The Liberal Vannin Party has commented after the Treasury Minister announced the Isle of Man government had sold about half its shares in Pinewood Studios.

The party, which has been consistently critical of the investment, released a statement this afternoon.

It reads:

There is no doubt that the news that Treasury have arranged to sell roughly half of its holding in Pinewood for a profit of 50 per cent is good news. Not such good news as the Treasury Minister, Eddie Teare, is portraying but good news nonetheless.

Minister Teare has always maintained that the investment in shares in Pinewood and the media advice/management of the media development fund are linked and has even referred to it as a hedge, although we are not quite sure how the definition of a hedge ties in with the Pinewood deal, so let’s have a quick recap of events since 2007 when the methodology of investment in the film industry was changed because of amendments to the VAT regulations.

In 2007 £50,000,000 was transferred onto the balance sheet of CinemaNX Ltd, a privately-owned company, who advised Treasury on which films they should be investing in.

This was not subject to a debate in Tynwald and in fact Tynwald members had no knowledge of this.

It was a five-year contract and not one film made a profit, or broke even, in its own right during that time.

When considering the overall benefit during the five years of the contract with CinemaNX various figures have been quoted by the Chief Minister, Treasury Minister, previous Treasury Minister and Oxford Economics.

There is such a huge difference in their various assertions ranging from millions of gain to millions of losses that it is difficult to differentiate between what is fact and what is pure fantasy.

What we do know for a fact is that at the end of the contract there was roughly £25,000,000 in cash remaining and other assets amounting to some £8,000,000.

It is this £25,000,000 that was the subject of the debate in Tynwald together with the purchase of the Pinewood shares in June 2012.

On November 25 last year, LibVan leader Kate Beecroft asked the Treasury Minister for the current position in respect of the media development fund and it was stated that, at that time, there was some £10,300,000 remaining in cash.

In summary, and leaving aside any additional exchequer benefits and ignoring the £8,000,000 in other assets, between 2007 and 2012 the media development fund was depleted by some £17,000,000 and has been further depleted by some £14,700,000 up to the end of November last year. It has to be hoped that one of the films that has had public funds invested will turn out to be a major block-buster and give us a massive return on investment. It would appear that this film would have to return some £23,550,000 for the combined media development fund and the shares in Pinewood to break even.

So whilst we are delighted that a £2,500,000 profit on some of the Pinewood shares will be realised, we are sure that people will understand why we are not overly delighted about the results as a whole.

Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK told iomtoday.co.im: ‘There is nothing new in the latest Liberal Vannin press release on investment in the media industry.

‘The party has a track record of making ill-informed and often misleading statements in its campaign against economic opportunity in the sector, and this appears to be more of the same.’

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/pinewood-shares-sold-at-profit-1-7187344|Click here to read our story about Eddie Teare’s comments}

Former Lib Van leader Peter Karran was sacked from his job as education minister for not toeing the CoMin line on Pinewood deal.{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/peter-karran-sacked-from-role-as-education-minister-1-4662841|Click here to read the story}

Plans are being drawn up to establish what is known as a ‘boutique distillery’ in Douglas designed to produce a range of ‘artisan spirits’ for discerning drinkers.

The man behind the Seven Kingdom Distillery says it will create a range of spirits to be sold in the Isle of Man and also exportedworld-wide under the Manx brand.

Andrew Mackenzie, said: ‘We will be using two bespoke pot-stills to produce high quality gin, vodka, and a single malt whisky.

‘We are alsokeen to produce an American style grain whiskey and experiment with other spirits such as rum, alongwith mixers and bitters.

‘During the past 20 years South America, the Far East and the Indian sub-continent have been draining Scotland of its single malt stocks.

‘The United States has seen an explosion in craft distilling in recentyears, not dissimilar to the growth seen in the real ale sector in the UK.

‘Closer to home Scotland has seen a number of new and previously moth-balled distilleries spring into life.

