Beach Buddies will tackle a beach which has been reported to have serious pollution with litter when they go to Fleshwick this weekend.

After receiving reports from members of the public about the poor state of the beach and large amounts of marine litter, the charity will meet tomorrow (Saturday) at Fleshwick at 10.30am.

A number of new volunteers have already indicated they will support the event, which will be the first time Beach Buddies has tackled Fleshwick this year.

As always, all equipment will be provided by Beach Buddies, including litter pickers, gloves and bin bags and will remove the litter collected afterwards, recycling where possible.

Parking is not good at Fleshwick, so volunteers are asked to avoid blocking the way to the beach by parking higher up the road and walking down the final few hundred yards.

Back To The 80s is a nostalgic romp through the greatest hits of the decade including such gems as Kids in America, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Footloose, Mickey, and Video Killed the Radio Star; this is the show that will explain why today’s parents hide the photo albums.

Directed by David Dawson and with the music directed by Laura Rowse, the show runs from next Tuesday (April 14) until the following Sunday (April 19) at the Youth Arts Centre in Kensington Road, Douglas. Performances start at 7pm each night.

Tickets are available for £5 each and can be bought from the Youth Arts Centre.

Head of Youth Arts Fiona Helleur said: ‘It’s an ideal family show.

‘Young people will love the music and dancing, and their parents will be crying in their seats as they recognise and recall their youth in the 1980s.’

The excited cast of over 20 youngsters, aged 11-19, tells the story of the senior class of an American High School as remembered through the eyes of now 30-something Corey Palmer.

Aged 17, Corey is madly in love with his next-door neighbour, Tiffany. They fall in love with a number of complications.

Fiona said: ‘The plot is tenuous, the links between the songs questionable, but the music is great, the choreography is superb, and it’s funny, clever, witty and full of the sort of energy that made the 80s such a fantastic albeit tasteless decade.

‘It’s a great fun show and we really have had the time of our lives and we know you will too.’

The mullet-based musical involves a Star Wars dream sequence, high-energy dance routines, the obligatory 80s party scene, copious amounts of blue eye-shadow, hideous perms, and lots of hair spray.

In addition, the show features some of the most popular songs ever written and even a character cameo from the computer scientist Bill ‘Gatesy’ Gates.

Mix it all together and the result is a musical that will have everyone dancing in the aisles.

Two talented young people have become the first to benefit from a bursary fund established as a legacy of Island of Culture 2014.

The bursary fund has been created by the Isle of Man Arts Council, part of the Department of Education and Children, which ran the year of cultural celebrations.

The fund will support excellence in the arts, aiding young people with their studies.

Florence Wood and Melanie Chandler have become the first recipients.

Florence joined Ramsey Town Band at seven, learning the cornet.

She graduated from the junior to the senior band at 10. She won a music scholarship to study at King William’s College and is working towards a grade six exam on cornet and grade eight – the highest grade – at singing.

In both 2010 and 2011, Florence gained a place in the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain, attending summer courses and playing alongside the National Youth Brass Band at the annual brass festival at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.

Last year she was invited to play with the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland Reserves and she will attend a summer course with the band this year.

While working towards her Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award, Florence is helping to teach beginners at Ramsey Town Band and is enjoying helping younger people to make music and giving something back to the community.

Melanie Chandler joined Christine Wild Theatre School at eight and developed a love for ballet. At nine she started ballroom lessons with Jayne Hill School of Dance, which she continued in conjunction with ballet until she reached 16.

By then she was involved in musical theatre and was participating in shows at the Gaiety Theatre with Douglas Choral Union and Taylorian Productions.

At 18, Melanie obtained a place at Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre to study musical theatre and teaching for three years. She graduates this July and will be qualified to teach ballet, modern and Latin dance. She hopes to make a career in performing but return to the island to teach at some stage.

Geoff Corkish MLC, chairman of the Arts Council, said: ‘The bursary will allow us to further develop the talents of gifted young people, of whom the island boasts so many, making their name in the wider world and acting as ambassadors for us.

