PokerStars, which operates the world’s most popular online poker sites has announced it is supporting the prestigious Bobby Moore Golf Day in the Isle of Man which will take place at Mount Murray on June 23.

The charity event is particularly nostalgic this year as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the England soccer team, captained by the legendary Bobby Moore OBE, winning the World Cup and staking his and the team’s place in the annals of football history.

Tragically, Bobby Moore was aged just 51 when he died in February 1993 from bowel cancer.

The Fund was set up in his memory by his widow, Stephanie Moore MBE and since then more than £22 million has been raised for research into bowel cancer.

Last year the Golf Day raised more than £30,000, the highest in the history of the event and this year PokerStars is hoping their support will help raise even more.

‘We have called the Isle of Man our home for over 10 years and we are committed to giving back to our local community here,’ said Sue Hammett, head of corporate giving at PokerStars.

‘The Golf Day has proved to be highly successful since it was launched in 2011 and complements our own existing partnership with Cancer Research UK.

‘It also fits in well with our charitable giving programme as one of our key areas of support is around sports, health and wellbeing. We have a long history of giving back to charities around the world and since 2013, our corporate giving programme Helping Hands has enabled over $7million [more than £4.8m] to be donated to a variety of cause.

Sue added: ‘Helping Hands is the embodiment of the PokerStars ethos that working with our communities and our people to make a difference is an essential part of being a responsible business and the right thing to do.’

The purpose of the Golf Day was summed up by Stephanie Moore who said: ‘Since the Fund was set up mortality rates for bowel cancer have fallen 30 per cent but our purpose is to bring forward the day when bowel cancer is cured.’

Lars Ugland, chairman of the team organising the event, said he was delighted that PokerStars had agreed to support the Golf Day in the 50th anniversary year of Bobby Moore leading England to victory at Wembley in 1966.

Mr Ugland who, with his wife Geraldine were close friends of Bobby Moore and have continued their friendship with Stephanie Moore added: ‘The money raised from the event goes into pioneering research into bowel cancer. Fundraising events such as the Golf Day are so important in raising funds for that research which one day will beat what is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK.’

Campaigners from the three Crown Dependencies have petitioned the Privy Council to be allowed to vote in the UK referendum on EU membership.

An online petition on the subject by Lord of the Rings actor John Rhys-Davies has attracted just 1,450 signatures - far short of the 10,000 needed for Westminster to respond or the 100,000 requires to prompt a debate in the House of Commons.

But those behind the campaign insist it is gaining support across all three Crown Dependencies.

Chief Minister Allan Bell says that as the Isle of Man is not part of the UK or the EU, we have no automatic right to participate in a referendum in another country.

But the campaigners say they are aggrieved that the governments of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man have not requested to be included in the UK and Gibraltar’s Referendum on the UK’s EU membership.

In their petition to Her Majesty the Queen in Privy Council, they wrote: ‘We had no idea that we had been left out of this very important referendum, and this terrible omission by our governments has only recently come to light.

‘Our Chief Ministers had no right and no mandate to exclude us from the right to vote in this extremely important referendum.

‘This issue has not had full and proper consideration at our respective ministerial levels, it has not been debated in our parliaments, and our governments have not consulted with their citizens in any way at all on this.

‘Indeed the decision to not ask to be included in the referendum has effectively been made by a cabal in each of our jurisdictions, in a non-democratic manner. We earnestly implore the Privy Council to support our plea for democratic decision making in our jurisdictions.’

The petitioners - Ballasalla resident Eddie Power, former States of Guernsey member Anthony Webber and Christina Morgan – claim there has been a ‘major failure of good governance’ by the Chief Ministers.

They add: ‘We therefore implore the Privy Council to exercise its good governance responsibilities for the Crown Dependencies and take the relevant measures to ensure the inclusion of our citizens in the referendum vote. We, the British citizens of the Crown Dependencies are British people, who should be able to have our “final and decisive say”.’