‘Consumers are also expressing more interest in where produce originates from and in that sense Seven Kingdom will be a true grain-to-bottle distillery producing unique handcrafted spirits.

‘We shall use as many natural local resources as possible and we look forward to seeing the first spirit run shortly after we take delivery of the stills from a German manufacturer later this year.

‘We arededicated to producing something the Isle of Man can be proud of with pure ingredients to producepremium spirits’.

‘We plan to visit the still manufacturers in late summer and their consultancy office and distillery in Chicago before the stills arrive.

‘But for the moment there is much else to do involving our architect,planning, and Customs and Excise and other Government departments.

‘When we are up and running Seven Kingdom will be inviting local people and visitors to the distillery for tours, master classes, and tasting events.

‘In addition to this we intend to offer educational visits tostudents focusing on the science of distilling and the impact of alcohol.

‘Ahead of launch moreinformation is available from our landing site which is www.sevenkingdomdistillery.com

Andrew originally moved to the Isle of Man in 1999 to work in the finance sector.

But Andrew was determined to turn his passion and collection of whiskyinto his work.

He said: ‘We’ve a lot of work ahead of us however we have a determined team behind us and I’ve been encouraged by the enthusiasm of both private sector and Government departments assisting in this project.

‘I hope people will see this as placing the Isle of Man in the forefront of a luxury marketwith international recognition, also creating jobs and revenue for the island’.

Police are investigating an accident that happened yesterday afternoon in Port Erin.

It occurred between 2pm and 3pm on Monday.

A white Honda Civic was parked on the promenade, Port Erin, sustained damage to the front near side bumper.

The other vehicle’s driver left without leaving a note.

Police are investigating what they called an ‘altercation’ between two women in Onchan Park on Easter Day.

The incident happened at about 5pm near to the boating lake.

They asked anyone who saw this incident or has any information to contact Constable David Thommeny at Lord Street police station on in Douglas on 631212.

The Steam Packet is chartering a vessel from another company to cover for its services in the wake of its problems with Manannan.

But it will cover only sailings to and from Northern Ireland.

The company this afternoon confirmed that all Manannan sailings for tomorrow – Wednesday April 8 – had been cancelled.

But it has secured a charter from P & O Ferries to cover tomorrow’s Manannan Belfast service.

All passengers booked on Manannan’s 3pm sailing to Liverpool will be transferred to Ben-my-Chree’s 7.45pm sailing to Heysham and foot passengers will receive a coach transfer to Liverpool on arrival.

All passengers booked on the 7.15pm sailing from Liverpool will be automatically transferred to the 2.15am sailing from Heysham on Thursday morning (April 9) and a coach transfer for foot passengers will leave at 9pm.

Steam Packet chief executive Mark Woodward said: ‘We have been trying for several days to provide a direct alternative for our Belfast passengers, who are not able to simply transfer to a Ben-my-Chree sailing.

‘We have now been able to secure a round trip charter from P & O Ferries, using its fast craft P & O Express. However, because of P&O’s own operational constraints, these sailings will arrive at and leave from Larne, not Belfast.’

Passengers should also note that the first sailing of the day is to Douglas, not from Douglas. The timings will be:

Larne to Douglas, 7am

Douglas to Larne, 11am

Passengers booked on Manannan’s Belfast service will be automatically transferred to the alternative sailings.

A coach for foot passengers will depart Belfast terminal to Larne at 5.30am. A return coach transfer from Larne to Belfast will depart after the vessel arrives at about 2pm.

Because of P & O Express’s own schedule it is not possible to provide an additional charter service to the Steam Packet’s Liverpool passengers.

Mr Woodward said: ‘Repairs to Manannan are now progressing well.

‘Specialist materials have been located and are being delivered to Heysham this evening.

‘Additional specialist coded aluminium welders and welding equipment are also beeing sourced to carry out the work to Classification Society and Flag Administration standards.

‘Repair teams worked last night to remove the damaged equipment using specialist divers and a shore side crane.

