Eight runners completed the Greater Manchester Marathon on Sunday to raise funds for The Children’s Centre.

A total of just under 8,000 runners took part in the race which started and finished near to Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium with a spectacular final stretch along Sir Matt Busby Way.

The Children’s Centre marathoners all finished the full 26.2mile course with six recording personal best times, including two who completed the marathon distance for the first time.

The eight runners were Caroline Helks, aged 54, from Laxey; Imelda Quinn, aged 23, from Maughold; Danielle Philbin, aged 30, from Douglas; Paul Sykes, aged 39, from Port Erin; Richard Torpey, aged 51, from Ballasalla; David Sims, aged 35, from Ramsey; and Lee Worsfold, aged 41, from Douglas. They were also joined by David Hodgson who initially feared he would have to drop out due to injury, but decided to run and finished in 4hrs 44mins 36secs.

Finishing times are as follows (PB indicates personal best): Paul Sykes, 2hrs 45mins 52secs (PB); Lee Worsfold, 2hrs 58mins 49secs (PB); David Sims, 3hrs 55mins 35secs (PB); Imelda Quinn, 3hrs 56mins 23secs (PB, first marathon); Richard Torpey, 4hrs 09mins 40secs (PB); Caroline Helks 5hrs 35mins 20secs; Danielle Philbin 5hrs 41mins 02secs (PB, first marathon).

The runners have all benefited from a hassle-free package provided by the charity – including travel, entry fee, accommodation, and training advice – which enabled the runners to concentrate on getting fit for the big day.

Their efforts will raise around £3,500 for The Children’s Centre’s charitable projects which help families and children across the island.

Lisa Motley, endurance events fundraiser at The Children’s Centre, travelled with the group to provide help and support on the day.

She said: ‘It was great to see all eight of the runners finishing the marathon – it was a tremendous effort and we’re extremely grateful to them for their efforts, and to everyone who sponsored and supported them.’

Lisa also expressed her gratitude to Michelle Quinn who travelled to Manchester to support her daughters Imelda Quinn and Danielle Philbin.

For more details about all of The Children’s Centre’s fundraising events go {http://www.thechildrenscentre.org.im/events/|here} or contact the fundraising team by phoning 676076 or emailing adventuremann@thechildrenscentre.org.im

Soapboxes will be racing around the streets of Douglas again in September and organisers are looking for people to enter.

The first ever Douglas soapbox race took place last September.

More than 25 homemade, non-motorised vehicles took to the course, racing down Upper Church Street to Barrack Street, against the stopwatch.

Soapbox designs included the Snaefell Mountain Railway, a rugby scrum, and Brum from the children’s television series.

The event provided thousands of spectators with hours of entertainment, and raised £2,900 for the Hyperbaric Chamber.

This year’s event will take place on Saturday, September 5, from 6pm.

The course remains the same, but soapbox drivers will have bigger jumps and tighter chicanes to contest with.

Prizes will once again be awarded for the fastest finisher, highest speed, outstanding design, scrapheap challenge, biggest jump and best crash.

Event organiser Elliott Moore said: ‘I’m delighted with how the 2014 event went.

‘It’s an event people are still talking about six months later. We have plenty of exciting additions up our sleeves for 2015. It’s going to bigger and better than ever.’

Entries are now open for the 2015 event.

The entry fees are £50 for private teams and £100 for corporate teams.

All proceeds will once again go to the {http://www.hyperbaric.im/Hyperbaric Chamber.}

For more information on the course and kart specification, and to enter the 2015 event, visit douglassoapbox.com.

The event is sponsored by Microgaming.

Hundreds of people were drawn from all over the island to a craft fair and demonstration held at Lezayre Community hall, in Sulby.

There was barely room to spin a ball of wool in the hall amidst the array of weavers, wool dyers, wood carvers, jewellery-makers, metal workers, knitters, embroiderers and artists displaying their craft and creations.

Event organiser Sue Quilliam, herself a crafter in wool, explained the craft fayre was a chance for individuals to shine while also allowing people a chance to find about arts and crafts on the island, even to have a go at certain things themselves.

