A new business making wine out of locally grown produce such as elderflower and honey is being established in Port Erin.

Permission has been granted, with planners commenting that it will ‘provide an additional feature of interest’.

The venture also has the backing of the local authority, which welcomed a new business and the increased footfall it promises to bring to the village.

The couple behind the venture – called Foraging Vintners – are taking delivery of equipment to set up the distillery in a property which was, some time ago, a coal yard and latterly was used as a wooden toy workshop, near the Raglan Pier, later this month.

Marybeth Coll, who will run the company with her partner, Ian Swindells, said: ‘We are creating a winery using produce available locally rather than grapes – they would not grow in this little island.

‘We will use elder flower, honey and berries to make wine and sparkling wine.

‘It will be similar to craft beer. We will be able to produce small amounts – enough to supply the island – and maybe expand.’

The process of sourcing produce will require co-operation from local residents and many have already expressed support for the business.

And the Foraging Vintners are open to ideas and suggestions about what – and where – to forage.

‘It will be a call to arms,’ she said. ‘We want to work with property owners, foster relationships with people.

‘We’ve had comments from people saying: “You should go and talk to my nan about that”. People are offering all sorts of things.’

Following the advice of friends who run wineries in Italy and Slovenia, to get the highest quality product they want it to be organic and – if possible – grown to bio-dynamic principles, which adheres to strict guidelines including harvesting according to the moon’s phases.

At the Port Erin base they will cover the whole wine production process – from maceration of the raw material to the labelling of bottles – and there they will also sell and distribute wine and hold wine tasting sessions. She said it could lead to employment opportunities.

Marybeth is a commercial lawyer and is from the USA, while Ian, who is Australian, works on oil rigs. The venture is a way of bringing them together by running a business in the island, where they have lived for five years.

‘We just love it here,’ she said. ‘We want to spend more time together.’

All being well, the first bottles of Foraging Vintners wine will be in rolling out of their boutique, harbour-side distillery by Mothers’ Day next year.

A newly-formed political party will hold its first annual general meeting tonight (Thursday).

The Isle of Man Green Party will hold the meeting tonight at 7pm at 18 Albert Street, Douglas.

The agenda will include the acceptance of any nominations for candidates who would like to stand in next month’s general election, the determination of the party name, the acceptance of the constitution of the party, the election of leader, secretary and treasurer, and whether there should be a membership fee. All members of the public are invited to the AGM.

For more information email greenpartyiom@hotmail.com or phone Andrew Newton on 427925.

Anyone interested can also visit www.greenpartyiom.moonfruit.com for further details.

Young swimmers in Peel took part in the launch of the British Isles-wide Swim Safe campaign yesterday (Wednesday) at Fenella Beach.

And the campaign has been praised by one Peel mother who has revealedhow it helped her son when he got into trouble .

Swim Safe, which is delivered in partnership between the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) and RNLI, aims to teach children how to stay safe in or near open water.

Since it began in Cornwall in 2013 it has taught 12,000 across the British Isles.

Donna Crowe from Peel said that her son William took part in last year’s Swim Safe event and the experience has proved invaluable.

He got into difficulty while swimming at Fenella beach six weeks ago. He was hit by a wave and forced underwater but managed to make it back to the beach. Donna said: ‘He doesn’t know exactly how he managed to get back to the beach after being forced underwater, but he said he remembered the advice given in Swim Safe lessons last year, “Stay calm and don’t panic if you get into trouble at sea”. This really helped him.

‘William has had swimming lessons in the pool but what happened to him shows the sea brings its own risks.

‘I am really glad William did Swim Safe and I think it’s great that hundreds more children will be learning how to keep safe in the sea this week.’

The Swim Safe sessions include a land-based safety lesson with RNLI lifeguards and in-water tuition with ASA qualified swimming teachers.

Wetsuits and hats are provided, and there is a free goody bag containing a T-shirt for every child.

Krystina Wheeldon, Swim Safe co-ordinator for the programme in Peel, said: ‘There are all sorts of environmental factors to consider when you’re swimming outdoors, and it’s important children know how to call for help if they get into trouble.’

The sessions continue today and tomorrow, from 10.30am to 6pm at Fenella Beach.

For more on the sessions contact Mal Kelly at Peel RNLI on 842731 or 490251.