‘To minimise the repair time, these have been transported to our workshops where preparation work is underway. In addition, the freighter MV Arrow is now in service, which is allowing Ben-my-Chree to concentrate on passenger and vehicle traffic via Heysham.

‘We again offer our sincere apologies to passengers for the continued disruption. We are striving to do all that we can to minimise the repair time of Manannan and restore normal operations as soon as possible.’

Announcements regarding any necessary further changes to schedules will be made tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.

Vandals struck in St John’s over the Easter weekend.

Peel police are investigating after the public toilets in the centre of the village have had a large amount of graffiti painted on to the walls and toilet cubicles using black gloss.

The extent of the damage means the toilets will now have to be closed to the public for a lengthy period.

If you are able to assist officers with their enquiries, call police headquarters on 631212.

Neal Mellon of the Housing Matters homeless charity took delivery of some Easter eggs courtesy of the IT services company Skanco, which has adopted it as its charity of the year.

Mr Mellon said the eggs would be distributed among some of the people the charity has helped out over the past year.

The organisation, formerly called Kemmyrk, offers support and advice to homeless people in the Isle of Man. The charity also works in partnership with the Isle of Man food bank. The charity offers advice both to prospective landlords and to tenants as well. It runs a drop in advice centre on Peel Road, Douglas, open 9am to midday in the week, other times by appointment. It also has a team to offer dental care legal, and benfits advice. Call 675507.

There will be an international flavour to the fifth annual Isle of Man Aviation Conference.

It will include, for the first time a spotlight on aviation in Africa.

And it will also provide an opportunity to meet the island’s new dirctor of civil aviation

The event will be held in Douglas on Thursday, June 25.

Organised by ICM Aviation and supported by the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry, the conference attracts high profile delegates and speakers from around the world.

Founded in 2010 to showcase the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry and related aviation expertise on the island, it has become an established date in the business aviation diary.

James Carroll of JSSI described the 2014 event as, ‘Good networking and an interesting insight into the state of the industry’, and Tobi Mathews of Lateral4T Limited rated it as an ‘excellent conference, informative and entertaining’.

Confirmed speakers for the 2015 conference include Marc Bailey from BBGA, Scott O’Brien from NBAA, Simon Williams, director of civil aviation for the Isle of Man, Graham Williamson of TAG Aviation, Marwan Khalek of Gama Aviation and Steven Quayle of Cains.

Alan Peaford, communications expert and editor of African Aerospace and Arabian Aerospace will be chairing the conference again this year and facilitating a session on business aviation in Africa.

Other conference topics include Part-NCC, Innovations in the aircraft operator industry and mergers and acquisitions.

Simon Williams will update the conference on developments at the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry, including online registration through TARDIS and Annex 6 Part II Section 3.

Mark Byrne, founder of the conference and director of the ICM Group with a special interest in aviation, said: ‘Our 2015 conference picks up on all of the latest developments and thinking in the fields of business aviation, finance, tax, and regulation.

‘It will also be a first opportunity for many to meet the Isle of Man’s new director of civil aviation, Simon Williams.

‘We are really pleased to have Alan Peaford chairing the conference again, especially as he will be sharing his expertise in the African market with the conference delegates.

‘It will be the first time we have the opportunity to focus on Africa.

‘We are also looking forward to hearing from Marc Bailey, CEO of the BBGA, on his negotiations with the UK’s Border Force and other pressing matters and Scott O’ Brien who joins us from NBAA to give an overview of the state of the industry from a US perspective.’

Conference delegates are offered three networking opportunities while in the island.

A dinner for speakers and an informal networking event for delegates will take place on the Wednesday, a post-conference reception on the Thursday, and a networking event on the Friday morning.

Mark said: ‘ICM is fortunate to have delegates that are repeat visitors to the conference and we know from the feedback they give, that they come back because they find the conference to be interesting, informative, friendly and well organised. We like to think of it as the ‘‘conference with the personal touch’’ and love hosting it. We provide as much networking time as possible as well as a really interesting and informative programme.’

