A RECENT newcomer to the island’s eGaming industry is celebrating after scooping a prestigious award.

Goldenboys won the financial betting product of the year category in the eighth annual eGaming Review Operator awards last Monday at the Roundhouse, London.

The Awards brought together more than 700 eGaming operators and other industry professionals to celebrate the genuine innovation and excellence achieved across the online gaming industry over the past 12 months

Father-of-two Martin Linham, 43, of Goldenboys said: ‘We are absolutely delighted with this success. We beat off betting ‘‘big boys’’ William Hill and Red 32 to win this category.

‘To win an award like this in only our first year of operation is phenomenal.’

Based in Market Street, Douglas, Goldenboys is a financial betting website which offers simple games that do not require a detailed knowledge of the financial markets. Mr Linham, who has lived in the island since 1993, said: ‘You don’t have to be a financial wizard to have a go. The idea is to have fun.’

The online gaming firm is expanding with new games including one called Fast Buck, based around the markets but with a horse racing theme along with a casino.

BENDY buses will be reserved for use on school runs - with room for 50 children sitting and up to 100 standing - if they are brought into service in the Isle of Man next year.

Director of public transport Ian Longworth defended the proposed use of articulated buses, insisting they will make significant savings in operating costs in terms of staffing, maintenance and fuel efficiency – as well as being cheaper to buy.

He said: ‘We have not concluded a deal - we are awaiting for a political policy decision. We’ve got a very tight budget and are likely to have one again next year. The Minister says he wants to cut costs before charging more for services. This is a way of saving on buses and drivers.

‘We plan to use them, if we get a decision, on school routes where we currently provide two double deckers. Every single school has at least one route where two double deckers follow each other out. We will save a lot on operating costs in terms of maintenance, fuel costs and the number of drivers.’

There has been much public criticism following news the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure was looking again at introducing the articulated buses, first trialled in the island in 2009. Elsewhere, their arrival has not been warmly received – London Mayor Boris Johnson famously banishing them from the English capital.

Mr Longworth said it was not yet known how many will be ordered. He said they would be used only on school services. A policy decision will be made once new legislation is introduced to allow use of longer vehicles on our roads. A new trial will be held in January before any final decision is made, he confirmed.

There are three principal makes of articulated bus on the market – Scania, Volvo and Mercedes Citaro.

A typical Bus Vannin double decker has 70 seats with capacity for 19 standing while one of the 24 rigid single decker Citaros in service can taken 42 seated with 28 standing. A bendy-bus, however, can carry a maximum of 150 passengers, with between 49 and 56 seated and the rest standing.

The price of a new double decker is about £220,000 while an articulated bus costs around £210,000. However, Bus Vannin is considering buying second hand, at least initially. The £40,000 price of a second hand vehicle could be funded by the sale of two double deckers. Mr Longworth said the second hand vehicles on the market ranged from six to 10 years old.

He described the Mercedes Citaro as a ‘world-beating’ bus. He insisted there was ‘very little difference’ between the rigid and articulated Citaros in terms of ride quality and driving experience. As the front section is shorter than a rigid vehicle it is actually more manoeuvrable, he said.

Mr Longworth said there was positive feedback in the first trial about the ride quality. The only problem was the need to remove a gate post at Ramsey Grammar School as the gap was too small. He said should we get bendy-buses, staff numbers would be reduced through natural wastage.

The Department of Education said it supported, in principle, the introduction of ‘suitably-equipped bendy buses on appropriate school routes’ and would take a ‘keen interest’ in further and more rigorous trials.

Their introduction would ultimately be a political decision.

YOU can follow in the footsteps of your Viking ancestors with the launch of a global treasure hunt.

An innovative GeoTour tourism initiative has been developed linking the sites of Norse assemblies – known as Things – in Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Shetland, Orkney, Highland Scotland and Tynwald Hill here in the Isle of Man, the ancient meeting place dating back at least to the late first millennium AD.

Things have been described as the Viking cradle of democracy because their establishment was an early attempt to introduce a representative system, allowing disputes to be settled in a neutral forum rather than by blood feud.

The success of the system led to it being transported from the Scandinavian homelands to Viking colonies throughout Northern Europe.