‘The Arts Council sees this as investment in the individuals who attract the bursary and in the reputation of the Isle of Man as a whole. Fostering involvement in arts and culture raises our quality of life and makes the Isle of Man an inviting, interesting and stimulating place to live, work and visit.’

To apply for a bursary, email jan.cowan@gov.im or ring 694596 for a form.

This year’s Harbour 2 Harbour Walk will take place on Sunday, May 10. 

The event, in its second year, is organised by Southern Community Initiatives and raises money for a number of important local causes, including Southern Befrienders, Men in Sheds, and SPort Erin.

Walkers leave The Bay in Port Erin at 10.30am, head along St Mary’s Road, go up The Howe to Glen Chass and join the coastal path to Castletown. At the finish there will be Manx bands, singers and dancers plus the chance to get involved with a southern community art project.

The walk – in its second year - is again being sponsored by Friends Provident International.

General Manager, Caroline Cornish, said: ‘We’re proud to be supporting the event again and will be offering our own staff incentives to get involved.’

To enter or find out more, email H2Hreg@hubclubsci.im or call Janet on 838180. To stay up-to-date with the latest news visit the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/harbour2harbour.

A project is being launched to try to record memories of Manx poet, short-story writer and playwright Kathleen Faragher.

Born in Ramsey in 1904 Faragher was apopular writer and performer by the 1950s, particularly through her humorous poems in Manx dialect.

She published seven books and 25 years’ worth of poems and stories in the Courier before her death in Glen Mona in 1974.

However, despite her popularity and phenomenal output, very little was written of her and her life. This is to be addressed by a new project funded by Culture Vannin.

James Franklin, who is behind the project, said: ‘In reading any of her poems, stories or plays, it is clear that you are reading something very special. The quality is obvious, and the importance of her work to the Isle of Man would be hard to overestimate. It would be a tragedy for Manx culture if we did not do everything in our power to preserve all we can of her memory.’

Now, over 40 years since her death, it is becoming increasingly important to capture the memories of those who knew her or came into contact with her. But the first thing is to find the people who have these important memories.

‘Kathleen Faragher was a very sociable person and gave recitals all over the island. She was involved in a great deal of organisations, including the World Manx Association, the Guild, the Manx newspapers, the churches and schools at Ramsey and Glen Mona, the Women’s Institute and the the Ramsey Male Choir.

‘Very many people would have known her well and would have information which I am very keen to preserve for future generations.’

Anyone with memories of Kathleen Faragher or the reception of her work - no matter how slight - are being asked to to contact James Franklin on manxliterature@gmail.com or to visit the website www.manxliterature.com for further details.

Laxey Pavilion is to have a new lease of life two years after a restaurant based there shut.

The government-owned Victorian venue is set in its own grounds in Laxey Glen.

The Children’s Centre successfully tendered to bring the venue back to life with a range of imaginative uses.

The Pavilion will house a nursery and event space run by the Children’s Centre and a café run by artisan bakery Noa Bakehouse.

The nursery will be predominantly based outdoors in the glen – a first for the island.

Susie Cox, of The Children’s Centre, said: ‘The nursery will offer an exciting and unique proposition – aiming for the children to spend 80 per cent of their time outside in the beautiful setting of the glen, learning about the world through play, exploration and challenge.’

opportunities

The glen will be developed to provide play opportunities for children and families, too.

Susie said: ‘The trees, river, glades and secret spaces provide opportunities for all kinds of learning and adventure and we have many ideas about how to use the glen.’

An adaptable function space accommodates 200 people, making it one of the largest on the island. It will be rejuvenated and will host events organised by The Children’s Centre and hired out to the public.

The café will be an offshoot of Noa Bakehouse’s thriving premises in Fort Street, Douglas. The business uses as much Manx produce as possible, in line with the government’s strategy to grow the local food and drink industry.