The Manx government has denied that the Crown Dependencies had been invited to join the EU referendum but turned down the offer. Neither had the three island asked to join the referendum.

A report is being drawn up on the implications for the Isle of Man if the UK votes for ‘Brexit’. The report for the Council of Ministers will consider options under any new relationship the UK establishes with the EU should there be a vote in favour of leaving, such as a free trade agreement or customs union.

A 28-year-old Douglas man has been handed a suspended sentence after knocking out a man in the street.

Anthony James Graham Ford, of Koinney Avenue, stuck out his arm and ‘clotheslined’ his victim as he ran past him.

Prosecutor Michael Jelski told the court how the assault occurred on December 20 at 3.40am outside Pat-a-Cake bakery in Duke Street in Douglas.

The victim, Michael Smethurst, had been on a night out and was said to be jogging down the street towards a group of men.

The group included Ford and as Mr Smethurst went past, Ford was said to have moved towards him and put out his arm straight in front of Mr Smethurst, causing him to fall to the ground and bang his head.

Paramedics had to be called as Mr Smethurst was said to be drifting in and out of consciousness and saying that he had no feeling in his legs.

A witness told police that he saw Ford raise his arm and connect with Mr Smethurst’s neck.

He said that Ford then laughed and walked away.

CCTV footage of the incident was viewed, which backed up the witness account, and showed Ford take a sideways step towards Mr Smethurst before raising his arm to clothes-line him.

It then showed Ford walk away and start skipping as he went.

Mr Smethurst was taken to hospital with suspected spinal damage and a trauma team was called to assist at Accident and Emergency when he arrived.

However, he was later released from hospital with no serious injuries.

When Ford was arrested he told police that he suffered from anxiety and said that he had put his arm out to protect himself.

After being charged with assault causing actual bodily harm Ford gave a no comment interview.

Defending Ford in court, advocate Peter Russell said: ‘This was a prank that went very badly wrong.

‘Mr Smethurst was unknown to my client and he bore him no ill will. Unfortunately alcohol played a part.

‘What can only be put forward as tomfoolery, a little bit of showing off. He put his arm out thinking it would be a funny thing to do.

‘Fortunately injuries were not long-lasting. Mr Ford has written a letter apologising to his victim which he would like to be passed on.’

Magistrates’ chairman Julian Ashcroft said: ‘It was very fortunate the victim did not receive any life-changing injuries.’

Ford was sentenced to 16 weeks’ custody, suspended for 18 months, and was also given a 12 months probation order.

He was also ordered to pay £125 court costs and £50.98 medical expenses.

Permanent Bank International (PBI) has appointed Mark Kennett as its manager of banking.

He has 27 years’ experience in banking and investment roles here in the island, most recently at AXA Isle of Man Limited as investment operations manager, a role that broadened his commercial and customer service expertise.

Mark said he was delighted to have joined PBI, and said: ‘My role includes managing back office and customer facing responsibilities, with the focus always being on providing the first class standards of customer service and administration which our customers expect and deserve.

‘I am looking forward to drawing upon my commercial, intermediary and customer service experience together with the technical financial knowledge I have gained over the years to complement the existing PBI team who have demonstrated that they deliver an outstanding and extremely professional customer experience.’

PBI has established a reputation for offering the ‘personal face of banking’, a core value which reflects the bank’s commitment to building long-lasting relationships with customers by taking time to get to know them and their individual requirements.

Mark is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (Chartered MCSI), and RDR qualified.

PBI managing director, Aidan Doherty, welcomed Mark’s appointment and said: ‘We’re delighted to have Mark on board.

‘He will bring a substantial level of management experience and oversight and will no doubt play an important role in the development of PBI going forward.’

PBI has been established in the Isle of Man since 1994, and provides a range of international deposit accounts in Sterling and Euro for UK and Isle of Man clients and ex-pats.

The bank is based at Hillary House, Prospect Hill, Douglas.

The company is part of Permanent TSB Group Holdings PLC which is 75 per cent owned by the Irish Government.

