Stay up to date with everything that’s going on around the Isle of Man during the 2015 TT Festival with the iomtoday Live News page, including full race schedule and road closure information.

The Live News facility has become an important and valued area to our readers since it was introduced two years ago, particularly during TT and Manx Grand Prix periods.

It offers the chance for us to publish information instantly through Twitter and links to items of interest as they happen, such as road closures and police incidents, as well as island-related images on Instagram, videos on YouTube and much more.

So click the following link and stay up to date with everything that’s going on around the island TT 2015: LIVE NEWS STREAM
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RACE SCHEDULE TT 2015

Saturday, June 6

Roads close: 9.15am from Barrule Park, Ramsey; 9.30am from Bungalow; 10am rest of Mountain Course.

10.40am Superbike, Superstock, Supersport practice.

11.50am Lightweight and Supersport practice.

12.45pm RST Parade lap

2pm SURE SIDECAR Race 1 (3 laps)

3.20pm SES TT Zero qualifying session

4-5pm Roads open

Sunday, June 7

2pm RST SUPERBIKE TT (6 laps)

Monday, June 8

10.45am: MONSTER ENERGY SUPERSPORT Race 1 (4 laps)

2pm: RL360 SUPERSTOCK (4 laps)

Qualifying: 12.30pm Sidecar (one lap); 3.45pm TT Zero (one lap).

Wednesday, June 10

Roads close: 9.15am from Barrule Park, Ramsey; 9.30am from Bungalow; 10am rest of Mountain Course.

10.45am: SES TT ZERO CHALLENGE (1 lap)

Midday: MONSTER ENERGY SUPERSPORT Race 2 (4 laps)

2.15pm: SURE SIDECAR Race 2 (3 laps)

Qualifying: 3.50pm Senior TT (one lap); 4.10pm Lightweight (one lap).

Friday, June 12

Roads close: 9.15am from Barrule Park, Ramsey; 9.30am from Bungalow; 10am rest of Mountain Course.

10.15am: BENNETTS LIGHTWEIGHT/650 (3 laps)

12.30pm: POKERSTARS SENIOR TT (6 laps)

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Practice and race schedules are subject to change. In the event of any postponements, racing will take place on Sunday, June 7 from 1.30pm; Tuesday, June 9, and Thursday, June 11, from 11.30am.

Road information line (01624) 685888.

The island’s GPs will meet for a training session on the afternoon of Wednesday, 17 June.

Although GPs will not be available for routine appointments, practices will remain open for patients to visit the practice nurse, make future appointments, collect test results and order repeat prescriptions.

Urgent appointments and any urgent visits will be provided by locum GPs based at practices in Douglas, Peel and the south.

Anyone who needs to see a doctor urgently on the afternoon of June 17 should ring their GP practice as normal.

The quarterly education sessions bring GPs together to discuss developments in medical care and best practice, and to examine ways to enhance care for patients in the Isle of Man.

The Department of Health and Social Care and the island’s GPs wish to record their appreciation of the public’s support and understanding.

TT organisers have made the decision to move Saturday’s RST Superbike TT to Sunday afternoon because of forecast high winds.

Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson said that he hopes to run the big bike race at 2pm on Sunday but that maybe subject to change.

The Sure Sidecar Race one will still take place as scheduled at 2pm tomorrow, Saturday.

Saturday, June 6, revised schedule:

9.15am Mountain closes between Barrule Park and the Bungalow

9.30am Mountain closes between Bungalow and Creg-ny-baa

10am Roads close rest of the Course. All roads on the TT Course now closed.

10.40am Superbike, Superstock, Supersport practice.

11.50am Lightweight and Supersport practice.

12.45pm RST Parade lap

2pm Sure Sidecar Race

3.20pm SES TT Zero qualifying session

4-5pm Roads open

Former High Bailiff Michael Moyle is standing for the Legislative Council.

He is one of five candidates to be nominated for the forthcoming election to LegCo which will take place on Monday June 22.

