Four men accused of kidnapping have been remanded in custody. Abdul Ahad, aged 19, of Kent Street, Burnley, Muhammed Hammad Khan, aged 24, of Jasmin Terrace, Bradford, Amman Sohail, 22, of Roydscliffe Road, Bradford, and Zishaan Amar Sharif, 21, of St Michael’s Road, Bradford, will next appear in court on January 26.

A teenager has appeared in court facing two charges relating to a car accident near Foxdale in the summer.

Brandon Thomas Gowland, who is aged 18, of Little Mill, Road, Onchan, entered no plea to charges of causing the death by dangerous driving of Brad Campbell on the A24 Foxdale Road on August 24.

He is also charged with causing serious bodily harm to a second person by dangerous driving on the same date. The case was adjourned and committal proceedings to the Court of General Gaol Delivery are expected to take place on January 20. In the meantime he was bailed subject to a £500 recognisance.

He must not drive and he must not leave the island without the court’s permission. Both victims were passengers in Mr Gowland’s Renault Clio.

Rowany Golf Club will survive into its 120th year after members voted overwhelmingly to save the club from closure.

At a packed Extraordiary General Meeting at the Falcon’s Nest in Port Erin on Thursday, a motion to wind up the club was unanimously defeated in favour of a series of proposed changes aimed at saving the club.

Club captain Martin Young told the Examiner: ‘There’s been a huge amount of effort to avoid the winding up, which was looking like the only option we had.’

‘The door was opened for members to come forward with a viable alternative, and I’m very pleased to say that we had a solution to vote on’.

The club appointed a new committee charged with creating a business plan by April 2015, and agreed to an increase in membership fees that includes an additional one-off payment of £50 towards a ‘rescue fund’.

Mr Young paid tribute to everyone who had helped them through a difficult few months. He said: ‘We have a knowledgeable and committed group of members who are prepared to help us work through the changes, and we’ve had the support of Port Erin Commissioners in trying to save a much-loved facility in the town.

‘But most of all we’ve had the appetite of our members to stick together through thick and thin to find a way to save the club that we love.

‘It required the membership to take a little of the pain and it’s heartwarming to see them all agree to it.’

Falling membership, amounting to one third of the club’s total in the last three years alone, has forced the club to run at a loss. The 150-acre site and buildings is owned by Port Erin Commissioners and the lease is due for renewal in 2016.

Mr Young said: ‘We’re not out of the woods yet, but I hope that we can look back on this as a wake-up call that we can’t operate in the way that we used to.

‘It’s been a really stressful year and it’s a massive relief to finish on a high. I’m looking forward to getting back to playing golf!’

Wi-Manx celebrated what it calls a whirlwind year in style with a well-attended Christmas drinks event at Noa’s Bakehouse in Douglas.

The company is counting a strategic acquisition, [Elite Comms Group acquired Wi-Manx in the summer], full telecoms licence approval, and winning Customer Service of the Year Award at the Awards for Excellence as among the highlights.

And more recently, it was one of the sponsors at the Manx Biomed conference.

The wholly Manx owned telecoms provider laid on an event attended by island folk including government members, local businesses and customers alike.

They watched a brief presentation about what’s in store for Wi-Manx in 2015.

Managing director Joe Hughes said of the ‘landmark’ year: ‘Following the acquisition [by Elite Comms Group] and all that’s happened since, this really has been our year.

‘We attended the Royal Manx Show for the first time, celebrated our 10th year in business and winning Customer Service of the Year really cemented our status as a strong contender within the local broadband market.

‘There is no substitute for reliable customer service and our business is built on a foundation of customer satisfaction, unrivalled support and excellent technical knowledge. Next year we will continue to grow our customer base, while keeping an eye for detail and delivering the best possible experience to all our clients.

‘Receiving our full telecoms licence is just the start for us. The year 2015 is going to be even bigger and better.’

Wi-Manx recently launched their new business connectivity solution called Super Connected Island. They are now offering £2,500 off this B2B service for a limited time only.

A documentary being aired on BBC2 on Christmas day ‘60 years of carols from King’s’ features Port St Mary’s Tom Pickard.

Much of the programme was filmed at last year’s carol service and Tom, now 14, was the chorister chosen to sing the solo performance of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’.

There is great kudos attached to being selected for this and the chorister – and their parents - find out they’re the one just before they’re due to give the performance.

Tom’s mum Avril said: ‘The programme makers were interviewing random parents and they kept coming back to me, I thought: “Why me?”’

The programme features Tom’s performance plus excerpts from an interview with him, Avril and his twin sister Jane, who goes to Castle Rushen High School.

Jane said of her twin’s performance, ‘nobody makes me cry, but I’m so proud of you, you made me cry.’

Tom said seeing himself on a programme about to be broadcast on national TV is, ‘strange, you feel nervous’. He added during the performance, ‘you find a way of hiding your nerves, once you started you are usually fine.’