Treasury Minister Eddie Teare says the UK budget will not have a major impact in the island - but as always the devil is in the detail.

One of George Osborne’s key announcements is that UK corporation tax is to be cut from the current 20 per cent to 17 per cent by 2020.

He said anti-tax avoidance and evasion measures will raise £12bn by 2020, and £9bn is to be raised by closing corporate tax loopholes. Mr Osborne also announced that the use of personal service companies by public sector employees to reduce tax liabilities will end.

Mr Teare said: ‘There was nothing extra in the budget for us. There was a lot of noise around tax avoidance.

‘It’s clear the Chancellor wants the UK to become more competitive. We can’t afford to be complacent. We are in a very competitive environment. We can’t take our eyes off the ball.’

The Chancellor also abolished Class 2 National Insurance contributions, which he says will give a tax cut of more than £130 to three million self-employed workers from 2018.

Mr Teare said that if we had been forced to follow suit, this would have cost the Manx exchequer a quarter of a millions pounds, including £200,000 that would have gone on health.

But the island has now revised the reciprocal social security arrangement with the UK.

The Treasury Minister said: ‘We were joined at the hip but we can now in effect paddle our own canoe.’

In his eighth budget, Mr Osborne also alluded to changes for companies that develop property in the UK but do not pay tax there.

Double taxation agreements with each of the Crown Dependencies are to be revised to close this loophole.

Again Mr Teare doubted this would make much of an impact here.

The Isle of Man’s eBusiness economy and the speed of change is making waves across the world.

Christina Foxwell, head of key partnerships at UK business MoneyCorp, is impressed with the island’s support of the eGaming industry – and glowing in her praise of the Isle of Man as a good place to do business.

She said: ‘The Isle of Man has an excellent reputation as a well-regulated but ambitious jurisdiction.

‘That is something that’s incredibly important in attracting businesses and developing entrepreneurial spirit.’

Foreign exchange specialists Moneycorp sponsored the lates eClub gathering in the island at The British in Douglas.

The event, which attracted a large and lively crowd of professionals from the eGaming sector, touched upon the hot topics of how the island’s fast expanding eBusiness economy is attracting global attention.

With 35 years’ experience in foreign exchange and money transmission services around the world, Moneycorp traded some £22.7bn in currencies last year with more than 8.1 million customer transactions.

Christina Foxwell said: ‘The world of foreign exchange and international money transfers is fast moving and at Moneycorp we pride ourselves on anticipating the changing needs of the market.

‘eGaming, by its global nature, has very similar challenges in the speed of its growth and the need to offer a whole different range of payment solutions to its clients.

‘Innovation is critical to support new ways of doing business and some of the people I have met at the eClub tonight are clearly demonstrating the forward thinking needed to develop this exciting sector further.’

Guests at the event enjoyed drinks and canapes, and were also given free entry to a draw for a Kindle Fire, provided by Moneycorp. The lucky winner was Caroline Hart, senior HR manager at Equiom.

EClub is a social meeting place for anyone involved in eGaming in the Isle of Man, or those with an interest in the sector.

Initiated by KMPG and Continent 8 Technologies, eClub brings the growing number of people working in the industry together to make contacts and discuss industry trends and developments.

People have until the end of this month to contribute to a public consultation on introducing new fees for immigration services and applications for British citizenship.

The consultation document to assess public opinion, along with a table showing the proposed new fees, are available on the government website at www.gov.im

A government spokesman said some of the fees for immigration and nationality services in the island have not been revised for up to four years, so the proposals, if implemented, would bring the island back in line with the fees charged in the UK.

‘The Isle of Man adopts the UK government policy which is aimed at decreasing taxpayer contributions towards the border, immigration and citizenship system and moving towards a self-funding user pay service,’ he said.

The proposal is for a modest fee increase for businesses and skilled migrants who will benefit the economy.

Larger fees would apply to those benefiting most from the immigration system, for instance people wanting to settle permanently or gain British citizenship.

