Douglas lifeboat was called out yesterday teatime (Saturday) to help a fishing boat with a fouled propeller.

The boat, the Sir William Hillary, was launched at 5.30pm with coxwain Neal Corran to help the boat which had two people on board.

The fishing boat had been fishing about a mile off Port Soderick, to the south of Douglas, when the propeller became entangled in debris floating in the sea.

A spokesman for the service said sea conditions were calm and the boat was able to reach the vessel quickly and tow it back to Douglas where it berthed at the King Edward Pier. Both crew members were unhurt.

The island doesn’t seem to be able to get enough real ale and cider.

The Campaign for Real Ale’s (Camra) Isle of Man branch is holding its fourth Real Ale and Cider Festival in April – but it’s had to move it to a bigger venue because it has been so popular in the past.

Last year’s event was held at the Masonic Hall at the top of Derby Road, Douglas.

The event this year will take place at the Villa Marina from April 9 to 11.

A Camra spokesman said: ‘It promises to be the biggest ever as it is moving to the Villa Marina.

‘The first festival had a hall capacity of 250. With the addition of a marquee for the second this rose to 400. This year’s Camra Festival at the Villa will have a hall capacity of 1,000 for each session.’

More than 1,900 went through the doors of the Masonic Hall last year, with more than 200 visitors from the UK.

The festival was officially opened by the Bishop of Sodor and Man, Rt Reverend Robert Paterson, who pulled the first pint of Airmed Ale brewed specially by Bushy’s to honour the festival’s good cause.

About £700 was raised in total during the festival period for the Rob Vine Fund, which provides medical equipment for the rescue helicopters.

The Camra spokesman said: ‘Unfortunately, there were queues for the evening sessions, so it has been decided to move to arguably the largest venue on the island!

‘The festival will feature upwards of 150 beers, ciders and perries.

‘The organisers plan to have over 125 casks of real ale from the four island breweries and from all parts of Britain.

‘The winner of last year’s Beer of the Festival, Little King Louis IPA brewed by Hooded Ram in Douglas, will be among those available.

‘There will be live music from the island’s leading bands on stage in the Royal Hall.

And, as a first, traditional pub games will be on offer to test one’s skill (or luck).’

This year’s good cause is the Joey Dunlop Foundation, and it is hoped that a TT rider or two will be there on launch evening on April 9.

More details on the festival can be found at www.iombeerfestival.com

Tickets can be bought in advance at villagaiety.com

Peel’s Town Clerk Peter Leadley will retire in June – and the hunt for his successor is now under way.

The commissioners are asking for interested candidates to submit applications for the position before the closing date of February 27.

Written applications should be addressed marked ‘Town Clerk – Addressee only’, giving full details of age, qualifications and experience, together with the names of two referees.

A statement on Peel Online said: ‘The present Town Clerk will retire in June 2015 and the commissioners are now seeking his successor.

‘The successful applicant will fulfil the statutory duty as Clerk to the local authority and will administer and manage all the policies and functions of the commissioners.

‘Applicants should have a detailed knowledge of current local government legislation, procedures and administration and be able to advise and represent the commissioners with government departments, the media etc.

‘A professional qualification in an appropriate discipline is desirable.

‘Candidates should reveal any relationship with members of the Commissioners and canvassing, either directly or indirectly, will disqualify.’

For more information call the Town Hall in Peel on 842341.

Leading international corporate service provider SMP Partners has chosen Finley’s Tracks to be its Charity of the Year for 2015.

Finley’s Tracks was set up by the parents of Finley Hesketh, who was last year diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a life-limiting progressive neuromuscular disorder which results in muscle degeneration.

Mum and Dad, Kirstie and Clive, of Onchan established the charity to raise awareness of DMD, assist others with the condition in the Isle of Man and fundraise for a special wheelchair Finley will eventually need. In a vote before Christmas, staff selected the charity to benefit from fundraising activities throughout the year. It was a fitting choice as Kirstie used to work at SMP Partners. The first event was the SMP Partners annual staff party, which raised £7,268.

Held in a marquee in Noble’s Park, Douglas, the Harry Potter-themed party was attended by more than 220 employees and partners.