Tom’s prodigious talent for music was apparent from a very early age. At the age of eight he became a member of King’s College choir, Cambridge and was inducted as a full chorister in 2011.

During his time with the choir he performed a series of solos in the chapel and on tour including opening the Aldeburgh Music Festival (celebrating the centenary of Benjamin Britten’s birth), at the Royal Albert Hall for an annual Christmas concert at 10 Downing Street, across Europe, at the British Embassy in Washington, China, the Far East and Australia, where Tom was a regular soloist promoting the choir’s latest recording of Faure’s Requiem on which he sings the Pie Jesu.

With the choir he has also appeared on television shows The One Show and Easter at King’s.

Last September he started at Eton school as a music scholar meaning he no longer sings with King’s College choir.

‘I miss it,’ he said. ‘It was quite busy, there was always something to do, sport or music.’ He added Eton is, ‘brilliant, it’s really busy. It’s hard work, but fun. I’m in the choir as well.’

He continues to perform solos in Eton’s chapel choir, is a member of the group ‘Incognitos’, which performs at Eton College functions and travels around performing at music festivals. Tom recently won the ‘Eton College Unbroken Voices’ competition.

Tom comes from a strong musical pedigree going back to his grandfather Harry, who was a music teacher and conductor. His father Alan, who died in 2011, was a major influence in music in the island, he also taught music, was conductor of several choirs, ran the International Festival of Music for many years, was an examiner and music advisor to the Department of Education.

Tom has spent much of his young life off island, but remains keenly Manx and he certainly hasn’t lost his accent!

After he finishes school he said: ‘I would quite like to do music. I would not mind coming back here.’

‘60 years of carols from King’s’ is on BBC2 at 1.45pm on Christmas Day.

Onchan Library’s traditional peace and quiet was broken in lively style by jazz musicians who went back to the 1940s to celebrate its 70th anniversary.

As part of two weeks of celebrations, the Manx Jazz Quartet and Onchan Ladies Choir held free performances to packed houses in the library.

The library officially opened on December 2, 1944, after donations of books from HMS St George and the military hospital that was established in Onchan’s Majestic Hotel during the war.

It has moved to ever-larger premises four times, finally moving to its current location in Willow House on Main Road in 1989.

The library now offers a range of more than 27,000 titles, plus audio downloads, internet facilities and local information. Acting as a community hub, it hosts craft workshops, computer lessons and book clubs for adults and children.

The celebrations also included a vintage murder mystery night organised by the book group.

Former Lieutenant Governor Sir Lawrence New and his wife Lady New cut a birthday cake, perpetuating a link with the library as Sir Lawrence New’s father was a member.

Mr and Mrs Christopher, who have been library members since 1958, also joined in the celebrations.

Librarian Pam Hand said: ‘The library has been transformed over the years, but some things haven’t changed.

‘Books and the local community are still at the heart of our service, and that has reached down through the years, across different generations of readers.

‘It’s lovely to see parents who used the library service when they were youngsters introducing their own children, or even grandchildren, to books and reading.

Throughout December the ‘70 years of great reading’ quiz, set by librarian Kath Cringle, will test people’s knowledge of modern literature. The quiz is available at the library or can be downloaded from theri Facebook page. All the correct entries will go into a draw for a booklover’s hamper.

The library will be open as normal until Tuesday, when it will close at 1pm before reopening on Monday, December 29.

It wil also close for two days from Thursday, January 1, and return to normal hours on Saturday, January 3.

A Ballaugh student has said he was ‘honoured’ to have represented the Isle of Man at an international youth parliament.

Julyan Davey, aged 20, was selected by the Isle of Man branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) as the island’s representative at their sixth Commonwealth Youth Parliament (CYP) in Mmabatho, South Africa.

He was selected by the Isle of Man CPA branch executive committee, which funded his travel expenses.

A former Queen Elizabeth II High School student, Julyan is studying philosiphy, politics and economics at Durham University.

He recently joined Isle of Man CPA branch chairman Juan Watterson MHK and some 90 young people from across the Commonwealth to experience and take an active part in democratic parliamentary processes during the six-day event.

The programme included debates, votes on Bills and government motions. Young Members of Parliament from Commonwealth regions also served as mentors.

Julyan said: ‘When I applied to be the Isle of Man’s CYP representative I didn’t really know much about the event or what the week would hold for me.

‘I just thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to meet interesting and intelligent people from throughout the world. It proved to be that and much more.’

Mr Watterson, who was the Isle of Man’s delegate at the Millennium Youth Parliament during his time at university, said: ‘Julyan proved to be an outstanding ambassador for the Isle of Man and I wish him every success in his future career.’

This week’s Manx Independent is in the shops 24 hours earlier than usual because its normal day of publication is Thursday.

The front page exclusive story is about a businessman who’s gone missing.

Read our investigation to find out more.

Inside, there’s the latest from the courts, criticism of the Equality Act, more on the Cambar Homes issue and a special puzzles section.

The Manx Independent is in the shops now.