If approved, the new fees take effect on April 6.

The Manx NHS is to have a name change.

A Bill designed to transform the island’s National Health Service into a National Health and Care Service had its first reading in the House of Keys last week.

The proposal reflects ongoing efforts to integrate the delivery of health and social care as part of a five year strategy.

Minister for Health and Social Care, Howard Quayle MHK, said: ‘The government wants to create a single health and social care service, one that offers truly integrated and joined-up care for the public. This Bill will contribute towards that ambition, giving the department a modern framework upon which it can develop and strengthen services in a rapidly changing environment.

‘An important component of the Bill is a newly proposed National Health and Care Service Charter. It would, for the first time, set out the department’s general commitments for the provision of health and care services in the Isle of Man, in a single published document.’

If passed, the Act would be supplemented with specific measures – called schemes – which would set out the extent of NHCS care provision and the standards that must be adhered to. The schemes will be laid before Tynwald and would be subject to independent monitoring and review to ensure high quality, safe and cost effective care.

A draft of the Bill, which includes a number of other provisions, was put out to public consultation last autumn.

An animal rights campaigner has welcomed moves to introduce an Animal Welfare Act.

Roseleen Harrison, of St Mary’s Road, Port Erin, presented a Tynwald Day petition in 2014 calling for legislation to protect our animals equivalent to that in the UK.

She had discovered a serious lack of workable legislation after started a puppy farm petition, and claimed this has allowed cases of neglect and abuse to happen with no opportunity to pursue legal action against those who cause harm.

Her petition was taken up by a select committee whose report is being presented to this week’s Tynwald sitting. Among its key recommendations is that the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture should draft an Animal Welfare Bill to be introduced during the 2016/17 legislative year.

There would also be a public register of offenders barred from keeping animals.

Roseleen said: ‘I am overwhelmed and very grateful for the support shown regarding changes to animal welfare on the island.

‘This has been a huge community effort. I would love to name and thank everyone who wrote to the select committee in support of change and the excellent information and views expressed, but there are just too many.

‘Thank you to the select committee for the dedication and effort they have put into putting the report in order. This is an on-going multi-professional, organisational and community effort which the island should be proud of.’

Roseleen congratulated the ManxSPCA on the changes they have made in-house since her campaign began, changes which did not need laws in place such as dedicated training days, a new general manager, and visits by a qualified animal behaviouralist.

‘It shows a real dedication to improving the facility’s available to support animal welfare. And I hope to keep seeing improvements as time goes by. Let’s put the island at the forefront of animal welfare,’ she said.

Among other recommendations in the select committee report is the compulsory microchipping of dogs and provision set out in statute for a 24/7 dog warden service. There are also recommendations relating to the use of snares, and to the transport of animals to and from the island. Testing on animals will also be banned.

Tynwald has overwhelmingly backed a £1.1m plan to stabilise and refurbish Douglas’s historic railway station.

Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne insisted the business case has been ‘very rigorously’ assessed by Treasury and the scheme would result in reduced costs and extra income. ‘This is not just spending £1m and never seeing any of the money again,’ he said.

Mr Gawne described the registered station as the gateway to the ‘much-loved’ heritage steam railway which was an ‘iconic’ tourist attraction.

But due to a lack of maintenance over many decades it is in poor condition with some areas ‘semi-derelict’. With no indoor toilets and catering facilities dating back to the 1980s, it no longer meets requirements, said Mr Gawne.

The scheme aims to tackle subsidence and make the station more commercially viable. A shop will open on the ground floor while the restaurant and café will be moved to a new first-floor mezzanine. An al-fresco dining area with a glass canopy is planned for the rear.

Work will take 36 weeks to complete. ‘When complete the building will once again be an asset we can be proud of,’ said Mr Gawne.

Seconding the motion, John Houghton (Douglas North) said it was a long-awaited initiative.

But David Quirk (Onchan) said there were greater priorities for funds and cited repairs needed to a Douglas school he had visited recently. ‘I do like the trains but this particular facility I feel is not something I can support.’