‘A lot of people have a great craft, but they don’t have a gallery, or they don’t have their own studio,’ said Sue.

‘It’s very tricky to try and get all these people together regularly.’

She said: ‘This is just a fraction of the crafts that go on. I’m a crafter.

‘I do workshops and I love the kids to learn how to craft and how to make things. It’s a nice thing to do.’

Another reason for the event was to provide a display for a group of visiting Norwegian artists.

A group, organised by Norwegian wool artist Karin Flatoy Svarstad, regularly travel to islands that share a Viking heritage to gain knowledge and inspiration from other similarly minded crafters with the aim of making contacts and sharing knowledge.

‘We are here to meet people and to set up a link between Norway and the Isle of Man,’ said Karin.

‘The craft in Norway is different from the craft you have here. But that’s a good thing. We can learn from each other.’

She said: ‘The main thing about the summer academy is that we are going to learn from each other, and set up a link between the island and Norway, as the Isle of Man was once a part of Norway.

‘It’s important that people can meet and get inspired. That’s why we travel all around between the Shetlands, Orkneys, Outer Hebrides, Iceland, Faroes, Greenland as well.

‘We go all over. It’s something we got from the Vikings!’

The island’s ageing population presents both opportunities and challenges.

That’s the message from a report by the government’s Ageing Population Working Group distributed to MHKs and MLCs which following a Tynwald debate this week will now be made public.

Douglas West MHK Chris Thomas tabled a motion calling for the full report to be made public. Minister for Policy and Reform John Shimmin said the report would be published and members given regular updates on progess.

The report urges the island to benefit from its ‘longevity dividend’.

It states: ‘Along with the challenges posed by an ageing population come considerable opportunities.

‘It is imperative older people are able to play their crucial role in our society and economy. How the Isle of Man addresses the challenges posed by its ageing population whilst maximising the opportunities a socially and economically active, healthy and secure older population can contribute will be key to the island’s prosperity in the years ahead.’

Projections indicate a seismic shift in the profile of the island’s population. By 2035 it is estimated that the total population will have grown by 16 per cent - but the number of older people will have increased by 75 per cent.

This will have significant implications on the public finances.

Conservative estimates suggest healthcare expenditure will need to increase by about £46m by 2035 while expenditure on social security benefit will have to rise £118m and an extra £5m will need to spent on providing social care services.

‘These figures indicate that the present system of funding healthcare, social care and benefits is no longer viable or sustainable, with a view to meeting the costs of an ageing population,’ notes the report.

It says the present system of entitlement to certain free services will have to be needs rather than simple aged-based in future. Quoting the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, it suggests the wealthy should be taxed while the frail should supported.

But the report suggests the public will be wary of attempts to deviate from the NHS model of healthcare delivery that has consciously paralleled the UK for 65 years.

Turning to the solutions, the working group says the government should encourage people to work longer and we should move away from the traditional ‘cliff-edge’ concept of retirement.

It poses the question whether the state pension should be means-tested.

The working group also suggests that higher levels of immigration of working age people could help reduce the impact on public finances of an ageing population. Net migration of 500 a year would significantly cut the dependency ratio - the ratio of working age people to under 16s and over 65s.

But the report notes the contrary view that migration should be restricted to control cost pressures. It said work is being carried out across government, co-ordinated by the Chief Secretary’s Office, to look at assessment criteria for new residents in respect of benefits, housing, healthcare and education.

And as revealed recently, other statistics suggest the number of migrants moving here to work has actually fallen over the past year or so.

The working group’s report says attitudes to older people need to change and policies need to be fair and equitable. ‘Older age does not imply dependency and should not be equated to some sort of disease or disability,’ it states.

It proposes any recommendations which follow should shape the terms of reference for an independent Social Care Commission which should report its initial findings by the end of June 2016.

Support is available for anyone being stalked – that’s the message being promoted during National Stalking Awareness Week.

Though a UK initiative, it is being supported by the Isle of Man police and the island’s Victim Support charity, and its aim is to educate the public about what constitutes stalking and what action individuals can take to address it.

‘It is a campaign in the UK which is aimed at raising awareness, so that’s why we have picked it up here,’ said Paula Gelling of Victim Support, Isle of Man.