For further information , to register or download sponsorship details visit website www.icmaviationconference.org

Can the putting green in Breagle Glen, Port Erin, be used instead for a BMX track, asked resident Jenny Baker.

In a letter to Port Erin Commissioners, she wrote the preferred area for some sort of BMX/skatepark facility is at the recreational area on land near Ballafesson which is associated with the new Ballakilley development.

But she asked: ‘How long will this take?’

She added the putting green is ‘under used’ and the small hills there would lend themselves to a track. Also, it would be a more ‘central location’ than the Ballakilley land.

Last week, commissioner Ged Power said the green at Breagle Glen is ‘labour intensive and redundant and earns the village very little’. He added he had failed to explore creating a BMX track, despite making a promise at the election, so proposed they investigate the cost. He added the BMX track in Castletown was built thanks to support from volunteers.

The board did not know the timescale for the development of the recreational facilities at Ballakilley.

Godfrey Egee said: ‘We should fully investigate Breagle Glen even if it is on a temporary basis.’

Antiques Roadshow star Eric Knowles will be Hospice’s guest of honour at a two-day event next month.

The event will take place over the weekend of May 16 and 17 at Tynwald Mills marquee.

Different events are planned with valuations planned for the first day and an afternoon tea for the second.

Mr Knowles has worked in both engineering and for a firm of antique shippers in the early 1970s.

His love of antiques, inherited from his parents, came to the fore in 1976, when he joined Bonham’s, the London auctioneers, working first as a porter in the ceramics’ department, before becoming head of the department in 1981.

Mr Knowles will look over individual items at Tynwald Mills between 11am and 4pm on Saturday, May 16

For £10 per five-minute valuation session the Manx public will find out what their items are worth.

He will provide his expert advice on up to three items during this time. These sessions will be limited to 100 people during the afternoon with slots needing to be booked – see below for all the details.

Eric will then speak at a special afternoon tea on Sunday, May 17, between 2pm-4pm in the Tynwald Mills marquee.

Tickets are priced at £25 per person and will include a tea and entertaining talk.

There will also be time for a question and answer session.

The afternoon will wrap up with an auction of some ‘special’ auction items donated from Hospice shops.

A plan to build a house on what is currently a builder’s yard on the corner of Bridson Street and Maine Road, Port Erin, was supported by the local authority.

The proposal (15/00235/B) by McArd Investments Ltd is to construct a new two-storey dwelling broadly in the location of the existing single storey building, allowing the remainder of the site to be private amenity space in the form of a paved yard with existing mature trees.

The site is currently a builder’s yard and residents living in Maine Road have complained bitterly for several years about the visual impact of builder’s equipment within and in the area surrounding the yard.

Roads in the immediate area are unadopted, adding to the unkempt appearance.

Two residents – Rosemary Adams and Jim Horan – wrote welcoming the plan, but asked if the whole of the road outside hte property cvould be tarmacced.

tarmac

Ms Adams wrote: ‘If I understand the plans correctly, Mr McArd intends to tarmac a section of Bridson Street just up to the middle of the land and leave the other half in the rough state it is now … I am concerned about the section of road directly in front of my house.

‘This area has been churned up into a dusty, stoney mess by the builder’s heavy JCB and lorries.

‘Perhaps Mr McArd would be kind enough to lay tarmac across the while width reaching to my garden wall.’

Mr Horan wrote he ‘would hope that Mr McArd is required to repair the verges of the road which he has damaged with his storing of porta cabins, equipment and vehicles.’

He also pointed out: ‘Other developments that have occurred recently have agreed to restore the road outside their buildings.

‘Perhaps this could be a requirement outside this building also … this would bring the road nearer to being adopted and hence make the road less of an embarrassment to Port Erin.’

