Experienced anglers are invited to learn how to tag small sharks and help conserve their numbers.
The small shark tag training takes place on Saturday afternoon at the Manx Wildlife Trust’s office in Peel’s Market Place.
It runs from 2pm to 4pm and is free to attend.
To book a place email MWT marine officer Lara Howe on lara@manxwt.org.uk or call 844432.
The trust will also be organising tagging boat trips in the summer.
Schools and businesses donned their wellies and onesies to show their support for Manx charity, Sleeping Angel Wood.
The charity supports families that have lost a child through miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death.
April saw the first saplings planted in the Sleeping Angel Wood, a project in Colden Plantation designed to give families a way to get some solace after the loss of a child.
Earlier this month the charity encouraged people to spend the day in their wellies and onesies and upload their pictures to the charity’s Facebook page.
The charity’s founder, Tori Smithies, said: ‘Wellies for the Woods went really well with quite a few offices getting involved and, of course, Anagh Coar School who were fantastic.
‘It was great to see them all and they all enjoyed meeting Giallican the bear. There was everything from super heroes to fluffy kittens!’
She added: ‘We will definitely be doing something similar next year and we will be picking and announcing a winner in the next few days.’
A musician who uses rubbish to make instruments held a thumping good event at The Buchan School last week.
Andy Warn, from Bristol, brought his ‘Sounds Roadshow’ to the school on Friday with an exciting all-day musical workshop based on recycling.
Pupils from nursery up to F3 (nine and 10 year olds) experienced a whole new way to look at rubbish thanks to Andy’s innovative approach to making instruments out of commonly discarded objects such as bins, buckets and pipes.
Group sessions were aimed at developing concentration and collaborative listening with the children imitating strong rhythm patterns and developing ideas to accompany more contemporary music and experience mixing simple rhythms in layers.
Each class enjoyed their own catered sessions that saw teachers joining in the fun, and in the case of P2 (five and six year olds), even the childrens’ parents took part, with the day’s highlight being a rousing rendition of Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’.
Head of music Sue Mills said: ‘Andy did some fabulous workshops with all of the children.
‘The P2s were joined by parents, grandparents, relatives and nannies to play all the games. Everyone enjoyed playing the different rhythms to “We Will Rock You”.
‘Everyone enjoyed the day and we look forward to Andy coming back to the school to do another fun workshop soon.
‘Andy and I had set the gym up with rainbow coloured plastic and tin buckets and two white cut pipes with rubber bands on the ends to act as beaters.
‘The children had to learn the start position where they put the beaters next to their chests so that they would not make any sound.
‘They then had to follow a sequence with their hands: they tapped their bin twice, clapped their hands in front of them and then clapped their bin twice.
‘They had to follow the different patterns. The children tapped sticks on the floor, on buckets and in the air in a rhythmic pattern.’
For more than 20 years, Andy has toured the UK while developed a series of workshops for schools.
For more information about Andy’s workshops visit www.soundsroadshows.co.uk
The electorate in Douglas North has chosen businessman Ralph Peake to be the area’s new MHK.
The results were
David Ashford 554
Maire Booth (Liberal Vannin) 223
Ralph Peake 604
The vacancy arose when Bill Henderson moved from the House of Keys to join Legislative Council.
We asked Mr Peake to tell our readers why he deserved their vote.
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/politics/douglas-north-ralph-peake-1-7267838|This was what he wrote in this week’s Examiner.}
The electorate in Douglas South has voted for Bill Malarkey to be their new MHK.
The votes were:
Kurt Buccholz 169
Amy Burns 273
Keith Fitton (Liberal Vannin) 502
Bill Malarkey 598
For Mr Malarkey, it’s a return to the Keys.
He was MHK for the area until 2011 when he lost his seat in the general election.
He said he was ‘over the moon’ with the result.
The vacancy came about after long-standing MHK David Cretney was elected to the Legislative Council.
We asked all candidates to say why they should be an MHK.
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/politics/douglas-south-bill-malarkey-1-7267846|This is what Mr Malarkey wrote in this week’s Examiner.}
A team of six Manx police officers plan to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania - Africa’s highest point at 5,895 metres - during a 10-day expedition in September.