‘We don’t get a lot of reports of stalking here but it is clear to us that people are aware of it and they also have a fear of it. In the Isle of Man it can certainly happen and it may be at a low level or it may be part of a bigger harrassment problem.’

She said stalking covered a wide range of behaviour which could often also include causing distress, harm or upset.

‘What we really want people to do is report it and to talk to someone – either Victim Support or the police – or, if it’s an ex-partner, any of the domestic abuse organisations can assist, including ourselves,’ she said.

Sometimes, she added, statistics can hide the true extent of stalking because it may start out as a case of domestic violence or harrassment and stalking could then follow on from that.

‘Of course, if anyone feels in immediate danger or at risk, the first thing they should do is call 999,’ she said.

To coincide with this year’s National Stalking Awareness Week an information film has been released on Youtube by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust – a charity launched in memory of London estate agent Suzy Lamplugh who was reported missing in July 1986 and declared dead, presumed murdered, in 1994 – which aims to promote personal safety and educate people about basic safety precautions.

The video illustrates a range of behaviour including repeated emails, telephone calls, letters and abuse on social media which can constitute stalking. It tells the viewer: ‘It’s not flattering or funny, it’s a serious crime. So if you are being followed, are afraid to open the door, then this is stalking.’

Women constitute 80 per cent of stalking victims and most people are stalked by someone they know, such as an ex-partner, an acquaintance, colleague, ex-colleague or family member. Stalking is something which will affect one sixth of women and one in 12 men at some point during their lives. The film can be viewed by visiting www.stalkinghelpline.org then following the link.

The website offers a large amount of advice about safety and deterring unwanted attention. Guidance is given about security in the home, contacts by telephone and also security when on the internet.

Victim Support Isle of Man is a charitable organisation which can offer confidential support and advice free of charge.

It can be contacted on 679950 and through its website, victimsupport.im

Things have been a little quiet in the Post War Stories camp.

The alternative, indie, atmospheric experimental, trip hop, whatever you want to call it, band made up by Paul Salisbury (vocals/guitar), Martyn Cain (bass) and Ben O’Hare (drums/samples), while not being the most prolific as regards their quota of live shows on the local circuit, last made an appearance in February with a show at Noa Bakehouse in Douglas.

Fear not though, the band hasn’t been resting on their laurels and work has been going on behind the scenes for a new, as yet unnamed, EP at their rehearsal/recording space/headquarters in St John’s.

This new release, which I hope to have a copy of for review soon, will be a follow up to their most recent release, ‘Live At Kennaa’, a seven-track mini album released last summer.

The band will return to the Amber Bar in Douglas on Saturday night and will be taking new noisemakers Bloom with them.

While the band may be new, those within its ranks are certainly no strangers to the live scene.

The band is completed by members past and present of the likes of Your Gold Teeth, Mr Eliminator and the Deadly Vipers, This Year’s Winner Is and The Korovas.

Conrad Roberts (guitar/vocals), Brian Brough (drums), Dario Leonetti (guitar) and newest member Glenn Watterson (bass) are just a couple of shows into their existence and already making a name and reputation for themselves.

Sitting nicely alongside the likes of Queens of the Stone Age as regards their influences, this looks to be a decent pairing of musical styles.

The doors for this free 
show open at 8pm and Bloom will open the proceedings just after 9pm.

Meanwhile across town, Saturday night sees Noa Bakehouse play host to post-psychedelic pop behemoth, Cartesian Jetstream for their album launch show.

Their 10-track release, ‘Ancestors’, came out via Manx-based label Ballagroove Records on Monday.

The band who formed in 2010 and whose line-up is completed by Ben, Phil and Simon have been garnering airplay from such far flung destinations including Canada, Greece and the US ahead of this current offering.

Tickets for the show are £5 and are available from Noa Bakehouse. The night also features a DJ set from Ballagroove label boss Gypo Buggane.

Moving to the south and Saturday night sees Gunslinger take over The Bay in Port Erin for a very intimate show.