Commissioner Godfrey Egee said: ‘I do not see why they (planning) cannot ask for the same as other end of the road (where Heritage Homes laid tarmac on the road outside their new housing).

‘If they do one piece at a time we will get that road done eventually.’

adoption

Clerk Jason Roberts said the issue relating to the adoption of the road was still being considered by the Department of Infrastructure.

Ged Power said: ‘We had that palaver (about its adoption, raised by residents), you would expect planning to have a definitive answer.’

Nick Watterson said: ‘The department being slow (about the road’s adoption) should have no bearing (on their decision over this plan).’

He proposed they support the plan and was seconded by Gerry Callister.

A front door of a house on Dalton Street, Douglas, was damaged during the early hours of Sunday.

Police have spoken to neighbours in the area after they heard a loud bang and sounds of a disturbance.

Constable Kelly Wilkinson would like any person with information about this to come forward.

The police said they wanted to reassure the public that this matter wass being investigated and that there would be increased patrols in this area.

Police want people with information to call 631212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A murder trial has been hearing expert evidence suggesting the accused may have been suffering from a borderline personality disorder.

The jurors have been hearing evidence from expert psychologist Dr Puri who interviewed the defendant, 46-year-old Ian Anderson, who denies murdering 60-year-old Ballabeg gardener Neil Roberts at the house Anderson shared with his wife in Queen Street, Castletown, in December 2013.

Dr Puri said he had spoken in detail to Mr Anderson about his childhood, employment and relationship with his wife. He said Mr Anderson’s sister was described as ‘domineering’ and ‘a bit of a tom boy’ and his father, a ‘Jekyll and Hyde character for whom he had ambivalent feelings’. He said his experiences in childhood had ‘put him on the pathway to developing disfunctional traits’.

He said Mr Anderson also had a history of falling out with employers and moving jobs, which he tended to refer to as being ‘headhunted’.

He said despite being married for many years to his wife, there didn’t seem to be a close attachment between them, yet he said Mr Anderson seemed fearful of his wife leaving him. At other times, however, he had thrown away her possessions and asked her to leave.

Dr Puri said there were issues of morbid jealousy and borderline personality disorder which were relevant in the case.

The case continues.

Councillor Sara Hackman has said she is ‘proud and humbled’ to have been nominated to serve as mayor of Douglas for the forthcoming municipal year.

The Douglas mother of two and reconciliations administrator with Hansard International was elected to Douglas Council in 2008, since when she has served on the former environmental improvements, where she was vice-chairman, and housing and property committees.

She said she has ‘a passion’ for protecting the environment and a strong sense of community, which saw her become a member of the Douglas Britain in Bloom working group.

She said: ‘That was a campaign I thoroughly enjoyed being involved with so I was delighted when Douglas won the RHS Britain in Bloom Young People’s award as well as a silver gilt medal in the 2010 competition.’

The St George’s councillor is also a member of Ballakermeen High School’s parent teacher association and of the Mannanan Lions Club.

She has already had a taste of what her civic role will entail, having served as mayoress to Cllr Carol Malarkey throughout most of the 2013-2014 municipal year and as deputy mayor in the 2012-2013 municipal year.

She will officially accept the office of mayor at the council’s annual general meeting on May 13.

She said: ‘As mayor I’ll be looking forward to the opportunity to meet the many individuals and organisations who contribute to making Douglas the very special place it is. I also hope to build on my work with various local community groups and lend visibility to a number of charitable causes with the support of my colleagues and friends.

‘I am very grateful to my fellow members for their confidence in me and as Mayor I shall aim to be a good ambassador, not only for Douglas but also for the Isle of Man, promoting the capital and the island at every opportunity.’

She replaces Stan Cain.

The Mayor of Douglas is not a figure like Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, who wields political power.

The office is largely ceremonial but the mayor also chairs meetings.

The leader of the council, effectively the political head, remains Cllr David Christian.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/mayor-of-douglas-chosen-in-private-meeting-1-7185393|Click here for a previous story about this.}

Education chiefs say they hope to avoid significant reductions in secondary school teaching jobs as a result of budget cuts – but can’t rule them out.

