Police are investigating a hit-and-run incident in Ramsey last night (Thursday).
It happened in Grove Mount South between 7.30am and 7.15pm.
A red saloon vehicle that was parked in the roadway near to Ramsey Group Practice sustained heavy impact damage to its front offside wing as a result of being hit by another vehicle which failed to stop.
Call 631212 with information.
This Saturday sees a return to the Isle of Man and to Amber Bar in particular for John Power, playing his first show here on the island since 2007.
The former bass player for celebrated outfit The La’s and long-term frontman for the hugely popular indie band Cast is about to embark on a UK tour with the rest of the Cast line-up throughout December – at venues including The Institute in Birmingham and Brixton Electric – and so this intimate acoustic show will be worth checking out.
Support for the show comes from Chris Gray, another well-known and also local acoustic artist.
Tickets are on sale, priced at £15 and are available from Amber, Peter Norris Music or by calling the ticket hotline 306257.
Last Saturday saw the third and final heat of the Battle of the Bands competition also at Amber, with Ironclad taking the top spot and Baad Acid coming in as runner up.
These two bands go forward to the final at the bar that takes place on Saturday, November 29.
They join The Water Is Rising, Abrasive Melody, The Clowns Call For War and Leadvein.
Ahead of the John Power show, Friday night sees The Baltic States heading to the island from their base in Liverpool for two shows here over the weekend.
Featuring The Wretched Pearls frontwoman, Helen Morrison, in their ranks, the band head to Amber first with additional DJ sets from Dusty Plankton, Kym Holland and Martyn Cain tomorrow night (Friday) – where the doors open at 8pm – and then on to The Carnival Live Lounge, also in Douglas on Saturday night.
Support on Saturday comes from Mr Eliminator and The Deadly Vipers and additional DJ sets from Jev Maligins, Dusty Plankton, Ballagroove and Ben Jones.
For more information on the band, visit www.facebook.com/thebalticstates
If a bit of blues guitar is your thing then I suggest making your way to at the Laxey Institute this Saturday night. Pete Woodman, JDS Collection and The Big Wheel Blues Band all appear on a bill that’s in aid of the Big Wheel Blues Festival, which in turn supports The Children’s Centre.
It all kicks off at 7.30pm and tickets can be bought for £5 online from http://etickets.im/bigwheelblues.asp
Elsewhere, a well-known veteran cover band in the shape of Caution Runners make their way to Jaks in Douglas this Saturday night.
Expect a mixture of Arctic Monkeys, The Beatles, The Killers, Kings of Leon, Muse, Oasis and Radiohead, among others.
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Steve Leach brings the latest rumblings, murmurings, news and views on forthcoming events in and around the island’s music scene. Help support the scene by emailing leachsteve@hotmail.com
Tynwald has given its backing to a backbencher’s calls for a new strategy to rebalance the public finances.
Michael MHK Alfred Cannan raised concerns that £406m had been drawn from reserves since 2009, with £137m in the last year alone - and claimed a further £100m would have to be taken from reserves and that it would cost every household £2,500 to meet the shortfall.
Referring to comments by the Treasury Minister Eddie Teare and Chief Minister Allan Bell that the government was close to rebalancing its revenue account following the loss of £200m of VAT revenue, Mr Cannan said: ‘Let’s start being honest with the situation.’
His comments came as Tynwald debated a Council of Ministers’ mid term report on securing a sustainable future for the island.
Mr Cannan hit out ‘hotchpotch’ of reforms and charges forced on the community and argued that Tynwald should have a role in developing strategy and not just the CoMin.
His amendment calling for a new rebalancing strategy was carried and the amended motion approved unanimously.
Mr Cannan said afterwards: ‘I am pleased my amendment was given such strong support. It is clear now that Tynwald is concerned about the current policies that are being pursued and that we require a much clearer and more sustainable plan to deal with the £100m shortfall.