Chris Thomas (Douglas West) asked if the concerns of the Victorian Society and heritage groups had been taken into account.

The railway supporters’ association say the revised plans will result in significant changes to the building which could ruin its character – and which they say are not in the spirit of the independent planning inspector’s recommendations. They criticised proposals to replace one of the original windows with a new entrance doorway and to move original features such as the ticket hatch and map.

Tynwald approved the scheme with only two MHKs voting against.

A team of business partners have signed a 21-year lease to run Glen Wyllin campsite

James Hooper, Leanne Gilman, Tracey Dentith and Michael Dentith have been awarded the contract to run the site by its owner, the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA).

DEFA invited proposals from prospective tenants after Michael Commissioners surrendered its lease of the facility after 23 years.

Four potential operators were shortlisted and the successful applicants were selected at interview.

The group will operate a traditional campsite, accommodating tents, caravans and motorhomes this year and will also offer catering.

The site will be open on April 2 and existing bookings will be honoured.

A government press release issued this morning (Thursday) states: ‘The new operators will begin an improvement programme that will see all forms of traditional camping retained with the addition of camping pods and possibly, in the longer term, a family log cabin.

‘The operators also plan to offer packages and activities to ensure visitors get the most out of their stay.’

The new operators said: ‘We hope to offer enhanced services to existing customers and attract more, new guests to the site and the island. We look forward to greeting our first customers in April.’

DEFA member David Cretney MLC said: ‘I am impressed by the positive attitude of this committed and enthusiastic group. They have some great ideas to help visitors maximise their stays by tying in to other local businesses.’

In August last year, DEFA undertook a public consultation on what locals and visitors would like to see at the site.

Respondents sought new forms of camping and modernised facilities including barbecue points, a shop and a café serving local food.

No, I am not on Facebook and I am not on Twitter or anything else of that kind. Social media is not for me, largely because I don’t know how to do it.

Of course I do have some idea of what happens on Facebook and how one Tweets, but there must be other ways of making new friends.

For instance, every morning I could walk down the street and tell passers-by who I don’t know what I have just had for breakfast. I could also tell them how I feel today – ‘I’m all right so far’ – and what I did the night before as long it wasn’t anything anti-social.

I could hand people photographs of my children and my grand-children, especially while on holiday with them, spending time by the pool or on the beach in Spain. It would certainly save sending them postcards.

I would also listen in to the conversations of these people I don’t know and give them my opinion on every subject that interests me, whether it interests them or not.

The trouble is with this kind of substitute social media is that I will have made new acquaintances of a different kind by the time I finish my walk - a couple of wary police officers, a psychiatrist and a social worker right there on my tail.

THIS image appeared in my column some weeks ago during the telling of stories of the world-wide sales of Castletown Brewery’s Manx Oyster Stout years ago. I wanted to know what was being said and now I know courtesy of Dave Collister of Malew Street, Castletown, who has been told the message is in Cantonese and reads as follows:

‘Helps digestion and maintains beauty and keeps you young, healthy and strong in spirit. For men and women. Keeps you vigorous if you feel weak. Fragrant with a seafood smile!’

I obviously didn’t drink enough of it when I had the chance...

NO crossword clues this week.

FRANK Bond has been on to me about Brexit and Czechout and Mango and all the rest to say it reminds him of when a few years ago some Arctic countries introduced a national lottery only for the indigenous population with the slogan ‘You have to be Inuit to win it.’

PAUL Quayle emailed to say that with Port Soderick under new and wealthy ownership let’s suggest that they repair the Marine Drive and put the horse trams on it to take people to and from the place.

How would the horse trams get up and down down the old cliff railway there?

I HAVE been sent, anonymously, the following from the Daily Telegraph: ‘The study found that despite efforts to improve the representation of women in the boardroom only 15 per cent of new female chief executives were women, down from 25 per cent in the previous year.’