Susie, who is venue and events manager for the Pavilion, said: ‘Our main objective will be to run it as a social enterprise and turn the profits made back into The Children’s Centre’s charitable work.

‘The site will complement and enhance what is already on offer in Laxey and we’ll work with traders and invest in the community.

‘Our partnership with Noa Bakehouse is exciting. It’s a dynamic, innovative brand and its beliefs are firmly rooted in the community, an ethos that complements ours.’

She said: ‘The Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture has awarded the charity a very real opportunity and one that will benefit The Children’s Centre for many years to come. It’s an inspiring prospect for everyone involved.’

Zac Hall MHK, Member of DEFA for Forestry, Amenity and Lands, said the innovative new use of the Pavilion would encourage people to enjoy the outdoors.

‘We are delighted to be able to work with The Children’s Centre to deliver a different opportunity at this lovely venue,’ he said.

‘The unique approach of the forest school idea, successfully employed elsewhere, will encourage young people to use, love and respect the countryside.

‘The benefits in learning and health are well proven and we should all be making the most of our wonderful resources to keep healthy and stimulated.

‘Teaming up with The Children’s Centre creates a wonderful opportunity for a wide range of the population.’

Approval of an application by Heritage Homes to redevelop the former Manx Petroleum depot in South Quay, Douglas, has been extended.

The company was granted approval to redevelop the site to provide 53 flats and a commercial unit, and to turn scrubland into a garden, in 2008. That approval expired last year.

But planners have now approved the extension (14/00615/B) with a number of conditions, including that development begins within two years.

A flood risk assessment and evacuation plan must be submitted and approved before work starts.

Chris Gray has been a familiar name on the Manx music scene for a number of years now, both with his earlier work with indie band Vex Mama and now with his current acoustic musings as a solo artist.

Having supported the likes of Status Quo, The Coral and The Automatic with the Vex Mama line up, as a solo artist, Chris has gone on to support Feeder, Peter Green, Roger Daltrey, Simon Townshend and Scouting For Girls amongst others.

In the autumn of 2013 Chris inked a deal with UK based label, Sunn Creative.

The first release on the label came in the shape of the Don’t Lose Your Way EP, which was released in October of the same year.

The EP release, subsequent radio plays including recent appearances on Dermot O’Leary’s BBC Radio 2 show and Robert Elms’ Show on BBC London, his solo shows and various high profile support slots have done well in promoting Chris and his work to a wider audience, which brings us to the present day and to the release of Chris’s debut album, Diamonds In Your Tree.

Released on Monday of this week via the Sunn Creative label, Diamonds In Your Tree is a collection of 11 tracks that sum up the last few years of work that Chris has put into his art.

So, what does it sound like? Well, those who are familiar with Chris’s work from his live shows will be familiar with the likes of album opener We Fall Down, along with crowd favourites, All We’ve Done, Over You and Suzy Won’t See Me, which takes a slightly different route from it’s original Coral-esq, Merseybeat influenced original form.

Also included is lead single She Loves The Morning, which has also been a staple of the live set for the last couple of years and has now taken on an almost Celtic feel.

We also have new pieces including the title track alongside Big Guns, Can You Teach Me, I’m Losing You and Nothing On Me which are all very laid back affairs with minimal fuss and get straight to the musical point.

Lush acoustic guitars interweave with Chris’s double tracked vocal lines. Special mention must go to Lifting Me Up, which does just that.

It features some beautiful vocal harmonies and is just that bit more upbeat than the previous tracks. All in all it’s a very strong debut. For me, an album for late nights on the sofa with a glass or two of something!

If that has piqued your interest and you want to know more, Chris and his band have an upcoming album launch show which takes place at Amber in Douglas on Saturday night.

The doors open at 8pm and it’s free entry. Chris and the band will take to the stage at around 9pm and the album will also be on sale at the show.

For further information on the album launch, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1563077167278766

For more information on Chris and where to order a copy of the album, visit www.facebook.com/sunn.creative or www.sunncreative.com

---------------------

Steve Leach brings the latest rumblings, murmurings, news and views on forthcoming events in and around the island’s music scene. Help support the scene by emailing leachsteve@hotmail.com

Approval for funding of the extension to Castletown’s civic centre has been given by the Treasury.

