The exploits of the self-proclaimed King of Man will be screened on satellite television across the British Isles from next week.

Suddenly Royal premiered on the cable channel TLC in the US in September.

And next Wednesday (November 11) it will be shown on TLC’s UK channel, starting at 8pm.

Suddenly Royal follows David Drew Howe from Maryland and his family as they spend a summer in the island attempting, half in jest, to convince sceptical locals of his royal roots.

Mr Howe first created a right royal stir in 2007 when he crowned himself King of the Isle of Man.

He posted a notice in the London Gazette year claiming legal right to the Manx crown.

When the newspaper notice went unchallenged, he crowned himself ‘undisputed’ King.

It’s a title abandoned 500 years ago by the Stanleys in favour of ‘Lord of Mann’, the current holder being, of course, the Queen, who Mr Howe insists is his cousin.

Next week’s first episode All Hail the King, sees Drew, wife Pam and their 12-year-old daughter Grace make their first acquaintance with the island.

The heir apparent’s comic capers see him competing in Castletown’s Tin Bath races and taking a high speed ride around the TT course.

It soon becomes clear, however, that the man who would be King has his work cut out to win the support of island residents.

He admits: ‘Even though officially I’m the King, it doesn’t really mean anything unless we can win the people of the Isle of Man over’.

An expert in etiquette remarks ‘When I first saw them it was Hicksville come to town!’

King Drew’s hopes of finally winning acceptance are dashed when Pam and Grace tell him they are not prepared to move to the island full-time.

Looking out over the coast from Bradda Head, Pam remarks: ‘Honestly, I don’t think I have ever seen anywhere as pretty as here.’

TLC is available on the Sky satellite system on channel 125.

A police special constable was assaulted in the early hours of Saturday.

The incident took place near Ramsey bus station and a 27-year-old man has been charged with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and possession of drugs.

Police say the office wasn’t badly injured.

Marc Taggart, aged 27, of Head Road, Douglas, appeared in court today and admitted assaulting a policeman in the execution of his duty at Ramsey bus station on Saturday.

He also admitted possessing cannabis bush and resisting arrest.

At a hearing on Monday, Douglas courthouse heard police arrested Taggart just before 1am, initially for non-payment of fines.

During the struggle one policeman received minor injuries. Following his arrest he was taken to Douglas police station where a search revealed the small quantity of cannabis on him. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing on December 8.

On Saturday evening a 17-year-old was arrested In Parliament Street, Ramsey, on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon. He has since been referred to the youth justice team.

In a separate incident, a 41-year-old man was arrested in Parliament Street on suspicion of drugs offences. He was later bailed pending further inquiries.

Early on Sunday morning a woman was arrested in Ramsey on suspicion of a breach of a court order.

There were two arrests in the south over the weekend

An 18-year-old man was arrested in Castletown on Saturday afternoon on suspicion of possession of drugs. Inquiries are continuing.

In the early hours of Sunday morning a 27-year-old man was arrested in Santon on suspicion of drink driving. He has subsequently been charged with driving over the prescribed limit, and failing to stop for Police. He has been bailed to court on Tuesday.

Officers in the west made one arrest over the weekend.

A man was arrested in St John’s on Sunday on suspicion of affray, following a disturbance in a dwelling.

A limited edition yearbook is being released by the Isle of Man Post Office packed with 86 stamps produced during the year.

With only 1,000 copies available, the hardback book contains 16 chapters which commemorate the various stamp collections over the course of 2015.

Notable collections included is the stamp set which celebrates the long reign of = the Queen and the stamps produced by the Isle of Man Photographic Society capturing six endangered species conserved in the island.

In addition, the book celebrates the WI’s centenary anniversary and the Chinese year of the sheep.

The book costs £87.50 and is available to pre-order at www.iompost.com

The hunt is on to name someone who’s made a big contribution to Manx cultural life.