Manx supermarket chain Shoprite has apologised to customers after pre-packaged portions of meat appeared on its shelves wrongly labelled as Manx produce.

The matter was raised with the shop after the Manx NFU received complaints about misleading or incorrect information on packaging.

Some portions of non-Manx meat were sold from fridge shelves labelled ‘Ballacushag Farm’ – the brand adopted by Shoprite for Manx products. Others were marked ‘produce of EEC’ but also bore a Ballacushag Farm label, and some packages of minced steak were labelled as Manx despite being imported.

The mistake caused a wave of criticism from people posting on the Manx NFU Facebook page, with contributers describing the news as ‘shocking’ and ‘disappointing’, and one accusing Shoprite of failing to take responsibility for its mistakes.

Shoprite blamed the confusion on a shortage of local meat which forced it to source products elsewhere. When the meat was packaged, it said operators forgot to amend details on the labelling machine.

A statement from the chain said: ‘As a business that prides itself on both its commitment to Manx produce and its integrity in dealing with its suppliers and customers, we were disappointed when we became aware of a handful of labelling issues within our meat area, due mainly to a failure of the local supply for red meat. We want to apologise to customers and to reassure them that we have worked openly and transparently with environmental health to understand, explain and remedy this situation.’

It said orders were placed for local meat but this was not met so last-minute supplies had to sourced off-island, this in turn, necessitated quick changes to the packaging and labelling systems.

A Shoprite spokesman added: ‘The future viability of the abattoir, the increasing volume of live exports and the frequent changes in senior management at Isle of Man Meats, all pose risks to the long-term future of the Manx meat industry.’

The complaint was investigated by the government’s Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, which said it was reassured the complaints had been given priority. Referring to comments about Isle of Man Meats, the DEFA’s statement added: ‘We are confident this situation will be quickly resolved, particularly as there is new management at Isle of Man Meats after a transitional period.

‘DEFA will continue to work with Shoprite and Isle of Man Meats to ensure any supply chain issues can be addressed. While it may not welcome import of foreign meat, DEFA acknowledges it helps balance supply and demand and, where properly labelled, gives consumers choice.’

Manx couple Rebecca and Alan Gelling knew they were taking on a challenge when they took over the running of Kella Distillers .

Rebecca, 28, is a beauty therapist by trade while her 39-year-old husband is an engineer.

They also have three young children - Magnus, three, Thorryn, who is nearly two and Freya, three months.

But the enterprising couple are delighted to have pioneered an ‘ultra premium’ Manx vodka called Bifrost since taking over the helm of Sulby based distillery.

Bifrost has been made at the distillery since autumn 2015, and required a new type of still to be designed and built by Alan. And in the space of just a few months the new drink has already gone down a storm in the food and drink world and has helped the distillery scoop three awards.

Rebecca and Alan seemed remarkably unfazed about their success when Business News paid them a visit.

Rebecca said: ‘We’re learning on the job and I have to say it is great fun.

‘Life is for living and that’s what we are doing.’

They took over the business from Rebecca’s father Andrew Dixon who said: ‘Since passing the baton over to my daughter last year, I have been amazed at what she and Alan, have produced; the future of distilling in the island is in safe hands.’

The vodka, with an alcohol strength of 42.2 per cent, was inspired by the couple’s love of Norse heritage.

On their website for the new drink they point out thatBifrost is ‘the burning rainbow bridge that reaches between Midgard (the land of humans) and Asgard (the realm of the gods).’

Rebecca and Alan say one of the distinctive aspects of their ‘hand-crafted’ drink is that it has been distilled with French grapes that have been used to create cognac.

Rebecca and Alan say Bifrost builds on the distillery’s heritage of redistilling matured spirits into clear, flavourful drinks.

The distillery’s also well known for producing the popular brand ManX Spirit.

The family are celebrating after impressing judges in a hat-trick of competitions:

lKella won a bronze medal for Bifrost, in the 2016 International Wine and Spirit Competition. The productwas tasted blind by expert panels, selected from more than 300 fully experienced and qualified industry judges. Products which receive the top medals are then subject to technical analysis before results are released.

l They also scooped a bronze medal at the International Spirits Challenge earlier in the summer.

l And the most recent accolade came after Kella Distillers joined an array of other Manx food and drink producers in winning Great Taste Awards - the ‘Oscars’ of the food industry. As reported by IoM Newspapers, the Guild of Fine Food, which runs the awards, announced that 26 Isle of Man products have won awards, including Kella Distillers.

