The sacking of Post Office chairman Graham Cregeen means drink drive MLC Tony Wild, as vice chairman, will chair today’s Post Office board meeting.

It was announced yesterday that Mr Cregeen had been removed as chairman and member of the Post Office board with immediate effect.

His position had been made ‘untenable’ because of his ‘fundamental conflict’ with board policy on corporatisation, Treasury Minister Eddie Teare said.

Plans to run the Post Office as a limited company, wholly-owned by government, will go before the April Tynwald when the court will also be asked to approve the appointment of Peel MHK Ray Harmer as the new chairman.

In the meantime, Tony Wild MLC as vice chairman will be in charge.

In March he ‘unreservedly apologised’ to Tynwald following his conviction for drink driving. He was sentenced to 180 hours community service, as a direct alternative to eight weeks’ custody, and banned from driving for five years.

He said it was his ‘heartfelt desire’ to carry on his LegCo role but had asked to step down immediately from his political membership of the DHSC. Until last year he was also member for the departments of Economic Development and Education and Children. As well as Post Office vice chairman, he is an employer’s representative on the Public Sector Pensions Authority.

Mr Wild was arrested for drink-driving in December after being stopped in Laxey and failing a breathalyser test. He was more than three times the legal limit.

In Tynwald this month he said that at his court hearing mention was made of ‘certain medical conditions’. He told members he would not elaborate on this other than ‘these are personal, under control and I have the necessary support’.

Plans to corporatise the Post Office were first mooted in 2006 Scope of Government report and aim to give it more commercial freedom.

The proposal for it to be run as a company, 100 per cent owned by the government with Treasury as sole shareholder, followed a review by an independent consultant and have been approved by the Post Office board and CoMin.

Mr Cregeen told iomtoday he had sought assurances with the Chief Minister over jobs and the future of the Post Office local network.

He said: ‘He advised me to speak to Treasury officers and they would give me all the assurances I required. I was called on Tuesday to see the Treasury Minister to be told I was being removed with immediate effect. If you stand up for what you think is right you are shown the door.’

He said he believed any benefit to government from running the Post Office as a limited company rather than a statutory board would be ‘marginal’ and jobs could potentially be lost as a result.

The Isle of Man hosts the 2016 International Celtic Congress, which is a chance for people from the six Celtic nations to meet and share their culture.

The event takes place at the Empress Hotel, in Douglas, from today (Thursday) to Monday with the theme of ‘The Inclusion of Celtic History and Culture in the School Curriculum’.

The programme includes lectures, excursions and concerts featuring musicians and singers from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and the Isle of Man.

The lectures take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings.

The cost for each morning session is £5 including refreshments and is free for full-time students.

A Manks Concert will be held on Saturday evening and will feature dance group Ny Fennee, choir Caarjyn Cooidjagh, singers Marlene Hendy and Dilys Sowry, Isla Callister and The Mollag Band. An Interceltic Concert is planned for Sunday evening and will include musicians Roddy Campbell from Scotland, Maire Nic Fhinn and Ciara Theimhneain from Ireland, and fiddlers Salt and Sky from Cornwall.

Singers Linda Griffiths and Sorela from Wales as well as our own Ruth Keggin, Sarah Hendy and David Kilgallon will also feature.

Tickets for this concert are £10 or £5 for full-time students. A limited number of tickets are available in advance at the Congress reception table or book by emailing celticmann2@gmail.com

Delegates will enjoy excursions to Castletown and Cregneash, visit the Tynwald chambers, and take a tram ride to Laxey.

Details of the programme and costs available on www. celticcongressmannin.com

An investigation is continuing into yesterday’s runaway mountain tram crash.

The historic Snaefell Mountain Railway tramcar rolled out of control down the line three quarters of the way from the summit to Bungalow before it derailed.

Tramcar no.3 was completely destroyed. Fortunately no passengers or staff were on board at the time.

Some 30 passengers left stranded at the summit were subsequently taken back down to Laxey by tram.

A decision will be taken tomorrow (Friday) on whether services can resume.