‘Manannan’s Choice of the Year’ or the ‘Reih Bleeaney Vanannan’ is an annual cultural award made to an individual (or group) who has made the greatest contribution to the island’s cultural heritage.

The nominees come from a wide variety of backgrounds, working to promote and support language, literature, art, music, dance, history, education and the environment, and many more. The winner of the award receives a personal award of £500 and is invited to name a Manx cultural cause which will receive an additional donation of £500 from Culture Vannin.

Last year, William Cain CBE TH was awarded the RBV for his voluntary work for the conservation and protection of the wildlife and environment of the Isle of Man.

As a former chairman of the Manx Wildlife Trust, he had worked to establish the 1990 Manx Wildlife Act and to develop the Trust as an organisation which now owns and manages 22 reserves, operates two visitor centres and a gift shop, and employs officers who are involved in educational outreach and research.

Previous winners include Clare Kilgallon (music, song and dance), the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh (language and culture), Allan Skillan (fieldwalking and prehistory), and Maureen Costain Richards (Manx artistic heritage particularly the Manx crosses), which shows that the aspects of Manx culture covered by the award really are diverse.

It was Mona Douglas who identified Manannan as the patron of Manx culture.

Her work with Ellynyn ny Gael (the arts of the Gaels) led to the development of the original Mananan Trophy, which was later reincarnated as the RBV.

The brainchild of Manxman, Stephen Quayle, the trophy was designed by the late Eric Austwick, and consists of the figure of the seagod Manannan standing on a piece of Pooilvaaish marble. Although the trophy is only held for a year, each recipient of the RBV is awarded a medal designed by Jenny Kissack and reproduced in silver and enamel by Celtic Gold.

The closing date for nominations is Friday, November 27.

Full details of the award, downloadable nomination forms and rules are available on Culture Vannin’s website – just follow links for Reih Bleeaney Vanannan on the homepage: www.culturevannin.im or email enquiries@culturevannin.im or phone 676169.

Pupils from Peel Clothworkers School have visited Doncaster to give bags containing Manx gifts to school children.

The bags, part of the school’s ‘Hand of Friendship’ initiative, were filled with information leaflets and gifts to explain the Manx culture.

The initiative is aimed at building friendships between the year six students and they are being encouraged to write to each other. Pictured are the Doncaster pupils with their gifts.

The Manx Eating Disorders Support Group is hosting a talk by clinical pyschologist Dr Helen Nightingale on Wednesday, November 11.

Her talk is about the unified protocol for emotional disorders, a treatment aimed at people who are suffering from emotional disorders.

These include social anxiety, depression, panic disorders and OCD. Emotional disorders often underline eating disorders.

The aim of their talk is to let people know that this treatment is available.

It will be at the Next Step Day Centre, 26/27 Derby Square, Douglas 6-7.30pm.

For more info email manxeds@hotmail.co.uk

All are welcome.

There is still time to respond to the Cabinet Office consultation on proposed legislation to allow marriage between same sex couples in the Isle of Man.

The consultation was announced by Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK on October 2 and the closing date for submissions is next Friday, November 13.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, based on legislation in place in England and Wales, enables same sex couples to marry in either a civil ceremony or, subject to the agreement of the organisation concerned, in a religious ceremony.

The consultation document is available on the government website at {https://www.gov.im/ConsultationDetail.gov?id=536|here}

Island children will have the chance to enter a reading competition which could see them go to finals in the UK.

Youngsters aged 11 to 18 recite passages from the Common Book of Prayer in the Thomas Cranmer competition.

Heats will take place at St George’s Church in Douglas on November 14 . For more details contact Gill Qualtrough on 824303 or 437066 or email gill.qualtrough@manx.net

To some, Glen Mona is an area you drive through on your way from Ramsey to Douglas. To others, it is a place that holds special memories of growing up and going to school, writes Sue Woolley.

If you are in the latter bracket, you are invited to attend an informal evening at Dhoon School on Friday, November 20. Doors open at 6.30pm, giving you a chance to see a display of photos and memorabilia.