Organised by Switched On Events, the party included performances by a magician and local band The Waltons. Raffle and auction prizes and lots were donated by businesses including: Barclays Bank IOM & London, Bridson & Horrox, Cannon Hygiene Manx, Cayman International, Cu-Plas Callow (IOM) Ltd, Descon Ltd, DHL, Edward Bryan Removals, Elegance Taxis, Equilibrium Yoga, Eye Spy Security, FCX, Governance Matters Ltd, Karen Yates, M&P Legal, Mannin Media Group, Manx Business Solutions Ltd, Manx Pole Dance & Fitness,, Manx Telecom, Merrill Lynch, Nedbank, Newfield Ltd, PokerStars, RBS International, Robinsons, Speedy Parking, Standard Bank, Switched On Entertainment, Synapse 360, The Caff, The Chartroom Chippy, Thomas Miller Investments, Titley’s Cleaners, Tynwald Pies Ltd, Typhoon House, Words and Spaces, 14 North and 7th Wave.

Mark Denton, managing director of SMP Partners, said: ‘Finley’s Tracks is a new, but important charity. It is working to raise awareness of a little-understood but devastating condition, as well as providing equipment for Finley. Finley’s mum Kirstie said: ‘As a new and small charity, to receive the support of a company like SMP Partners means a huge amount. The substantial donation from the staff party will make a very real difference to our work, taking us closer to achieving our goals of raising awareness and providing support for people living with DMD.

‘Over the year I look forward to working with SMP Partners as we raise funds and increases awareness of DMD and I’d like to thank the staff for choosing us as their 2015 Charity of the Year.’

The Leece Museum has reported an ‘amazing year’ with 5,212 visitors in 2014.

A quarterly report was sent to Peel commissioners for their latest board meeting on Tuesday by curator Roy Baker.

In it, Mr Baker says that the museum’s Knockaloe exhibition was bringing in a lot of visitors.

Among the new acquisitions at the museum are a World War One rifle butt made into a cribbage board, a tin of medallions, coins, badges and uniform buttons, and a World War One German war bond.

The rifle butt is on loan from Dan Higgins, who says that it belonged to his grandfather, Albert Higgins.

Mr Higgins said that his grandfather didn’t go ‘over the top’ as far as he knew, but would venture into no man’s land to retrieve rifles to repair.

In his leisure time he would then make items such as the cribbage board which is made from pieces of shrapnel.

Mr Baker says in his report: ‘Our World War One and Knockaloe Camp exhibition is proving to be a very well attended exhibition, with the help of Steve Hall, that will carry on until April.

‘Following on from our World War One internment exhibition, we are holding an exhibition on the Cunninghams Camp which held over 5,000 prisoners during World War One.’

‘We have had bookings for school visits and U3A [University of the third age] have booked for a talk on Knockaloe and the PL11 Wanderer involvement in the rescue after the sinking of the RMS Lusitania.

For more information about the museum visit www.peelonline.net/leece

The next notable high tide around the Isle of Man will take place next week, from February 16 to 18, but Castletown is prepared.

The local authority heard last week that there are plenty of sand bags and flood defence barriers.

Chairman Richard McAleer said: ‘I would like to thank the lads [commissioners’ work force] for the work they put into the protection last month.’

The MostlyManx shop, based in Nelson Street, Douglas, is to produce the latest edition of its Artisan Directory.

The directory will be printed in April and released a month later.

Founder Dian Skelton is inviting Manx artisans to feature free of charge.

MostlyManx is the ‘shop window’ for a number of highly-skilled Manx artisans.

The 68 artisans who feature in the current directory are all champions of tradition, whose products are symbolic of Manx heritage.

Dian said: ‘MostlyManx is dedicated to the promotion of the Isle of Man artisans, through the use of our retail locations, internet presence and public events.

‘The costs of this sponsorship are borne entirely by MostlyManx, leaving Manx artisans to do what they do best – create.’

The new Artisan Directory will feature a variety of artisans and foodies, including: blacksmiths; fashion; printing; photography; cake making; jewellery; honey processing; skin care and many more.

If you are a Manx artisan and are interested in the MostlyManx vision, phone 674548 or email sales@mostlymanx.com

An art show aimed at bridging the gap between art and conservation is on display at Noa Bakehouse, in Douglas.

Ocean Art Show features original artwork by 13 ocean-loving artists: Stedhead, James Duggan, Stephen Belshaw, Wendy Stevens, Brook Wassall, Rachel Lapham, Skelly, Rowan Henthorn, Nicola Dixon, Petrina Kent, Joe Redfern, Michael Caley and Dave Henthorn.

The show is in aid of environmental group Sustain Our Seas on the Isle of Man, which focuses on promoting and sustaining the seas around the island.