Director of public transport Ian Longworth said the tram had been parked at the top of the down line and had been empty for some time.

There are works currently underway to resurface paving around the summit tram stop and Snaefell Hotel.

He said the tram travelled three quarters of the journey from the Summit to the Bungalow before coming off the tracks.

No other trams were moving at the time of the roll-away, he said.

Tram no.1 had arrived while no.3 was parked for the next downhill service.

Mr Longworth said there is no safety fell rail at the point where the tram was parked but he added that this was not relevant. ‘The fell rail holds the tram on track and is for emergency braking not a parking brake.’

Asked if a member of staff had been on board could the hand brake have been applied, he replied: ‘Yes.’

Mr Longworth said the government health and safety inspectorate is involved in the investigation into the crash along with a retired engineer.

He said he could not yet estimate when the investigation could report back with its findings. ‘I will probably be better able to see the position tomorrow,’ he added.

The SMR celebrated its 120th anniversary last August. Tramcar 3 is not the first of the fleet to have been destroyed. In 1970, car 5 was completely gutted by fire and a new body was built locally.

Shoprite and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture will be hosting an introduction to the food industry aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to develop local food products.

The event is being held at Noa Bakehouse in Douglas on Friday, April 15 from 4pm to 6pm.

It is an opportunity for aspiring local producers to meet leading industry representatives from the island’s food industry who can advise on the most relevant aspects of establishing, running and operating a food business in the island.

Local industry retail experts will be on hand to advise producers on the key elements of product development that can lead to a listing by a multiple store food retailer.

Representatives from Shoprite will give a brief introduction to securing a listing with the Manx food retailer as well as outlining their buying policy. Other subjects that will be covered include ‘How to Pitch’, ‘Plan Production’, ‘Manage Availability’, ‘How to Maintain a Profit’, ‘Packaging’, ‘How to Bring a New Product to Life’ and ‘Local Market Economic Importance.’

Attendees will also have the opportunity to discuss applications for Shoprite’s Startisan competition, which offers a guaranteed Shoprite listing, operational marketing support, advice on packaging and product development and six months rent free in one of Isle of Man Enterprises Village Walk retail units.

Other industry experts who will be on hand to meet the aspiring entrepreneurs include Department of Economic Development staff who can advise on grants and marketing courses, as well as PR, marketing and digital experts.

Specialists in environmental health and transportation will also be attending on the day.

Andrew Thomas, chief executive, Shoprite, said: ‘The idea behind the day is to give aspiring food producers, and people who have already begun developing or retailing a product, the opportunity to meet the key influencers in the local retail market, gain valuable advice and input from experts and meet and network with successful local food producers.’

He added: ‘Having strong local food producers not only provides the island with long term food security, and the benefits of traceability, but also can provide a real boost to the local economy by replacing imported goods and ensuring that the fiscal benefits of a strong local food market remain on the island.’

Richard Ronan MHK, Minister, Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture said: ‘Our Food Matters strategy identifies the importance of local food producers and we are hoping that this event will encourage food producers to take advantage of the opportunity and support that is available on the Isle of Man.’

Brian Kelly, chairman of the British Isles’ largest offshore travel group, has become the 300th member of the Isle of Man branch of the Institute of Directors.

‘I had been aware of the IoD for many years but had been so focused on growing my business that I had refrained from joining organisations that were not core to the travel business,’ said Brian.

This year he is celebrating 35 years in business in the Isle of Man while his company, the Online Regional Travel Group Ltd, remains the largest travel group in the island. The Group owns and operates business travel, leisure shops, tour operation and online travel websites in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

‘I decided to join the IoD once we discovered the joining fee was actually great value and only a few hundred pounds a year,’ he said. ‘We have always taken corporate governance and responsibility extremely seriously as they are the foundations of any professional business, no matter what sector you are involved in.

‘Being a member will expose us to best practice and allow us to measure our structure and practices against other members and apply new ideas to raise our bar again. Being able to network locally with fellow members was also an important factor to us joining, in addition to using the benefits that membership brings.’

