to the services includes a drop-in day to be held every Monday.
This service will run from 10am to 7pm and anyone who has cancer, or any other life-threatening illnesses is encouraged to attend.
Patients, relatives and carers can also attend. No referral is necessary.
The wide range of services include emotional support, advice, massage, Reiki and relaxation therapy.
There will also be a wide range of practical advice including financial matters, treatment regimes, diet and understanding medication.
The Dot’s Dream Foundation funded the ‘new look’. The committee from this charity presented a cheque for the fantastic amount of £11,000 to Margaret Simpson, chief executive of Hospice.
Margaret thanked the committee of Dot’s Dream Foundation for their contribution to the day unit.
Margaret said: ‘The room looks lovely, bright and colourful.” “It will make a huge difference to the vibe and feel of the day unit for staff, patients, families and volunteers.’
A plaque in memory of Dot Pitts was also unveiled. Dot’s Dream Foundation was launched on April 8, 2011 ,with the aim of continuing the fundraising work former mayor of Douglas Dot carried out.
Dot’s daughter, Nicola Walkingshaw, said: ‘My mum loved this room.
‘We have been fundraising for a while now and have given a number of items to the Hospice.
‘We are very pleased with the end result knowing our mum would have loved the vibrancy of the colours and decoration.’
Day unit manager Wendy Smith said: ‘This new services is being offered as a free and open service to provide advice and support to anyone who needs it, either patients or carers. It is not necessary to be a Hospice patient nor to have any involvement with Hospice. This is a separate service that does not need any referral or appointment, all you need to do is simply “drop in”.
‘There is access to a programme of activities including benefit advice, anxiety management or psychological support. There will also be support sessions for carers, or bereavement support if required. The team may also be able to direct you to other services and facilities that may be of benefit to you. You can have free access to our computer facility for information gathering and look at a library of patient/carer booklets and leaflets.
‘The drop-in day also welcomes patients and carers who would like to relax and call in for something to eat or drink while they are waiting for oncology appointments or afterwards. Hospice offers support if you need to have results or treatments explained further. There will be registered nurses on hand to give help and advice to anyone who needs it.’
The drop-in day also welcomes those who have finished their treatment regimes and will support cancer survivors for as long as they need it. Survivorship is an integral part of what the team look at during these drop-in days. Wendy added: ‘This type of drop-in day works really well in the UK so we decided to give it a go. Hopefully local people will find this a useful support and advice day particularly if they travel to the UK for treatment and feel local support would help.’
For further information call Wendy on 647426 or just drop in and Monday except bank holidays.
Pictured left to right are: Wendy Smith (day unit manager), Nicola Walkingshaw from Dot’s Dream Foundation, Debbie Pitts, Margaret Simpson, Frankie Pitts, Stephen Pitts and Matron for Hospice Diane Corrin.
Picture: Matt Mosur Photography.
The Microgaming Health and Care Trust has donated £5,000 to equip the Hospice Isle of Man’s new minibus with everything that it needs for wheelchair use.
The Hospice’s minibus is used on a daily basis for patient care, mainly to transport patients in and out of The Hospice’s Scholl Centre day unit.
It is also used to transport patients to and from Hospice appointments, for therapy services such as aromatherapy.
The Hospice’s new minibus is now equipped with a wheelchair lift, oxygen holders and a manual side step to facilitate easier access into the vehicle. The new minibus has been in use since July, and is already benefiting many Hospice patients and their families.
Jackie Raleigh, service support manager at the Hospice, said: ‘The Hospice’s minibus is a vital component to the services that we provide. This donation allows us to offer this important service to all patients, irrespective of their level of ability. We’d like to thank the Microgaming Health and Care Trust for their generous donation.’
The donation was made to the Hospice following a recommendation from the Diana Princess of Wales Care at Home Trust. Established in 1998, the Diana Princess of Wales Care at Home Trust works with the Hospice to facilitate Hospice at Home services in the Isle of Man.
The main aim of Hospice at Home is to provide care and support for those patients who have chosen to remain at home; a new minibus with wheelchair accessibility certainly helps to deliver these services.
Trevor Kirk, trustee of the Diana Princess of Wales Care at Home Trust, said: ‘Having worked with the Hospice for many years, we recognised how important it was to have a minibus which was wheelchair accessible; this is why we recommended that the Hospice seek funding for this. We are so pleased that the Microgaming Health and Care Trust was able to support this project; we thank them for their kind donation.’