The local authority said the extension is necessary to upgrade facilities and also house the police station – guaranteeing a continued police presence in town.

The centre will have two extensions at the entrance and first floor, new toilets and a lift. The police station will move into what is currently the library, which will move to the first floor.

The project will cost £400,000 – £100,000 will come from the authority’s reserves and the remaining £300,000 from a loan spread out over 20 years (at £18,000 a year).

Because the extension will accommodate the police station, a Department of Home Affairs asset will be given to the authority. It has a rental income and once sold should raise around £200,000. The authority has said the scheme will have no impact on rates.

The scheme provoked some criticism, mainly from resident (and former commissioners’ chairman) John Cringle, who was not convinced by a presentation to the public in February about the proposal.

He said financing the scheme with an unrealised DHA asset, ‘demonstrates the plan is not without significant risk.’ The transfer would need full government approval, and if there are problems the capital cannot be immediately realised. He urged further investigations be made and said it could lead to a rate rise of between seven and nine pence.

Commissioners’ chairman Richard McAleer responded to his queries in private.

Now Treasury approval has been given, acting commissioners’ chairman Andrew Thomas said: ‘We are going full steam ahead to submit a planning application.’

The news is announced in the same week as approval of the £1m regeneration of the town’s square – see page 15.

Town MHK and chairman of the town’s regeneration committee Richard Ronan said the financing of the civic centre extension project is ‘testament to the offices at the commissioners keeping a tight rein on finances over the last few years’.

The Children’s Centre is looking for businesses to support the Isle of Man’s first-ever corporate charity polo challenge, which takes place on July 4 and 5 at Great Meadow, Castletown.

All funds raised will go towards The Children’s Centre’s charitable projects.

In addition to the polo matches, entertainment over the weekend will include complimentary drinks, canapés and a buffet, and on July 4 there’s an evening soiree.

Businesses can book a corporate package for up to 10 people, which includes being able to have their own team taking part in the challenge. Teams will include a professional polo player provided by the Triskelion Polo Club, and three players (which can be staff, clients or other guests). All players can be given advice and training by expert polo coaches, and three group polo lessons are included in the package, which costs £1,200.

Frazer Houston, general manager at the Triskelion Polo Club, said: ‘Polo is a very sociable and friendly sport with matches being an important social occasion as well as a sporting event. It’s also much more accessible than most people think – we have already taught many complete novices at our polo school, most of whom do not own their own ponies. This degree of accessibility makes the sport ideal for corporate entertainment, and charity fundraising.’

For more information email juanawarburton@thechildrenscentre.org.im

My brother, Charles Arthur Cain, who has died aged 76, was a Manx patriot, musician and successful businessman.

He was born in Peel in 1938, the second son of Arthur and Mary Cain.

His father and grandfather were distinguished Manxmen and it was from them that Charles and I inherited a profound interest in Manx history and culture.

In 1943 the fortunes of war brought the family to Cambridge where I became a chorister in the famous choir of Kings College, Charles also becoming a chorister in 1947.

Music became a lifelong passion, so much so that, after school at Marlborough and National Service, he returned to Kings as an undergraduate and rejoined the choir.

Although he read economics he considered his music to be just as important.

Following Cambridge, Charles joined Barclays DCO. After training in Liverpool, where he met and married Angela, he was sent by the bank to Kenya and Uganda, becoming choirmaster of Nairobi Cathedral.

Six years later the family were back in England.

Charles worked in London and then Manchester, before moving back to the Isle of Man in 1972 as manager of a new bank.

The family lived in Ramsey, where Charles threw himself into Island life with characteristic enthusiasm.

He had already started to learn Manx, and now became proficient in the language, surprising local nationalists by responding, in Manx, to their attacks on the fledgling finance sector.