The weather on Christmas day will be more suited for a post-dinner stroll than sledging down the nearest hill.

Thursday’s forecast is for a fine and dry day with good sunny intervals and a moderate north to northwest wind which will fall light during the day.

But all might not be lost for those dreaming of a white Christmas.

A Ronaldsway Met Office spokesman said: ‘There’s a very slim chance we might see the tiniest sprinkling on the hill tops on Christmas morning.

‘We could see one or two brief showers first thing in the morning, at 3am to 4am, right on the hill tops.’

Drink driving statistics for this year are looking favourable compared with the same period in 2013.

Latest police statistics show five arrests for suspected drink driving between December 2 and December 23. Of those people, no further action is to be taken against two of them and one has already appeared in court charged with failing to provide a specimen. The case has been adjourned. A decision is still pending on what happens to the remaining two.

During the same period in 2013, there were 10 arrests for suspected drink driving and no further action was taken against four of those. The remaining six were charged with drink drive related offences.

Public rights of way through the Nunnery estate will be maintained if the site is sold as planned for an ICT Centre.

Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly told the House of Keys that plans for the Nunnery to be sold by January 1 are on course.

Tynwald last month voted overwhelmingly to support a plan to sell the Nunnery for £5m to International Centre for Technology Ltd, the company now leading a project to create an IT centre of excellence there.

Mr Skelly faced a series of questions about the project in the Keys last week from Douglas West MHK Chris Thomas.

In a written reply, he confirmed that the property will be sold subject to any public rights of way. A footpath runs off the Old Castletown Road from the Dolls House, which is Mr Thomas’s home, and emerges on the Middle River industrial estate.

Mr Skelly said ICT Ltd had informed his department that it intends to maintain and enhance public access to the water meadow and footpath.

Asked if the target was still to sell the building by December 31, the Minister replied: ‘There are no disputes outstanding, and we are hoping that this can be finalised and we can all move forward.’

Mr Thomas asked if plans for the Nunnery that until recently had been on display on McGarrigle Architects’ website were ‘realistic’. Those plans show the historic building with a bold modernist extension.

Mr Skelly replied the plans would only be realistic if they are approved by the planning division. He added: ‘All plans are being considered at the moment. There are a number of options that need to be looked at and planning in terms of the accommodation for students, staff etc, does all need to be determined.

Mr Thomas asked if the registration of the Nunnery, conservation of the estate and its ecology would be taken into account. Mr Skelly said: ‘We are sensitive towards the environment and the local community.’

Mr Thomas asked the Minister if he planned to launch an open call for expressions of interest if the sale agreement is not concluded as planned. Mr Skelly said his department is focused on finalising the sale agreement with ICT Ltd – but if that were to fall through for any reason, the future of the Nunnery would be reconsidered by the CoMin.

The World War One Christmas truce will be marked in Noble’s Park, Douglas, on Christmas Day.

The Manx Homeguard Living History Group are organising a football kick around and inviting players to join in too.

Anyone interested in taking part should meet at the top football pitch at 11.45am. There will be a minute’s silence before the game starts at midday.

Barry Quilliam said: ‘Some of us will be in World War One kit. There will be jumpers for goal posts and we will be using a leather football. Come along and join in or to cheer.’

Unofficial truces were reported along the Western Front in Christmas 1914 with carol singing and football matches.

For more information call Barry on 466094.

Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without the year’s big brand advertising pageant, says Terry Van Rhyn of Ashgrove Marketing in this special article.

So much so that today the line-up for best television ad is probably just as well publicised, and certainly more widely anticipated, than the Christmas number one.

It’s the perfect opportunity for brands to take advantage of the exhausted millions glued to their sofas and bathed in the glow of not one, but up to four separate screens, so it’s unsurprising that companies are willing to shell out tens of millions in a bid to cut through the panic of the pre-Christmas run-up.

But this year, as in years past, something seems amiss. Let’s take a look.

It’s pretty unfortunate, but true nonetheless, that when it comes to reviewing the year’s Christmas adverts, nowadays there’s really very little to distinguish even the biggest budget brands.

Even if you’re not one for TV, suffice to say that every one features a spattering of glitter and snow, plenty of soft focus, and very little imagination, and it’s easy to picture the rest. So, with that in mind, let’s start with a few stocking filler reviews before we move on to the bigger issues.

Boots: apt and tasteful.

Waitrose: kitsch, over the top.

Tesco: mislaid their message entirely.

Post Office: Sorry, Robert Webb.

Morrisons: Ant and Dec.

Lidl: desperate.

Aldi: desperater.

Now, on to the important stuff.

John Lewis

John Lewis is the obvious place to start, mostly because, aside from its being the latest addition in what has essentially become a Christmas institution, it is quite brilliant.

Now, I’m not usually one for taking the obvious route in advertising, and this ad undoubtedly treads that line with its heart wrenching tale of unseasonal loneliness, but you just cannot argue with an advert that’s due to hit 19 million YouTube views in less than two weeks, is about to make a very talented artist the Christmas number 1, and has had lips quivering all across the country – and that’s before John Lewis reveals their Christmas revenue reports.