If you have a penchant for AC/DC, Airbourne, Thin Lizzy, HIM, Motley Crue, Whitesnake, Queen and Billy Idol among others, then these boys will definitely be well worth a look.

This is only the second show the band has undertaken but goes towards their warm up for the relentless round of shows as part of their forthcoming TT campaign.

Two Manx actors/performers received glowing reviews for their latest show at Bristol Old Vic.

Doug Francisco and Abbey Evans, who both grew up in Douglas, were performing with The Invisible Circus in circus theatre show Under The Dark Moon.

The show features fairy tales featuring loss, heartache, magic, mystery, grief and desolation delivered through circus acts including trapeze, silks and acrobatics.

Bristol Post described narrator Doug as a ‘master of his craft’, while Bristol Eye said he skilfully unwound the dark tales into a whole ‘never missing the opportunity to use his dark humour and make the audience laugh’.

Abbey told the story of Isadora, a woman driven mad by the death of her child, and her husband Orio (Christopher Bull), who is racked with guilt and retreats from the world.

Weston-Super-Mum described her as ‘enigmatically beautiful, floating into the air on the aerial hand loop’.

The Invisible Circus will be touring with the show next year.

Doug, who is the artistic director, said he would love to bring Under The Dark Moon to the Gaiety if possible.

The sailing from Douglas to Heysham tonight (Saturday) has undergone a timetable change because of tidal conditions, says the Steam Packet.

And passengers planning to travel from Douglas to Heysham tomorrow morning (Sunday) will have to set their alarm clocks earlier.

Instead of leaving at 8pm tonight the Ben-my-Chree will now depart at 9pm with expected arrival in Heysham at about 12.45am. Passengers are asked to check in no later than 8.15pm.

The one other change to the schedule is tomorrow morning’s (Sunday) sailing from Douglas to Heysham. Instead of leaving at 8.45am the Ben-my-Chree will now be leaving earlier at 7.15am. Passengers should check in no later than 6.30 am with arrival in Heysham at about 10.45am.

According to the Steam Packet website all other sailings are running to plan including the cruise around the Isle of Man tomorrow ab oard the Manannan with departure at 11.30am.

The sailing information line is 645745

Creations that stole the show at the Manx Wearable Art Catwalk Show go on display at the Hodgson Loom Gallery, in Laxey.

The exhibition, which opened today (Saturday), offers a chance to get up close and personal with many of the creations from the catwalk show organised by Sue Robinson and Doreen Dixon and held at the Youth Arts Centre, in Douglas, last month.

Also on display will be well maquettes, sketchbooks, photos and footage from the show.

The exhibition continues until May 23.

The gallery, in Laxey Woollen Mills, Glen Road, is open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.

The Alzheimer’s Society is hosting a 1940s themed tea party for anyone living with dementia and their carer.

The free event, taking place at the Villa Marina’s Promenade Suite on Sunday, May 17, will launch Dementia Awareness week in the island.

There will be singers, dancers, tea, soft drinks, sandwiches and cakes, dancing for anyone who wishes to partake and enthusiastic help from the volunteers of the Capita charity committee who are sponsoring the event.

The charity’s services manager, Grahame Bell, said: ‘A frequent effect of dementia is that the person has problems with their short-term and recent memories.

‘Events such as this allow people living with dementia to relax in an environment where they are not challenged by having to recall recent events, and consequently their personality is helped to shine through by the reminiscences they bring.

‘Give someone you love a great afternoon out and remember that even though the memories may fade, the good feelings last.’

The tea party runs from 1pm to 4pm.

To reserve a place, contact Grahame.Bell@alzheimers.org.uk or 613181.

A woman hailed as one of the most gifted young songwriters in Britain returns to the island to perform.

Leddra Chapman, known for her quintessentially English voice, will be performing her folk-pop music at Peel Centenary Centre on Saturday, May 2.

She will be supported by talented singer-songwriter Lee Broderick, who will also join Leddra for her headline set as guitarist.

They are being brought over by Mark Armstrong of TalisMann Promotions.

He first brought Leddra to the island in 2010 for an intimate gig at the Outback, in Douglas.

Leddra returned in 2012 to play on the main stage of the Garden Party at Begoade Fields, just north of Onchan.