A Manxman from Ramsey, he has lived in Maughold for the last 25 years. In the Isle of Man the Group operates under the brands of Mann Link Travel Ltd, Richmond Travel and operate websites Manxflights.com, Manxferries.com and VisitIOM.co.uk.

‘I’m looking forward to playing an active role in the IoD here in the Isle of Man,’ he added.

Clive Parrish, chairman of the IoD’s Isle of Man branch said: ‘I’m delighted to welcome Brian as our 300th member. He is someone with a great amount of experience in many spheres of business which will be of great benefit to the branch and I very much look forward to working with him to the benefit of the IoD.’

Bird droppings and oil are marking Castletown’s newly-paved square.

Commissioner Colin Leather suggested they clean the bird mess with water jets.

Andrew Thomas said they could use CCTV cameras to identify cars dropping oil.

The management of parking is ‘haphazard’ said Mr Leather, kerbs are not clearly marked and entering and leaving it is ‘tight’.

Crossroads Care will hold a series of jumble sales every Sunday in April to raise funds and also show the high quality of goods sold at its shops and hopefully entice people into them.

This is the first time the charity, which improves the life of carers in the island, has held such a series of jumble sales to raise funds and awareness. In addition to offering respite care to those who care, the charity works to strengthen support by government and other organisations.

Entrance is £1 for adults and includes a hot drink. They begin in Corrin Hall, Peel, this Sunday, April 3 from midday to 3pm. This is followed by: British Legion, Douglas, April 10, from midday to 3pm; St Catherine’s Hall, Port Erin, April 17, midday to 3pm; and the Parish Hall, Jurby, April 24, from midday to 3pm.

There was a slight increase in the inflation rate last month but it is still in negative territory, according to one measure.

Lower fuel costs continue to be the main factor in keeping down inflation.

The annual rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Prices Index for March increased slightly, and now stands at -0.6 per cent, up from -0.7 per cent in February.

The annual rate as measured by the Retail Prices Index has also shown a small increase, and now stands at 3.4 per cent, up from 3.3 per cent.

Excluding housing costs, the annual rate of inflation shown by the RPI increased to 4 per cent in March, up from 3.9 per cent the previous month.

A 23-year-old man from Union Mills has been convicted of causing serious bodily harm by driving without due care or consideration.

Alexander Atherton, of Main Road, admitted hitting a motorcyclist while driving at Derbyhaven on August 14 causing the rider two broken shoulders, two broken arms, a fractured pelvis and a knee injury.

The court heard that, at 1.15pm, Atherton was driving his Fiat Punto on Derbyhaven Road, going to Castletown.

Nigel Wright was riding his motorbike in the other direction at the same time with both men said to be travelling at around 30mph.

Both men appeared to be turning off into the car park.

Atherton was said to have driven directly in front of the path of the bike, causing Mr Wright to ‘fly into the air’.

An expert report said that the bike would have been in Atherton’s view for between 8.75 and 19.39 seconds.

It was also said that Mr Wright would have to undergo a knee replacement operation and would not regain full use of his left leg for nine to 12 months.

Atherton attended police headquarters voluntarily and admitted causing the collision, but said that he had not seen the bike.

Atherton entered a basis of plea, which was accepted by the court, in which he said that he had approached the car park slowing to less than 30mph, to turn right into it.

He said that he had changed gear from second to first and indicated to turn, but while turning he said he was struck by the motorbike.

Atherton added in the plea: ‘I looked but I didn’t see the bike. I can’t explain why I didn’t see him. I accept responsibility.’

Defending Atherton in court, advocate Dawn Jones said: ‘It was a classic case of “look and didn’t see”.

‘Mr Atherton accepts he should have seen the bike.

‘The general consensus is that the both vehicles were travelling at modest speeds.’

Mrs Jones asked for an adjournment to allow time for a social enquiry report to be prepared before sentencing takes place.

A conviction was recorded and the case was adjourned until May 10 at 10am.

Bail continues with a recognisance of £500 and conditions that Atherton live at his home address, attend probation meetings and not leave the island without prior permission.

A historic wall at Castletown quay removed as part of the Costa Coffee development will be reinstated, promises Manx National Heritage (MNH).