They say it is too early too say exactly what impact the budget squeze will have in the next academic year but have vowed to protect frontline services wherever possible.

And they say they will not need to reduce the overall teacher workforce in island primary schools.

Last year the Department of Education and Children’s budget fell from £94.3m to £90.2m, but neither primary nor secondary school budgets were cut thanks to savings made including the restructuring of administration and support.

This year, the DEC’s budget is £90.5m but taking account of the interest it now has to pay on capital borrowings, that’s an effective cut of £1.1m.

In a statement, the DEC said: ‘Secondary schools, which manage their own staffing budgets, were only given their indicative budgets towards the end of February.

‘Given this, they will still be evaluating the academic offer they can make in 2015-16 and considering how this impacts on their requirement for teaching staff.

‘A contributory factor will be that students are still selecting options and demand for certain subjects can be relatively fluid.

‘While the department can’t currently rule it out, it doesn’t anticipate any significant reductions to teaching staff and would seek to protect frontline services wherever possible.’

The DEC said it will not be required to reduce the primary teaching workforce as a consequence of the budget for the 2015/16 academic year, but will undertake its annual review of the allocation of primary teachers to schools in light of pupil number fluctuations.

It said: ‘This results in the allocations to some schools being reduced and to others increased.

‘As a consequence, teacher posts become redundant in some schools but redeployment opportunities are created in others, supplemented by those that become available as a consequence of resignations and retirements.’

The DEC added: ‘The department continues to minimise the impact on front line services as far as possible and intends to do the same for the next academic year.’

Budgets allocated to secondary schools are calculated using a complicated formula based on age-weighted pupil numbers.

A revised formula was introduced in 2014-15, amid concerns the old system had become distorted with schools with reducing roles ‘cushioned’ at the expense of those with increasing students numbers.

The new formula is being phased in over three years as it could result in a significant reduction for some schools.

Another issue will be the next pay award for teachers and lecturers which will take effect from September.

The salary bill for these staff including supply teachers is £45.8m and a likely 1 per cent increase would cost an extra £458,000 in a full year but £267,000 in 2015-16.

In secondary schools, the total teacher salary budget is £18.6m. A 1 per cent pay increase from September would cost an extra £186,000 in a full year but £108,000 in 2015-16.

That cost will be spread across the five DEC secondary schools and the department believes it is likely the schools will be manage the increase without the need for reductions in teaching staff.

Staff cost savings have been achieved in secondary schools through a reduction in the cost of support functions, it said.

The pupil:teacher ratios in primary schools have increased slightly over the last five years from one teacher to 18.9 to 19.7. The ratio in secondary schools has fallen from one teacher to 14.53 students in 2012-13 to 14.0 in 2014-15.

A couple from Ballasalla won free broadband for a year after becoming the 5,000th customers to sign up for Manx Telecom’s Ultima service.

David and Jo Dixon and their family often use a number of devices at once and so use a lot of bandwidth.

Jo said: ‘Winning was a great surprise. It’s the first competition we have ever won!’

David runs his own business, D Dixon Building Services Ltd, and Jo is manager at the Isle of Man Live at Home Scheme, which provides a range of services to help older people live independently.

Ultima, described by Manx Telecom as a ‘superfast’ service, was launched in 2011 when the company installed a network of fibre optic cables to street cabinets and basements.

Ultima Plus offers faster speeds and is available to around 50 per cent of premises in the island, with speeds of up to 80 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload. Both Ultima and Ultima Plus are line length dependent.

To check whether either service is available for your home or business, click {http://www.manxtelecom.com/internet/broadband/availability-and-tsr.aspx|here.}

Alternative broadband providers include {http://www.wimanx.com/broadband/|WiManx} and {https://web.sure.com/isleofman/internet/home-broadband/|Sure.}

The Steam Packet’s Manannan services tomorrow and the next day have been cancelled.