After 21 years as government advocate, Mr Moyle was appointed Deputy High Bailiff in 1995 and then High Bailiff from 2003 until his retirement in 2010. He has been nominated by Douglas North MHK John Houghton.

The other candidates are Glenfaba MHK and former Minister David Anderson, Treasury member Phil Braidwood MLC, Education Minister and Peel MHK Tim Crookall and former Rushen Parish Commissioner Adrian Tinkler.

Two vacancies remain in LegCo following two previous elections when no candidate was able to secure the 13 votes required from MHKs.

A fundraising event with a difference helped the team at a Douglas beauty salon raise over £200 for Cancer Research UK.

Diva Hair and Beauty hosted a charity blow dry on Sunday, where customers could get their hair styled in exchange for a donation.

Salon owner Shannon-Rose Thornton, pictured top right, is also tackling the Parish Walk in June for the same charity. Combined with Sunday’s event, her fundraising has reached almost £800. To make a donation visit https://www.justgiving.com/account/your-pages/Shannon-Thornton

Vegas is calling for Dan Fargher after he won the Palace Casino Poker Tournament.

Mr Fargher, aged 34, who lives in Ramsey, beat the nine other top players from the 12-week league to win the prize of an all-expenses-paid trip to this year’s World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

He said: ‘I’ve been playing poker for about nine years now, and when I entered the tournament the plan was to win it, so I’m really pleased that I did.

‘I won the final hand in the space of just a couple of minutes and then suddenly everyone started cheering. I went to Vegas a couple of years but was ill for most of the time so hardly got a chance to play, so it’s great that I’ll be returning.

‘I’ve only ever watched the World Series before. Winning this great prize means that this time I won’t be a spectator, I’ll be a player.’

Casino director Adrian Brockhouse said: ‘With such a fantastic prize at stake this poker tournament attracted exceptional interest and some very skilled players. All 10 finalists played immaculately but it was Dan Fargher who emerged triumphant. We wish him well for a great time in Las Vegas and every success at the tables.’

Sunnydale Residential Home, in Stanley View, Douglas, turned pink for a month as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Fundraisers including an Easter With a Twist Party, Beetle Drive, Mini Olympic Games and Think Pink Party raised £600 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer Isle of Man.

Pictured are life enrichment manager Julie Clarke and resident Heather Webster presenting the cheque to the charity’s chairman Angie Aire.

A plan has been submitted for extensive renovation work at the civic centre in Castletown.

The plan (15/00569/B) is for alterations and extensions to rehouse the library, increase the size of the foyer and tourist information, and upgrade the existing public toilets.

Once work is completed, the centre will accommodate the police station.

Staff at Victoria House Nursery, in Victoria Road, Douglas, have been celebrating after achieving the island’s quality assurance award – the Manx Quality Award.

It recognises high quality early years practice.

It was one of a number of institutions to be honoured at various levels with quality awards.

Others included Hopes and Dreams Buchan Nursery, Hopes and Dreams Parklands Nursery, Cronk y Berry School reception class, the Ark Community Nursery and Butterflies Day Nursery.

The 2015 Manx Step into Quality Award group consists of classes at Ballasalla Primary School, Henry Bloom Noble Primary School, Marown Primary School, Peel Clothworkers’ Primary School and Sandcastles Nursery at Cronk y Berry.

Victoria House Nursery owner and manager Carolyn Nicholson said: ‘The Manx Quality Award captures the ethos of Victoria House and is a true reflection of the Nursery’s vision for the children in their care.’

Motorcycle enthusiast, adventurer, TV presenter and actor Charley Boorman returns to the Gaiety Theatre on Tuesday with his live show.

He is known to millions for his globetrotting television shows like Long Way Round, Long Way Down and By Any Means.

The show is a chance to hear the inside story from the man himself, see some pictures and clips and ask a few questions.

Charley is a big fan of the TT having visited for the first time in 2011 and has had a lifelong passsion for motorcycles.