The removal of the wall – believed to date from the late 1700s or early 1800s – has caused some consternation.

At last week’s commissioners’ meeting Peter Hill-Heaton said: ‘A couple of people have had a go at me [about the wall]. The wall has been there for over 100 years. I explained there was damp in the wall. The wall came down to floor level, you can sit there and watch the view.’

Kevin Weir added: ‘MNH own it, they are not going to let anything untoward happen there.’

One anonymous caller contacted Isle of Man Newspapers complaining about removal of the wall and upset about the dangerous state of the road in the area, where there is scaffolding.

However the heritage group said its removal is temporary and to ensure public safety the quayside lane will be closed to the public until work is finished.

MNH said: ‘Work is taking place at the former Castletown Benefits Office, also known as the Castlegate Building. The project includes sensitive redevelopment of the site to include a new Costa Coffee facility in Castletown.

‘MNH is currently carrying out works to repair the structure of the building. Following completion of this work, interior fitting-out of the new café facility will commence.

‘As part of the initial site investigation works, MNH had identified some void areas beneath the building and we are now working to stabilise and consolidate the ground conditions.

‘In accordance with the planning consent, a section of the wall fronting the harbour has been temporarily removed. This wall, including the original facing stone, will be reinstated as part of the development.

‘During this stage of the project, in the interests of public safety, it has been agreed with the Department of Infrastructure that a temporary closure of the quayside lane will be put in place.

‘This walkway will be reopened as soon as it is safe to allow public access. 
MNH apologises for any temporary inconvenience.’

Plans for a major redevelopment of lower Douglas have suffered yet another blow.

In a case of history repeating itself, the Department of Infrastructure has announced it will re-advertise for fresh expressions of interest to develop the Lord Street and Parade Street sites.

Parade Street and the former Lord Street bus station were to form a key part of the Douglas Masterplan, a bold vision to create a ‘world class’ capital.

An all-weather Winter Gardens, multiplex cinema, multi-storey car park and bus interchange were proposed for this area, potentially designated The Fort and the Maritime Gateway. It was billed as a major new development that would boost construction, create jobs and bring wide benefits to the community and economy.

The DoI successfully advertised the sites last year and a preferred bidder was selected on the basis of the bid submitted. But in a statement, the department said the chosen developer had sought to make changes to its original bid.

Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK said: ‘It is incredibly disappointing and frustrating that after many months of detailed negotiations we have no option other than to reject the revised bid because the developer’s approach is inconsistent with the procurement process.

‘The only way to be certain that the sites achieve the best possible value for the taxpayer is to start the process again.’

The development opportunity will be re-advertised in April.

The old bus station was demolished at the end of 2001 and the site turned into a car park.

In February 2013, the plug was pulled on a 4-star quayside hotel development earmarked for here after the developer failed to submit a planning application in time.

Tynwald approved the Masterplan framework in February last year and expressions of interest from potential developers were sought.

Other proposals included a new Civic Square, construction of a new pedestrian bridge over the river at the Nunnery and possible replacement of the 1960s Sea Terminal with a purpose-built port and cruise line terminal.

The next instalment in the Songs From The Sofa series takes place at Amber in Douglas this Saturday night.

It sees solo singer/songwriters Hamish Faragher and Matt Kelly join In The Blood and Postcode in stripped down versions of their usual full band selves.

Hamish is a relatively new name on the local music scene. Having played guitar since the age of nine, Hamish picks his current influences as Ed Sheeran and Jake Bugg.

Hamish also recently supported Davy Knowles for three shows in the island late last year which garnered some very favourable reviews.

Since then, having ventured out further afield to play several pub gigs around the island, Hamish is one to watch.

Joining Hamish is Matt Kelly.

Matt is known via local bands King Chiaullee, Strengyn, Hoodoo Nation and The Ballaghs and his style and influences rooted mainly toward more Celtic leanings.

He started writing and performing his own songs just over a year ago though and will be showcasing these new pieces on the night.

Complementing the bill is In The Blood, a band that has started to make waves on the local live scene recently.