Many sites can be identified by their thing, ting, ding or fing place names – examples other than Tynwald including Gulating (Norway), Tingwalla (Sweden), Þingvellir (Iceland), Tinganes (Faroe Islands), Tingwall (Shetland and Orkney), Dingwall (Scotland) and Fingay Hill (England).

The GeoTour has been launched by the Thing Project which has hidden geocaches in and around the thing site locations.

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunting game played using a GPS or an app on a smartphone.

Players seek hidden items by downloading co-ordinates from {http://www.geocaching.com.geocaching.com}.

Lauren Doughton, place names assistant at Shetland Amenity Trust, said: ‘We’re really excited to be launching this new GeoTour. Geocaching is an excellent way of encouraging people to get outside and explore their local area.

‘For our Norse ancestors the Thing sites would have been a central location within their landscape. Today the only indication we have that many of them existed is their place names. The GeoTour is a great way of bringing these places back to life, and making them accessible to people again.’

Jenn Seva of Geocaching.com said: ‘The Thing Sites GeoTour harnesses the power of geocaching to bring these significant locations to life.

‘Geocaching has always been a global phenomenon. The first Northern European GeoTour pays homage to the roots of our activity and lets us be modern-day explorers ourselves. It’s an unparalleled adventure for geocachers and history lovers.’

Lauren added: ‘We wanted to create a resource that would show the links between all of these different places, and really let people think about the landscape and how people may have experienced it in the past. Geocaching provided us with the ideal opportunity to do this. There was no need to set up expensive on-site interpretation, or intrusive signs. Anyone can take part so long as they have access to the internet, and most people’s phones come with GPS applications.’

Players can start their Thing Sites geocaching adventure by visiting {http://www.geocaching.com/adventures/geotours/thingsites|www.geocaching.com/adventures/geotours/thingsites}. From there you can view download cache co-ordinates onto your GPS device or mobile phone.

NO decision has yet been taken on the future model for public sector housing provision, the Social Care Minister has insisted.

All the island’s housing authorities have been invited to work with government on the way forward for sustainable public housing.

A meeting took place last week to launch the five key pieces of work which will inform new housing policy development.

These comprise identifying future housing needs, provision of suitable accommodation for an aging population, reducing costs of construction, repairs and maintenance and options for affordable housing - helping first time buyers and those outside the public sector to access decent homes.

There is also an option appraisal for a unified housing body - developing a cost effective and consistent quality service across the island to meet increasing need.

Douglas Council claims the government has already made up its mind to create a single housing authority.

But Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw MHK insisted this wasn’t the case.

He told iomtoday: ‘Local authorities recognise there is a need for change. We’ve got to find a model that really works. No decision has been made about what model that might be.’

Last week’s meeting was attended by all but two of the 17 Housing Authorities, and was the first in a series of meetings to be held over the next few months.

Mr Robertshaw said: ‘I cannot stress enough how important it is that all public sector housing providers work together to develop a robust housing service.

‘This is not about bringing all public sector housing into government. This is about the housing professionals and specialists across the authorities, including the housing division within my department, working together, putting aside local differences, to share their ideas, information and potential proposals.’

WELCOME to my Christmas column.

It’s pretty much the same as last year’s. In fact its theme goes back to the day they first decided to allow Christmas shoppers in Douglas to park on the footway of Loch Promenade.

This thoughtful gift from the Department of Infrastructure always gives me the sort of childish pleasure that one is entitled to expect at this season of goodwill to all men.

(You have to wonder why they left women out of this mantra. All it does is remind me of when I overheard one pretty girl asking another: ‘What do they mean when they say we have to be good to old men at Christmas?’).

Back to the prom. I like the parking regime because it allows me to drive along the footway on my way to work every morning. It’s a nice smooth ride, unlike the hell on wheels of the roadway.

I try to be first on the walkway every day at the opening time of 9.30 am. This gives me a clear field.

If there are no persons in yellow jackets around I can crank up the Mini One to any speed I want.

The other morning, with the sun sparkling on an apparently ice-covered sea I reckon I hit . . . well, let’s just say I got to work a little earlier than usual.

You are not always alone, however. One day last week I saw coming towards me that charge of racing cyclists you encounter in Douglas on one of their early day training runs.

They were, of course, on the cycle path, like good boys.

I also get a warm feeling when I see, yet again, the signs saying: ‘Beware Pedestrians.’

They remain an enigma for me. Are they telling pedestrians to beware, to be on the lookout for motorists intent upon running them down?