Dr Roy Clague, trustee of the Microgaming Health and Care Trust, said: ‘The Hospice is a fantastic local charity that provides invaluable services to the island. Naturally we are delighted to be able to support them. This donation will ensure that all their patients can be transported safely, with ease; it will make a real difference to the local community.’
Pictured left to right: Dr Roy Clague, Microgaming Health and Care Trust, Christine Bloomer, Community Services Manager for Hospice Isle of Man, Trevor Kirk, Diana Princess of Wales Care at Home Trust, and Dr John Wardle, Microgaming Health and Care Trust.
Manx Telecom says its mobile network is now stable following problems on Friday.
The problems affected mobile calls and texts to on and off island customers as well as inbound and outbound roamers.
A backlog of delayed text messages may have been received from remote networks over the weekend as a result. Manx Telecom’s fixed line, broadband and mobile data services, worked as normal throughout.
Kevin Paige, Manx Telecom chief technology officer and customer service director, said that everything is being done to identify the cause.
He said: ‘Our engineers worked round the clock over the weekend and we are continuing to closely monitor the network, and liaise with our network partners and third party suppliers to establish the root cause of the problems experienced on Friday.
‘We apologise for any inconvenience caused and can assure customers that our operations team here on the Island are ready to react to any change in the current situation. For the latest information, please visit the network status page on our website,’
UK newspapers and the Isle of Man Examiner will be late in the shops today (Monday) after bad weather caused the cancellation of the Ben-my-Chree’s sailings yesterday and early this morning.
The papers are now being transported to the Isle of Man by air.
They should be in the shops before lunchtime.
Isle of Man Newspapers would like to apologise to readers for the delay in the delivery of the Examiner.
He has proved that setting up his own business amid the height of the economic downturn two years ago was the best business decision he could have made.
Capital Town Ltd has grown into a successful Castletown-based company.
Juan, 38, now has a team of painters working for him.
He said: ‘I don’t take my success for granted and it’s still a challenging environment.’
He added: ‘For some years I was a sub-contract painter to Hartford Homes and when I decided to set up my own company they gave me 100 per cent support at a time when they might have been tempted to look at a more established firm.
‘Starting a new business is never easy but Hartford Homes’ directors James and Norman Greenhalgh helped me get Capital Town up and running.
‘They believed in me and their support and business nous has been fantastic; it has helped me succeed and be in a position to create jobs for local lads.
‘Yes, of course there have been the worries which face any fledgling business but the fact that I don’t mind getting up in the morning is an indication of how much I enjoy my work and the satisfaction I get out of it.’
Norman Greenhalgh said: ‘Juan, along with other companies we use for painting and decorating, proved himself to be a good and reliable worker.
‘We recognised his potential which is why we supported and advised him when he started his own business.’
The chief executive of the British Isles’ largest offshore travel group, based in the Isle of Man, has been invited to speak at one of the UK’s most prestigious travel conferences next month.
Brian Kelly, chief executive officer of the Online Regional Travel Group, will be one of just a handful of specially chosen experts speaking at the Travel Directors’ Summit, at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 3.
Organised by Elman Wall, a leading independent firm of travel industry accountants, the event is invitation only and will see 200 delegates from privately owned leisure and business travel companies in attendance.
Many of those there will be representing some of the travel industry’s most famous blue-chip brands.
Brian will participate in a debate called ‘B’Leisure: What Business and Leisure travel can learn from each other’.
Each sector is distinctly different, both in terms of the knowledge required to do the job but also the sales techniques deployed.
He is uniquely placed to discuss this subject, being just one of a select group in the British Isles who have successfully developed distinct business and leisure brands.
In the Isle of Man, business travel is managed through Mann Link Travel on Athol Street in Douglas; leisure travel is managed through Mann Link Travel on Parliament Street in Ramsey and Richmond Travel on Duke Street in Douglas.
In the Channel Islands, Bellingham Travel in Jersey and Wayfarers World Travel in Guernsey both have distinct business and leisure divisions.
In addition, the Online Regional Travel Group also owns and operates a number of successful websites including www.justtheflight.co.uk, www.manxferries.com, www.manxflights.com and www.flybelfast.co.uk, as well as powering the travel and accommodation booking engines on affiliate websites including www.motorcycleadventures.im and www.manXtreme.com
The Group is now very much seen as an IT specialist within the travel sector thanks to the way it has pioneered travel technology, delivering what the market demands before anyone else.
Brian said: ‘The Elman Wall Travel Directors’ Summit is known throughout the industry as the flagship conference for privately-owned companies, and I am honoured to have been asked to participate and be one of the guest experts.
‘I started the Online Regional Travel Group in 1982 and it has grown from a one-man band to become the largest offshore travel group in the British Isles.