The band was formed last year by guitarists James Craig and Mark Lawrence. Joining them soon after were Andy James on drums, Dave Brew on vocals and Jamie Christian on bass.

The band cite their influences as anywhere from progressive rock to country blues with a smattering of rock.

Finally, completing the line-up are Manx music scene veterans Postcode. Having formed in 2005, the band has released numerous albums and EPs via the Small Bear Records.

The band comprises Marie Reynolds, guitarists Mikie Daugherty and Kieran Ball, Steve Halsall on bass and Jonny Peacock on drums.

Elsewhere this weekend, you’ll find the unrelenting live schedule of indie, 80s and classic rock covers band Switch continue its journey with a return to Jaks Bar in Douglas.

The band, made up by Neil Curphey on vocals, Colin Davidson and Matt Quine on guitars, Mal Atkinson on bass and Jonny Peacock on drums play a set that swings from the likes of The Killers, Doves, The Stone Roses, Ash, Feeder, The Kaiser Chiefs, Pulp and Blur at one end via Blondie and The Buzzcocks to INXS, Duran Duran, The Jam and The Sex Pistols at the other.

Finally this week, we have covers band 995 will be performing tonight (Friday) at Bar Logo in Ramsey.

The band has been out there and making themselves known to the Manx gig goers for a little while now.

Formed by Matt Todd on keys and vocals, Maric Thorpe on guitar and vocals and Gerard Hall on bass, they completed their line-up by bringing in Ian Manton on vocals and Danny Mills on drums both plucked from fellow local circuit veterans Catch 22. The band drop a variety of pieces into their set list ranging from One Republic via Jimi Hendrix to Kings of Leon and Stereophonics.

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Steve Leach brings the latest rumblings, murmurings, news and views on forthcoming events in and around the island’s music scene. Help support the scene by emailing leachsteve@hotmail.com

A Fun Day will take place at Glen Wyllin tomorrow from 12 noon until 4pm.

There will be bouncy castles, face-painting and nail art. These will all be free activities.

Also there will be hot food, drinks and snacks available to purchase.

The campsite is no longer being run by the commissioners.

As we previously reported, a team of business partners have signed a 21-year lease to run the 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,

FoodandAgriculture (DEFA).

For bookings and enquiries regarding the campsite email glenwyllincampsite@outlook.com

Manx Telecom has reported an increase of more than a quarter in underlying profits in its full year results.

And chief executive Gary Lamb has told the Manx Independent the company is fully committed to ploughing a further £10 million into its network and operations this year.

The company is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange.

Manx Telecom reported its 2015 financial results yesterday (Wednesday).

Speaking from London Mr Lamb said: ‘We are a proud Manx business, and an ambassador for the Isle of Man in the UK and beyond.

‘Our ability to succeed is directly linked to the island itself, and we fully recognise the role and responsibility we have in attracting business here. [in the island].’

Underlying profit before and after tax increased by 27.9 per cent to £16.6million from £12.9million the year before.

Revenues were up 0.4 per cent to £79.6 million from £79.3 million in 2014.

Mobile revenues increased 9.3 per cent boosted by 4G adoption and mobile data revenues.

There was said to be a strong growth in data centre revenues, up by 20.3 per cent, driven by one-off equipment sales.

MT reported a final dividend of 6.9 pence a share (2014: 6.6pence) taking the total to 10.4 pence for the full year (2014: 9.9 pence) in line with the ‘company’s progressive dividend policy’.

Gary Lamb, chief executive officer said: ‘I am pleased to report a solid performance for the full year which was in line with the Board’s expectations.’

Mr Lamb said: ‘Looking ahead, we remain confident in the outlook for the group, reflected in our commitment to maintain our progressive dividend policy.

‘We have developed a highly attractive market proposition, and I was delighted to renew our long term relationship with the government of the Isle of Man. We continue to generate strong cash flow, which enables us to create value for shareholders, while continuing to invest in our infrastructure projects at an average of £10 million per year over the last three years.’

Mr Lamb stressed another important figure was the £25.4 million cash generated from operations.