The line-up that weekend included Newton Faulkner, Reverend and the Makers and the Little Comets, but Mark said that, for some, Leddra was the highlight of the festival.

Leddra wrote her first song at the age of 12 and began playing gigs soon after.

She has a music degree from the London College of Music.

She rose to prominence with her debut single ‘Story’, which was released in December 2009 to much critical success and strong support from Terry Wogan on BBC Radio 2.

The single was taken from her debut album ‘Telling Tales’, recorded by international producer Peter-John Vettese, which was released the previous month.

In The Independent’s album review, they labelled the collection of music as ‘pitch perfect acoustic pop’.

‘All About You’, a single from her second EP ‘The Crowds and the Cocktails’ was premiered on the The Graham Norton Show and it was BBC Radio 2’s single of the week in March 2013.

That year she also released Beauty With Heart with the Body Shop as a charity single raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Last year she released her second album, ‘My Mother’s Mind’, from which she had a single ‘Playground’.

She has collaborated with the likes of Brit Award winner Ed Sheeran and she has opened shows for Tom Jones.

This year will also see her performing at the Fling Festival in Essex.

The Centenary Centre show starts on Saturday, May 2, at 8pm, with doors opening at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £15.

They are available from Peter Norris Music, Douglas; Celtic Gold; Peel; Shakti Man, Ramsey; Thompson Travel, Port Erin or online at www.etickets.im/talismann

The event is supported by the Isle of Man Arts Council.

A new Powerchair Football Club has been launched – thanks to a generous donation by Microgaming’s health and care trust.

Powerchair Football is a sport specifically for adults and children with severe physical disabilities.

It caters for a wide range of physical impairments, including quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, stroke and spinal cord injury.

It has been a popular sport in the UK for a number of years. There are both regional and national UK Powerchair Football leagues and even a Powerchair Football World Cup!

The game is played indoors with two teams of up to four players. Players use their wheelchairs equipped with bumpers to attack, defend and spin kick the ball.

Keen to introduce this sport locally, Manx Sport & Recreation sought funding to make it happen.

The Microgaming health and care trust eagerly stepped in to provide the funds for goalposts, bumpers, coaching equipment and footballs, as well as supporting training facilities and coaching costs.

Taster sessions were held over two days last week at Project 21 on Greenfield Road in Douglas for young people in both manual and power wheelchairs.

Representatives from the Wheelchair Football Association came over to the island to oversee the sessions and workshops.

Zoe Crowe, disability sports development Officer for Manx Sport & Recreation, said: ‘There are very few sports on the island that cater for wheelchair users, yet we know that participating in sports and physical activities when living with a disability can provide many benefits, such as improved physical fitness, better confidence and enhanced social skills.

‘So we were determined to set up a Powerchair Football Club in the island to combat this, and it’s thanks to the Microgaming health and care trust that we can make this happen.’

Trustee Dr Roy Clague added: ‘We are very supportive of this initiative.’

The Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education hosted a conference entitled ‘Outdoor Childhood’.

It was organised by the second year public health degree students studying at the college and aimed to investigate perceptions and opportunities for children’s outdoor play on the Isle of Man.

Invited guest speakers were; Dawn Henley (Department of Public Health), Kirsty Neate (Manx National Heritage), Chris Gregory (Isle of Man Children’s Centre), Tina Moore (Early Years Education, Isle of Man College) and second year public health degree student Jennifer Quaggan.

Jennifer said: ‘It was extremely successful and well-received.’

Topics covered many aspects of the importance of outdoor play for children, from building community relations, physical and mental well-being, and creating resilience, to presenting on-island research undertaken by the students themselves and looking at the patterns of play for island children.

The event was opened by the Isle of Man College’s principal, Geoff Draper, with more than 60 guests attending throughout the day, including Treasury Minister Eddie Teare, chief executive of the Isle of Man Children’s Centre Fiona Dawson and parents and professionals from all areas of education and childcare provision on the island.

The conference is planned to be an annual event covering a variety of contemporary health issues affecting the Isle of Man.

TV chef Alan Coxon has launched a new food and travel cookbook.