It will mean that there will be six days in a row that the fast craft has not sailed.

But the Steam Packet hopes to have the vessel back up and running by the weekend.

Passengers booked on tomorrow’s 7.30am sailing to Liverpool and the 11.15am sailing from Liverpool will need to contact reservations on 01624 661661 to make alternative arrangements.

Additional telephone lines are available for passengers booked on any sailings from Heysham or Liverpool. These numbers are 0151 242 5180 (7.30am to 7.30pm) or 01524 865930 (2pm to 10pm).

All passengers booked on the 3pm sailing to Liverpool will be automatically transferred to the 7.45pm sailing to Heysham and those booked on the 7.15pm sailing from Liverpool will be automatically transferred to the 2.15am sailing from Heysham on Friday morning.

A coach will leave the terminal in Liverpool at 11.30am for those passengers transferring to the 2.15pm departure from Heysham and at 9pm for those transferring to the 2.15am departure Friday.

A coach transfer has also been arranged for those foot passengers that require transfer to Liverpool terminal once the Ben-my-Chree sailings arrive in Heysham.

MV Arrow is now in service, allowing the Ben-my-Chree to concentrate on passenger and vehicle traffic.

Steam Packet chief executive Mark Woodward said: ‘We would like to offer our sincere apologies to passengers. We continue to do all that we can to minimise repair time of Manannan and restore normal operations as soon as possible.

‘Contrary to online rumours, it is currently intended that the repairs to Manannan will be carried out in Douglas, not dry-dock.’

However, if repairs to Manannan proceed as planned, she should resume her normal schedule on Saturday morning.

Passengers booked on Friday’s 7.30am sailing to Liverpool and the 11.15am, sailing from Liverpool, should contact reservations on 661661 to make alternative arrangements.

The additional phone numbers are as abov

Again, all passengers booked on Friday’s 3pm sailing to Liverpool will be automatically transferred to the 7.45pm sailing to Heysham and those booked on the 7.15pm sailing from Liverpool will be automatically transferred to the 2.15am sailing from Heysham on Saturday morning, April 11.

A coach will leave the terminal in Liverpool at 11.30am for those passengers transferring to the 2.15pm departure from Heysham and at 9pm for those transferring to the 2.15pm departure Saturday morning.

A coach transfer has also been arranged for those foot passengers that require onward transfer to Liverpool terminal once the Ben-my-Chree sailings arrive in Heysham.

Mr Woodward said: ‘I can assure all of our passengers that we have made every effort to minimise the repair time, but the damage to Manannan was extensive.

‘The repairs necessary have required specialist heavy engineering, fabricating and welding expertise, some of which we simply do not have ourselves.

‘Our engineers will be working through the night cutting and shaping the heavy steel plate ready for final welding repairs to both the starboard inner and starboard outer water jets.

‘Unfortunately, there have been no Certified and Class-approved specialist welders available in the UK, so we also had to arrange for two suitably qualified technicians to be flown in from mainland Europe.

‘It is planned that divers will refit the first unit in the early hours of Friday morning, and the second unit will follow during daylight hours on Friday. Once both units are refitted, there will be various system checks to be completed and then harbour trials to be carried out to confirm that all is in order and that Manannan is ready for operational service.

‘We are hopeful that we will be able to complete and test repairs on Friday, and then resume normal schedules with Manannan from Saturday.’

{http://www.steam-packet.com/LatestSailings|Click here for the latest from the Steam Packet.}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/steam-packet-borrows-vessel-for-its-northern-irish-route-1-7197452|The Steam Packet today borrowed a vessel to cover its Irish route.}

Tynwald’s committee, which is reviewing the work of Tynwald’s committees, is to give members of the public the opportunity to submit any views on Tynwald’s committee system.

Submissions should arrive by 5pm on Friday, April 24.