This seems to be unfair. After all, a walkway is by definition a place for pedestrians by right. They were there first.

It must be that the Department of Infrastructure is telling us motorists to look out for masked and armed gangs of pedestrians intent upon holding us up and robbing us, which they might more profitably do when the motorist is returning to his or her car loaded down with gift shopping.

As far as this Christmas is concerned, I have killed no pedestrians and not been mugged by them. All is well so far.

I would also like to point out that what you don’t see on the walkway are the boys in blue either on foot or in their prowl cars.

Last week the police started their Christmas anti-drink driving campaign. I wonder if the situation is that the best place to drive while sniftered up is the walkway of Loch Promenade.

Now that would really be the Spirit of Christmas.

• IAN K.Bleasedale of Maughold directs attention to a story in the Examiner about plans to build an extension to Ballakermeen High School. It says: ‘Further staff parking will be provided by the demolition of the former funeral directors.’

This sounds like a story worth digging into. It could be a burning issue.

• MANX Radio reported last week: ‘A full investigation will be required to get to the bottom of the complications suffered by colorectal patients following surgery recently.’

That’s a story they should have sat on.

• THIS week’s Manx crossword clue is: ‘Man (not IOM) (5) – BIPED (Glasgow Herald).

THE police have issued a statement to say that they believe the man found last night in the River Douglas was Kevin Wilkinson, of Stanley View, Douglas.

The body of a 52-year-old man being was discovered in the river last night.

Police are not treating the matter as suspicious, but would like to hear from anyone who had seen or had any contact with Mr Wilkinson yesterday (Tuesday), or anyone who has any information about him which could assist in understanding the circumstances of his death.

His family have been informed.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/body-of-man-52-recovered-from-river-douglas-1-5194717|Our report from last night}

The Isle of Man’s Wound Formulary, a project developed to improve the treatment and management of wounds, such as leg ulcers and surgical wounds, was shortlisted in the ‘Team of the Year’ category at the Nursing Times Awards.

The awards were billed as the ‘nursing Oscars’.

The team members are: Pam Fulton, a tissue viability specialist nurse; Diane Corrin, inpatient services manager at Hospice Isle of Man; Bernie Ross. matron at Brookfields Nursing Home; Caroline Swayne, a district nurse; Jill Wilkinson, a registered nurse at Ramsey Cottage Hospital’ Julie Maddrell, clinical lead podiatrist in diabetes; Elizabeth Whitty, a practice nurse and Vivien Craig, a registered nurse at the hospice.

The team developed a wound care formulary (information on prescribable medicines to treat different wounds in varying scenarios), which was launched in December 2007 and has since been implemented island-wide.

They continue their work, meeting often to review developments in wound care and management

The second edition of the formulary was launched in May this year.

Their work means that consistent and high standards of care are available to patients, wherever they are being cared for, as well as improving the cost-effectiveness of wound care on the island.

There were almost 900 entries for the 2012 awards and the team felt it a phenomenal achievement to be short-listed.

Pam Fulton, who led the project, said: ‘To make changes like these in practice is not always easy, but when you are rewarded like this it makes it worthwhile, not only for ourselves but most importantly for our patients too. We had a wonderful night at the awards and it was great to be a part of this celebration of nursing care.’

TOURISM bosses are inviting all cafes and restaurants to volunteer to be tested on customer service.

This is the sixth year of the quality assurance scheme which was introduced to help visitors and residents choose from the diverse range of eating out options and boost consumer confidence.

The scheme is open to any type of quality eating out establishment from restaurants to coffee shops and fish and chip shops.

The initiative is part of an assessment scheme throughout the British Isles and there are currently 50 members island-wide.

It is based on an independent assessment taking place on issues such as warmth of welcome, service, hospitality, cleanliness and commitment to the use of local produce.

Those who achieve the accreditation are awarded a ‘quality assured’ or ‘highest quality assured’ sign to display outside their premises.

Angela Byrne, head of tourism, said: ‘Our aim is to enrol as many businesses as possible into the scheme to encourage the provision of outstanding quality and service while at the same time enhancing the overall visitor experience and improving the quality of life for Manx residents.

‘The scheme reassures potential customers that they can be guaranteed a good quality experience whenever they see the ‘Quality Assured’ sign displayed outside the premises.’