I HAVE been assured that Douglas Corporation once used the slogan: ‘Don’t let your wife kill herself with housework. Let the Electrcity Department do it for you.’

It sounds shocking to me.

FUNNIES File. At a Commonwealth Games years ago Manxman Nigel Kelly won a gold medal in the rifle shooting and Manx Radio’s commentator, the late Geoff Cannell, said on air: ‘Nigel is being kissed all over the place.’

WORLD headlines: ‘Panda mating fails and veterinarian takes over.’

Cat Turner reflects on United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s comments about climate change and mass migration at a conference in Germany last week

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United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon last week made a public call for: ‘An unprecedented global response to the challenges of climate change and mass migration.’

Speaking at a conference in Bonn, he said: ‘The Paris Agreement on climate change is a peace pact with the planet.’

Although many climate campaigners were disappointed at the number of issues glossed over in last year’s Paris conference on climate change, he recognised that at least countries had accepted the science – some say 2015 was the year of the ‘death of denial’.

Mr Ban told executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Christiana Figueres that she’d given the process her very best and: ‘We see the results. You showed the world what the United Nations can help make possible.’

Well – maybe. As those locals who attended the recent DEFA-hosted Anderson-Bowes talks on climate change recall, many were disappointed that Paris left several areas for action unaddressed – airline emissions, for example, were left off the table, as were the worst of the fossil fuel industry’s.

In any event, so far it’s just words. Ms Figueres pointed out that several potentially important agreements were reached last year – the new Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

She reminded listeners in Bonn that so far these are ‘mere letters of intent’ .

What’s needed is action plans, legislation and prompt implementation.

As she put it: ‘We developed an ambitious vision, now we need to work doubly hard to make that vision reality.’

As at international level, 2015 saw Tynwald commit to the 80/50 targets – commitment to cut the island’s CO2 emissions by a whopping 80 per cent of 1990s levels, by 2050.

That’s huge, and needs to start now – not be a ‘fingers crossed’ ambition of business-as-usual for years, in the hope of a technological solution just before 2050. It’s the aggregate greenhouse gas emmissons between now and then that make the difference, not compliance on the day.

So we’ve high hopes of DEFA’s work on developing a carbon-cutting action plan and we hope the rest of government, business and the public will be supportive. We need to ensure that Tynwald’s commitment is also more than a ‘mere letter of intent.’

Jasper Stephen White and Melanie Ann White, of Warrington, bought Wychwood, Alexander Drive, Douglas, for £550,000.

It was bought from Michael Holland, of London, as personal representative, and Margaret Holland, by personal representative.

Other recent transactions lodged at the General Registry in Douglas, are as follows:

John Hilary Turner sold 30 Greeba Avenue, Glen Vine, for £310,000 to Christopher James Madigan and Stacy Marie Davies, both of 2 The Crofts, Glen Vine.

Margaret Olive Hardman, by trustee, Antony Richard Duckworth, of Blackburn, as trustee, and Julia Beverley Anderson, of Blackburn, as trustee, sold Coppertop, Booilushag, for £268,000, to Gregory Sumner Wright and Tracy Suzanne Kinrade, both of Killiney, Bride Road, Ramsey.

Sharon Eleen Kenny sold 55 Port-e-Chee Avenue, Douglas, for £260,000, to Robert Gordon Hazeel and Carole Yvonne Hazeel, both of 6 Ashbourne House, Ballaughton Park, Saddlestone, Douglas.

Thomas Brett Shaw and Vivienne Pamela Chimes sold White Rose Cottage, Four Roads, Port St Mary, for £255,000, to James Dernie and Alexandra Voirrey Watterson, of Apt 2, 9 Clarence Terrace, Douglas.

Mudhafar Yacoub Ibrahim Al Hiwidi, of Greenock, sold 23 Harcroft Avenue, Douglas, for £245,000, to Paul Cunningham and Sarah Louise Cunningham, both of 41 Ballabrooie Grove, Douglas.