‘We cannot carry on delivering a reform programme which appears to be disjointed and lacking cohesion. On the one hand the government chooses to save a baggage handling service that can easily be delivered by the private sector and on the other hand chooses to close down two highly popular central post offices. That is not acceptable.’
Mr Cannan welcomed the offer from the Chief Minister to engage widely across Tynwald to come forward with a clear strategic plan and policies.
The Michael MHK said: ‘These matters can no longer be the sole preserve of CoMin.’
Mr Teare insisted the figure was £60m not £100m but accepted that ‘we need to be bold’, and steps had to be taken to replenish the reserves including the capital fund.
Figures given in a written reply to a Tynwald question last month show that £179m will have been transferred from various reserves to the revenue accounts over the five years from 2009-10. The total amount used from reserves over that period is £406m including £92.9m transferred to the capital fund and £134m on other expenditure excluding the National Insurance Fund.
In a clear attack on Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne, Alex Downie MLC hit out a ‘mealy mouthed’ Ministers putting up charges.
A range of pewterware and silverware by celebrated Manx designer Archibald Knox are currently on display at the Sayle Gallery.
The exhibition is being staged to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth.
Knox, who died in 1933, was born in Cronkbourne Village and his distinctive designs were retailed through Liberty’s in London in the early 1900s.
They are collected worldwide, especially in America where record prices have been paid. In 1999, a silver and enamel cigar box made $210,000, apparently bought by actor Brad Pitt.
Knox was also a highly regarded water colourist, and over the past 10 years his paintings have become much sought after, especially in his native Isle of Man.
The exhibition, which runs until Wednesday, includes pewter, silver and some paintings, with prices ranging from £275 to £3,750.
Exhibits include a tea set, a biscuit box, rose bowl, vases, trays, glass liner pieces, silver spoons and forks, an enamelled ice bucket and pairs of candlesticks. Most of the items on display are for sale.
Damian Ciappelli, chairman of the Sayle Gallery, said: ‘The gallery believes it is important that we should celebrate this iconic Manxman’s achievements and mark the 150th anniversary year of his birth with this exhibition.
‘Knox’s work, especially his designs for Liberty, have gained international importance and recognition over the years.’
The Sayle Gallery, which is at The Colonnade, Harris Promenade, Douglas, is open between 10am and 5pm Monday to Saturday and 1.30pm and 4.30pm Sunday. Call 674557 for more information.
Manx Financial Solutions (MFS) says Steve Rumsey has joined them to provide ‘commercial lending solutions’ for businesses.
Steve worked for 34 years at HSBC and since leaving there has been helping some of his former customers with their borrowing requirements after establishing his own business consultancy.
Steve is professionally qualified as an associate of the Institute of Financial Services and has been a lecturer in commercial law and accountancy.
He is also an adjudicator for the financial services ombudsman scheme – this role is essentially that of investigating magistrate.
MFS was set up by Trevor Kirk, formerly of Lloyds Bank International and is part of the MFG Group of companies that includes Edgewater Associates and Conister Bank.
MFS provides professional assistance to businesses seeking all types of finance and to individuals looking to choose the best possible mortgage solution.
Mr Kirk said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Steve Rumsey to our team.
‘Steve has a vast experience and knowledge of the preferences of different lenders; he has established relationships both locally and in the UK.
‘This means that our clients will be getting the best possible help finding finance solutions from people they can trust.’
This year’s Joey Dunlop Foundation charity meal is at the Empress Hotel in Douglas and will be attended by a host of both established and up-and-coming road racers.
Among this year’s special guest speakers will be Lee Johnston, Ivan Lintin, James Cowton, Paul Shoesmith and, they hope, Peter Hickman, who has yet to confirm.
Joining them will be a number of Isle of Man-based riders too.
Joey Dunlop Foundation chairman Kevin Quirk said: ‘We are staying with last year’s theme which was The Young Pretenders.’