All successful venues are publicised in a directory which is distributed at outlets throughout the island, including the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal in Douglas.

They are also featured on the government’s tourism website, {http://www.visitisleofman.com/taste|www.visitisleofman.com/taste}.

To enrol for the ‘Taste Isle of Man’ scheme contact {mailto:taste@gov.im|taste(at)gov.im} or telephone 695700. The closing date for applications is Monday, December 17.

THERE is still no agreement between the MHKs and MLCs about electoral reform.

A joint House of Keys and Legislative Council committee was set up in December last year to thrash out the constitutional principles raised by David Callister MLC’s private member’s bill.

Mr Callister’s Electoral Reform Bill calls for the island to be split into eight constituencies, each represented by three MHKs and one MLC, all directly elected.

But its chairman Brenda Cannell (Douglas East) told the House of Keys that the committee could not agree whether the proposed reforms would mean constitutional changes that might be detrimental to the island.

She said that while the majority of the committee felt it would not be detrimental to the island, there were two members who disagreed

‘Turkeys won’t vote for Christmas,’ she said.

While there was a disagreement about the constitutional implications, there was agreement that the bill should continue to its second reading.

David Anderson (Glenfaba) asked why it had taken so long to report back and whether committee in its weighty report had actually learned anything new.

Mr Callister’s bill received its first reading in the Legislative Council in June 2011.

The Keys this week voted unanimously to support the Electoral Reform Bill returning to LegCo for a second reading.

• What do you think? Email {mailto:opinions@newsiom.co.im|opinions(at)newsiom.co.im} or sogn in to add your comment below.

AN Isle of Man based IT consultant is now vice chairman of the UK’s primary group of chief information officers and information technology leaders.

Steve Burrows, who is a leading IT expert in the island and one of the most respected in the UK, has been elected vice chairman of the Effective Leadership in IT group (ELITE), which is the primary forum for CIOs and IT directors in the UK.

ELITE, which is the IT leadership group within BCS The Chartered Institute for IT, has more than 3,500 members, all of whom are recognised IT leaders.

ELITE hosts thought leadership events around the UK both in its own right and as part of major IT industry conferences to help its members maximise the benefits that organisations obtain through their use of IT.

Immediately following the ELITE annual meeting at which Mr. Burrows was elected he chaired an ELITE event in London for a packed audience exploring the behaviours, skills and competencies necessary to make a truly complete chief information officer capable of enabling and leading an organisation at a strategic level.

Mr. Burrows, who lives in Surby near Port Erin, is principal consultant for Isle of Man based business and technology consultancy SBA.

He is also vice chairman of the membership Board for BCS The Chartered Institute for IT, a director of the Isle of Man section of the Institute, and both a chartered director and a chartered IT professional.

AN MHK was rebuked for unparliamentary language in another heated exchange in the House of Keys over the Pinewood deal.

Yet more questions about Pinewood Shepperton share purchase had been raised by Kate Beecroft (Lib Van, Douglas South), with party leader Peter Karran (Onchan) maintaining that people were ‘smelling something fishy about this whole affair’.

Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK insisted that all the information was in the public domain and said it would be interesting to know the names and qualifications of Liberal Vannin’s advisers.

Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK suggested that Treasury might welcome an approach ‘from the individual that the Liberal Vannin members represent so they can bottom these issues out once and for all’.

Mr Teare replied: ‘I would be delighted. That offer has been on the table for months and months, and I have been deafened by the silence in response.’

This prompted the outburst from Mr Karran who said: ‘Would the Minister not agree that many people outside this House actually appreciate the strong bone and the political balls in this House of the member for South Douglas.’

Speaker Steve Rodan reprimanded him: ‘If there any more outbursts and language of that sort, I shall suspend the sitting. Resume your seat.’

Mr Karran said the party’s researcher was Mrs Beecroft herself who asked the Treasury Minister: ‘Has he not heard of Google alerts? Because if he sets them he will find all the information there – it is readily available.’

Mr Teare replied: ‘I am delighted [she] mentioned the Google alerts and I am sure she will join me in congratulating Pinewood in the excellent results which they announced last week.’

UK Chancellor George Osborne’s announcement that the planned 3p rise in fuel duty has been dropped will cost the Manx taxman dear.

Manx Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK has given his initial reaction to yesterday’s UK autumn statement.