Carl Woods, David Baker, Kelly Wilkinson, Darren Gorry, Graham Corran and Quentin De Backer are undertaking the challenge to raise funds for Manx Miracles and Tabitha’s Trust.
Team leader Carl Woods said: ‘The idea came about in a conversation during a rare quiet night shift we were all working. We all said we fancied going on a bit of an adventure and after some research and further discussion we decided on trekking Kilimanjaro.
‘We thought it would be a waste to just climb the mountain for ourselves, so we nominated the two charities we are raising money for. They are both Island-based and, for various reasons, close to our hearts.’
The charities are Manx Miracles, which aims to create, find and support programmes that directly improve the health and well-being of Island children facing huge challenges in their lives and support their families, and Tabitha’s Trust, which provides support, guidance and services to families in the Island who have been touched by the death of a child.
Carl added: ‘A significant amount of training has already been undertaken. We are all relatively fit individuals in our own right and the biggest challenge is likely to be the extreme altitude. In an attempt to prepare ourselves the best we can, myself and David are attending a pre-trip weekend in Wales in July to take part in some altitude simulations and speak to those who have done the trip before.
‘The whole trip is self-funded by the team members and support from family, friends and generous businesses like the Steam Packet.
‘The costs of travel, accommodation, expenses and so on will not be met from the donations made to the charities, so everything we raise will support their important work.
You can donate by visiting www.gofundme.com/cops-to-kilimanjaro
The Steam Packet is assisting with the cost of travel to and from the UK for the expedition, as well as supporting a training trip to Wales in July for two team members.
As the team is meeting all costs at their own expense and with help from supporters like the Steam Packet Company, donations will go directly to the nominated charities.
War memorials could be protected under law soon.
Rushen MHK Juan Watterson will be introducing a Bill into the House of Keys to bring in the measure.
The main proposed reforms of this brief bill include:
Placing a duty of care on the owner of a war memorial to maintain it
Giving the Council of Ministers enforcement powers to ensure war memorials are maintained
Mr Watterson said he was introducing the Bill because there was no compulsion for anyone to preserve the memorials.
He added: ‘Most local authorities act in good faith and use the powers in the 1927 Act to preserve their memorials, but if one fell into disrepair there would be no compulsion to maintain or restore it. This Bill would seek to place an obligation on the landowner, local authority or church where the memorial was sited to maintain it.’
He said that in providing this special status, the Bill provided for Council of Ministers to have some powers, although there would be the possibility of delegating them to the War Memorials Preservation Committee.
This would include the power to approve erection of a new war memorial, the power to vest a memorial in a local authority where ownership was unknown or as in many cases owned collectively by the community. It also requires Council of Ministers to maintain a register of war memorials.
Mr Watterson has consulted h local authorities, church authorities and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and War Memorials Trust about the matter.
This has led to a number of changes from the first draft, including:
Exemption for faculty jurisdiction, recognising that the Church of England and other Church bodies have suitable protection
Requirement for Council of Ministers to maintain and publish a public register of war memorials, so that there is certainty as to what is and what is not a war memorial
Allowing Council of Ministers to treat war memorials as if they were registered buildings in order to ensure that there is a known system and proper sanctions in place.
If the Bill progresses through the House of Keys, it is the intention to publish and consult on the draft register of war memorials, the rules which Council of Ministers will apply for applications, and draft an order to apply the relevant sections of the Town and Country Planning Act.
Mr Watterson added: ‘We are in the midst of 100th anniversary commemorations of events during the First World War. This tragic episode in the history of humanity made a massive impression across the globe, including, possible even especially, the Isle of Man.
‘We are all aware and proud of the fact that more Manxmen per thousand put themselves forward for service than any county of England.
‘The names of those who fell are recorded on our island’s War memorials, there are around 170 such memorials around the island, not just parish obelisks, but plaques buildings, books, windows and organs all sacred to the memory of those who paid the highest price for our freedom.