A highlight of the evening, as ever, will be the tombola prize draw for this year’s star prize which is a John McGuinness replica Padgett’s Honda CBR600 which has been fitted with a number of extras. An added attraction is the name of multiple TT winner Mr McGuinness as the first registered owner in the log book. During the evening, the bike which will be the subject of next year’s prize draw will be revealed.
Tickets for the meal, which are selling quickly, cost £35 each and are available from Mr Quirk at the JDF office on 677741
The meal takes place on January 10 next year.
The new independent Legal Aid Committee is reminding the public that they can help shape the future of access to justice for those without the means to pay for it.
The committee is conducting the first fundamental review of the island’s legal aid system for 14 years and began an open public consultation in September.
The consultation asks for comments regarding the ability of the current legal aid system to provide: fairness and equity in access to justice; effective use of limited resources and value for money; transparency, simplicity and efficiency; professionalism and continuous quality improvement in practice; and a service shaped around the needs of its customers, clients, and users.
The committee is also keen to encourage respondents to be unhindered by the operation of the existing arrangements and to provide ideas and express options for alternative approaches which may deliver the above principles more effectively.
Submissions should be sent to legalaidconsultation@gov.im or Kevan Cubbon, Legal Aid Committee, c/o General Registry, Deemster’s Walk, Buck’s Road, Douglas, IM1 3AR, by November 28.
Ramsey’s Christmas Charities appeal got off to a good start with a bag-packing event at Shoprite last weekend.
Assisted by 11 Ramsey Grammar School pupils, the volunteers packed customers’ bags and collected £904.40.
Further contributions can be made in cash in the collection buckets placed in Ramsey Post Office and the Ramsey branch of the Isle of Man Bank.
Cheques can also be handed in or sent to the bank (payable to Ramsey Christmas Charities) and donors may wish to identify whether they wish their donation to be shared between all eight local charities listed or to go just to the ones they specify. Organisers usually publish the names of the main donors in the press – unless otherwise requested.
The final fundraising event for the 2014 appeal will be a bucket collection during the Ramsey Chamber of Trade’s annual ‘Santa Dash’ event on Sunday, December 7.
Peel Commissioners have expressed their anger after their appeal to stop Heritage Homes building 144 new houses at Reayrt ny Cronk in the town was dismissed.
The plan has caused huge controversy in Peel ,with residents holding a public meeting citing insufficient infrastructure and lack of open space amongst their concerns.
Commissioner Christine Moughtin said at the board’s latest meeting: ‘I would like Phil Gawne to sit here and tell us why he stands by the planning inspector’s recommendation to dismiss the appeal, knowing this town is developing at one hell of a rate.
‘It’s beyond a joke, the school’s bursting, the medical centre has long waiting lists. He says he’s listening to us but nobody is listening.
‘As the saying goes, the higher the monkey climbs, the more the backside shows, and my goodness that’s true. There are 24 of them in Douglas and more.’
Fellow commissioner Ian Davison agreed, saying: ‘I agree but it was inevitable Mr Gawne was going to find against us, it’s been zoned for development since 1988.
‘In 2016, when they redesign the strategic plans, that’s the time we need to stand and fight.’
Commissioner Alan Jones said: ‘I always felt we would not win. We have got to be cleverer, don’t rely on Mr Gawne, he states he’ll listen but he’ll take into account the Council of Ministers, they’ll see economic value for the island as a whole. We need to lobby to change the way planning is done. I think we should have gone for planning gain.’
Mrs Moughtin added: ‘Planning gain to me is as bad as a brown envelope, we’ll give you something if you let us do this.’
Town clerk Peter Leadley said: ‘They have referred to there being more local representation on the committee.’
Commissioner David Lace said: ‘By the time they do that there’ll be no land left in Peel.’
Rowany Golf Club in Port Erin looks set to close, but the commissioners have offered a new deal – including vastly reduced rent - hoping to give a golf club a future there.
The club will hold an emergency general meeting on December 18, at which the resolution is to wind up the company.