Andrew Douglas Christopher Wheeler and Tara Marie Wheeler sold 8 Corrins Way, Peel, for £175,000, to Colin Quirk and Glenda Maria Quirk, both of Laurel Bank Farm, Staarvey Road, St John’s.

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We publish details of all house sales unless we receive a written request from the police or probation services.

People are reminded that they must be on the electoral register at April 1 to be eligible to stand as a candidate, or to vote, in the 2016 local authority general election.

The cut-off point for inclusion is tomorrow (Friday, March 18).

Further details are available from the Electoral Registration Unit, Crown and Elections, Cabinet Office, Government Office, Bucks Road, Douglas, IM1 3PN, email voters@gov.im or call 685754.

Additional information about local authority elections, including guidance for prospective candidates, can be found on the Government website and Facebook page

Alternatively, people can contact their local authority or attend a public meeting to find out more.

Chief minister Allan Bell gave an upbeat message about the island at a presentation on the enduring resilience of London’s prime property market.

The event at the Villa Marina was hosted by independent structured finance firm Captima and delivered by Martin Gilsenan of Fortwell Capital, the financial services arm of CPC Group.

Mr Bell provided a brief overview of the Manx economy in the wake of the 2016-2017 budget which, he said, had sought to protect the most vulnerable and secure strong foundations for future economic growth.

Expressing ‘cautious optimism’ Mr Bell said that achieving a re-balancing of the revenue budget was ‘close’ and that the economy was ‘moving in the right direction’.

Against a background of geopolitical and financial uncertainty the Isle of Man had ‘weathered quite exceptional storms’ said Mr Bell who, in welcoming Mr Gilsenan, urged: ‘All we need now are investors’.

The event was earlier opened with Captima director Mark Watson welcoming guests, who included Department of Economic Development business development manager John Garland, before introducing Mr Bell.

Mr Gilsenan explained that Fortwell Capital, launched in 2010 and formerly known as Omni Capital, specialised in funding residential residential and alternative property.

With a current balance sheet of £300m the company’s total lending as of February 2016 was just under £1bn made up of 309 transactions.

He went on to outline the resilience of London’s high-end property market and its continuing appeal to overseas investors.

The UK capital was, he said, ‘a world city of the front rank’ which, despite some ‘softening’ of prices in prime central London, remained buoyant.

‘Residential property as an asset class has come of age in the past seven or eight years’, he explained and went on to list London’s ‘five winning post codes’ - in Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Fitzrovia, Marylebone and Chelsea - that had enjoyed 10-year growth in average sales prices, prompting him to comment: ‘Good lending doesn’t depend on a rising market, however.’

With banks becoming increasingly risk averse Mr Gilsenan said there was an appetite among borrowers to seek out alternative funding mechanisms, such as those which Fortwell, with its access to CPC Group’s expertise, could provide. These included short-term funding; high-net worth buy-to-let, development funding and structured finance.

Fortwell’s ‘open-minded flexible approach can be adapted to unique transactions’ explained Mr Gilsenan who thanked Captima for its valued custom and, in closing, urged investors to consider Fortwell’s strategy: ‘Stay ahead of the game. Look for the next opportunity. Don’t hunt with the pack.’

An Anagh Coar man has admitted to possessing £2,900 worth of cannabis with intent to supply.

Liam Bradley, aged 23, of Hibbin Way, also pleaded guilty to two further charges of possessing cannabis.

After executing a search warrant at 8.45am yesterday at Bradley’s home police found 140 grams of cannabis behind a board in the kitchen.

Further wraps weighing a total of 5 grams and 1.1 grams were found in a kitchen unit.

The case has been adjourned until April 28.

Our dad is truly our hero!

Sisters Kennedy and Robyn-Mae Lawler, 19 and 12, have nominated their dad, Constable Tony Lawler, in Isle of Man Newspapers’ Community Police Officer of the Year Award.

Tony, has been in the Constabulary for 17 years, and as a section officer is responsible for the day to day policing of Douglas and Onchan.

‘When I read the nomination I was very humbled by what was said,’ Tony said.