There was also the underlying EBITDA [earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation]. This was put at £27.7 million in 2015, a two per cent increase on the previous year’s figure of £27.1 million.

Mr Lamb said every pound the company invests in the business is also a pound invested in the island and its future.

‘We will continue to invest in this future to ensure that businesses here [Isle of Man] continue to have access to the best technology.’

The report shows that Manx Telecom invested £10.1 million in 4G mobile, broadband and ongoing network enhancements in 2015. The company is said to support more than 4,000 business customers and continued investment in infrastructure is said to have played a major role in establishing andsustaining the island’s reputation as a world class business centre.

Mr Lamb, who was appointed as chief executive officer last July, described the year’s results as ‘a solid performance for the full year which was in line with the Board’s expectations.

‘The highly cash generative core business of fixed line and mobile services continues to perform strongly, with revenue growth driven by good take up of our high speed broadband products and an increase in the number of mobile customers returning to Manx Telecom following our investment in 4G.’

Expansion of data centres continued with completion of phase two of the Greenhill Data Centre in place from October 2015.

Craft days for all ages return to the Beach Buddies Visitor Centre at Niarbyl next week.

A series of events will be held where everyone goes home with an item made from materials such as shells, sea glass and driftwood.

Booking is essential as the maximum number taking part in any one session is limited to eight, so that each person can receive individual attention.

It’s not just for children, adults can make something special too, and perhaps a creation which may be a bit more challenging.

Sessions will be held on the following days:

Monday, April 4: 10am to midday and 1pm to 3pm.

Tuesday, April 5: 10am to midday and 1pm to 3pm.

Thursday, April 7: 10am to midday and 1pm to 3pm.

Saturday, April 9: 10am to midday and 1pm to 3pm.

Extra days amay be added, depending on demand.

Email beachbuddiesisleofman@gmail.com or phone/text 496560.

Meanwhile, Beach Buddies will be returning to Ballaugh beach this weekend with a volunteer team session on Sunday morning, from 10.30am.

A session was held there some weeks ago, but another large amount of rubbish has gathered in recent times, meaning another session is required to one of the island’s most beautiful stretches of coastline.

All equipment is provided by Beach Buddies, including gloves, litterpickers and bin bags and items collected are removed afterwards by the charity, recycling around 60 per cent of all rubbish, such as tin cans, plastic, metal and glass.

All ages are welcome, and particularly families - even if you’ve not taken part before.

Organisers Bill Dale says it’s informal, relaxed and good fun and you meet lots of like-minded people. Well behaved dogs are also very welcome.

Online gamblers are accusing the owners of a series of gaming websites based in the Isle of Man of closing their accounts and withholding funds.

It’s being reported that 138.com, 12Bet, Fun88.co.uk and TLCbet have sent emails to thousands of customers suggesting they have abused the sites’ promotions systems in relation to deals offered during the Cheltenham Festival.

One affected customer contacted the iomtoday newsroom this afternoon to highlight the issue.

The news is widespread on Twitter and the UK’s Mirror website has ran a story on the situation this afternoon, including details of a punter who is being denied access to £2,600 from accounts with all four companies.

TLCbet, fun88 and 12bet are all listed on the Isle of Man Government website as ‘current licence holders of the Gambling Supervision Commission’ with online licensee TGP Limited.

A reporter has called TGP Europe Limited, which is based in Athol House, Douglas, for comment but no one was available. We are awaiting their response.

Xela Limited is listed as the license holder for 138.com. We have attempted to contact chief executive officer Garth Kimber, a former head of egaming with the Manx government, but were unable to get through.

The Isle of Man’s Gambling Supervision Commission issued a short statement at 5pm. It read: ‘I can confirm that the Gambling Supervision Commission is aware of the matter, however it is standard policy for the Gambling Supervision Commission not to comment on regulatory or compliance matters relating to its licensed operators.’

American jazz and swing trio The Hot Club of Cowtown, are bringing their unique blend of music to Peel’s Centenary Centre.