The artwork went on display for one night only at New Social Studios, in Douglas, last week, when more than 150 people attended the event. It will continue at Noa Bakehouse until Saturday, February 14.

For more information about the environmental group go to the SOS - Isle of Man Facebook page.

‘I’d be happy to teach in the Isle of Man.’

That’s the verdict of National Union of Teachers national president Max Hyde following her visit to primary and secondary schools last week.

She said: ‘I think it’s a very strong positive community and that’s something that’s being lost in England and something I really admire.’

Mrs Hyde visited St Mary’s, Laxey, Dhoon, Rhumsaa and Ashley Hill primaries and Ramsey Grammar School.

She said pupils of all ages were independent learners and have a ‘love of loving’ as well as the skills they will need in the outside world.

Mrs Hyde also met Department of Education and Children director Geoff Moorcroft and director of strategy and corporate services Heather Christian.

‘I welcome the fact there’s a much more professional dialogue between the department and teachers than you see in England,’ she said.

‘It’s clear on the Isle of Man teachers and the DEC are one in wanting high standards for the children and the island.’

Mrs Hyde said the main issue raised by teachers was their workloads.

For secondary school teachers this includes pressures due to the forthcoming move to IGCSEs.

‘It’s a big change,’ she said.

‘They want to be ready to do their very best when they are introduced.’

She described the island’s move to IGCSEs as ‘bold’, saying while a linear approach favoured those with a good memory, real learning was about ‘understanding what it is that you’re learning and how to apply it in the real world.’

Bathroom and kitchen installation business boss Antony Kermode often has difficulty convincing people about what he used to do before he returned to live in the island.

The 50-year-old father of two admits some folk find it hard to believe he has in effect worked on projects for both a King and a Queen.

And that he has stepped inside 10 Downing Street and Buckingham Palace.

‘I do feel privileged to have done some of the jobs I have’ said Mr Kermode who now runs his own business called Antony Kermode Projects from Royal Terrace, Onchan.

During a colourful career Mr Kermode told Business News how he:

l played a leading role in the refurbishment of the golden dome covering of the historical Dome of the Rock in the old city of Jerusalem

l Later worked back in England for a company that had a Royal warrant for doing repair work at Buckingham Palace.

l Routinely worked in close proximity to members of the Royal family

l With the same company he worked behind the doors at 10 Downing Street and other UK Government offices.

‘I think I must be one of the few people around who can say they have been in the bedroom of both the Queen and the UK prime minister. When I tell people they usually look at me with disbelief,’ said Mr Kermode.

He was brought up in the island and schools included Ballakermeen.

He said he served an apprenticeship with an engineering business in the island.

Then in 1984 he decided to move to London and was involved in various jobs, including being a bar manager in the West End where he rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous.

He later sold Porsches for a while before heading for Gibraltar.

He later began working for a company called Mivan and was sent over to work on the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem in the early 1990s.

He said: ‘It’s one of the most important sites in the world for Muslims. The King of Jordan paid the bills for the project which cost millions.

‘I was the engineering supervisor. We had 35 plus Palestinians working for us on the project which took two years to complete.’

‘It was a fascinating experience.’

wife

Mr Kermode met his furture wife Fiona while working there.

She was involved in supervising the chemical process for the gold plating work on the dome

Mivan, which was Northern Ireland based, won a Queens Award for Export for the prestigious project.

Mr Kermode returned to London where he scooped a job with Waltham Forest Engineering, firstly as a foreman and then a short time later as a general manager.

This job brought him to work on various high profile projects at important locations across the capital including Buckingham Palace, Downing Street and other important buildings with government connections.

‘We did all sorts at the palace, the company had a royal warrant. I used to hide from the Queen. I did not know what to say to her so I would hide behind the trees when she was coming.

‘I used to do all the surveying and pricing work.

‘It was ongoing maintenance, plumbing and engineering, to keep the place shipshape.

‘We specialised in grade one listed high securtity work and I was security vetted before I could work there.

‘We had contracts with Parliament, the Home Office and Downing street.

‘It was all high security work.

‘I’m probably one of the few people to have been in the bedrooms of both the Queen and the Prime Minister.’

Mr Kermode said the Queen’s bedroom was ‘actually very plain and there was nothing too opulent in there.

‘What struck me were pencil drawings on the walls including one of Prince Charles when he was a teenager’.