The tale of a child and his imaginary friend isn’t exactly original but add a brilliant sound bed and a CGI team capable of somehow making a penguin look like it’s sad, all framed with a subtle vignette, and you’re obviously on to a winner.

For the sake of economy, we’ll ignore the mail order penguin girlfriend for the time being, as well as the (vehemently denied) claims that John Lewis’ ad agency Adam&Eve/DDB borrowed from the best-selling children’s book Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers – a story about a boy, a penguin, and a search for a mate – and bow down to the simplicity of the message.

John Lewis isn’t just a slightly run-down department store, it’s a seller of childhood dreams.

Actually, let’s put it another way, and reveal the true Christmas message: John Lewis is a major retailer worthy of your attention simply because it’s in the running during Christmas, if not at any other time of year; as good a message as any for an advertiser.

Sainsbury’s

Then, of course, there’s Sainsbury’s.

Sainsbury’s has never been anything less than wildly ambitious in its advertising. Last year’s ‘celebration of ordinary life’ saw the supermarket commission Oscar and BAFTA award winning director Kevin Macdonald to condense 350 minutes of raw footage into three and a half minutes of soul crushing mundanity scoured in the shadowless gloom of reality TV Britain, but at Christmas. The full length advert ran for a full 45 minutes and Sainsbury’s even went as far as to purchase an entire prime time slot during an episode of Coronation Street to feature their mini-film, for the first time ever.

This year their search for poignancy has been no less earnest, some might say to the point of distastefulness, as Sainsbury’s decided it’s ok to flash their logo after an aerial shot of trench warfare in 1914 Ypres following the Christmas Truce, all in a bid to sell us more mince pies.

For risk of becoming distasteful myself I’ll refrain from any further commentary on this one other than to say some might have picked up on a slight sting of guilt as the company justified its multi-million pound actions by making it very clear that the ad was produced in association with the Royal British Legion.

I’ve no doubt the funds raised by sales of its vintage chocolate bars will be put to very good use, and there’s no question of the charity’s ethical compass, but given the evidence at hand we might question Sainsbury’s’ on this one.

They could, after all, not have used their own logo at all.

Nevertheless, it was brilliantly timed for November, if not for Christmas Day, and some are calling this the greatest Christmas advert of all time. It pulls at the heart strings is all I’ll say.

Coca-Cola

Coca Cola’s entry, because that’s what they all are now, simply can’t be ignored.

It’s one of those facts you get told without fail every Christmas, but Coke really is responsible for changing the colour of Old St Nick’s outfit from green to red, all because of the power of their advertising. For this fact alone we know they know what they’re doing. Reduce it to the absurd and this year’s advert could have an old scrooge fizzing with cynicism simply for the fact it includes, count: one young mother, one wheelchair bound teen, one older couple, one homeless person, and another older person – that’s literally it.

But then the Coke lorries arrive, so that’s all ok. Coke once claimed that 1 in 5 Britons consider the first Coke advert of the year to signal the start of Christmas, which may be overstating its own importance somewhat, but then again Christmas television just wouldn’t be the same without it, would it?

Overall, what we have here is clearly a very expensive, well produced and well thought out campaign which, surprisingly for a Christmas ad, makes a very clear connection between Christmas and the desired use of its product. Holidays are coming and, once again, Coke simply can’t be ignored.

Marks and Spencer

Marks & Spencers are always a clear contender at Christmas time, and to prove their willing have this year bravely dispensed with the hoards of cringing celebrities in favour of two supermodels, albeit with last year’s tagline ‘Magic and Sparkle’.

Together, hapless super-fairies Claire Chust and Chloé François (named Magic and Sparkle) patrol the streets of London (and Prague) in search of good deeds to carry out, including returning a lost cat to its owner, transforming a washing line of clothes to a glittering wardrobe and helping a young couple meet for the first time. The advert gets the typical marksies treatment and oozes high production, although this year M&S have decided to reallocate the funds saved on celebrities towards their citizen conscious social media campaign #FollowTheFairies. With the support of a willing public, Marks & Spencers plan to conduct a random act of kindness every day in the lead up to Christmas, a fine and vital sentiment indeed.

Although there is little to be said of the supermarket’s enduring message that it adds that little bit of sparkle others lack, the move to take Christmas spirit off our screens and on to our streets is very smart, and one I’m surprised hasn’t been done more often.

prime opportunity

This, undoubtedly, is the way things are going, and with huge marketing budgets allocated months in advance, Christmas is really the prime opportunity for companies to experiment with an audience that will never be so captive at any other time of year. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen from this year’s examples, most of the nation’s biggest brands are still more ready to rely on the easier options of pathetic fallacy and faux sentiment during a period in which Christmas profits can still mean the difference between boom and bust. Perhaps, in a couple of years and with confidence returned we’ll see television advertising at Christmas return to its boundary pushing, trend setting, colour changing self.