Club captain Martin Young said: ‘We have been suffering a loss in the last few years, that has been met by reserves, that cannot continue indefinitely.
‘The real catalyst was the lease (with the local authority) was up for renewal in April 2016, it’s a seven-year full repairing lease, which is quite considerable, we did not have the confidence to renew that … we are not profitable, the business is owned by the members, in the last three years we have suffered from a considerable fall in members and that has had an impact on reserves.’
‘Falling membership is‘a general thing about golf, it’s widespread in the Isle of Man and the UK,’ he said. ‘It’s quite costly to get into (golf) and you need time to commit to it and the recession has had a big impact in the last three years.’
The club has worked on reviving interest, he added.
‘We tried very hard to attract new members, juniors, having special offers, we made fees easy to pay, and they were slightly reduced but still we lost members. We have spoken to members that left, some went to other clubs, a lot said work or family commitments meant they cannot play. As people leave you do not get an influx.’
He added: ‘The income from green fees is not a fraction of what we get from subscriptions, a drop in members has had a massive impact on the finances.’
In a three-year period, the club lost a third of its members and half of its cash. In October 2011 there were 481 members and a cash balance of £151,000.
By October 2014 that had fallen to 328 members and a cash balance of £73,500.
Rowany is one of nine golf courses in the island, too many for the number of golfers to be sustainable said Mr Young.
‘Yes there are too many golf courses [in the island]. I do not know the exact figures, but there are about 2,000 [players] it was 3,000 four or five years ago.
‘Two thousand does not make nine courses viable.’
The news means redundancy for the the club’s four employees (two green staff, a general manager and bar steward).
‘It was very unpleasant to make them redundant just before Christmas,’ he said.
Commissioners’ vice chairman Steve George said the board have discussed ‘a number of plans and incentives’ with the club and ‘dialogue is still ongoing’.
Commissioners’ chairman Ged Power, who runs Isle of Man Golf Tours, declared an interest and took no part in discussions about the golf club.
The authority has offered to reduce the rent from £16,000 to £3,000 a year, break the lease from April 2015 and enter a new seven-year lease with a break option (and three months’ notice); the club can retain a smaller area of the club house (rates, currently £6,000 a year, will be reassessed pro rata); the club can also retain the under lease of a field rented out to a third party.
Mr Young said: ‘Even if there was magic wand and it was given to us for free, we are in a business that is losing money. We are running out of cash. There is not a solution for a better deal they have offered us.’
If no agreement is reached with the current club, the authority would then ask for expressions of interest.
Mr George added: ‘Port Erin Commissioners remain committed to retaining a golf course within Port Erin and will provide every assistance to any organisation who wishes to do so.’
The news has already prompted fears the land will be redeveloped as housing.
But the commissioners’ office confirmed the land – which has been a golf course for 119 years and covers 150 acres – is zoned for recreational use and green space and rezoning is a lengthy process involving proof its current designation is redundant.
The judges in Manx Stars In Their Eyes ‘The Last Show Ever’ faced a tough decision as the standard of the 12 singers who made it through to the final was so high.
But it was 30-year-old mum of two Kate Cowley, who transformed into Celine Dion, to sing It’s All Coming Back To Me Now in the Villa Marina’s Royal Hall who was crowned the winner.
Since Saturday’s event, the video of her performance on YouTube has already received more than 1,800 hits.
One of the organisers, James Proudfoot said: ‘The 13th and final show was again fully supported and the audience were not disappointed by the line up of singers and dance routines throughout the night.’
He added: ‘We are still waiting for a final figure but we estimate that we raised £15,000 on Saturday for Manx Miracles and The Manx Blind Welfare Society, which takes our total to over £215,000 since the show started in 2000.’
Gena’s Dance Academy kick started the night with a stunning routine to Danish percussion duo Safri Duo’s hit Played Alive (The Bongo Song). Senior modern dancers then provided the dance routines for all of the performances, beginning with last year’s winner Jack Divers.
He repeated his winning performance as Bobby Darin.