Alan, who trained at Isle of Man College and previously owned the Taste of Magic restaurant in Port St Mary, has published From Birmingham to Bombay.

It takes us behind the scenes with stories and delicious recipes from three very different regions of India.

Recipes include well known and the not so well known dishes from

paneer tikka kalimirch and kandhari barwaan to vindaloo and Goa fish curry.

The foreword is written by Indian celebrity super chef Sanjeev Kapoor.

Other Indian guest chefs also feature, offering their own favourite recipes.

www.alancoxon.com

Young sports leaders participating in the Sure Sports Leaders Programme have been congratulated for their commitment to voluntary coaching.

The Sports Leaders Programme is led by the Department of Education and Children’s sports development unit and sponsored by telecoms firm Sure Isle of Man.

The current cohort of students have been delivering sports sessions at schools and in the community, and recording their voluntary leadership hours in their Sure Sports Log Books, since September.

Emma Callow, community sports development officer, said: ‘The department’s strategy for sport aims to increase the number of young people involved in leadership training and mentoring, and support them in gaining recognised coaching qualifications.

‘The Sure Sports Leaders, who are all in Year 12 [sixth formers] at school, have shown commitment and enthusiasm in their leadership and coaching roles since they completed their training in July and began to deliver sports sessions in September.

‘Between January and March this year, the students have completed an impressive total of 552 hours coaching sports in a wide variety of settings, including Manx Sport and Recreation activities, primary schools, and community sports clubs, as well as continuing their academic studies.

‘Seven students have completed a Level 1 National Governing Body coaching award to further develop their leadership skills.’

The two students who have delivered the most voluntary hours during the last three months received recognition at a presentation recently at the Sure Shop in Douglas.

Joseph Waterson, who attends the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education, completed an extraordinary 62 hours and received a £100 Sure voucher.

Just behind Joe, was Jack Maylin from Castle Rushen High School with 61 hours.

Manx National Heritage, the organisation responsible for protecting and promoting the Isle of Man’s heritage and culture, is appealing for organisations, groups, associations and individuals to put forward their sites and activities as part of the Isle of Man Heritage Open Days programme on offer to the island’s residents and visitors.

Isle of Man Heritage Open Days 2015 is scheduled for October 2 to 4 and October 9 to 11 =, with the two weekends now fixed highlights in the autumn calendar.

It will be the sixth year that organisations have joined together to provide the public with an exciting programme of free events with the aim of encouraging residents and visitors to discover more about the island.

Organisations, individuals and groups can be included in the Heritage Open Days programme if they can provide public access to buildings, landscapes and displays that are either usually closed to the public, normally have an admission fee or can provide extra information to explain the significance of the area. Manx National Heritage will once again coordinate the programme and marketing of the event which is generously funded by the Manx Museum and National Trust.

Katie King, community outreach and learning support officer at Manx National Heritage said: ‘The ethos of Heritage Open Days is about opening people’s eyes to some of the historic or unusual places around the Isle of Man.

‘There is a huge appetite to explore the island as shown by over 2,000 people enjoying the events last year.

‘Co-ordinating the programme enables us to meet and make contact with groups on the island, with over forty different organisations putting on events during last year’s event.

‘We have had the pleasure of meeting a huge variety of interesting, enthusiastic people with a real passion for celebrating the island’s heritage and we are always keen to welcome new participants to the Heritage Open Days programme.

‘Your mundane is someone else’s eye opener and we want you to engage, inspire and show it off.’

Do you work somewhere amazing that you can show people around? Has your home got historic connections? Have you got access to places and spaces that could be opened to the public?

Suzanne Walker and Katie King, the Heritage Open Days co-ordinators at Manx National Heritage, are asking organisations or private individuals to get in touch directly if you would like to take part.

Their contact numbers are:

Katie King 648035; katie.king@gov.im

Suzanne Walker 648091; suzanne.walker@gov.im

Kewaigue School’s £25,000 minibus appeal is on the move following a successful novelty transport fundraiser to launch the project.

Some 110 children as well as parents and staff took to trikes, scooters, space hoppers and go-karts to complete as many laps of the National Sports Centre’s athletics raceway as possible.