At 7.30pm, former pupil Kathleen Callister and the children will present ‘Glen Mona Snippets’, which will look at the development of this close-knit, predominantly agricultural community, over the past 200 years.

Admission is free and there will be light refreshments.

Earlier in the day, some older residents will be going back to school to tell the children what it was like growing up in this part of the parish, known in the past as the ‘Mountain District’ of Maughold.

The initiative is a collaboration between the school and Maughold Social Club. Head teacher Max Kelly was keen for pupils to learn about the local area, so he approached the club. Social club chairman Clare Christian MLC said: ‘We want to give people a wider appreciation and understanding of the area they live in. There is so much more to Glen Mona than people realise.

‘We want to encourage present and former residents to come along.’

The committee set up to look into complaints raised in a Petition for Redress of Grievance on Tynwald Day this year is inviting evidence.

Tynwald appointed a select committee last month to consider and report on the petition fromresidents of Harcroft Meadows presented in relation to the provisions of a first-time buyer scheme made by the government and the residents of Harcroft Meadows.

The petition can be read in full {http://www.tynwald.org.im/business/opqp/sittings/Tynwald%2020142016/MEMO-HarcroftPetition.pdf|here}.

The committee is inviting written submissions from anyone who would like to comment on the issues raised by the petition, noting that committee may publish evidence.

Submissions should be sent by the end of November 2015 to the address below.

The members of the committee appointed by Tynwald are David Anderson MLC, Peel MHK Ray Harmer and Ramsey MHK Leonard Singer.

The committee has appointed Mr Anderson as its chair.

Three students have graduated via Manx Professional and Educational Services in Duke Street, Douglas.

Emma Cuddy, aged 28, from Douglas, Billie Mackie, aged 35, from Port St Mary, and Alex Catlow, aged 26, from Castletown all passed ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) accountancy qualifications.

MPES is a Manx-owned and operated company that specialises in examination based teaching and training for professionals working within the accountancy, tax and company secretarial fields.

Pictured are Steve Lawrence (MPES accounting lecturer), graduates Emma Cuddy, Billy McKenzie and Alex Catlow and Eddy Kewin (MPES managing director).

Breathe EasyIsle of Man, the British Lung Foundation support group, will have an awareness stand at Shoprite in Victoria Road on November 18.

The stand will be open from 10am until 4pm and aims to raise awareness for World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day and show people how they can support people who are affected by the disease.

Viv Osland, from Breathe Easy Isle of Man, said: ‘Our Breathe Easy group is here for anyone on the island living with a lung disease, their friends, family members or carers.

‘Everyone is welcome to come and share advice, support, friendship and experiences with other people who are in a similar position.’

‘We really hope that people will take the opportunity to come to our awareness stand and find out more about breathlessness and early diagnosis, what the group does and how we can help them.

‘It is also an opportunity to find out about the fantastic work that the British Lung Foundation does across the country.’

Many people may consider breathlessness as a sign of getting old or being unfit yet it is one of the most common symptoms of lung disease.

Early diagnosis of a lung condition can improve quality of life and care for patients, which is why people are encouraged to visit their GP if they are feeling breathless in situations where they would not expect to be, such as during non-strenuous exercise.

Breathe Easy provides support and advice for anybody affected by any lung condition – from lung cancer and COPD to rarer conditions such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and mesothelioma.

Breathe Easy Isle of Man, ordinarily meets at the Manx Blind Welfare on the third Thursday of each month (excluding June, November and December) at 2pm where they organise both fundraising and social events and feature regular guest speakers. Everyone is welcome.

A winter wonderland themed ball has raised £11,000 for Hospice Isle of Man.

The annual ball, held in the Tynwald Mills marquee in St John’s, included a white carpet, candle lanterns, snow machines and a snowball ice sculpture to create the winter atmosphere.

The huge amount raised will be able to cover 37 days of care for patients in the in-patient unit of hospice.

The charity provides specialist care, including physical, psychological and social care, for patients and their families facing life-limiting illnesses.