He said: ‘No doubt the headlines will be that the 3p rise in fuel duty due in January 2013 has been abolished. This will cost the Treasury around £2 million a year, but I am sure it will be welcomed by the island’s motorists.’

Motorists in the island pay the same duty as the UK under the customs agreement.

Mr Teare added: ‘The main thrust of the Chancellor’s speech appears to be to encourage work, paid for by restricting the rising cost of benefits for certain groups.

‘We share that objective, and will be reviewing our own plans in light of his announcements today.’

Treasury officers will study the detail of the statement for any other areas of interest relating to the Isle of Man.

ONE of the cars involved in an accident that injured a schoolboy at a bus stop rolled down a hill unoccupied on to the main road.

Today’s Manx Independent has pieced together more of what happened in Onchan earlier in the week.

The newspaper also includes some glowing tributes to Lawrence Gell, who was obviously a well-loved man. He died this week in Peel while working for the Water Authority.

The paper also includes reports from two inquests.

The coroner suggests that we might never know what really happened to make Stephen Osborne lose control of his bike during MGP practices.

In the other, he suggests that part of the TT course should have a speed limit.

We also have a story about a man who’s been jailed after a friend used his gun to kill himself.

The Manx Independent also has its usual great coverage of sport and two What’s On pages.

It’s in the shops now.

ABOLISHING universal free eye tests would be ‘foolhardy’ and would cost more in the long run if serious conditions like glaucoma go undetected.

That was the warning given to Health Minister David Anderson who was quizzed in the House of Keys over his department’s plans for free eye testing.

Replying to a question from John Houghton (Douglas North), Mr Anderson insisted his department did not intend to abolish free sight tests.

But he said it has been considering a range of options relating to the future provision of ophthalmic services, including the continuity of free NHS eye sight tests for all.

The Minister said the policy of free to all tests was ‘not sustainable’ and was preventing the department from developing services in other areas such as screening of glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

He told MHKs: ‘The review of the current sight testing policy is not a savings measure nor is it an attack on good healthcare.

‘On the contrary, the department is focusing on making the best use of limited resources so as to provide an opportunity to improve ophthalmic services in specific areas of patient need.’

Mr Houghton said that at a presentation to Tynwald members, the Optometrists’ Association had made very clear their concerns about abolishing universal free eye tests.

‘Early recognition and diagnosis of conditions found by ophthalmologist is the way forward,’ he said.

Kate Beecroft (Lib Van, Douglas South) said the department was being ‘penny wise and pound foolish’. ‘Free eye tests save an awful lot of money in the long run,’ she said.

Brenda Cannell (Douglas East) said that such a ‘huge’ change in policy would require Tynwald approval.

Mr Anderson said any proposed change would go to the Council of Ministers (CoMin) and it would be for CoMin to decide whether it would then be brought before Tynwald.

He insisted that a ‘large amount’ of the community would continue to get free eye tests even if means testing was introduced.

‘If we thought this was going to be detrimental we would not be doing it,’ he said.

The Minister said the consideration of options had involved on-going discussions with the Association of Optometrists and meetings had been held between that body and his officials in February, April and July.

He said: ‘I am sure that members will appreciate that in the present climate, more than ever, we need to concentrate out limited resources on where they are most needed and where they will have the most effect.

‘The department is appreciative of the advice provided by the Association of Optometrists in relation to the categories of people who it is felt should continue to receive free NHS sight tests. [Their] views in this area have been taken fully into account.’

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THE sister of a pillion passenger killed on the Mountain Road during this year’s TT festival has called for the government to introduce more speed limits.

Dawn Wilkinson made the comments at the inquest of Amanda Heather McNicol who died when she was hit by another motorcycle after falling from the pillion seat of her husband’s Honda CBR900RR.

Coroner John Needham recorded an accidental death verdict on Mrs McNicol who was pronounced dead at the scene, near the 32nd Milestone after a 6am ride with her husband on May 30.

He added: ‘I will be making a report to the Department of Infrastructure on the issue of a speed restriction in respect of this portion of road at the time that it is one-way during the TT.

Mr Needham said Philip McNicol and his wife were visiting the island for the first time and had completed a number of laps of the TT Course. The previous day they had been unnerved by another bike which undertook them on the mountain and Mrs McNicol had reminded him to use his mirrors.