Rebecca told Business News: ‘We must be doing something right.’

Bifrost was first launched, she said, at last year’s Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival at the Villa Marina, Douglas.

Rebecca said it was ‘fantastic’ that so many Manx food and drink producers had been recognised in the Great Taste Awards.

She said: ‘It’s lovely, there seems to be a real shift towards real quality products in the island and that’s very much what we are about.

‘We’d much rather produce a smaller amount of a really good product than flood the market with something that’s not that special really.’

Great care has gone into the product right down to the labelling, done manually and with great care. The couple say the drink is ‘remarkably versatile’ and can be drunk straight from the fridge or as part of a cocktail. Other family members have also been hands on in helping the entrepreneurial couple get the word out about Bifrost. These obviously include Rebecca’s father Andrew Dixon.

Rebecca said the trend in the British Isles was showing a move to premium spirits.

‘It’s available only in the island at present but there are talks going on that could see Bifrost being sold in the UK at a later date.

Among the suppliers are the Steam Packet and Rebecca and Alan said they had received inquiries from visitors from all over the world.

Rebecca and Alan say that because they enjoy the workso much and are ‘learning on the job, it is not a hardship to come up here and work quite long hours becase we enjoy it so much.’

The couple praised the island’s government and in particular they singled out Andrew Lees , food business development manager with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

‘He is passionate about the Manx food and drink industry and we are proud to be part of that. It is all very exciting.’ said Rebecca.

Work has begun to build a £2.2 million accommodation block for health and social care workers on the Noble’s Hospital estate in Strang.

Minister for Health and Social Care, Howard Quayle, was joined by trustees of the Henry Bloom Noble Healthcare Trust to cut the first sod, marking the start of building works.

The development of three six terraced town houses will accommodate up to 48 residents and will replace two houses and the nurses’ home in Westmoreland Road, Douglas, which are to be put on the market, with a combined value of £1.8 million.

The offer of modern accommodation, rented on a temporary basis, is designed to help the Isle of Man compete with other jurisdictions when recruiting health and social care workers.

The government says that competition for experienced clinicians and care professionals is intense across the developed world and the housing development will enhance the island’s ability to attract key workers such as nurses and medics.

The availability of accommodation supports new employees relocating to the island, enabling them to take up their posts without delay, offering support and flexibility while new starters establish themselves in the island. Accommodation is also required for junior doctors, interview candidates and students.

Mr Quayle, who is standing for re-election for Middle in next month’s general election, said: ‘Following approval by Tynwald in July to build a new accommodation block, it has been a case of straight to work for the department in progressing this important project. Our current accommodation at the nurses’ home in Douglas is not up to the required standard.

‘We have to “up our game” if we are to attract vitally needed health and social care professionals and reduce our reliance on temporary staff. I am confident that this new accommodation will help us to do exactly that.’

The facility will be named the Henry Bloom Noble Healthcare Trust Residence, in recognition of the trust’s decision to give the site on which the current nurses’ home stands to the department, allowing it to be sold and money recouped to help fund the new development.

The government says that refurbishment of the existing nurses’ home was not technically feasible or financially viable.

The development will mean all of the department’s staff accommodation will be located on the same site and close to Noble’s Hospital.

Work is expected to end by September 2017.

Celebrate Manx farming and agriculture at this year’s Royal Manx Agricultural Show.

The two-day event, held at Knockaloe Farm in Patrick tomorrow and on Saturday (August 12 and 13), will feature a whole host of activities for the family to enjoy including marquees filled with stalls with arts and crafts, farm produce and fur and feather, the chance to view the island’s premier livestock and the opportunity to sample local and drink.

There will also be entertainment from Triskelion Pony Club, Ridgeside Falconry, Spike Milton’s British Champion Lumberjack Team, the Glebeview Clydesdales from Northern Ireland and plenty more.

At this year’s show there will be an added focus on the countryside since the Isle of Man was awarded UNESCO Biosphere status in March. Visitors will be able to learn more about the island’s UNESCO status at the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture’s tent.

Guests will also have the opportunity to try locally produced food and drink at the Manx Food Court where 17 different exhibitors will showcase their produce.