‘I am proud to be the current chairman of the government’s War Memorials Preservation Committee. Almost all of the memorials around the island were erected or funded by public subscription – demonstrating the outpouring of public of feeling that existed at that time. Many were supported by war memorial committees that retained funds for the upkeep of the memorials, and this was supplemented by legislation in 1927 allowing local authorities to spend ratepayers money on maintaining memorials.
‘We move on, and the Second World War brought further memorials. However, sadly due to the passage of time, the loss of interest, the shame perhaps of war that society went through, none of these war memorial committees exist. Indeed, your committee has noted that some memorials are in desperate need of repair or maintenance and there has been no “owner” per se to care for it.
‘I have therefore sought leave of the House to introduce a Bill to make provision fit for the future and to ensure that the memory of those who died continues to be preserved beyond the lifetimes of those who remember them.’
The first reading for the bill will be on Tuesday, May 26. The second is scheduled for June 23.
Schools are to be given portraits of the island’s national poet, T. E Brown – replicating a gift made to them a century ago.
Brown was born in Douglas in 1830, attended King William’s College and graduated from Christ Church, Oxford, then entered teaching, retiring as master of Clifton College, Bristol, in 1892 and returning to his native island.
He died five years later.
His most noted collection of poems was Fo’c’s’le Yarns, tales told from the forecastle of a ship by an old mariner, which contained his best-known work of all, Betsy Lee.
In May 1914, the Manx Society – now the Manx Language Society – gave a portrait of Brown to every island school to encourage pupils to read his works.
Exactly 100 years later, to mark Island of Culture 2014, Jo Callister, advisory teacher for the Manx curriculum with the Department of Education and Children challenged schools to unearth the portraits.
Six schools – Michael, Arbory, Laxey, Willaston, Henry Bloom Noble and St Thomas’s – still had the portraits on display or were able to locate them.
The World Manx Association (WMA) found 18 copies of the portrait in an attic and donated them to the DEC, which had more prints made.
The framed portraits are now being presented to schools along with other gifts relating to Brown.
The WMA is also gifting schools copies of ‘Treasure of the Island’s Heart’, a CD featuring Major Geoff Crellin reading Brown’s poems.
Culture Vannin is donating copies of ‘T.E Brown – an Anthology’ by Dollin Kelly – a book aimed at young people.
Schools will also receive a CD created by Emily Cook as part of Island of Culture 2014.
Emily invited John Kennaugh and schoolchildren to read Brown’s work and the recordings are illustrated with moving images.
Courtesy of Manx National Heritage, the pack will also contain a copy of the article from the Isle of Man Examiner of May 9, 1914, detailing how Manx Society members visited schools to present the portraits.
The article stated: ‘The rising generation should, as a result of the actions of the Manx Society this week, be encouraged to devote to the literary work of the Rev Thomas Edward Brown that attention and study which its intrinsic merit should in itself be sufficient to command.’
Tim Crookall MHK, Minister for Education and Children, joined Mary Corlett, chairman of the WMA, and Angie Weimar, a past chairman, who found the prints in her attic, to present the first of the gifts to Braddan Primary School.
The newly relaunched Decaf charity drop in session went with a swing in Peel.
The support group, which became registered as a charity in 2012 offers help for people who suffer from dementia and their carers and the cafe events are informal monthly events that take place across the island.
The relaunched sessions in Peel take place at the Highwayman pub on the second Tuesday of each month from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
Occupational therapist Karen Bell said the sessions were informal so people could drop in and out as they wished and need not stay for the whole session. Support is offered not only from the occuaptional therapy team but also from social workers and the mental health team as well. If possible representatives from the Alzheimer’s Society also go along to the events.
‘Each year the regulars have a Christmas meal and we try to organise an activity for each session,’ she said.
‘Such as Pets for Therapy who will visit with their animals or the Silver Club older people’s swimming club. There are always tea and cakes provided and we ask for a minimum donation of £2 from each person attending.’
Sessions run in the Highwayman in Peel on the second Tuesday of each month; Ramsey second Thursday of the month, 2pm to 4pm; Port Erin, second Wednesday of the month, Cherry Orchard, 2pm to 4pm; Douglas golf club, last Friday of the month, 2.30pm to 4pm.