Actively supporting Manx culture, Charles became Chairman of Yn Chruinnaght.

He served on Ramsey Commissioners for 13 years, and was chairman in 1979-80.

He fought hard for Ramsey, and, as a keen sailor, strongly supported the proposed Ramsey Marina.

In 1981 he was elected a Member of the Keys for Ramsey. He became chairman of the Electricity Board and oversaw the amalgamation of the electricity bodies.

He was an active and energetic MHK with an interest in a wide range of matters including constitutional reform and a new subject, data protection.

In 1985 Charles was successful in persuading Tynwald to support the Manx language, a crucial first step in the subsequent Manx revival.

Charles maintained his musical interest as a member, later leader of the Tallis Consort, and regularly performed Manx music hall songs with Charles Guard. He also actively promoted the music at The Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea and St Maughold, Ramsey, where he was both loyal member and benefactor.

Meanwhile, Charles had started his own, very successful finance business in Douglas, and, after it was sold, a second, equally successful, business in Ramsey.

He had clients all over the world, and he travelled everywhere to see them.

He lectured at the Isle of Man Business School and at St Thomas University in Miami, Florida, where he was an adjunct Professor.

He contributed to numerous conferences, including the annual Oxford Offshore Symposium.

For many years he edited and wrote for ‘Offshore Investment’ magazine.

Charles was also the author of ‘Guarantee and Hybrid Companies in the Isle of Man’ in 2004 and ‘Understanding Offshore - A Primer’ in 2014.

Together with innumerable friends, Charles leaves his wife Angela and their four sons, James, Edward, Benjamin and Matthew.

The Isle of Man branch of the Royal Naval Association is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Original founder member John Galt, 92, will be guest of honour at the event, taking place at the South Douglas Old Friends’ Association Club on Finch Road on Saturday, May 23, starting at 7pm.

Singer Anita J will providing the entertainment and the veterans will also be recreating the ‘D-Day Dodgers’.

Sung to the tune of the Lili Marlene, the song refers to comments allegedly made by Lady Astor in 1944 who claimed the Allied troops serving in Italy were living the high life, ‘always on the vino, always on the spree’.

In fact, the ‘D-Day Dodgers’ had already carried out their own landings in Sicily, Salerno and Anzio, and had fought at Monte Cassino, a five-month campaign which was one of the toughest of the Second World War and which ended just before the landings in Normandy.

A donation of £15,000 courtesy of the Isle of Man Lions’ Club will provide equipment for extra Community First Responders, who will be providing cover in the Douglas area for the first time.

Roy Wilson of the Lions’ Club said the money was raised in a variety of ways by members, some from charity fundraising events, and some by way of legacies.

‘We had money there in the kitty so we thought we would help the First Responders’ service. It’s a cause we have supported before and previously we gave £20,000 to provide eight sets of equipment,’ he said.

This time the club will be supplying six First Responders’ bags, each of which contains an automatic defibrillator which can restore a patient’s regular heart beat. The money will also provide the new volunteers with other equipment such as a thermometer, blood pressure gauge, first aid dressings, aspirin, oxygen and a uniform.

The Douglas scheme will complement other schemes already operating in the north, south, east and west of the island.

By using trained local volunteers, the First Responder scheme aims to ensure someone is on the scene to administer first aid as soon as possible, giving vital initial treatment until an ambulance arrives. This is especially important for patients who suffer a heart attack or stroke.

All the Community First Responders are unpaid volunteers who undertake training run over two weekends and pass an assessment course before being allowed to operate. Organisers are currently recruiting more volunteers to expand the cover. Volunteers are then placed on a rota and are on call, responding to emergency calls in their local area. In addition to giving first aid and life support, First Responders can also relay information to the ambulance team while it is on its way so it knows what to expect.

The six new First Responders completed their training at the end of March and will soon be taking up their new roles. Anyone over 18 is eligible to train. Volunteers use their own vehicles but are not allowed to use blue lights. Anyone wanting more information should contact Gerry.jones@ja.org.im or Steven.Crowe@gov.im

Greater engagement with the public will be actively pursued by Port Erin commissioners, it was decided at a meeting held last week.