Judging the 12 acts that made it through to the final from more than 60 entrants were Manx singer-songwriter Anna Goldsmith, former Radio 1 breakfast show co-host Dave Vitty, South Douglas MHK David Cretney and Energy FM’s Tessa Hawley.
Kate, who lives in Douglas with husband David and children William, three, and Aalin, one, received a cheque for £750 from Pokerstars. In second place was Rebecca Forrest who sang Rainy Days and Mondays as Karen Carpenter, to win £500 from Ardern and Druggan.
Tom Dixon was placed third. He took to the stage as Elvis Costello to sing the cover of She, which features in the film Notting Hill.
The other singers on the night were: Emma Mingins who sang Liquid Lunch as Caro Emerald; Angela Wells who sang Brass in Pocket as Crissie Hynde; Bethany Kaneen who sang Jolene as Dolly Parton; Richard Cull who sang I Started a Joke as Robin Gibb; Neil King who sang Always On My Mind as Neil Tennent from Pet Shop Boys; Adam Kelly who sang I Bet That You Look Good On The Dance Floor as Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys; Ann-Marie Craine who sang That Don’t Impress Me Much as Shania Twain; Lee France who sang What I’ve Done as Chester Bennington from Linkin Park; Donna Colligon who sang Love Is a Battlefield as Pat Benatar.
It was announced in the summer that this year’s show would be the last.
James admitted that they were very proud of the show – but that they no longer had the time to make the show what it is.
Watch Kate’s winning performance at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRogR-st6zQ&feature=youtu.be
Any scheme to make the basement of Douglas’s Market Hall watertight would not be viable, a council committee has decided.
Councillor David Ashford, who is chairman of the council’s Housing and Property Committee, said experts had assessed the potential cost but at £230,000 it was prohibitively expensive.
‘We can’t spend that amount of ratepayers’ money to make it watertight,’ he said.
‘It was worth looking at but it’s not realistic to spend so much on the market hall basement, so any more maintenance will concentrate on the future stability of the building.’
The main floor of Market Hall is now used by art and design students from the Isle of Man College who took up residence in September. The market also remains open to the public who can go into the building and see the work being done by the students. In addition some traders such as the cafe and the butchers remain in the building.
Now that the idea of waterproofing the basement has been shelved, a further survey of the building is to take place to assess if any other maintenance work is required.
‘As a good landlord, I think we need to assess if there is any deterioration in the building and it is often better to tackle it straight away rather than wait for five years until the cost has trebled,’ Councillor Ashford said.
Some painting and decorating was done in the hall before the students moved in but the height of the building meant it was not possible to tackle the full ceiling.
Depending on the outcome of the survey, props may be used in the basement to help give extra support to the floor.
‘We’ve seen nothing to suggest the floor won’t stand the load, but it means if we did decide to do any work inside the building like more painting, which required scaffolding to be erected inside, we know it would be able to support it.
Vacant units in the Victorian property are used by the college students who can also use the main hall for events such as exhibitions and fashion shows. Councillor Ashford said in 2012-13, Douglas rate payers subsidised the building to the tune of more than £18,000 and this should now be reduced.
‘There was not a lot in it latterly, so this has given a brand new lease of life to a building that has been in decline for many years,’ he said.
A Christmas floral demonstration will be given by Jenny Corrin at 7.30pm on Friday, December 12 at St Mark’s school room.
Festive trimmings and baubles will be provided; six floral pieces made by Jenny will be raffled.
Refreshments will be served.
Tickets, at £5, are available by phoning 622022 or 851384.
Proceeds go to the upkeep of the village’s school room.
Cummal Mooar Resource Centre, Queen’s Promenade, Ramsey will be holding a Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 6, from 2.30pm.
Santa will be in his grotto, and there will be lots of stalls, two raffles with fabulous prizes and tasty seasonal refreshments.
All money raised will go towards the comfort of the residents.
For more information, contact Andrea McDade on 814167.