The ball was hosted by TV auctioneer Eric Knowles, known for his appearances on Antiques Roadshow, and he also took part in a valuation and auction event at the Claremont Hotel for the charity.

Margaret Simpson, chief executive at Hospice, said: ‘We had two lovely events with Eric and I would like to thank all the guests that attended either or both events.

‘It was wonderful to see lots of our staff and volunteers attending the ball.’

Managing director of event sponsors Duncan Lawrie Private Bank Sue Preskley said: ‘We were delighted to support Hospice Isle of Man – a wonderful charity providing truly outstanding and compassionate care locally.

‘As a business, we are extremely committed to the Isle of Man and therefore our community, so it was a great pleasure to be involved with the snow ball and we look forward to building our relationship further in the years ahead.’

It appears to be a good way to spread Christmas cheer, but is the Santa train shoebox collection actually a front for something else?

This week’s Isle of Man Examiner reports on concern that evangelists are trying to use the appeal to convert overseas children to their religion.

The main picture on page 1 is of flooding.

Elsewhere in the paper:

Each of the Douglas East by-election candidates writes 400 words to say why they deserve to be the area’s next MHK

Alfred Cannan admits that the sewearge charge increase is ‘unpalatable’

Work on Ramsey’s sewage works begins

Why are there lots of trawlers in Peel?

The island has 900 job vacancies so how come there are 700 out of work?

Man preyed on 12-year-old girl

Examiner sees MHK’s ‘abusive’ letter

Toilet tax to rise

Four pages of coverage of our Pride in Mann winners

A mother launches nutrition business

A legal expert weighs up the issues of obesity in the workplace

The weekend’s sport

Your letters

The Examiner is in the shops now.

Barbara Walker, who died recently aged 91 was a stalwart of the Manx musical scene, perhaps most notably as a founder member of the Manx Operatic Society.

For 25 years she was also the pianist for Christine Wild’s dance school, the official accompanist for the Guild and accompanist for numerous choirs and music societies, including the Lon Dhoo Male Voice Choir in the 40s and 50s.

Her love of music and the piano came to the fore most notably in 1948 when at the age of 24, she won the Open Pianoforte Solo section of the Blackpool Music Festival, the first Manxwoman to do so, playing Schumann’s Carnaval.

Her daughter, Jane Quayle, said: ‘She formed choirs all over the world along with my dad who was in the RAF, so wherever they were stationed they would form a choir together. There were even choirs in Bahrain and Gibraltar.’

Around 1969, she and husband Bert, whom she married in 1954, appeared on Hughie Green’s Opportunity Knocks talent programme with the RAF Brize Norton singers, which they founded. They also produced two long-playing records.

‘Dad was the conductor and mum was the pianist,’ Mrs Quayle said.

Born in Oxford Street, Mrs Walker maintained her interest in the operatic society as a life member and remained a gifted pianist despite failing eyesight in her latter years. Husband Bert died last December aged 94.

Christine Wild said ex dance pupils from around the world had contacted the school’s Facebook site paying tribute to her kindness, patience and talent as a pianist.

Her funeral takes place today (Tuesday) at 1pm, Trinity Methodist church, Douglas.

Pupils at Auldyn Infants’ School have been presented with high-visibility safety jackets to use when they are taken on school trips.

A total of 100 jackets were donated by the Isle of Man Knights Chapter group, an organisation which raises money for various good causes across the island.

The group decided to make the donation to the Ramsey school due to the lack of jackets available to help pupils stay safe while out and about.

Pictured, front row, Resa Brown and Faye Huyton, both aged five, and Jacob Dorricott and Rhylan Foulis, aged four, receive the jackets from, back row, group members Ronnie Crowe, Neville Kaighan, David Martin and Dave Brown, with head teacher David Jenkins.

The government wants to spend £557,000 creating a fire training facility.

Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson MHK will ask members to support capital funding at the November sitting of Tynwald.