‘I don’t do this job for praise, I do it because I can make a small difference to people of the Isle of Man. Family is the most important thing to me and to have been nominated by my children means the world.’

In their nomination they wrote: ‘PC Tony Lawler is a highly respected member of the constabulary and due to his nature of being kind, caring, funny and having sheer determination he is liked and known by many both within in the force and within the community, he is often referred to as a “gentle giant” as he is a strong and loyal constable.

‘No matter what the situation or the circumstances he will always put the life and wellbeing of another first.

‘As well as being a great officer he has raised a family with wife Leandra which has not always been easy as every time he goes on shift his family do not know what it may bring but he truly is a hero and a role model to his two daughters, who every day are proud of what he does.’

In November, Tony swam out to sea to save a woman, bringing her back to shore himself because the conditions were too hazardous for the Coastguard to reach them.

He has previously received Chief Constable’s Commendations in 2014 and 2003, for an outstanding act of bravery and for saving someone’s life.

Kennedy and Robyn-Mae said he gave 100 per cent to the job despite being diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer in 2004, for which has he undergone lengthy and intensive treatment.

‘He has never allowed his cancer to hinder his commitment to the community,’ they wrote. ‘He has been a part of many schemes to improve the police force, such as Community Watch and School Watch, and he is a tutor and mentor for new starters. He was one of the pioneers of Shop Watch in Onchan and has had a role in implementing many community watch and safety programmes around Douglas.’

• Nominations have closed.

Ramsey Horticultural Society held its annual Spring Show on Saturday at Waterloo Road Methodist Church Hall.

Among the winners was Barbara Corlett who won the Keith Kerruish Trophy Supreme Award for her floral art entry. All the materials used in her exhibit were from her own garden.

The AS Mart Rosebowl - Reserve Supreme Award was won by Joan Hughes in the handicraft section, for her recycled dining chair with a woven seat.

Organisers said that entries in the flowers and plants sections were excellent and the handicraft entries were well up on previous shows.

In the junior section entries were received from children in Footsteps Nursery, Beryl’s Mums and Tots, Ayre Brownies and Ramsey Brownies as well as many individual exhibits.

Ramsey Horticultural Society are now calling for all aspiring Mary Berrys and Paul Hollywoods to get baking and get the tables groaning with goodies for the Summer Show to be held on Saturday, August 20.

The society thanked all those involved in making the show a success.

A special toilet-themed van will tour the island tomorrow (Friday) to celebrate the Isle of Man becoming the world’s first Toilet Twinned island.

The Toilet Tour will visit twinned loos across the island to mark the island winning the Toilet Twinned Award from charity Toilet Twinning.

Lorraine Kingsley, CEO of the charity , said: ‘Our Toilet Twinned award is given to communities which pull out all the stops to help provide life-saving sanitation in poor countries.

‘Manx generosity has been amazing and it’s been wonderful to watch as different groups have pulled together to raise funds. A proper toilet is a vital first step out of poverty for a poor family so Manx twinners can be proud that they’ll have changed many people’s lives forever.’

Toilet twinning involves people making a donation to ‘twin’ their toilet and fund a latrine in one of the poorest countries in the world. The donation helps provide a toilet, clean water, basic sanitation and hygiene education.

The ‘Twin your toilet’ campaign was first launched in the island in 2014 by the One World Centre and Churches Together in Mann and since then residents have joined their toilets with more than 130 latrines and a school block overseas.

Organisations such as Applyby law firm, Ballakermeen High School, Peel Cathedral and the deanery, Broadway Baptist Church and the Department of Education and Children in Douglas have all joined in with campaign.

The tour will visit twinned toilets in the island and will finish with a ceremony at Government Buildings in Douglas, where Lorraine Kingsley will present the award.

Rosemary Clark from the One World Centre said: ‘It’s been wonderful to see people’s enthusiasm grow as they’ve grasped just how much of a difference having a toilet can make to families and whole communities elsewhere.’