Mr Kermode said he must have spent many hundreds of hours at Buckingham Palace and knew the place ‘like the back of my hand.’

Laughing, he said the Royal corgis were a bit of a menace snapping at the heels of colleagues but he escaped without injury. He often saw prime minister Tony Blair in Parliament where he said the restaurant facilities are excellent.

Mr Kermode said he worked for Waltham Forest Engineering between 1994 and 2004 after which he finally decided to return to the Isle of Man, where he has family, because he became fed up with living in London.

He set up the kitchens and bathrooms installation business and said business has been good although it was quiet over Christmas.

He has two sons Alex, 16, and Max aged 11.

As for the future Mr Kermode is happy remaining in the Isle of Man. He says pals often tell him he should consider writing a book about his experiences.

And he is keeping tightlipped about whether he might one day offer to do a bit of kitchen and bathroom work for the Lord of Mann, ie, the Queen.

There could be a series of soapbox derby races as Peel and Douglas organisers are set to join forces.

Three weeks ago the Manx Independent revealed that Peel was set to follow Douglas and launch its own soapbox derby in August.

Peel last held its own race back in 1952.

Commissioner Ian Davison said at the latest board meeting: ‘After the article appeared in the paper, the next day we received sponsorship of £450.

‘There’s been great interest from quite a few people. We’re going to get the Young Farmers involved.

‘Douglas organisers want to work with us, maybe even on a series of races.

‘We’ve decided the Headlands probably isn’t suitable though and we’re now looking at a road course.

‘We’re looking at the weekend after the Royal Show, hopefully Sunday, August 16.

‘Application forms will be out soon for anyone wanting to enter.

‘The prize money will be donated to charity, it’s going to be a good laugh.’

Peel’s Ward Library has submitted its quarterly report to Peel commissioners with membership reported to be growing.

At Tuesday’s board meeting librarian Gemma Quilliam said that new members and daily footfall were up on the previous period.

October 2013 saw a total of 12 new members compared with 32 in October 2014. November 2013 saw four new members compared to 22 in 2014.

Ms Quilliam said in her report: ‘The new computer software has made a significant difference in tracking membership details. At the time of writing the library has 685 active members.

‘We have received a number of donations from both the Henry Bloom Noble Library in Douglas and the Mobile Library over the past few months.

‘The Henry Bloom supplied more than 150 large print books to us in December. The average cost of a large print book to buy is £17 so to buy the equivalent in new stock would have cost us in the region of £2,550.

‘They hope to donate more in the coming weeks as they continue with their stock control.

‘The Mobile Library visits us twice a month, dropping off any titles we don’t stock that have been requested by members. They too have donated a good amount of large print books over the last few months.’

Ms Quilliam thanked Verity Gorry for knitting friendship bracelets and decorative angels for the library to sell on at 100 per cent profit, and Denise Brew and Janet Rooney for decorating the library’s Christmas tree.

It’s Real Love at the Wildlife Park this week!

A daily programme of love-themed events are taking place at the park on Friday and Saturday (February 13 and 14).

On both days, visitors are invited to make love token treats in the school room for some of the animals between 11am and 1.45pm. You can then watch the gifts being given to the meerkats at 2pm, while the crab-eating macaques will be given theirs at 2.15pm.

Other activities include: a penguin feed and talk at 11am, watch the pink flamingoes being fed at 11.30am, meet Ugg the park’s very friendly spectacled owl at 11.45am, and a penguin feed and talk at 3pm followed by the pelican feed.

The Wildlife Park is open throughout half term, daily between 10am and 4pm.

A series of community meetings will be held later this month to outline options to improve the island’s defences against coastal and harbour flooding.

They follow the publication last month of a report by flood management specialist JBA Consulting which suggested that up to £31.8m is needed to protect the island long-term from rising sea levels.

It looked at the options for seven sites considered most at risk – Castletown, Douglas, Laxey, Ramsey, Peel, Port St Mary and Gansey.

Those options include raised harbour walls, set back walls, tidal gates, rock armour and also beach recharge schemes - where sand loss to erosion is replenished.

At Gansey raising the wall would be the cheapest option at £1m. But the consultants say this would have a detrimental impact on the landscape, blocking the view of the sea from the road and the properties behind. Instead, they recommend a new rock revetment, costing £8.3m.

A combination of raised harbour walls and set back walls are recommended for Castletown harbour, while a set back wall is also recommended at a cost of £4.4m to protect Central and Queen’s Promenades in Douglas against flooding and overtopping by waves.