The proposed facility will ensure that Manx firefighters can undertake essential training on-Island, reducing the need to attend courses at the UK Fire Service College at Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire.

As well as costing about £50,000 a year, off-island training depletes the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service by the equivalent of two crewed appliances and takes retained officers away from their primary employment.

The live fire facility will feature a series of interconnected compartments on a concrete base, with multiple points of entry to simulate real-life emergencies in different types of buildings and vessels.

Controlled fires will be set in the units using virgin wood to create a realistic environment in terms of working in extreme heat, humidity, smoke and restricted visibility.

The facility will help firefighters to recognise the signs of deadly backdraft and flashover conditions.

Planning approval has been granted to locate the specially-engineered containers at the rear of the incinerator on Richmond Hill. Subject to Tynwald support, the new facility will be commissioned and fully operational by summer 2016.

Mr Watterson said: ‘This facility supports the department commitment to community safety and protecting vulnerable people. It also continues our drive to achieve additional revenue savings through capital investment.’

He added: ‘The Fire and Rescue Service’s focus on prevention and education has led to a reduction in the number of fires that officers attend. It is important that Manx firefighters are regularly tested in realistic fire conditions and the proposed facility will ensure that our training remains consistent with UK best practice. Keeping personnel on island will also maintain our ability to respond to a major incident.’

East Douglas is going to the polls on Thursday.

There are seven candidates for the vacant position of MHK in the constituency.

The Isle of Man Examiner has given each candidate the opportunity to write 400 words to tell readers why they should become the area’s next representative.

The seat became vacant when Brenda Cannell resigned.

But whoever wins on Thursday won’t be in the position very long until there’s another election.

Every constituency will go to the polls in September next year for the general election.

Douglas East includes the town centre. So it includes the capital’s shopping area and a large number of flats in the promenade area and lower Douglas.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/politics/jonathan-joughin-1-7563315|John Joughin}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/politics/kurt-buchholz-1-7563320|Kurt Buccholz}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/politics/douglas-east-by-election-candidate-clare-bettison-1-7563324|Clare Bettison}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/politics/richard-falk-1-7563332|Richard Falk}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/politics/geraldine-o-neill-1-7563333|Geraldine O’Neill}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/politics/douglas-east-by-election-candidate-cat-turner-1-7563335|Cat Turner}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/politics/john-mcbride-1-7563341|John McBride}

It has been almost five years since the bestseller Tynwaldballs hit the shops.

Southern Befrienders say they are delighted that a second volume of all new content will be available from today (Tuesday).

It is priced the same as the 2010 edition at £10, again with all proceeds going to the cause of Southern Befrienders, a Southern Live at Home and Befriending Service.

It contains quotations from members of Tynwald, some deliberately humorous, some not.

A message to members of Tynwald reads from Juan Watterson MHK (Rushen) reads: ‘We hope that you will consider them a suitable gift for fellow parliamentarians, friends, relatives or business acquaintances to show that whilst we have a serious job, we can still have fun in the process.

‘I hope you will be able to support this good cause. In doing so I would like to thank Phil Woodford for his hilarious line drawings, Isle of Man Newspapers for letting us use their cuttings, Quine & Cubbon for printing the books, as well as our other outlets where Tynwaldballs 2 will be available.’

The Bishop’s quotation adorns the cover: ‘I presume the leader of the Liberal Vannin Party whips his member?’

It will be available at the Bridge Bookshop, Port Erin; Museum Shop, Manx Museum, Douglas; Book Company, Castle Street, Douglas.

The sentence given to a driver who caused the death of a cyclist will not be changed by the court.

Speaking at Douglas court house today (Tuesday) Deemster Geoffrey Tattersall said the nine-month suspended jail sentence given to Linda Thompson, aged 63, of Sulby would not be increased.

Accordingly, he dismissed the appeal lodged by the Attorney General against the sentence imposed in July by Deemster Alastair Montgomerie for causing the death of 41-year-old Kathryn Burge by careless driving.