‘If you’ve not been to the Isle of Man TT before, you’re not complete,’ he said.

‘Getting there for the first time is like an incredible discovery.

‘You’re disappointed that years of your life may have gone by without you seeing this spectacle of bravery, speed and skill before.

‘I’ll be there all week from this Saturday (June 6) and I’m like a kid counting the sleeps before the trip.’

He has invited some of the racers to the show, James Hillier and Maria Costello to name just a few.

Charley will be talking about his previous life in Hollywood and how he met Ewan McGregor, how the Long Way Round bike trip from London to New York via Europe and Asia came about, and what went wrong when in 2006 he took part in the most demanding and dangerous motor races on earth, the Dakar Rally.

It saw him seriously damage his hands in a crash in the desert.

One of Charley’s biggest challenges to date, captured on the By Any Means DVD, saw him travel solo from Ireland to Australia using any method of transport he could find.

He covered some of the world’s most exciting and dangerous terrains in countries such as Nepal, Iran and Thailand on everything from trains to container ships, dugout canoes, cement barges and solar cars.

More recently, Extreme Frontiers followed Charley’s 10,300 mile journey across Canada with a second series comprising a South African adventure.

As the son of film director John Boorman, Charley’s acting career started as a child, first appearing in the film Deliverance in 1972.

Since then he has appeared in films including Excalibur, The Emerald Forest, The Serpent’s Kiss and The Bunker.

The show starts at 8pm (doors open at 7.30pm).

There will also be a chance to get a photo of an autograph at the signing at the end of the show.

Tickets for the show cost £18.50 (including 2 per cent booking fee).

Call the box office on 600555 or book online at www.villagaiety.com

There will be a delay to today’s road closure for the first TT race of the year.

Roads close at 4pm. The sidecar races is due to start at 5pm.

TT clerk of the course Gary Thompson said: ‘There’s a number of factors, including the incident at the 33rd [the helicopter crash].

‘At the moment it’s questionable whether the air med could fly [because of the high winds]. We’ve also been informed by Noble’s that its bed capacity is at its limit at the moment.

‘However, conditions are forecast to improve and were hoping to close roads at 4pm with the sidecars away at 5pm. All this is subject to a decrease of wind speeds.’

All of Saturday’s TT action has been postponed with high winds preventing the air ambulance servicing the mountain.

TT clerk of the course Gary Thompson explained on Manx Radio TT earlier in the day: ‘There’s a number of factors, including the incident at the 33rd. At the moment it’s questionable whether the air med could fly [because of the high winds]. We’ve also been informed by Noble’s that its bed capacity is at its limit at the moment.’

With a better forecast tomorrow it is hoped to run the Superbike race and RST parade lap in the afternoon, the former getting under way at 2pm.

The Sure Sidecar TT 1 has been slotted into Monday’s schedule at 2pm after the four-lap RL 360 Superstock race at 10.45am. The Monster Energy Supersport Race 1 has been pushed back until Monday evening at 6.30pm.

Revised schedule

Saturday, June 6

No racing

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Sunday, June 7

12.45pm Roads close Barrule Park, Ramsey to Bungalow

1pm Roads Close Bungalow to Creg Ny Baa

1.30pm Roads Close rest of the course

2pm RST Superbike Race (Six laps)

4.20pm RST Parade lap

4.50pm Roads open except Mountain section

5.50pm Roads open around the course

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Monday, June 8

9.15am Roads close Barrule Park, Ramsey to Bungalow

9.30am Roads close Bungalow to Creg Ny Baa

10am Roads close rest of the course

10.45am RL360 Superstock Race (four laps)

2pm Sure Sidecar Race 1 (three laps)

3.45pm TT Zero qualifying (one lap)

5pm to 6pm Roads open around the Course

6pm Roads close

6.30pm Monster Energy Supersport Race 1

8.20pm Sidecar Qualifying (1 lap)

9pm Roads open

Keep up to date throughout the day at our live news and sport page.