‘We know that Mr McNicol had seen two riders travelling up very quickly behind him as he approached Brandywell. After Brandywell he moved into the side of the road and was looking in his mirrors. He drifted into the ditch and the accident was bound to happen,’ he said.

The court heard Mr McNicol’s bike hit the banking at the side of the road and Mrs McNicol had been thrown into the road.

‘Then it is a matter of fate and it is unfortunate that Amanda took a different trajectory from Mr McNicol. She was catapulted into the path of [Giles] Day’s Yamaha,’ Mr Needham said, adding: ‘In my view the Yamaha which hit Amanda was probably travelling at 80mph.’

He said there was a combination of factors at work including a lack of speed restriction through the one-way mountain road, a high proportion of motorcycles which were statistically more likely to be involved in accidents and riders wanting to ride faster than they would do in other circumstances.

‘There is a risk people see the mountain as providing a track day experience,’ he said. ‘I can’t say that if restrictions were in place Amanda would be with us today but it is likely in my view that she would be.’

A statement from Giles Day, whose Yamaha R6 was behind Mr McNicol and hit Mrs McNicol, said he saw the other bike hit the bank and catapult across the road.

‘I had nowhere to go. I hit what I thought was the bike and went over the handlebars,’ he said.

A post-mortem report from Dr Christopher Clague said Mrs McNicol, a 49-year-old businesswoman from York, died principally from head and neck injuries.

Offering his condolences, Mr Needham said he thought death was probably instant.

AN island telephone and broadband provider is being sold to a telecommunications company in the Middle East.

Cable and Wireless, which owns the Sure brand, is selling its business in the Isle of Man, Seychelles and Channel Islands as well as in the South Atlantic and Diego Garcia to Bahrain telecommunications company Batelco for 680 million US dollars (about £420m).

Cable and Wireless Isle of Man chief executive Andy Bridson said he was pleased to be joining Batelco, which he said was committed to developing the business in the Isle of Man.

‘The business that has acquired us is the incumbent in Bahrain and also operates in Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt.

‘Their turnover is just under one billion dollars and they have been looking for an acquisition further west.

‘The businesses are not unlike each other and their view is it is a long-term investment,’ he said. ‘I met them in May-June time and we want to be part of them.

‘The Sure brand will stay. Under Cable and Wireless they have invested £30m and brought competition to the island and with Batelco it will be more of the same but faster. The government has been looking to build relations in the Middle East and Far East.

‘It is good for the consumer and good for the island’s economy but not so good for our competition.

‘If anything we will grow over the next three years maybe expanding to 30 more jobs. They certainly are not looking to asset strip then sell off.

‘We will certainly benefit from its partnerships and relationships, retaining a very global dimension to our business.’

For the past five years Sure has been involved in sponsoring the TT races and Mr Bridson said he was keen for this to continue: ‘We want to continue because we love to be involved,’ he said.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Isa Al Khalifa, Batelco group chief executive, said: ‘The CWC Isle of Man and Channel Islands region is a well-managed business that we want to invest in. Batelco is in the process of building a telecoms business of global relevance of which the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man will be an important part. We are looking forward to supporting each of the businesses and contributing to the communities they operate in.’

Cable and Wireless chief executive Tony Rice said Batelco would be an excellent owner for the business.

The businesses included in the transaction serve a combined 752,000 mobile, fixed, broadband and TV customers.

The deal is expected to be concluded by next March or earlier.

Mr Bridson added: ‘The big message for the Isle of Man is it will be seamless: services continue to improve and the new relationship will be great for the Isle of Man.’

Cable and Wireless also has a 55 per cent shareholding in Monaco Telecom, one quarter of which will go to Batelco.

CONCERNS about unregulated chiropractors operating in the island were raised by an MHK in the House of Keys.

Bill Henderson (Douglas North) expressed his ‘complete horror and consternation’ that Social Care bosses had apparently reneged on an agreement to include a clause regulating chiropractors in the Regulation of Care Bill.

Mr Henderson said he had raised serious concerns as there was no legislation whatsoever to regulate someone who could just set themselves up as a chiropractor.

He said: ‘This was flagged up to me by a constituent of mine who received chiropractic treatment that subsequently caused serious physical injury.’

Mr Henderson said that incident, involving a chiropractor ‘partly authorised somewhere else’, has ended in a court case but this kind of practice had ‘not left the island’.