The decision follows a notice of motion proposed by Godfrey Egee.

He suggested the board ‘engages with ratepayers, through traditional and electronic means, including social media, in order to gauge [their] opinion that the current number of elected representatives to serve the village district . . . is acceptable and use the opportunity to ask for opinions on any other aspect of local government which they would like to comment on.’

At the March 17 meeting, a notice of motion by Martin Norbury that the authority asks the Department of Infrastructure to set up an inquiry into reducing the board by two members failed, as did a subsequent amendment to reduce the board by two members. Their discussion raised the question of what ratepayers thought about the size of the board.

Last week, Mr Egee said: ‘I feel it’s important to engage with our ratepayers, particularly as the election is in 12 months’ time. At the election they will have no choice but to vote nine [members] in. I’m not saying there should be less. What will it hurt to get feedback?’

Nick Watterson said: ‘We are voted in to make decisions. If we cannot make decisions without going back over them [and asking the ratepayers] we may as well not be here. I’m not sure how you get opinions of any validity when you ask: “Do you think this number is correct?” When they do not know the ins and outs it’s going to be difficult.’

He added there are various routes of communication, including a website and email, and said: ‘I do not know what can be gained.’

Martin Norbury said: ‘It’s a balancing act between getting on with the job and keeping in touch. I cannot see the harm in asking, it’s in the best interests of everybody.’

Also in support was Ged Power who suggested they could hold a public meeting or surgeries. He added: ‘We have not engaged enough in the last three years.’

He said issues they could discuss include how to make cost savings, reducing numbers and working with other local authorities.

Against the proposal was Will Halsall, who agreed with Mr Watterson. He said they discussed and voted against reducing the board at their last meeting, and that raising it again was ‘ironically stifling democracy’.

He added: ‘We surely have more important things to discuss. Regarding social media, a lot are not on it.’

He said too much engagement with the public could lead to members being lobbied by the public, adding: ‘I could not give a monkey’s what other local authorities do.’

Engagement using ‘traditional means’ would involve cost, he explained, and having fewer commissioners would risk ‘cliques’ forming. He said: ‘I’m absolutely against it.’

Barbara Guy was against it because of the extra administrative burden it would put on the office staff. She added: ‘Engaging [with the public] should be in our own time. It would be interesting to have a surgery and see how many people turn up.’

Mr Power proposed an amendment, that the authority pursues greater engagement through various means and was seconded by Mr Norbury.

Mr Halsall and Gerry Callister voted against.

Successful local businessman and socialite Richard Pickle has been killed by an exploding snowman.

Who can have committed the dastardly deed and why?

That’s the scenario that guests to a murder mystery dinner theatre performed by WASP Productions will be faced with.

The evening, on Saturday, April 18, is being organised to raise money for repair work at St Paul’s Church, in Ramsey.

It sees Mr Pickle murdered while skiing near his chalet in Kloisters, Switzerland. While skiing past a large snowman, it explodes, throwing him in the air and killing him.

The mystery will be performed at the church hall by WASP Productions over three acts lasting about 10 to 15 minutes each, with food being served during the acts.

The suspects will then circulate the tables to be questioned and this will allow the audience to test their detective skills, to try and discover who committed the dastardly deed.

On the menu is canapés, beef bourguignon (or vegetarian alternative), selection of gateaux (or cheese and biscuits/fruit salad), coffee or tea, and mints.

St Paul’s Church congregation has spent the last two years fundraising so that two wooden beams supporting the church tower can be replaced.

So far £43,000 has been raised, which has been used to pay for the stabilisation of the tower and the replacement of the two wooden beams with steel ones.

They are now looking to raise about £10,000 to £15,000 to make the tower water tight.

Fundraisers have included another murder mystery performed by WASP, Murder At The Monastery, which was sold out on two nights last year.