In the meantime, we’ll just have to make the best with what we have, a true Christmas message if ever there was one.

Business-savvy students from Castle Rushen High School beat off competition from nine other local teams to win the Isle of Man heat of ICAEW’s national business and accounting competition, BASE.

The sixth form team from Castle Rushen impressed the judges and will go on to represent the island at the national final which takes place in Birmingham in June.

This is one of 46 heats attracting more than 3,000 students in more than 500 competing teams nationwide.

BASE links schools, students and employers to develop employability skills and provide an insight into what a career in accountancy, business and finance might be like.

Assuming the role of ICAEW Chartered Accountants, the students had two hours to analyse a business situation, before presenting their ideas to a panel of top business professionals.

Nick Quayle, committee member of the Isle of Man Society of Chartered Accountants, said: ‘We were really impressed with the team’s performance and shrewd thinking.

‘These budding business advisers looked beyond the numbers, they also showed they had an excellent instinct for business and ethics in order to give well-rounded advice.

‘I expect I’ll be seeing more of these young people in leading roles in the future.’

excellent teamwork

Head judge JohnTiernay, chairman of the ICAEW’s Council, said: ‘In the presentations we looked for the ethical and financial data to support the decisions.

‘The Castle Rushen team showed excellent teamwork and role allocation in delivering a very comprehensive recommendation.

‘The other teams taking part from Ballakermeen High School, Ramsey Grammar School, St Ninians High School and King Williams College can be proud of their achievements in dealing with a very challenging business challenge.”

The BASE competition was supported by local chartered accountancy firms who provided professional mentors and judges.

ICAEW is a founder member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide and the Global Accounting Alliance.

The Isle of Man Society of Chartered Accountants (IOMSCA) is the local branch of the ICAEW.

For further information about BASE and how to participate visit icaew.com/base.

Elizabeth Lake and Steinar Draegebo, of Bucharest, Romania, bought 4 Windsor Terrace, Douglas, for £1,020,000.

It was bought from David Anthony Bowen.

It was bought from David Anthony Bowen.

Other recent transactions lodged at the General Registry in Douglas are as follows:

Hospice Care, of Strang, Braddan, sold Bay View, Estate of Ballagawne, Lonan, for £315,000, to Stephen James Franklin, of Richmond View, Mount Rule, Braddan.

Liam Joyce and Lesley Ann Joyce sold 10 Vicarage Park, Douglas, for £308,000, to Linda Margaret Grady, of 12 Bollan Drive, Ballagarey Road, Glen Vine.

Christine Shaw sold 19 Turnberry Avenue, Onchan, for £300,000, to Suzie Man Wai Yau, of 75 King Edward Road, Onchan.

Alfred Roy Looney and Jean Doris Looney sold Ballajeroi, Kerrowgarrow Road, Greeba, for £300,000, to Danielle Stephanie Househam, of 1 Murray’s House, Mount Murray, Douglas.

Harold Brian Volante and Ann Volante sold 5 Cooil Close, Douglas, for £221,500, to Padraig Joseph Keig, of 44 Ballakilley Close, Port Erin.

Betty Lou Jolleys sold 112 Ballaquark, Farmhill, Douglas, for £184,000, to Timothy Myer Quayle and Aalish McCann, of 15 Snaefell Crescent, Onchan

Andrew Leslie Hewitt and Heather May Hewitt sold 13 Auburn Road, Onchan, for £182,500, to Laura Amy Hadman and Richard John McCann, of Flat 8, Victoria Court, Victoria Road, Douglas.

Monteros Trading Limited sold a parcel of land, part of the Ballgarey Estate, Marown, for £170,000, to Stefanie Louise Walmsley and Daniel Barry Smith, of 25 Groudle View, Onchan.

Stephen Poole and Catherine Mary Poole, of 33 Cronk Drean, Second Avenue, Douglas, sold 12 Church Avenue, Onchan, for £155,000, to Betty Olive Sykes, of 6 Merlin’s Court, Queen’s Promenade, Ramsey.

John Eccles sold 14 Osborne Grove, Onchan, for £147,500, to Carmel Mary Browne, c/o Woodbourne Court, Woodbourne Road, Douglas.

Barbara Ann Hills, of 30 Windsor Road, Douglas, sold 3 Stanley Place, Onchan, for £100,000 to Keith Philip Hills.

Alfred Roy Looney sold a parcel of land situated at Kerrowgarrow Road, Greeba, for £50,000, to Danielle Stephanie Househam, of 1 Murray’s House, Mount Murray, Douglas.

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We publish details of all sales unless we receive a written request from the police or probation service.

Results from an external review of St Ninian’s High School and four primary schools – Ashley Hill, Foxdale, Sulby and St Mary’s – have been shared with parents.

St Ninian’s underwent an external validation last month, which looked to confirm judgements the school made in its School Self Review and Evaluation (SSRE).