He said there were also concerns over the use of x-ray facilities by unregulated chiropractors, with claims they could be breaching the UK guidelines for their use.

Mr Henderson said he had negotiated an agreement to include a clause regulating this profession in the Regulation of Care Bill, which was given its second reading in the Keys this week.

He urged Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw to consider an amendment to the bill at the clauses stage.

Mr Robertshaw insisted, however, that this wasn’t the aim of the bill which focused on the regulation of the care service rather than individual professionals.

He said that the agreement to include the regulation of chiropractors was made under the former Department of Health and Social Security.

The Department of Social Care had at first welcomed the request to insert a section within the Regulation of Care Bill to enable chiropractors to be regulated.

However, it had ‘become clear’ as the bill developed that the best way forward for the regulation of healthcare professionals such as chiropractors was to use the regulatory powers of the various professional bodies.

He said the Department of Health felt it was more appropriate for chiropractors to come under legislation that it is bringing forward which will include provisions to regulate a wide range of healthcare professionals using existing professional bodies.

But Mr Henderson told the Manx Independent that he was not reassured. He said: ‘They took my clause out, didn’t tell me and now we are not sure how this is going to be regulated. This leaves the public open to some fairly hefty abuse. We know there are extended packages being pushed to patients, when in fact the professional guidelines say otherwise.

‘And there is indiscriminate use of x ray equipment – again breaching the UK guidelines for the use of x rays. Also, we still have the situation whereby anyone can set up as a chiropractor.’

THE annual Santa Dash around the streets of Douglas will take place on Tuesday, December 18 – with the 2012 event witnessing a number of innovations.

With numbers gradually increasing in recent years – up to a record 126 last year – the decision has been taken to close some of the roads around the course while the Isle of Man Bank-sponsored event is in progress.

Another change sees registration taking place at the South Douglas Old Friends Association instead of outside the headquarters of Isle of Man Bank in Athol Street. Competitors are also being asked to let event officials know how much money they have raised through their own individual sponsorship.

Race organiser John Lindon, head of community investment at Isle of Man Bank, explained: ‘The decision to close some of the roads to traffic has obviously been taken for safety reasons but the Dash is over in a matter of a few minutes so there should not be much disruption to traffic.

‘For the first time we are asking competitors to email us with details of how much money they have obtained by sponsorship. This is so we can get a better idea what the event raises for charity.

‘The Bank donates £2,700 in prize money and we estimate the total amount is somewhere in the vicinity of £10,000-£12,000 – but it would be nice to obtain a definitive figure.’

As usual, the Dash takes the Santas down Prospect Hill, along Victoria Street and Loch Promenade, then up Church Road to a finish outside the South Douglas Old Friends Association in Finch Road.

The Bank’s prize fund includes £300, £200 and £100 cheques for the first three finishers as well as £100 for the first lady Santa over the line.

In addition, there are awards for the best Santa outfits together with a further 18 spot prizes for pre-determined, but secret, finishing positions.

Entrants must be dressed in a full Santa costume, be at least 18 years old and running on behalf of a Manx-registered charity. Entry forms must be returned to Mr Lindon by December 17. In the event of bad weather necessitating a postponement, the new date will be Tuesday, January 8.

The emphasis is on taking part but the more competitive runners will have as their target the record for the course of 4 minutes 20 seconds which was established in 2011 by Kevin Loundes. This broke the previous record which was set by John Halligan in 2007.

TWICE-ELECTED Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, a man as passionate about climate change now as he once was about congestion charges, is a firm believer in ‘not taking yourself too seriously’.

The outspoken self confessed ‘school drop out’ who rose to become leader of the former Greater London Council and who went on to help secure London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games, was guest speaker at the Isle of Man Law Society’s annual dinner at the Palace Hotel where his audience included His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood and senior members of the Isle of Man government and judiciary.

There’s still something of the one-time lab technician who worked on cancer research about the man who introduced the Oyster card and made bus travel popular again in London.

He has retained much of his analytical approach to all things, from the importance of teamwork, which helped in the London 2012 bid, to calculating what amount of the world’s land mass will be above sea level by the end of the 21st century. (Not much, but the Isle of Man could well be one of the safer havens, he believes).

A campaigner for ‘getting people back into cities to live’ he said that central to town centre regeneration was ‘ensuring your energy sources are sustainable…and the closer they are to where they’re needed, the less will be wasted’.