A set back wall is suggested for Ramsey harbour and the town’s coastline while a rock armour revetment is recommended for Port St Mary harbour.

JBA Consulting and the Department of Infrastructure are hosting the presentations at venues around the island to encourage feedback on the range of potential long-term solutions.

The presentations, which will feature content and options specific to each local area, will be held in:

* Laxey – at 11am on Thursday February 26 at the Working Men’s Institute, New Road

* Castletown – at 7.30pm on Thursday February 26 at St Mary’s Church, Hope Street

* Port St Mary – at 1.30pm on Friday February 27 at the Town Hall, the Promenade

* Ramsey – at 6pm on Friday February 27 at the Town Hall, Parliament Street

Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK said: ‘Local communities are being invited to play a leading role in the decision-making process.

‘Communities may decide to accept the consequences of extreme weather events, rather than have the visual impact of new sea defences.’

He added: ‘The department is being proactive and tackling this issue as part of its long-term strategic planning. We are looking at options that will protect our towns and ports from the impacts of climate change for the next 100 years.

‘Parts of Castletown and Ramsey experienced the worst of the storms and flooding at the beginning of 2014, so we are hosting our evening presentations in those areas to encourage a strong public turnout. Meetings are also taking place in Laxey and Port St Mary and we will be talking to MHKs, local authorities and other stakeholders.’

A summary of the report’s findings can be found at www.gov.im/coastandwave

An advice guide to help teenagers stay safe online has been launched to mark Safer Internet Day.

The guide – produced by Manx Telecom in association with Isle of Man College and the police – contains hints and tips on everything from how to manage your digital footprint to where to go for help if someone is a victim of cyber-bullying or trolling.

It’s been published as a printed leaflet which will be handed out to students at the Isle of Man College and across the island’s secondary schools – and there’s a digital version which can be downloaded from manxtelecom.com/onlinesafety

Safer Internet Day – which is today, February 10 – is co-ordinated by the UK’s Safer Internet Centre and brings together hundreds of organisations to help promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.

This year’s theme for the awareness day is ‘Let’s create a better internet together’.

Kerry Birchall, who is computing, IT and administration course tutor at the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education, said: ‘I currently deliver e-safety guidance tutorials to all full-time students at the college.

‘As there is an increasing complexity of issues relating to the misuse of social media there was a real need to provide clear guidance, tips and strategies for young people in the island.

‘I would like to thank Manx Telecom for their collaboration in order to produce this leaflet, which I hope will give our young people, aged 14 and over, the confidence to keep themselves safe online and to understand the impact of misusing social media.’

Kerry is also a CEOP ambassador. CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) is part of the UK’s National Crime Agency and works with child protection agencies to identify the main threats to children and young people and bring offenders to account.

The ceop.police.uk site also gives advice on staying safe online.

Voirrey Barron, marketing communications manager at Manx Telecom, said: ‘We take our responsibilities as an internet provider very seriously, and supporting campaigns such as Safer Internet Day, helping Isle of Man College to produce the online safety guide and the ongoing sale of our routers with parental controls, are all part of our ongoing strategy to help childrenstay safe online.’

In recent years Manx Telecom has also produced online and mobile safety leaflets aimed at theprimary and lower secondary school age groups, and the company also gives online safety presentations at secondary schools for parents, as well as the annual Crucial Crew event at Isle of Man College.

This week’s Isle of Man Examiner leads with a story about a man who appeared in court for possessing £1.59-worth of cannabis.

We covered him the first time he appeared on this charge but this time it’s for his sentencing.

The paper this week also includes tributes to two Manx journalists appear on page 3. Last week we lost both Harvey Briggs, our long-time farming correspondent, and Phyllis Macpherson, who will remembered fondly in the north of the island as a local correspondent there.

Taxi drivers have had some bad news. They are going to have to find £1,000 to pick up from the airport. The Examiner has more details.

The paper has also talked to former Manx tax chief, Mark Solly, about taxation in the island. He tells us why he believes the super-rich are not paying any tax at all and that the debate about the tax-cappers is really a distraction.

Meanwhile, residents in Derbyhaven tell us about their misgivings over the proposals for the Castletown Golf Links Hotel and we report the latest situation with the Castle Mona Hotel in Douglas.

We also report the views of nationalist Bernard Moffatt about Ed Miliband’s latest threat to the island.