All ports in the south are being tidied up thanks to the hard work of the south’s harbour keeper, Neil Collister.

Strictly speaking it’s not the harbour keeper’s responsibility to oversee the aesthetics of the harbours, but Neil, who is 37, feels a sense of commitment to the community.

‘It’s in everyone’s best interests to smarten up the area – if we do that, people will keep coming down,’ he explained.

‘I grew up in Castletown, and I would like to get the area smartened up.

‘There were quite a few people who once worked in harbours division. Now in the south there’s me and a part timer, John Watterson. We are going to try and fit it in as and when we can.’

Derbyhaven is being tidied up and boats put in order. He’s painting Castletown harbour area, clearing the river banks and plans to resurrect an old jetty that runs off the pier by clearing seaweed off its surface.

In Port St Mary, the whole harbour area ‘needs a damn good paint’, he said.

Port Erin, meanwhile, will get an improved boat park area near the jetty.

This mood of community responsibility is not exclusive to the south, said Neil, but emanates throughout the harbours division within the Department of Infrastructure.

Neil said: ‘We are all passionate about the harbours we have. Harbour division is fully supportive of me and gives me the time to do these things as well.

‘I want things done and I want them done now. In the whole of harbours we want to smarten things up, we’re going above and beyond the day-to-day working of the ports.’

He added: ‘You are inviting these visitors to your island. So, if it looks shabby it’s not a great impression on the rest of the island. Harbours give the first impression, and I want it to look as smart as possible.

‘I think we should push ourselves to make it better.

‘It’s not lots of money, it’s effort.’

Red Arrows RAF Display Team will be performing their spectacular fast jet display over the skies of Douglas and Ramsey on Tuesday.

Featuring solo and formation acrobatics, the display will take place over Ramsey bay from 3pm and then Douglas bay from 7.30pm.

There will be commentary at Mooragh Promenade and the Villa Marina by Red Arrows leader RED 10.

The Red Arrows Hawk jets reach speeds of up to 550mph during their routines, which include the trademark diamond formation, as well as barrel rolls and loop the loops.

It is the 37th year that the Red Arrows has visited the island.

The windy weather is affecting Steam Packet services.

The services are being delayed because of conditions in Heysham.

The Manannan is expected to leave Heysham about 1.30pm, instead of 11.45am.

It will leave for Liverpool from Douglas an hour late at 4.30pm.

The Ben-my-Chree has also been affected.

{http://www.steam-packet.com/latestsailings|For the latest from the Steam Packet click here.}

Health chiefs have clarified the situation regarding capacity at Noble’s Hospital.

Earlier today the clerk of the TT course, Gary Thompson told Manx Radio: ‘We’ve ... been informed by Noble’s that its bed capacity is at its limit at the moment.’

Management at the hospital have released a statement to say that situation related only to the emergency department while clinicians dealt with a road traffic collision.

A spokesman said: ‘It appears this has been confused with there being “no beds available” in Noble’s Hospital, which is not the case.’

A local artist is holding an exhibition of his TT paintings and landscapes.

Roland Noble has filled the Sailors’ Shelter, on the corner of Peel promenade and harbour, full of his watercolours of TT action paintings, as well as a collection of his landscapes.

There is a great variety in the action scenes on offer, from historic scenes of Mike Hailwood and the classic images of Joey Dunlop through to paintings of the modern day heroes, such as Guy Martin, Michael Dunlop and John McGuinness.

‘I’ve been interested in the bikes all my life,’ he said.

‘I used to marshal and, when I was a little kid, I always did pencil sketches of bikes.

‘I like painting everything, and I have also done lots of landscapes, but I like the action of the TT. The late 60s, 70s and 80s is my favourite era to paint.’

His personal favourite picture is one of Nick Jeffries riding down the straight at the Creg-ny-Baa.