Appropriate safety measures will be incorporated into the design for the proposed £21.3m revamp of Douglas promenades, the Infrastructure Minister told Tynwald.
Phil Gawne said representatives of UK-based charities for the blind would be invited over to give their input and hopefully new design principles could be incorporated that ‘will allow everyone to be satisfied with the scheme’.
He made the comments after guide dog users highlighted issues with a ‘shared space’ scheme in Poynton, Cheshire, similar to that proposed for the promenades.
The planned scheme for Douglas will see vehicles and pedestrians share the road and conventional zebra crossings replaced with ‘courtesy crossings’.
A video by Yellow Pooch Productions, which supports Guide Dogs for the Blind, shows two guide users trying to negotiate the road at Poynton. One who has had a guide dog since 1986 says: ‘I found it really scary. I didn’t know I had crossed the road. I was totally lost. There is no way I would come here on my own.’
In one scene, a fully-sighted pedestrian can be spotted kicking a car.
David Cretney MLC, who chairs the Douglas regeneration group, has been in correspondence with Guide Dogs for the Blind’s Manchester branch which cover the Isle of Man as well as other organisations, both on and off the island, that represent the visually impaired.
He said he was pleased that these organisations will be invited over to participate in the design of the scheme.
In Tynwald, Mr Cretney asked the Infrastructure Minister to confirm that the needs of the visually impaired will be properly considered as part of the overall scheme design.
Mr Gawne replied: ‘Yes, I can confirm that. We had been having very productive and fruitful discussions with various representatives of blind people and people who are partially sighted.
‘There has been some concern in the UK expressed about shared space designs. As soon as the words ‘shared space’ are found, immediately a load of UK-based charities come piling in objecting to anything that you try to do.
‘Our Isle of Man-based charities are very much influenced by those UK charities. What I have asked the officers to do is to invite representatives of some of the UK-based charities to come to the island, so that they can fully understand exactly what we are trying to do with our scheme and we can understand their ideas and hopefully incorporate some new design principles that will allow everyone to be satisfied with the scheme.’
David Quirk (Onchan) had asked what risk assessments have been taken into account in locating the horse tram lines onto the promenades walkway.
Mr Gawne said: ‘I would not support this idea if I did not think it was safe.’
He said the construction, operation and maintenance of the proposed horse tram track are subject to regular design risk assessments and consultants WGS Rail were helping ensure that the proposals contain adequate safeguards.
‘The design incorporates many features that reflect the needs of different user groups, including children and people with disabilities,’ the Minister added.
‘As part of the ongoing design process, members of the design team will continue to give due consideration to all foreseeable risks.’
Ramsey MHK Leonard Singer asked the Minister what he meant by ‘appropriate safeguards’. Mr Gawne replied that experts employed by his department had assured him those safeguards were in place but he was not in a position to list the hundred or so appropriate measures.
You can see the Yellow Pooch video at https://vimeo.com/118137432
Former Spice Girl Melanie C will join boogie-woogie star Jools Holland in a live show in the Villa Marina, Douglas, in July.
Jools first performed on the Isle of Man at Peel Castle in 2000. Ticket-holders had to queue all the way round Peel harbour to get in.
Subsequent Isle of Man shows by Jools have included special guest appearances by Marc Almond and Alison Moyet.
Melanie C (‘Sporty Spice’) sold more than 100 million albums with nineties group the Spice Girls and more than 12 million albums as a solo artist.
For the show on July 23, Jools will be joined on stage by the 20-piece Rhythm an Blues Orchestra, including pianist, organist, legendary drummer (Gilson Lavis), three female vocalists, including Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall and Mabel Ray, guitar, bass guitar, two tenor saxophones, two alto saxophones, baritone saxophone, three trumpets and four trombones.
The JHRBO plays to live audiences of more than 300,000 each year.
Tickets priced at £42.50 (including 2 per cent booking fee) are available from the Villa Box Office on 600555 from tomorrow (Saturday) at 9am.
A review will be carried out of the two Douglas by-elections to establish if there was an issue of voters being missed off the electoral register.