The validation teams agreed with the school’s assessment that learning and teaching are ‘good’ as was leadership which the team felt was on course to be an area of significant strength.

But the external validator said he did not concur with the school’s judgement that attainment is ‘good’ - and he judges that at this time attainment is ‘satisfactory’.

He said: ‘At Key Stage 5 the school is behind island averages this year in certain measures and is on the average in others. The school has a good tracking system in place and, through effective analysis of learning data and interventions, gaps in attainment are being narrowed.

‘Attainment will be good by the end of this academic year if the school’s projections are realised.’

The validator agreed that behaviour at St Ninian’s is a significant strength’, bullying is not an issue, the school is well regarded by parents and the learning environment at the lower school is good.

Geoff Moorcroft, director of education, explained that the SSRE process is continuous and requires schools to review all aspects of their work – about what they are doing well and where they need to take action.

Possible judgements are ‘significant strength’, ‘good’, ‘satisfactory’ and ‘action required’.

Mr Moorcroft said: ‘This process supports schools by making clear to them what high quality provision looks like. The Department of Education and Children believes the process has proved very effective.

‘As the process is one of continual monitoring and evaluation, staff in schools can develop a clear idea for themselves of what is good and what needs to be improved.’

The first external validation cycle took place from 2008 to 2011 and a second validation cycle began in September 2013.

It involves an external validator, together with a DEC adviser, working with head teachers to review the evidence schools have used to make judgements and to quality assure their accuracy.

Key outcomes are shared with parents.

The validating company, World Class Learning, was chosen from a number of companies that tendered for this work.

Any areas for improvement are then identified in the annual School Improvement Plan.

At Ashley Hill School, the validation team agreed with the school’s judgment that children’s achievement is ‘good’ overall and that the school was right to judge learning and teaching as ‘satisfactory’ but noted that recent improvements mean a revised judgment of ‘good’ is now justified.

It also agreed with the school’s judgement that assessment is ‘good’ and recognised there are elements of significant strength.

At Foxdale Primary School, the validator accepted the school’s verdict that achievement is ‘good’, assessment is ‘satisfactory’ overall but noted developments when fully implemented will support a judgement of ‘good’. The team also agreed that guidance and support are ‘good’.

At St Mary’s RC Primary, the validation team concurred with the school’s view that achievement is ‘satisfactory’ as are teaching and learning. Care is ‘good’, the validator agreed, and when new procedures are embedded this area will be a significant strength. The school has recently introduced a more robust system for child protection.

At Sulby Primary School, the validator agreed with the school’s assessment that its management and curriculum are both ‘good’.

The validation team also concurred with the judgement that achievement is ‘good’. It noted that assessment records demonstrate that, given their starting points, most pupils make better than average progress over time.

Fees could be charged for requests under the new Freedom of Information Act.

Minister for Policy and Reform Chris Robertshaw told the House of Keys that it was not necessarily the case that a fee would come in.

But he said it was very important the levels of fees, if and when set, would be at a level so as ‘not to inhibit in any way’ the poorest from making an application.

Under the current code of practice for access to government information there is no charge for simple requests. A charge, reflecting reasonable costs, may be applied for more complex cases, however.

The 69 clauses of the Freedom of Information Bill won the overwhelming support of the Keys at its sitting on Tuesday.

Mr Robertshaw described the legislation as an ‘important milestone in increasing openness and transparence’.

But he told the House that the financial and administrative burden should not be the sole responsibility of the taxpayer and costs should be shared to some degree by the person making the request.

He said any fees would be subject to Tynwald approval. There would be different rates for different cases and the applicant would be notified of an estimated cost.

Mr Robertshaw said no fees would be charged in certain cases and they would not exceed a maximum amount. The whole or part of a fee could be waived or refunded.

Alfred Cannan (Michael) said there had to be clarity about the fee structure and asked if requests from official media sources would be treated differently ‘for transparency purposes’.

Mr Robertshaw replied: ‘Yes, if the media are local’. He said that government wanted to avoid being ‘sucked into a process’ where information was collated and then sold on.

He said: ‘Any fee arrangement may very well originate in the Council of Ministers but it must come to the floor of the Other Place to get approval. I absolutely agree the architecture around fees must have absolute clarity.’

Some concerns were expressed about aspects of the Bill.

Leonard Singer (Ramsey) suggested the maximum fine of £5,000 for record tampering was too low.

Mr Singer suggested that for an authority to delete or deface a document after a request for information had been received was a really serious offence.

The Minister replied that a fine not exceeding £5,000 was typical for similar fines in other jurisdictions.

And Kate Beecroft (Lib Van, Douglas South) queried why regulations would be laid before Tynwald but not debated. ‘There’s no debate, no input from any Tynwald member,’ she said.

The FOI Bill introduces a legal right of access to information held by public authorities, subject to a number of exemptions.

Its implementation will be phased, it will not apply retrospectively beyond the start of the current administration in October 2011 and can only be used by island residents.