The committee, Leonard Singer MHK, Chris Thomas MHK and Juan Watterson MHK, intends to publish evidence as it is received.

Respondents are therefore asked to indicate clearly whether or not they are content for their submissions to be published.

The email address is committees@tynwald.org.im

Committee Secretariat, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas IM1 3PW.

Although it has a remit to look at Tynwald’s committee system in the round, the committee intends to focus in particular on the Public Accounts Committee, the Policy Review Committees and the use of Select Committees.

Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood recently had an informal tour of restoration work being done at Malew parish church.

He requested the visit having attended the installation service of the new minister, Reverend James McGowan.

It began with an interesting twist, said Jo Storrs, honorary secretary of the friends of Malew Church.

She said: ‘Right on cue, the clouds parted on His Excellency’s arrival so we could see the eclipse.

‘Then, as we inspected the restorations to the south wall, the clouds parted periodically to reveal glimpses of the progress of the moon’s journey across the sun.’

Part of the work at the ancient church – one of the island’s oldest – involves replacing the render with a more traditional-looking lime wash.

When hacking off the old render, workmen were surprised to find the top of a skull and bones (a rib and thigh are visible) dating from between the 15th and 18th centuries. There is speculation they could they be the bones of Manx martyr Illiam Dhone, who was buried in the chancel.

Manx National Heritage would like to revisit the burial cist, which has been bricked up again, in the future.

Work so far has been financed by The Crown Estate and Manx Lottery Trust.

The next phase – restoration of the exterior west wall – is financed by The Friends of Malew and one ‘Friend’, now living in Switzerland, wishes to finance renovation the bell cote in memory of his father and his aunt who worshipped at the church.

The Friends are now seeking grants to renovate the north exterior walls and interior of the church.

They also want to improve access for wheelchairs and push chairs.

Available in the church are copies of a ‘Brief Tour’ – written by church member Jonathan Kewley – to guide visitors around the interior of the church.

Double the ale capacity and a brand new venue will mark the start of a new era for the Isle of Man’s now annual real ale festival.

Since the runaway success of the inaugural event in 2012, the festival has increased in size every year and 2015 sees it finally outgrow the Masonic Hall and move down the hill to the Villa Marina which will accommodate many more visitors and, perhaps more importantly, more than twice the number of casks of ale as featured in the first festival.

This year there wil lbe 132 different beers, complemented by 38 ciders and perries.

CAMRA’s Alan Cooper said: ‘Moving to the Villa Marina enables the organisers to have a wider choice of beers and ciders and also to almost treble the attendance capacity.

‘There will be beers from all parts of the UK as well as four of the island’s breweries.’

Mr Cooper went on to say they had tried to represent as many different styles of beer as possible with blondes, golden ales, wheat beers, barley wines, dark beers, milds, stouts and porters, as well as bitters, best bitters and speciality beers featuring an exotic range of flavours. Among the more unusual ingredients used in some of the beers will be vanilla pods, chocolate, coffee beans, honey, maple syrup, ginger and even oysters, not to mention a huge range of fruits and spices..

Beer strengths vary from innocuous session ales at 2.8 per cent (with that particular beer featuring lemon grass among its ingredients) to a migrane-inducing IPA at 9.4 per cent, from Douglas brewery Hooded Ram. Keeping casualties in check, the stronger beers will be served in half or third pint measures.

As usual there will be a range of live entertainment to please the crowds, courtesy of 12 of the island’s leading bands which will be on stage in the Royal Hall from lunchtime until closing on Friday and Saturday.

Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood will perform the honours opening the festival on Thursday at 6.30pm, ceremoniously pulling the first pint of Bushy’s ale commemorating the festival’s good cause which this year is the Joey Dunlop Foundation.

Multiple TT sidecar winner David Molyneux will received the first pint of Bushy’s festival ale on behalf of the Foundation, which will get a donation from proceeds raised by sale of the ale.

More details about this year’s festival can be found at www.iombeerfestival.com or www.villagaiety.com