‘This has not been without its challenges in establishing both leisure and retail divisions, and I am looking forward to sharing these with the delegates next month.’
Deborah Potts, head of marketing and communications at Elman Wall, said: ‘We are delighted Brian has accepted our invitation to participate in the annual Travel Director’s Summit.
‘As the owner of one of only a few companies operating successfully in both the business and leisure sectors, we feel he is the natural choice to take part in our debate and deliver advice about the challenges this faces, as well as offer any advice to people who may be looking to diversify their business.
‘The conference aims to deliver a diverse educational experience for delegates and
‘I know Brian’s contribution will be eagerly anticipated and very thought-provoking for them all.’
www.ortg.co.uk.
The Music Service has moved from its base in Lord Street, Douglas, to St Ninian’s Lower School, at Bemahague.
Education chiefs say the new facilities address a number of the shortcomings of its previous base, in the same building as the Office of Fair Trading.
The future of the building is now under consideration by its owner, the Department of Infrastructure.
DEC estates director Richard Collister explained: ‘The former premises, which were leased from the Department of Infrastructure, had insufficient parking and drop off/pick-up, being situated on a busy main road.
‘Facilities were located over two floors, with no lift, all of which made access difficult for students and teachers carrying instruments.’
There was inadequate storage for both instruments and the service’s huge catalogue of music manuscripts, scores, sheet music and educational resources.
And poor climate control and noise from the street affected rehearsals and exams.
The school is now home to the Department of Education and Children’s Music Service’s teaching and administration staff.
And it will be the setting for music lessons, professional development for teachers, rehearsals and exams, including external board exams taken by several hundred children and adults throughout the year.
It will be the meeting place for some of the Music Service and community-run groups and choirs.
Mr Collister said: ‘The new facilities, on the first floor of the school at Bemahague, provide good access and parking, a dedicated rehearsal and examination room, space for storage of instruments and archiving of music, with specialist racking, plus a room for peripatetic staff, who work around schools but need a base for preparations/planning.’
He said the proximity of the Music Service to St Ninian’s own music department provided opportunities for close liaison and shared use of facilities for the benefit of the school’s own students and others.’
The rehearsal space will be available for external letting.
Maggie Richardson, head of Music Service, added: ‘It is exciting to see the new centre take shape and we are looking forward to working with the staff and pupils of St Ninian’s Lower School, as well as other schools and community groups, in such pleasant surroundings.
‘Public access to our library and other facilities will be much easier than in Lord Street and I hope we will continue to see plenty of visitors.’
An open day will be announced in due course.
DoI head of asset management Andrew Wallace said there were currently no plans to dispose of the building.
‘We are looking at what’s there now and how to make best use of it.’
He said part of the strategic asset management unit’s role was looking at how best government offices could be consolidated into government buildings and ‘increase density of occupation’.
Businesswoman Maureen Schofield has never looked back since she was given a racehorse as a surprise 50th birthday present.
The horse, Mister Manannan, has become a familiar figure on racecourses in the UK and further afield.
Maureen, co-director of Castletown based corporate service provider Optimus Fiduciaries Limited, likened owning racehorses to running a ‘mini business’ in its own right. She is the sole owner of the horse she affectionately calls ‘Mister Man’ whose last outing was last Tuesday night at Beverley when it finished an unlucky fourth.
She and husband Mark Schofield, a co-director of Optimus, also jointly own another flat racing sprinter known as Majestic Manannan.
Maureen is also part of the Gaga Syndicate that owns another popular runner called Bonnie Charlie.
All three horses could be running at some stage during the prestigious Ayr Gold Cup meeting later this week.
Mr Schofield was in the Midlands on business last week and drove up to the East Yorkshire track to see Mister Manannan in action.
Mr and Mrs Schofield live in Douglas and run Optimus from St Mary’s, The Parade, in Castletown.
Maureen, originally from North Yorkshire, described Mister Manannan as her ‘little boy’ who has a habit of making a beeline for her scarf when she visits him at David Nicholls’s stables in Thirsk.
I’ve been involved (in horseracing) since I was given Mister Manannan as a surprise present for a significant birthday four years ago last March. It’s proved to be the best birthday gift I’ve ever had. Mark’s always been interested in horse racing and his family have been too.
‘My mother Mary died in Christmas 2008. I was coming up to my 50th, and Mark took it upon himself that a racehorse would be a good way of keeping me going back to Yorkshire.
‘Hence the choice of trainer David Nicholls because he is based close to Easingwold.