The Council of Ministers has agreed that the FOI regime should start in 2016 with a pilot scheme at the Cabinet Office and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

It will be extended over the following two years to other departments, statutory boards and local authorities.

The current Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which applies to all departments and statutory boards, will remain in place.

Island communities have their own specific challenges in ensuring their security, sustainability and economic, social and environmental wellbeing. The Isle of Man is part of a groundbreaking international initiative to share information, and put ideas into practice, on these very issues. By Cat Turner

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Small islands, such as our own, face their own particular challenges on all sorts of issues: but also, in many cases, unique opportunities and strengths.

This is especially so in terms of ‘sustainability’ – our ability to satisfy our own needs (for energy, food, transport and everything else) - without compromising the ability of future generations, or of those living elsewhere in the world now, to meet their own needs.

In particular, it’s difficult for people working in government to get a handle on how to achieve long-term sustainability, when they face competing priorities in the short-term.

Do you sacrifice an element of headline short-term economic growth, to create the possibility of new jobs in the cleaner, greener technologies of the coming world economy?

Do you accept that a healthy island society is based on a flourishing natural environment at least as much as a productive economy?

And crucially, do you aim to ensure the island plays a responsible part in the world’s environment and economy, as well as looking after local interests?

These are all tricky issues – though I expect, if you’ve read this column before, you can guess my own responses!

So it’s really useful for these communities to share information on what works and what doesn’t, and on how best to bring socially and environmentally sound, economically ‘bankable’ projects to fruition – with the aim of achieving energy, food and economic security on their own islands.

SMILEGOV, an EU initiative, is aimed at fostering exactly this type of information and ideas-sharing.

The SMILEGOV project came about because of a belief that co-operation between the various levels of governance on most islands (that’s to say national, regional, and local authorities) is critically important in helping them hit a range of goals in the area of energy and climate change. The Isle of Man is no exception when it comes to these goals – I’ve written in the past about our government’s stated aims in terms of sustainability, and of cutting our carbon emissions to achieve internationally-accepted climate change targets.

As well as general ideas-sharing, SMILEGOV also aims to help islands build their capacity develop ‘Sustainable Energy Action Plans’, so that they can get a framework, and timelines, for moving to cleaner, more resilient economies. This is really useful stuff, given the amount of know-how and experience many islands have built up – especially those with climates, populations and infrastructures similar to our own.

Some are now 100 per cent energy-independent, producing all the electricity and heat they need (and more) from renewable resources, earning themselves new income from exporting the excess to their nearby ‘mainland’s.

So it’s terrific that the Isle of Man government, through the Department of Economic Development, has joined up to the initiative and is both contributing to, and benefiting from, this shared knowledge base.

I was, with my IoM Friends of the Earth ‘hat’ on, privileged to attend the second local workshop of the particular cluster of island with which the IoM is grouped.

It took place in early November, and was hosted at DEFA’s offices at St John’s.

It was run by Dr Panos Coroyannakis, the engaging Brussels-based leader of the initiative, and was a great opportunity not only to learn from other islands - but also to exchange ideas with our opposite numbers here on the Isle of Man.

We were joined by representatives from the Isles of Scilly (Diana Mompoloki) and the Isle of Wight (Councillor Luisa Hillard, by teleconference). Locally, the participants included Dr Ken Milne and Richard Cuthbert, both of Department of Economic Development; Bernard Warden and Kristian Cowin, from the Department of Environment, Fisheries and Agriculture; Richard Bujko and Andy Cowie of the Manx Utilities Authority; George Fincher of the Manx Energy Advice Centre; Muriel Garland from Zero Waste Mann; and myself.

It was a fantastic opportunity to get together and focus on some specific ideas.

Once Panos had set the context for us, we split in two groups.

The first group (the one I was involved with) analysed a proposed biomass project in the Isle of Man, while the other worked on planned marine energy projects. Both of these are real and representative Isle of Man projects, the first one in a more advanced stage of maturity and the second – as has been reported in the local press – as yet at an early start up stage.

We used a tried and tested framework for assessing the challenges, benefits and possible timeframes for each project, which was extremely useful for taking each one from a concept to something with real applicability.

By the end of the sessions, each of our groups had ended up with a matrix of findings about the viability and implementation prospects for their project, which we hope will serve well in future decision-making.

IoM FoE is looking forward to seeing how the island’s involvement in SMILEGOV evolves – while we’re not, ourselves, a part of the European Union, we’ve been accorded full membership of the project and it’s obvious that there are some amazing and inspiring examples of other islands, with similar demographies, that are well on their way to energy and economic sustainability in the lower-carbon world we face.

It’s a credit to DED that we’re a part of this.

If you’d like to learn more about SMILEGOV, see their website at http://www.sustainableislands.eu/ – there are some great case-studies from other islands, and it’s inspiring to see what we could, with the right will, achieve.

I heard Chief Minister Allan Bell on Manx Radio last week pondering grimly on the present and future threats to the economic survival of the Isle of Man.