Tickets cost £25 and are available from Vivienne Hare on 814011 or email at vandvhare@gmail.com

Tickets will be entered into the free prize raffle for a £50 food hamper. Dress is casual – but diners are free to enter into the spirit of the evening with alpine wear.

WASP Productions was formed in 2010 by Derek Myers and a group of friends in 2010 and started as a result of a novel fundraising idea for All Saints Church, Douglas.

The church was converted into an Italian restaurant for the evening and guests were invited to solve a murder mystery ‘Murder in Little Italy’ while enjoying an Italian themed meal.

Since then WASP has raised over £23,000 for charities and good causes in the island and staged events at venues including Government House and Milntown.

This year they are performing the Murder with an alpine twist this month and in May, and during the autumn will perform Murder in the last days of the Raj, set in 1930s India at the time of the struggle for Indian independence.

Information about children born in the Isle of Man as part of an academic study is being transferred.

The study collected details such as IQ, weight and diet, as well as blood samples.

These pieces of information are now being assessed as part of a project in Bristol.

The European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ELSPAC) was designed and co-ordinated by Prof Jean Golding at the University of Bristol.

The plan was to undertake similar studies in various European countries with the broad aim to determine which environmental, social, psychological, biological and genetic factors are associated with the survival, health and well-being of the foetus, infant, child and adult.

Ultimately, Russia, Greece, Majorca, the Czech and Slovak republics, five centres in the Ukraine, Avon and the Isle of Man went into the field.

The Isle of Man study had an exceptional response rate. It was organised and directed by Dr Stephanie Goodfellow with Edna Rolfe.

More than 1,300 Manx families took part and, along with Avon, Czech Republic and Ukraine also undertook a seven-year clinic; Isle of Man, Avon and Czech Republic followed up the children to the age of 15. Only Avon and the Isle of Man collected biological samples.

Both Dr Goodfellow and Mrs Rolfe have now retired, and the study data and administrative files were in long-term storage partly on the island and partly at the University of Liverpool.

There was a risk that all the material would be lost.

A legal transfer of the data, biological samples and files to the University of Bristol was arranged in 2014.

The biological samples are stored within ELSPAC’s laboratories in Bristol. An Isle of Man Data Governance Committee (members include Jean Golding, Alan Emond and an Isle of Man study participant, Barbara Corlett) was convened to write grant proposals; promote use of the data; and act as custodians for the data.

Access is granted to bona fide researchers, although much of the data still requires cleaning and editing.

A statement from Jean Golding, emeritus professor of paediatric and perinatal epidemiology, and Professor Alan Emond, professor of community child health at the University of Bristol, reads: ‘We want to inform all the participant families of this move of their data to the custodianship of the University of Bristol and to assure them that all their hard work was worthwhile.’

The condition of Ballafesson Road is ‘unacceptable’ and produces dangerous driving, Port Erin commissioners agreed, and they decided to raise the issue with the Department of Infrastructure.

Commissioner Godfrey Egee brought up the subject last week when he proposed a notice of motion that they contact the department about the state of the road between its junction with Castletown Road and Bay View Road.

He said: ‘The road surface has deteriorated to the extent that the road surface is undoubtedly causing damage to vehicles which has led to drivers taking to weaving across the centre of the road in order to avoid the worst of the bumps, which in turn is causing a higher risk of an accident.’

He added: ‘I would like to put some pressure on the department and ask: “When are you getting this work done?”’

Barbara Guy said roadworks are tied up with regeneration work, but there is ‘no harm’ in asking.

Local food and drink producers are being offered the chance to showcase their produce at two of the island’s main food and drink events.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture is inviting exhibitors to the Royal Manx Agricultural Show, being held on August 7 and 8 at Knockaloe, and the Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival at the Villa Marina Gardens, Douglas, on September 19 and 20.

Producers should download application forms from.gov.im/manxfood (show) and www.gov.im/food (festival), ring 685856 or email audrey.fowler@gov.im and reply by April 30.