With more from the courts, your letters, Terry Cringle’s column and look at Times Past, the latest weekend sports action and 12 pages of business news, the Examiner is a great read this week.

It’s in the shops now.

The star-studded naming ceremony for a charity’s new yacht has been postponed.

Actress and theatre star Samantha Barks, who was raised in the Isle of Man, was planning to launch Pride of Mann III on behalf Sailing for the Disabled tomorrow (Wednesday).

But unexpected work commitments means that she is unable to attend and the ceremony has been postponed.

Sam said: ‘I am very excited to have been asked to be involved with the naming of this beautiful new boat, but for now, hold the anchor, I can’t wait to see you all on the Isle of Man.’

Sailing for the Disabled chairman Ian McCauley said that he hoped the rescheduled event will take place in the near future.

The charity organises sailing trips for people with disabilities using their specially modified yacht. The brand new 48-ft vessel, which arrived in Douglas late last year, is the third yacht to bear the name Pride of Mann.

This is a tax on taxis!

That’s the view of the chairman of the Manx Taxi Federation after ply for hire cabbies learned that they will charged £1,000 for a permit to pick up passengers from the airport.

A letter was sent out on February 4 from director of ports Ann Reynolds to all tax and private hire drivers and operators outlining the proposed changes – and giving them until February 13 to submit comments or suggest alternative proposals.

She pointed out that the airport has had to make significant savings of some £750,000 last year and with the same amount of cuts in the current financial year. The airport was unusual in receiving no income presently from the taxi sector, she wrote.

Ray Teare recommended the 45 or so Malew plate drivers who are licensed to pick up at the airport should refuse to pay the proposed £1,000 upfront fee – and suggested the charge may not even by lawful.

He said: ‘I can’t see some operators paying that, not £1,000. It’s ridiculous. It’s going to hit them hard. The whole taxi trade is very bad for everybody at the moment, not just at the airport, with the way the economy is and the way people’s finances are.

‘We are upset the letter has gone out without any consultation. At the end of the day, the travelling public will have to pay. How else are they going to recover that money? It’s a tax on taxis.’

Mr Teare, who has requested a meeting with Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK, said that Malew plate cabbies already pay £83 to the Road Traffic Licensing Committee for a licence to ply for hire at the airport.

He said: ‘At the end of the day this is a conflict of law. We will have to get legal advice on this. We are recommending the drivers don’t pay until we’ve sorted out the legal situation is and there’s been proper consultation. One set of regulations is trying to overrule another.’

Changes are also planned for pre-booked private hire taxis which will be required to use a ‘taxi park’ in the short-stay car park while waiting to collect passengers and will pay the £1 charge for the first hour.

Mr Gawne said: ‘The department has made extensive efforts to reduce operating costs at the airport before introducing any new charges. We are mindful of the potential impact on taxi operators, but believe that the revised arrangements are reasonable.’

He added: ‘The department currently receives no income from taxis operating from the airport, although passengers are charged an extra £1 for every ply-for-hire journey. We believe our proposals are fair and will not result in a diminished service for passengers.’

Will this year’s TT be Guy Martin’s final competitive appearance at the event?

That’s the suggestion made in an interview piece in the sports supplement of The Times, which appeared inside Saturday’s edition.

A hugely successful TV career has made Martin a household name – but it appears the resultant fame is making life uncomfortable.

In the article, the 33-year-old tells Rick Broadbent, the author of TT book That Near Death Thing: Inside the Most Dangerous Race in the World: ‘I need to have a rest and re-set. My job is a truck mechanic and I’ve taken my eye off the ball. The TV stuff has knackered my racing too. Not in results – last year’s TT was one of my best – but I didn’t get five minutes. I used to go racing for fun. Now it’s hard work.’

Addressing the issue of the dangers involved in competing, he said: ‘I don’t mind the dying, but not if I don’t know why I’m doing it any more.’

Since making his TT debut in 2004, nearly-man Martin has claimed seven second places and been third eight times.

In December, the Bennetts Bike Social website reported how Martin was ready to retire from road racing before learning his Tyco TAS Racing team would switch to BMW machinery for the 2015 season.

The Liberal Vannin Party is hosting a Valentine’s fundraiser in aid of SKILS (skills for independent living scheme) on Saturday.

It will take place in the Wentworth Suite at Mount Murray golf course.

There will be a carvery meal, band (Indigo Blues) and disc jockey.

Tickets are £35 per person.

For tickets, contact maire.booth@libvan.com

Her number is 417486.