He may be 67 and ‘retired’ but his enthusiasm and passion remain undimmed. He said: ‘Since I lost [to Boris Johnson in the 2012 contest for Mayor of London] I’ve reignited my interest in gardening. I’m losing weight for the first time in about 30 years and spend many hours helping my two disabled neighbours with their gardens. Helping them I can see, for example, a log pile I’ve stacked up that’s been all my own work; that’s something tangible created at the end of a working day. In all my years in politics, though, I hardly ever saw an end product to my labour.’

Isle of Man Law Society president Jason Stanley welcomed Mr Livingstone to the island while vice-president Kevin O’Riordan gave a speech of thanks. The evening ended with a collection for People in Need, the Isle of Man Law Society’s charity that makes donations for specific cases of urgent need to vulnerable members of the community. For more information about the Isle of Man Law Society visit www.iomlawsociety.co.im

TRIBUTES have been paid to a Water Authority workman who was killed when a wall collapsed on him.

Lawrence Gell, known by all his friends and workmates at Lude, was excavating to replace a water pipe behind Marine Parade in Peel when the tragedy occurred on Monday.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/police-name-man-who-died-in-peel-yesterday-1-5193619|Click here to see our earlier report}.

Water and Sewerage Authority chief executive Peter Winstanley said it had probably been ‘the darkest day in the authority’s long history’.

He said three other staff who had been working at the site had been left traumatised by the tragedy and had been offered counselling.

Mr Gell, a 52-year-old father-of-two, had worked for the Water Authority for 13 years and was a well-liked and hard-working member of the closely knit water networks and reservoir maintenance team.

Long-time friend Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly, speaking on behalf of a number of friends, said: ‘Lude was one of Peel’s true characters and his tragic death will be felt deeply throughout by a wide cross-section of the town who could truly call him a friend.

‘Lude’s first sporting love was his angling but he was also an avid football player and he plied his trade at Michael United for nearly 20 years with many of the friends with whom he grew up.

‘As part of a group of close knit friends, many of us have grown up with Lude and have shared together a number of life’s experiences from the early days at Peel Clothworkers to our recent middle-aged holidays abroad. To not have him in our lives any more has created a huge void for us all.

‘Lude has touched all our lives in different ways and those of us who were fortunate enough to know him well, will be recounting the many funny stories with which we can comfort ourselves with at this extremely sad time.

‘Deepest sympathy, of course, goes to his family but ultimately, Lude’s biggest accolade was that he was a great father and it is for both Ciaran and Harry that our thoughts and prayers are extended.’

Garry Reid, a fellow member of Peel Angling Club, said the club was still trying to come to terms with the sad loss of one of its longest-serving and most popular members.

He said: ‘He was one of the founder members of the club when it was reformed in 1981 and has fished over 900 club competitions, winning 36 major awards including the club championship in its inaugural year.

‘He claimed the pairs championship with his partner, Micky Christian, eight times and was a valuable member of the successful inter-club team of the late eighties

‘He really excelled when the going got tough and the fish became scarce, when his laid back character and unbelievable patience kicked in. These attributes helped him in the Winter Cup, his favourite competition of all, a cup he won on five occasions.

‘Lude always found time for his two boys, Ciaran and Harry, and they have both inherited his love of fishing. He will be sadly missed by the entire club and his many other friends. Our thoughts are now with Ciaran, Harry and all the family.’

Water Authority chairman John Houghton MHK said: ‘Everyone in the Authority is deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic accident.’

Authority chief executive Mr Winstanley added: ‘Lawrence will be sadly missed by all his colleagues on what has been probably the darkest day in the authority’s long history.’

He said the authority was working fully with the Health and Safety Inspectorate in its investigation into the accident.

Mr Gell was one of a team of four who had been working on what should have been a routine job to replace a half-inch diameter lead pipeline. He said a ‘very shallow’ excavation had been dug by hand.

The wall that collapsed was about 4ft high and constructed from red Manx sandstone.

Divorcee Mr Gell, the son of the late Angus and Marion, leaves his two children Ciaran and Harry, his sister Allison and dear friend Lisa. He was uncle to Helen, Kerry, Kristian and Robert.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later. Donations can be made in lieu of flowers to the RNLI Peel branch.