Bill Henderson, whose elevation to the Legislative Council sparked the Douglas North by-election, said it ‘beggared belief’ that ‘hundreds’ have lost their entitlement to vote.
An update of the electoral register has resulted in the names of 12,252 people being taken off the voters’ list island-wide.
Policy and Reform Minister John Shimmin said the list was now more accurate as it only contained the names of those who had signed and returned the electoral registration form by the given date.
But critics say thousands have been disenfranchised. Some 800 names have been removed from the list in Douglas North and more than 1,200 in Douglas South.
Former Douglas North MHK and now MLC Bill Henderson said: ‘I’m very concerned the voters’ list was emptied just prior to a national election. They have not all died or moved house.
‘I’ve had some constituents contact me saying they are not eligible to vote. One lady presented herself to the Chief Secretary’s Office absolutely distraught that she could not vote.’
Mr Henderson suggested there were many cases where people had not signed and returned the form as they had lived in the same property for years and had always been on the list - and assumed they didn’t have to do anything to retain their vote.
Winning candidate in Douglas South, Bill Malarkey, said he could have lost at least 100 votes in Farmhill. He said: ‘I had people ringing me asking why can’t they come down to vote. They wanted to vote for me but they hadn’t got a polling card.’
He said he wanted the legislation changed so that voters in a by-election can have their names put on the electoral list a week before the poll.
Unsuccessful Douglas South candidate Amy Burns claimed 400 names had been take off the list in Pulrose - but didn’t think this ultimately would have changed the outcome of the by-election.
She said: ‘There were quite a few arguments. People came down to vote and wanted to know what was going on as they had been on the electoral register for years.’
Chief Minister Allan Bell said: ‘I’m not aware of any any major complaints arising for the by-elections.
‘After every election there is always a review. We will review the comments of the returning officer to ensure if there are any deficiencies they will be rectified, certainly before the next general election.
‘We have a rolling programme of voter registration which is updated every quarter. It is vitally important for people who believe they have been missed off the list to contact the government to have their names reinstated.
‘It is important to point out it is the individual voter’s responsibility to make sure they are on the list.
• Did you turn up to vote and find you were not on the electoral register? Contact newsdesk@newsiom.co.im
The island’s much-anticipated new motor museum will hold a launch ceremony with the island’s Lieutenant Governor on Friday before it officially opens its doors to the public on Saturday.
The purpose-built venue at Jurby will be home to one of the biggest public collections of vehicles in the British Isles which will include hundreds of vehicles, not just cars of all types and commercial vehicles but motor cycles as well housed on two large mezzanine levels.
Father and son Denis and Darren Cunningham began the project last autumn and in a remarkably short period of time were celebrating completion of the basic structure of the building in March. Now the final touches are being added ahead of the opening.
‘There are just a few bits and pieces still to do and the final exhibits are being put in so it is a really busy time at the moment. There has been a lot of work to do but everything will be in place ready for the opening,’ Denis Cunningham said.
At one end of the hall will be a separate workshop where visitors can see vehicles undergoing restoration. The museum expects to restore four of five vehciles each year to add to the collection.
In another area there will be a period machine workshop featuring a variety of stationary engines and belt driven engineering machinery.
Outside, facing the main road through the village there will be a period car showroom with a changing display where various classic vehicle club members can display their own items.
For more information see isleofmanmotormuseum.com
The driver of a bus that starting rolling down a hill when he left the cab is suspended while inquiries continue.
iomtoday reported that an investigation has been launched into claims that a major accident was narrowly averted on board a runaway bus.
The single decker started rolling down York Road, Douglas, after the driver left the cab to check a fault. Some passengers on the number 25 claimed a man who was sitting towards the back of the bus had run forward to the cab and applied the brake.
But Isle of Man Transport say initial inquiries suggest the April 15 incident was dealt with by the driver.
It is understood problems began with the ticketing system, which could only be rebooted by turning electronic systems off and then back on.
The handbrake can be applied by pressing a button but with the engine and electrical systems switched off, the handbrake was no longer applied and the vehicle started to move slowly down the hill.
The Manx Independent has learned that the driver remains suspended.