He said one of the latter is ‘the old age time bomb’.

This is the clearest statement yet by the Manx Government that we, the thousands of people determinedly living longer and healthier, will have to be dealt with before we, well, go off I suppose.

For the moment we have to wait for a statement from Government Office on the plans for dealing with this time bomb.

Experts in bomb disposal do this kind of thing firstly by tinkering with the bomb’s internal workings and removing those designed for making it explode.

This would mean taking us to Noble’s to have our working parts removed on the operating table, after which we will be safely dead.

The professional alternative, if defusing us fails, is just blow us all up into smithereens, whatever they are.

Now then, as far as I know, there is no bomb disposal squad in the Isle of Man Constabulary trained to carry out these duties.

But it would mean murdering us and I don’t think policemen are allowed to do that.

In any case I don’t think they would want to do it to former colleagues now retired on the kind of pensions that are causing Mr Bell such trouble.

It’s all a little bit tricky.

Meanwhile the metaphysical poet John Donne put it very well when he wrote: ‘Ask not for whom the Bell tolls, it tolls for thee.’

And me of course.

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Captain Stephen Carter saw a story in the Examiner under the heading ‘Property Snippets’ saying that British architects have invented a way of making car owners able to turn their vehicles around in narrow house driveways by building car turntables into them.

Steve says this is nothing new. The Isle of Man has had them for years, like the one that used to be in the old E.B. Christian filling station on South Quay in Douglas.

There’s also another at a house at the bottom of the Rest and Be Thankful hill.

Steve asks: ‘These architects are trying to reinvent the wheel?’

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Richard Davis, father of James Davis in the Manx Radio newsroom, writes to me: ‘The ref awards a penalty, the penalty taker lines up the ball and shoots it past the goalkeeper, we say, into the BACK of the net. Not so. It’s actually the front of the net. The back of the net is round the back.’

Richard could have a point here – either way.

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Nobody can decide whether the Douglas trams should be moved on to the promenade walkway or on to the sea side of the promenade roadway.

But there is a simple solution, according to an anonymous caller on my office telephone answering machine. He says the horse trams should be left where they are and the Department of Infrastructure should build more multi-storey car parks down town and improve their revenues.

No wonder he didn’t want to give his name.

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I have had one of those dopey emails trying to sell me something. This time it was ladies’ make-up brushes made in China. It was signed ‘Yummy Lee’.

Sorry Yummy. I’m not a Yummy Mummy.

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I have a collection of newspaper items in what I call my Funnies File. I have just unearthed a small advertisement which appeared a few years ago in the Manx Independent: ‘For sale. Ford Fiesta, one lady owner, recently serviced.’

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Three of my regulars, Barbara Taylor, Richard Hetherington and Frank Bond, have tackled last week’s unsolved Karl Campbell unsolved Manx crossword clue of last week: ‘Queen caught Manx cat round back of court area (9) – CLEOPATRA.’

They have come up with caught for C with leopar for (tailless) Manx cat, lose R and D, and then have TRA letters from court area.

Back to normal business next week.

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Texting for Seniors: GGPBL. Gotta go, pacemaker battery low.

The tradition of Hunt The Wren will be re-enacted in towns and villages across the island on Boxing Day.

This year there are at least six different places where you can join in with the custom, which involves singing and dancing around a decorated pole with the hunted wren suspended in the centre.

Of course, today the unfortunate bird is fake, but the custom, which some say is one of the oldest traditions around, is still very much alive.

Organisers of each dance would like both dancers and singers to go along to any of the events, and stress that there is no need to already know the song, the music or the dance, as it is quick and simple to learn.

There is a dance beginning at 10.30am in the Arboretum car park, St John’s, where the participants will make their way around the village.

In Port St Mary, hunters will gather at Scoill Phurt Le Morriey for 10am.

There are two in Douglas, one at Woodlands Close at 9.30am, and proceeding to dance around the streets of the capital, and one meeting outside the Woodbourne Hotel, Alexander Drive, at 10.15am. The letter event will also be collecting money for Douglas Lifeboat.

In Ramsey, participants will meet outside St Paul’s Church at 10.30am, and there will be a gathering outside the Mitre, in Kirk Michael at 11am, which will then make its way to Ballaugh, and then Sulby.

Tradition states that all the dancing must be finished by midday sharp.

The custom is one that is celebrated across the Celtic nations, with each dance revolving around the hunting and killing of a wren, and then displaying and celebrating the death through song and dance.

Manx National Heritage curator of social history Yvonne Cresswell explained the reason for why such the wren was hunted.

‘The song charts the progress of the wren from being hunted, caught, cooked and then eaten,’ she said. ‘There are many suggestions as to why the poor wren should be singled out for such treatment, such as it being a commemoration of the martyrdom of St Stephen and revenge on the wren because it is the reincarnation of an enchantress who lured men to their death in droves.

‘The feathers of the wren are distributed among the wren boys as a good luck charm, being particularly potent against witchcraft and to prevent a shipwreck.’