Through sponsorship, they raised about £3,000 for the school’s Friends’ Association’s appeal.

Head teacher Adrian Shorthouse said the idea came after a consultation to create a vision for the school.

‘Staff, governors and parents expressed a desire to give pupils greater opportunities to develop an interest an awareness of their community, and play a more active role in it,’ he said.

‘Transportation poses the main barrier to children accessing such educational opportunities. It’s all about community and getting into the community.

‘Children not only getting to know their island community but making a difference to it. The location of the school is not ideal to enable us to do that.’

Proposed trips include visits to the elderly and helping voluntary organisations such as the Manx Wildlife Trust.

He said the novelty transport fundraiser – which launched the appeal – had been ‘superb’, with everyone enjoying the challenge.

And he said a number of parents had been ‘really proactive’ gaining sponsorship through business colleagues.

‘It puts us right on track with the minibus,’ he said.

Their next big fundraiser will be a summer fair on the afternoon of Sunday, June 28, featuring giant inflatables, bucking bronco entertainment and a barbecue.

And in fact Mr Shorthouse expects the £25,000 target will be reached sooner than expected: ‘I thought it would probably take a year or two to reach the target. Now I’m quietly confident that by July we will have the money.’

He said the school had a history of being able to raise substantial sums of money – raising £30,000 to replace its school field with artificial grass.

‘It shows the fantastic support we get from our school community,’ he said.

To make a donation to the appeal, contact the school office on 673951.

A plant sale will take place at The Deanery, in Albany Road, Peel, to raise money for the development of the gardens at St German’s Cathedral.

The sale takes place on Saturday, May 16, from 10am to 4pm. Refreshments will be available.

Anyone who would like to donate plants to the sale are asked to contact Vivien Roworth on 840457 or take them to her home, 9 Peveril Terrace in Peel.

The £1 million gardens are taking shape.

They will develop the story of the engagement of Christian and Manx culture over 1,500 years with each garden telling a story century by century.

There will also be a labyrinth, an apple tunnel and a replica of the Maughold cross.

A charity walk is likely to be cancelled because of a lack of interest.

The Walk the Southern event, in which people walk the Southern 100 course, raises money for Robert Owen House, a facility in which Manx families and carers of patients at Broadgreen Hospital in Liverpool stay.

The Walk the Southern event is due to take place on Sunday.

A charity spokesman said: ‘During the early years of the walk there were no other events around at the time.

‘However, now there are at least six large events, within a few weeks of each other, all trying to raise money.

‘To stage the walk can cost at least £500-700 to cover printing, advertising posters, etc, which has to be recovered before a profit is made. We can no longer compete with other events supported by banks and finance houses that appear to have deeper pockets than us.’

He added there was still time for people to try to save the event by downloading an entry form from.robertowenhouse.org and turning up on Sunday at 2pm at the Southern 100 HQ end of Castletown bypass.

He said it was ‘crunch time’ for the future of the walk.

The mission to breed the best Manx bee possible gathers pace this week with the visit of bee specialist Roger Patterson.

As a trustee of the British Beekeepers’ Association and vice chairman of the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders’ Association, he first visited the island in January to advise the IoM Beekeepers’ Foundation.

His visit was in anticipation of the EU decision to allow the island to ban the importation of bees, to protect it from the deadly varroa virus, which is decimating hives worldwide.

The federation established the Bee Improvement Committee, a subcommittee which is focused on breeding the best bee – the most fertile with the best temperament.

Committee member Johnny Kipps said: ‘Roger’s main mission is to find queens from the best apiaries and use those to improve the gene stock. He will give instruction on queen-rearing. He will visit as many apiaries as he can to assess them and find as many black bees which give evidence they are more docile but productive.’

This Friday and Saturday he will give demonstrations of making nuclei, setting up colonies for raising queen cells and queens at the training apiary in St John’s.

On Sunday, he visits colonies in the north and east and turns his attention to colonies in the centre and south of the island on Monday.

Johnny said since the ban was introduced, ‘there has been quite a lot more interest from people wanting to be bee keepers and from people – some from across – who want to buy Manx queens.’