Produce exhibited should be grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked or smoked in the Isle of Man or, where processed, contain produce from the island.

Richard Ronan MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ‘We produce quality meat, eggs, dairy, flour, bread, vegetables, seafood and much more and can be proud of the provenance, traceability, taste, safety and variety of our local Manx produce.

‘I hope producers will take advantage of these events to promote themselves to the many thousands of visitors.’

The Manx Wildlife Trust’s next event is certainly not for the squeamish!

Wonderful worms takes place on Saturday, April 18, at Knockaloe Farm classroom. It’s a chance to learn about our wiggly friends and make a wormery to take home.

The Wildlife Watch session (ages four to 11) runs from 1.30pm to 3pm, followed by a Watch Rangers session (11 to 16) from 3pm to 4pm. Cost £2.50 per child. To book email dawn@manxwt.org.uk or call 844432.

A completely innovative approach to opera developed by a couple with a home in Castletown is being brought to the island for the first time.

Haydn Rawstron and his wife Dorothee Jansen, a soprano, created narropera, which aims to make opera – an art form widely acknowledged as being difficult to penetrate – more accessible.

Narropera is a narration of the story of the opera (voiced by Haydn) interspersed with arias from the opera (sung by Dorothee) with music by violinist Hanns-Heinz Odenthal and Haydn on the piano.

The format has been well received by audiences across the world.

And now, narropera will be delivered to an island audience next month as the first of three instalments of the Mozart Narropera Festival 2015/2016.

The Marriage of Figaro will be performed at the Erin Arts Centre, in Port Erin, on Saturday, May 9. It will then head west to Peel Centenary Centre on November 7.

And finally, Don Giovanni will be staged at the Gaiety Theatre, in Douglas, on July 9, 2016.

Haydn explained: ‘By way of an example, we take the 10 soprano arias that Mozart wrote for The Marriage of Figaro – only seven survive in modern performances – and between these arias we narrate the story of the opera, translate exactly the text of each aria and summon up the wit and spirit of the 18th century.’

While the opera is three hours, plus an interval, for the narropera it is reduced to 85 minutes, with no interval.

The couple live outside Christchurch, in New Zealand, when they are not in Europe. While their property was spared serious damage when the earthquakes struck in 2011, the city’s performing centres were destroyed.

Haydn said: ‘I said to my wife we have all the skills, between us we have had 50 years in the opera business. We can do something, put on some concerts. We had this idea, why not do the Marriage of Figaro? I love the piece. I have known the piece intimately since my student days.

‘I said we could make this into a little story and dip into the arias as an experiment.’

He added: ‘It’s a format I’ve never come across during my 33-year career in the opera world. There’s nothing like it. It’s a totally new innovation.’

The first performances were a success and narropera has continued to grow in popularity as more audiences have been introduced to it.

‘There’s something I think we, by accident, hit upon which hooked on a very different need people have,’ Haydn said. ‘People love a story and they love music in a story.

‘It’s as close to the ancient bardic tradition of story-telling and song that classical music gets.’

He said narropera has a wide appeal: ‘It is easily able to introduce the opera first-timer to the joys of understanding this most complex of art forms, while adding an enlightening dimension of enjoyment to even the most dedicated opera fan.’

The island festival culminates with a performance at the Gaiety. Haydn said: ‘We are selling a new art form and accepting the challenge of presenting it in an 800-seater.

‘Over the next 15 months we have to win over a considerable audience. But the format warrants it.’

The aim is for the festival – with three performances over the year – to be repeated annually.

It’s not the first time that residents have enjoyed the narropera format.

In 2013, they performed nine Handel German arias at four island venues.

Last year Haydn and Dorothee performed two concerts featuring the Old Testament in word and song with Bernard Osborne (violin), Janet Warburton (cello) and Reverend Canon Dr Jules Gomes (narrator).

The three performances start at 7.30pm. Tickets for the Erin Arts Centre concert cost £10 for adults, £1 for under 18s. To book call 832662.