Featuring the fiddle and vocals of Elana James (who also toured with Bob Dylan for two years), guitar and vocals of Whit Smith and the amazing double bass and vocals of Jake Erwin, the band are all masters of their instruments.

The trio will be performing on Saturday as part of a 17-date tour of the British Isles to coincide with the release of their latest album.

Midnight On The Trail, their ninth studio album, was released last Saturday.

The band’s early history started in New York in 1994 when Elana – a one-time horse wrangler in Colorado, as well as a former student of classical music at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau,France – placed an advert in the music section of the Village Voice looking to join a band.

The advert was answered by Whit – who was a regular at the prestigious Djangofest Northwest in Whidbey Island, Washington – and they initially formed a duo.

They moved to Austin, Texas, in 1998, where they were signed by American roots label HighTone Records and released their first album, Swingin’ Stampede.

The band’s line-up was solidified in 2001 with the arrival of bassist Jake.

Jake grew up hearing his parents play lots of folk music, especially acoustic blues, but as a teenager rebelled and turned sharply towards hard rock, which still informs his approach to hot jazz and Western swing.

Their releases include Rendezvous in Rhythm (2013) with its more European inspirations and a collection of Western swing standards made famous by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, What Makes Bob Holler (2010).

Along with the Hot Club’s dedicated cult following worldwide – they have toured for the US State Department as musical ambassadors to Azerbaijan, Armenia, the Republic of Georgia and the Sultanate of Oman.

Legend Bob Dylan, with whom the band toured, is a continuing inspiration both personally and professionally.

The Hot Club has opened several shows for Willie Nelson, toured with Nelson and Dylan during a summer-long stadium tour and opened seven nights of Roxy Music’s sold out For Your Pleasure UK stadium tour in 2011.

In the UK, the Hot Club of Cowtown has been featured at the Glastonbury Festival and has also been a returning guest on Later with Jools Holland, the Cambridge Folk Festival, the Radcliffe and Maconie Show and Bob Harris Country on BBC Radio 2.

They have won many awards including being winner of the 2015 Ameripolitan Awards for Western Swing Group of the Year.

Their latest album is a vintage mix of 12 Western swing songs and cowboy ballads hand-collected to reflect the spirit and joy of the American West. Utterly danceable, romantic and rustic, these songs truly represent the Cowtown of the Imagination, a source of inspiration for the band since it first began.

They have been written by the likes of Bob Wills, Johnny Mercer, Cindy Walker, Gene Autry.

A review in The Times said: ‘Unfussy and unpretentious, their blend of down-home melodies and exuberant improvisation harks back to a lost era of so-called western swing.

‘When they plunge into Orange Blossom Special your thoughts turn not so much to runaway trains as to a B-52 tearing up a runway.’

Meanwhile, The Guardian said they perform with ‘spirit, originality and skill that would surely have impressed Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt back in the 1930s’.

Saturday’s concert starts at 8pm. Tickets cost £20.

The online ticket allocation is sold out. Contact the Centenary Centre to see if any tickets are still available.

Mannin Quilters started in 1990 when eight members picked up their sewing needles together.

Some 26 years later, the group has grown to nearly 80 members of all ages – all women who enjoy sewing.

Mannin Quilters hold meetings twice a week,at Ballabeg Methodist Church hall on Tuesday evenings (from 7.15pm to 9pm) and then on Wednesday afternoons (from 1.30pm to 4pm) at St Columba’s Catholic Church Hall in Port Erin.

The social group is open to people of all abilities, both beginners and experienced sewers, and members can attend either or both meetings.

Mannin Quilters chairman Ruth Hall told Island Life: ‘Overall, we meet to have fun, learn from each other and enjoy company, cups of tea and great cakes!’

Mannin Quilters work on their own projects during the weekly meetings.

They also share ideas and patterns among friends and members offer demonstrations during the year that teach new techniques and projects.

Themed patterns are made available for members to then interpret in their own ways.

Every two years Mannin Quilters holds an exhibition over the May Day weekend.

And their next exhibition takes place this year from Friday, April 29 to Monday, May 2 at Ballabeg Methodist Church.