Isle of Man Transport said it would welcome statements from any witnesses who wish to come forward.
Bank Holiday Monday is eagerly awaited by Middlesbrough FC fans in the Isle of Man.
Their team kicks off at 3pm that afternoon at Wembley Stadium in the play-off final against fellow Championship side Norwich City.
The prize is a place in the Premier League, said to worth over £100 million, and the match has been billed as the most important of the year because of what is at stake.
David Carter, secretary of the Boro supporters’ club in the island, said: ‘We’ve had an amazing season and promotion would be the icing on the cake for Middlesbrough.
‘Manx fans of all teams are welcome to join us in the Victoria Tavern, Victoria Street, Douglas, for the 3pm kick-off.
‘Our president, Judith Ley of Manx Radio, has said she’ll buy everyone a drink if Boro make it!’
The club meets regularly throughout the season in the Victoria Tavern, one of the smallest pubs in the island.
Boro fans say their most memorable night was the 14-13 penalty shoot-out in the League Cup against Liverpool at Anfield, closely followed by the 2-0 away win at Manchester City in the FA Cup.
Police are appealing for people to stop spreading rumours after the death of a 14-year-old boy.
Harrison Cushing, from Peel, died on Sunday.
Detective Sergeant Neil Craig, who is leading the inquiry, said: ‘Our inquiries into the circumstances surrounding Harrison’s death, which is not being treated as suspicious, are still very much ongoing on behalf of the coroner and so far we have spoken to several people.
‘As part of these inquiries, I am aware that there has been quite a lot of local speculation as to the circumstances surrounding his death.
‘This is entirely understandable given Harrison’s young age, but I would like to request that consideration be given as to the potential impact that any rumours or speculation may be having on Harrison’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time.’
The police asked iomtoday.co.im to publish this appeal.
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/police-investigate-14-year-old-boy-s-death-1-7266523|Our report from earlier in the week.}
There is to be a tribute lap around the TT course this weekend for tragic TT star Gary Carswell.
Gary lost his life {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/gary-carswell-dies-in-jurby-crash-1-7205023|following an accident} during practising at Jurby Motordome.
Gary, who was 46, was third in the 2004 Senior TT and had eight top 10 finishes from 56 TT starts.
He also won the 1997 Senior Manx Grand Prix and finished runner up in a further five MGPs.
The event, which will take place tomorrow (Saturday), is aimed at bringing together bikers, friends and the local racing community to show their support for Gary and as a celebration of his racing career.
Participants are invited to start at any time of the day and on any means of transport and suggestions include a motorbike, a bicycle, car, quad bike or even on the local Bus – and solo or in a group.
They’ll meet up at the Sulby Glen Hotel at 7.30pm.
The organisers are stressing that it is not a ride out, or a race against time and that safety comes first, and are requesting that courteous and considerate behaviour to other road users is observed at all times.
Property valued at almost £163,000 was stolen by the same criminal undertaking now believed to be behind no fewer than 68 burglaries.
The figures were revealed for the first time this week.
Police believe they have successfully disrupted the unprecedented spate of burglaries that caused widespread alarm in the island earlier this year. The culprits, however, have never been caught.
Previously, they said there were 47 burglaries reported between January and March in which property, mainly cash and jewellery, was stolen. There were also nine attempted break-ins.
The last incident was apparently on March 5 when suspicious activity was reported in Birch Hill Park.
But in a written reply to a Tynwald question from Douglas North MHK John Houghton, Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson this week said: ‘There were 68 burglaries in January and February of this year out of a total of 144 domestic burglaries recorded during the year ended March 31.
‘These burglaries were apparently part of the same criminal undertaking and the value of the property stolen amounted to £162,820.’
In early March, police announced they would no longer provide details of recent offences, including how many or where, claiming this may hamper efforts to catch the culprits.
The burglaries began in January and resumed later in February after a lull of several weeks.
But Mr Watterson insisted in his written reply: ‘There was no second wave of burglaries.’
Mr Houghton, who has previously criticised what he described as a ‘dramatic shortfall’ of information put out by the police while the spate of burglaries continued, told iomtoday: ‘What does he mean “there was no second wave”? As you know, there was a halt on the first wave and it recommenced.