As is the way with a painting, rather than looking like a photograph of the period, having it immortalised in paint gives it a fresh and vibrant look, and it renders it almost time and ageless.

‘The speed he is coming down the hill, and the depth of the painting and the amount of visitors there, that’s what I like about it.’

‘I’ve only just painted it this year. I’ve had that picture a long time, and I finally took it out and painted it.

‘I have one of Joey in virtually the same spot, and I’m pleased with this one because it’s got a dark sky, and the bright sunlight gives nice contrast.

Roland was forced to retire early due to critical illness and now spends his time painting.

‘I’m not earning a living out of it, but it’s just what I do now,’ he said.

‘In fact I probably wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for my painting. Whenever I feel bad or I’m going back into hospital, I tend to grab my paint brushes and disappear back into that world.’

Some of the proceeds of the sale of the paintings will go to the upkeep of the Sailors’ Shelter, and some will go to Hospice.

He will also donate the proceeds of one picture to the helicopter fund.

The exhibition continues until the end of TT fortnight.

A team from Douglas-based law firm Appleby entered the St Patrick’s Day pub quiz held at Bar George and came in first place, winning the top prize, an iPad Mini and a bottle of champagne.

The team decided, rather than keeping the iPad Mini, to give it away as a raffle prize instead, raising money for a charity nominated by one person in the winning team.

Each person nominated a charity and the winner, MOBEX, was pulled out of a hat.

The next day, the team sold raffle tickets around the building to staff in Appleby’s Athol Street office, raising £430 from ticket sales alone.

This total was then added to by the company’s charitable foundation to make a grand total of £680.

MOBEX is a charitable project of The Children’s Centre, which works with young people and adults from all backgrounds, and uses outdoor activities as a basis for experiential learning.

MOBEX senior instructor, Sarah Hickey, said: ‘MOBEX is a charitably funded project and, although there is a charge for sessions, this is subsidised by The Children’s Centre. Thanks to the generous donation from Appleby, we will be able to build on the successful sessions we ran for Next Step in 2014 and continue to run sessions through 2015.

‘This work greatly benefits all involved and donations to the MOBEX project help ensure its continuation in the future.’

Tom Brook, senior associate at Appleby added: ‘We are delighted with the sum raised by this raffle, and to donate the proceeds to MOBEX at The Children’s Centre. This is a hugely worthwhile local charity, which provides a significant service for the island’s community.

‘We would like to thank everyone who got involved, and the Charitable Foundation for contributing to the final amount raised.’

A two metre-long black forest gateau and a fortification consisting of many bonnag loaves, made by Bradda Glen restaurant, formed the centrepiece of a Manx/German tea to commemorate the anniversary of an extraordinary episode in Manx history.

The tea was held on Friday, May 29, 75 years to the day since 3,025 German and Austrian internees, plus 300 children, began arriving in Port Erin to begin what was, for some, years of internment.

Rushen Heritage Trust organised the event and is staging an exhibition ‘Friend or Foe’ at St Catherine’s Church hall, Port Erin, until June 14.

This cake was hardly the stuff of World War Two rationing, said president of Tynwald Clare Christian, who opened the event before congratulating the organisers of the exhibition, which has already attracted more than 1,200 visitors in less than two weeks, from as far afield as Australia.

She recalled her own family’s positive experience of internees working on the family farm in the north, and noted that while there were sometimes tensions, many friendships were formed.

The arrival of the German women internees coincided with the evacuation of the allied troops from Dunkirk involving the loss of three Manx ships and 45, mainly Manx, crew members. However, internees and their Manx hosts both adapted to an unfamiliar situation, and successfully managed to co-exist, said organiser Hugh Davidson.

Department of Education and Children staff based at Hamilton House in Douglas raised £788.73 for their chosen charity of the year 2014/15, the Manx Diabetic Group, by holding dress down days, cake bakes and sponsored events.

Pictured are staff presenting the cheque to (front left) the charity’s chairman Bev Michelson and (front right) secretary Joanne Clague.