Refreshments, including a selection of home-made cakes, will be available to visitors throughout the weekend.

‘This is a wonderful showcase for the work of the members and well worth a visit,’ Ruth said.

The exhibition will include their ‘tombola quilts’, which members make to raise money for charity.

The group is always keen to get involved with good causes.

Since 2000, they have also been making incubator quilts for the Special Care Baby Unit at Noble’s Hospital.

In that time they have handed over hundreds of quilts.

For further information about Mannin Quilters and membership details contact Ruth Hall at ruthall55@hotmail.co.uk or visit their website manninquilters.org

Entries are now open for the 45th world tin bath championship, which takes place from 2.30pm on Saturday, July 9, in Castletown middle harbour.

Entries are available from Dave Collíster, 49 Malew Street, Castletown, phone 823996, 341852 or email daveandpat@manx.net; online at Castletown Heritage.im/heritage, search ‘2016 World Tin Bath’ or from any Castletown Ale Drinkers Society member.

Entry forms for the snake race are also available, but there is a limited number of entrants to the first 24.

For those who want to take part but find themselves tin bathless, organisers have some to borrow thanks to a donation from Pokerstars.

The afternoon will also feature attempts by intrepid birdmen and women at human-powered flight and stunt shows by CADS.

A pet owner whose dog savaged a walker told Douglas magistrates she no longer knew where the animal was.

Dachshund-Jack Russell cross breed Bessie-Boy lunged at a pedestrian on Victoria Road sinking his teeth into her calf, leaving her needing skin grafts and a stay in hospital.

But owner Pamela Alison Swarbrick-Burns, whose friend was exercising the dog at the time, told the court the animal had since been returned to the breeder whose address she did not know.

Prosecutor Michael Jelski said the victim and her husband were walking up Victoria Road on a Sunday afternoon last August when they caught up with Bessie Boy, who was being exercised along with another dog.

As they overtook, the dog savaged the victim, leaving her bleeding with a five centimetre wound in her leg. Mr Jelski said the surgeon was unable to close the wound and had to take a skin graft from the victim’s thigh.

‘My application is for a destruction order for the dog. It was an unprovoked incident and the impact on the victim was significant,’ he said.

Swarbrick-Burns, who is 63, and lives at Montreaux Court, Douglas, admitted being the animal’s keeper at the time of the injury.

Defending Swarbrick-Burns, Peter Russell said his client was no longer in possession of the dog.

‘It is a loving family dog. It had gone out with a friend who has now returned to Tasmania. It is a friendly dog and for reasons that cannot be properly ascertained it bit the lady, possibly because it was startled. That’s not a criticism and I am not suggesting the lady did anything wrong.

‘The injury was significant but it was a family dog and a one-off incident. We should not jump immediately to a destruction order on the basis of a one-off. Perhaps a control order would be appropriate.

‘Should you immediately conclude from a one-off incident that we are dealing with a dangerous dog?’

Mr Russell pointed out the incident dated back to August 9 last year and the summons was only issued on the very last possible day before it was time expired.

‘If the dog were dangerous, why wait so long? If the public needed to be protected, why wait so long?

‘A destruction order seems both unreasonable and disproportionate in the circumstances,’ he said.

Pressed for details about the dog’s whereabouts, Mr Russell said his client could provide a first name and a telephone number but was unable to supply any more information.

Asked to confirm his client had no more precise details of the breeder who supplied the dog and had since taken it back, Mr Russell said: ‘Those are my instructions.’

After a lengthy retirement to deliberate on the fate of Bessie Boy, magistrates’ chairman John Hellowell agreed to a reprieve.

‘I have heard everything that has been said and we are making an order that the dog be kept under proper control.

‘This was a serious injury but it would appear it was out of character therefore we are not making an order for it to be destroyed. We find it very difficult to believe you don’t know the whereabouts of the dog.’

The defendant is to pay £500 compensation to the victim, and £50 costs.

‘We hear you are selling personal items for money but we see no reason why you can’t sell some of those items to compensate a person badly bitten by your dog,’ Mr Hellowell told her.