Millionaire Brian Eaton hopes Tesco will set up shop in the Strand Shopping Centre for which he has just spent millions in cash to buy.
The 82-year-old businessman says he is looking forward to taking a hands-on approach at the Douglas shopping venue.
Mr Eaton ended months of speculation and fears for the future of the centre when he bought it from the receivers.
‘I am very proud to now own the building. It is a well designed modern property and a credit to the Isle of Man,’ said Mr Eaton.
He is hopeful that a second Tesco shop could be coming to the capital in the not too distant future.
Tesco recently told Isle of Man Newspapers the old MEA showroom in the Strand Shopping Centre was one of the options considered.
Mr Eaton said: ‘We are hoping Tesco are going to open.
‘They have gone as far as internal planning for it . Nationally Tesco are going all out for these smaller outlets.’
He revealed there’s a ‘second big company’ that he hopes will follow Tesco into the centre. But details of this company are under wraps at the moment.
He would not say exactly how much he spent but confirmed it was in millions. He hinted it cost £10 million to build the centre which opened in 1990. The centre was placed in the hands of receivers DTZ early this year and Brian J Eaton Ltd took over ownership on November 3.
Mr Eaton told the Courier he firmly believes the ‘customer is always right.’ And as a result he says he aims to reduce overhead costs which he hopes will reflect on shop prices and rents.
Mr Eaton, who has lived in the island for about 17 years, said he has paid cash for the centre ‘having bought and sold a few other properties.’
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More on this in next Tuesday’s Examiner.
Police in the Central Neighbourhood Policing Team were today asking members of the public for their help in tracing a person who has been reported missing.
Mark Warren, 45, is missing from the Glen Maye area of the island.
Mark is described as clean shaven, 6ft 1in tall, slim build with short cut greying hair and wearing spectacles.
He was last seen in the island on the evening of Monday, November 17. He was wearing a dark coloured coat, with a dark full zipped hoodie, dark blue jeans, training shoes and he was carrying a red and black coloured small backpack.
Police urge that Mark is not in any trouble but ask that he or anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts contact them at Police Headquarters, Douglas on 631212.
Peel Lifeboat coxswain John Hunter said he and his crew were involved in ‘some of the worst conditions’ he has ever sailed in during a tough rescue.
Peel RNLI lifeboat released details of a difficult rescue it carried out in poor conditions with south easterly winds gusting at over 40mph.
The all weather lifeboat Ruby Clery went to the aid of a yacht in trouble 12 miles off Peel at around 11.30 am on Friday.
The yacht, sailing from Stranraer to Douglas with two crew on board was caught in heavy seas when one of the crew was taken ill.
The lifeboat reached it in about an hour and with ‘great difficulty’ managed to take the vessel in tow.
On reaching sheltered waters nearer Peel two of the RNLI volunteers were transferred to the yacht to help, eventually arriving back in Peel at 3.45pm.
Dr. John Snelling the Peel lifeboat medical officer saw to the casualty, who was described as being very cold and wet.
After a check up and a change of clothes he was transferred to Noble’s hospital for further checks.
The other crewman was also cold and wet but neither were in a life threatening condition.
On Peel Lifeboat’s Facebook, coxswain John Hunter described the conditions as ‘some of the worst I have sailed in.’
Terror, mystery and uproarious mayhem will ensue when Sherlock Holmes and his trusty sidekick Watson attempt to unravel the ancient curse of the Baskerville family before the Hound claims its next victim.
The Hound of The Baskervilles, the most popular of all of the Sherlock Holmes adventures, will be brought to life by Parker and Snell Company in a slapstick comedy spoof packed full of laughter and suspense.
The company that brought Shrek The Musical is bringing Steven Canny and John Nicholson’s makeover of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s timeless classic to the Gaiety Theatre stage.