‘I’m not surprised the figures don’t add up. If they had caught anyone for the burglaries, they would have been singing from the rafters.’
The Manx Blind Welfare Society is appealing for photographers to help the charity raise funds.
The society, which looks after the interests of more than 600 people with serious sight loss on the Isle of Man, is putting together its fundraising 2016 calendar and a new set of Christmas cards.
It hopes to have the calendar on sale by Tynwald Day, and the cards, which are being sponsored by Celton Manx, available in plenty of time for the festive season.
Manx Blind Welfare Society volunteers coordinator and events organiser Debbie Thomson said: ‘Our calendar has proved a big hit in recent years, selling all over the world and raising thousands of pounds to support our work. We already have a full complement of sponsors lined up for the 2016 edition and what we need now is photos which show the unique beauty of the Isle of Man.
‘We’d like to hear from anyone who has a photo they’d like to share, especially if it features an unusual view of the island.
‘The society is very grateful for the support it has received from local photographers, both amateur and professional, in recent years. This support has allowed us to produce some truly stunning calendars which have showcased the splendour of the island.’
She added: ‘Our hope is to have the calendar ready to sell on Tynwald Day, at the fairfield in St John’s, so if you think you could help please get in touch as soon as you can.’
Debbie said the society was also looking for the perfect image to feature on a brand new Christmas card for 2015.
She said: ‘We’ve been lucky enough to have been able to use some lovely photos for our Christmas cards and we’re hoping someone may have the perfect shot in their archives, perhaps showing snow on the island or a traditional festive scene, which we could use this year. Thanks to the support of Celton Manx, all funds raised by the sale of the cards will go directly to supporting the society’s work with visually impaired people in the Isle of Man.’
If you would like to submit a photo, call Debbie on 674727 or email dthomson@mbws.org.im
Nearly 80 competitors will take part in this weekend’s World Tin Bath Championships in Castletown harbour.
The annual event which attracts huge crowds and guarantees entertainment, includes snake races and races for men and women in the iconic – but not entirely seaworthy – tin bath.
The 44th edition will take place in Castletown’s middle harbour tomorrow (Saturday) from 3pm.
As reported in yesterday’s Manx Independent, self-styled ‘King of Mann’ David Howe from Maryland in the United States will take part.
With nine-time winner Lee Cain ruled out through injury, Nick Cain has emerged as the favourite in the men’s races, with two previous wins to his name.
Among the 18 veterans (over-40s) taking part are Holmes Blackburn andDave Collister, who will each be making their 44th attempt to win.
Meanwhile in the women’s race 16-time winner Erika Cowen is out to retain her title
But the John McGuinness of tin bath racing will face stiff competition from Suzanne Slater and Paula Gelling and another win is by no means certain.
Even without Lee, Team Cain are in the frame for the men’s team event but watch out for Action Baths, Social Network, Lamb’s Navy Rum and Tintanic.
The women’s team race is likely to be between the Eastern Young Farmers, Old Boy’s Girls, Onchan Raceway Ladies and Team Hippo.
The Manx International Snake Race Championship offers a different challenge, and last year’s winner Friends Provident International will be ready to defend their title from the Young Farmers’ teams, Team St Chris and the always well-dressed Quayside Cops.
Intrepid birdmen and women will make attempts at human-powered flight through the afternoon, and the Castletown Ale Drinkers Society will entertain the crowds with stunt shows.
More birdmen and women are welcome, so suit up in your most aerodynamic costume and take flight over Castletown.
Castletown Band will play between 2pm and 3pm on the quayside, and Port St Mary Lifeboat will be on hand throughout in the very likely event that a bath sinks.
The World Tin Bath Championships are organised by the Castletown Ale Drinkers’ Society (CADS)and sponsored by Jameson Whiskey, Heron and Brearley, Capital International, Salt bar and kitchen, Tower Insurance, 3fm and PokerStars.
All money raised is given to local charities.
The afternoon’s entertainment will be compered by Phil Tauban.
For more information contact Dave Collister on 823996 or speak to any CADS member.