‘Mister Manannan was sourced, he came from Ireland. He was two and we had him from being broken in. We chose the colours and looked for a name with a Manx connection.
‘He’s my little boy and he’s quite a character. He’s stubborn and likes to have his own way but he’s been good to us.
‘He came third in his first race at Ripon, then we took him to Pontefract and he won. It was something I’ll never forget, he won by six or seven lengths.
‘We were being congratulated and this guy said: ‘‘Do you realise most owners never ever have a winner. It’s only about 10 per cent of owners who have a winner and you have done it in two races.’’ ’
Mark and Maureen try to watch their horses run whenever they can.
She said: ‘We’re running a business here in the Isle of Man and we have family commitments so we try to juggle everything.
‘We try and get over as much as we can.’
Maureen has lived in the island since 1979, describing herself as a stopover.
Mister Manannan is the most highly rated of the three flat racing horses the Schofields are involved in. Aged six years old he has raced at Royal Ascot, ‘Glorious’ Goodwood and even Meydan in Dubai. ‘The stables at Meydan were out out of this world.’
Out of his 28 runs he has won four races, come second in two races and third in four contests.
Bonnie Charlie came third in a race at Thirsk a fortnight ago. He has won four times out of 41 races.
Majestic Mananannan, known affectionately as ‘Maj’ has had two wins out of 17 races.
Maureen said she and her husband enjoyed a good relationship as owners with trainer David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls who trains all three horses in North Yorkshire. He is a well known character in the horse racing world. ‘One of the first times he rang me after we had bought Mister Manannan I think I was shopping in Strand Street at the time and he left a message on the answerphone which went along the lines of: ‘‘Maureen, now that you are a blank, blank racehorse owner you have got to get used to answering your telephone.’’ I won’t repeat the blank blank words.’
Asked by Business News: ‘It’s not cheap owning a racehorse?’ Maureen replied: ‘It depends if they’re winning or not,’ with a laugh.
Maureen said she and her husband were saddened by the loss of the direct flights from the island to Leeds Bradford airport because it was so handy for getting to North Yorkshire.
Optimus Fiduciaries employs more than 30 people and some of the staff like to keep abreast of the latest runnings of the horses.
Maureen said they love the friendliness and atmosphere at racecourses and nothing beats the the excitement of seeing your horse pass the winning post in front.
She said she is not tempted to have a flutter when their horses are running.
‘Our entry fees for the races they enter are our bet,’ she said.
A Highland-based firm specialising in private water supplies is to carry out borehole drilling in the island early in the new year.
Engineers from HighWater (Scotland) will be in the island today (Monday) and tomorrow to check out the site near Snaefell where a private client wants a borehole drilled for fresh water.
And the company says it will be able to provide no-obligation surveys for other residents while the team is here.
HighWater boss Richard Innes said: ‘A private client near Snaefell has currently got a horrible stream supply. The new owner realises this isn’t for him and wants to drill a borehole.
‘We are coming over on Monday and Tuesday to have a look at this site.’
He said costs could be kept down if they were doing drilling for more than one client.
HighWater has been going 15 years and currently employs 14 people. It’s based in Nairn in Morayshire but has recently opened an office in Perth and there is a possibility of expanding into Devon.
It operates throughout the Scottish Highlands, Perthshire, Moray and Aberdeenshire but also takes on specialist projects further afield.
HighWater has developed private water supplies based on boreholes, shallow dug wells, natural springs and surface water catchment from lochs and rivers. It uses drilling rigs mounted on steel tracks. Boreholes can be used both for providing a domestic water supply and as a source of heating using ground source heat pumps.
Richard said: ‘Business is absolutely booming.
‘A lot of people want to build in remote areas with no mains connection. There is also a concern that the existing infrastructure is starting to deteriorate.’
He explained there could never be a guarantee that water can be found.
‘It could be 12 metres or 120 metres down – we are looking for fractures in the bedrock. But there is a risk - in 10 per cent of cases we don’t get any water at all,’ he said. To book a no-obligation survey, contact 01667 451009 or email info@highwaterscotland.co.uk
Police are appealing for witnesses to an argument between two motorists in Anagh Coar.
The incident happened on Saturday at about 4pm on Cushag Road, below the Heron pub, after a grey Ford Focus pulled into the path of a blue Nissan Micra, causing it and other vehicles to stop.
It’s alleged the argument continued shortly afterwards further up the road, outside a house. Anyone with information should call police headquarters on 631212.
The high winds mean that Snaefell Mountain Railway’s services have been cancelled today.
The bad weather has also led to delays and cancellations for the Steam Packet.