When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead, with terror etched on his face, and the paw prints of a gigantic hound beside his body, the great detective Sherlock Holmes is summoned from Baker Street, with Dr Watson in tow, to unravel the mysteries surrounding his death, and investigate the ancient curse of the Hound of the Baskervilles.
Artistic director Colin Snell said: ‘This was an obvious choice for u.s - it is a quick-fire, multi-role play, full of comic invention, and played at break-neck speed, with just a cast of three, which takes the original story and turns it on its head.
‘It allows the actors a tremendous amount of creativity and originality; they need to be physically fit, versatile, and supremely skilled and confident to carry it off successfully.
‘And in the trio of Carl Parker, Ben Hynes and Joseph Gale we have a winning combination.
‘It is rare to have so much fun at rehearsals, but we really have had. And an audience is guaranteed to share in that fun also. The characters are all there, the sense of intrigue and mystery, darkness and foreboding, coupled with a lot of surprises and comic invention have been the challenges we have been faced with.’
He added: ‘It’s good to work with an ensemble that brings so much to the rehearsal time which only really started about 10 days ago. But we believe in short, intense rehearsal periods. It keeps the momentum and urgency going. And, importantly, the freshness.’ The cast are no strangers to the island. Carl Parker is a Manx actor most recently seen as Frank in Educating Rita. Ben Hynes has been coming over with In Yer Space/Parker and Snell Company for about the last 14 years, on and off, for the Easter Festival of Plays and more recently with A Night in November, Bouncers the Remix and Stones in his Pockets. Joseph Gale played one of the Three Pigs and A Knight in Parker and Snell Company’s recent production of Shrek the Musical.
Hound of the Baskervilles will be at the Gaiety Theatre from Thursday, November 27 to Saturday, November 29. The show starts at 7.30pm.
For tickets call 600555 or visit www.gov.im/villagaiety
A service has been launched aimed at helping primary school children understand what abuse is and how they can stay safe.
Children’s charity NSPCC marked the launch of the ChildLine Schools Service along with partners HSBC with one of its assemblies at Cronk y Berry School.
ChildLine Schools Service area coordinator for the Isle of Man Chris Dunn said: ‘Research tells us that the majority of children who contact ChildLine for advice, information, and support, are over 11 years old.
‘However we know that the majority of children who are on a child protection plan are under the age of 11.’
The service, which will visit every primary school in the island, delivers free assemblies to children aged nine to 11, followed by an interactive workshop a week later designed to encourage them to recognise situations where they may need help and explains ways of accessing support.
Mr Dunn said: ‘These younger children are not connected so much with the outside world.
‘In fact, their world is quite small. So if abuse is happening to them at that age, then it is very difficult for children to speak up.
‘That’s why we want to educate children earlier, and ensure they know how to keep themselves safe and seek help if they need it. We want to prevent child abuse before it starts.’
Cronk y Berry head teacher Rob Sellors said: ‘The service is about raising awareness of the numerous support agencies children can access, including from parents, carers, teachers and also ChildLine.
‘It is really important and really succeeded in delivering some very important messages in a clear and engaging way that was easy for the children to understand.
‘Child abuse is a very difficult subject to talk about at any age but the staff and volunteers in the ChildLine Schools Service managed to strike the right balance in conveying the very important messages in an age appropriate way that wasn’t scary.’
In addition to a three year investment to deliver the service in the island, a number of employees from HSBC will be actively involved by becoming ChildLine Schools Service volunteers themselves.
The launch coincides with national Anti-Bullying week( 17-21 November).
Pupils welcomed the descendants of Manx engineer William Kennish into Dhoon School.
Kennish (1799-1862) was an engineer, inventor and explorer. Given his roots in Maughold parish, his life and contributions to Maughold and the Isle of Man are still taught at Dhoon School.
Great great grandsons Clifford Kennish and Dana Kennish Smith travelled from the USA to open the William Kennish Centre at the Isle of Man College and called into Dhoon School where they saw first hand the children learning about William. Pictured is pupil Lewis Hartley showing his work to Dana and Clifford.