Christine Pain, organiser of the show, said: ‘The Royal Manx Agricultural Show president, Allan Craine, will be heading the team of volunteers to produce a wonderful two-day show which will, as usual, include the pick of the island’s premier livestock, show jumping and other light horse classes, heavyhorses and numerous dog shows ‘This year the light horse classes will also include a new ROR (Retraining of Racehorses) class.

‘The marquees will be bursting with arts and crafts, cookery, flowers, farm produce, countryside skills, fur and feather and floral arts. The ladies from the WI will be there to keep us on out toes, too. The vintage tractors and machinery always provide a stirring sight – and a glimpse back to childhood for many of us – and there will also be a gathering of classic cars and motorcycles to admire.’

Visitors to the show can bring their dogs as long as they are well-behaved and kept on a short lead.

The show is open from 9am to 5pm. Admission is £6 for adults and £1 for children (four to 14) on Friday and £8 for adults and £1 for children on Saturday. For more information go to www.royalmanx.com

A teenager from Sulby has pleaded guilty to nine driving-related charges after being involved in a police chase.

Thomas Daniel Richards, of Ballabrooie, admitted the string of offences and will be sentenced on September 1.

The court heard how, on July 26 at 3.20am, police saw a Volkswagen Polo stopped at the drive-through window at McDonald’s fast food restaurant on Peel Road.

They pulled in front of the polo and identified Richards as the driver as they wanted to speak to him.

Richards, who is 17, reversed the car away from the police car, then accelerated forward, mounting the kerb of the drive-through and exiting towards the Quarterbridge.

Police followed with sirens on and blue lights flashing but were unable to catch Richards.

He drove across the roundabout at the Quarterbridge onto the wrong side of the road heading towards Peel.

Officers said that they were driving at 70mph in a 40 zone but were still not gaining on the teenager.

At the Oak Tree roundabout at Braddan, Richards turned up towards the school, again on the wrong side of the road, still not stopping despite police sirens.

Richards continued on, going straight over roundabouts at Ballafletcher Road and the Strang. In the Mount Rule area police lost sight of the Polo.

Enquiries regarding the owner of the car led police to Richards’ stepfather, who said he had given no permission for the teenager to take the car.

Richards was arrested and handed in a prepared statement admitting taking the vehicle without consent and driving without a licence, but denying dangerous driving, saying that he was a careful driver.

However, Richards pleaded guilty in court to five offences of taking a vehicle without consent, driving dangerously, having no vehicle licence, having no insurance and failing to stop when required by police.

The court also heard that Richards had pleaded guilty on a previous court appearance to four other offences, of having no vehicle licence, having no insurance, having no driving licence and failing to notify a change of ownership.

Those offences were said to have related to an incident on June 21 at Queen’s Pier Road in Ramsey.

Chair of the magistrates Caroline Convery said that the magistrates were satisfied that their powers for sentencing, of a maximum of 12 months’ custody, were sufficient.

The case was adjourned pending the preparation of a probation report.

Bail was granted with conditions that Richards reside at his mother’s address, observe a curfew between 10pm and 6am, not drive, attend probation meetings, and not leave the island.

A badminton tournament is to pit businesses against each other.

The Badminton Association Business Badminton Tournament, sponsored by EY, takes place at the National Sports Centre on Saturday, September 17, from noon to 6pm.

Entering a team costs £50 and the winning team will receive a prize.

Teams must comprise a minimum of two men and two women, but can be bigger.

Entries are open until September 7.

The format of the tournament will depend on the number of teams participating. It will either be played on a round robin basis or in two groups.

It’s the third year the tournament has been held.

Joshua Green, part-time badminton development officer with Manx Sports and Recreation, said: ‘The tournament will build on the success of last year’s event, won by a team from Old Mutual International.

‘It ties in with the Strategy for Sport 2014-2024, which aims to encourage more people to take part in sport.

‘For businesses, it also provides a great team-building opportunity and plenty of fun.’

Joshua said those bitten by the badminton bug as a result of the tournament could continue to play at No Strings sessions held at the NSC on Tuesday evenings.

To enter the tournament or get more information, email Joshua.Green@gov.im or ring 01624 651572.

Mark and Kathy Irwin’s worldwide reputation for growing mushrooms helped spark their decision to stop production at their Manx business.

With the ever increasing demand for their consultancy service overseas the couple say it has become increasingly difficult to balance the needs of both Greeba Farm here in the island and their other interests and clients further afield.

The successful Manx business produces 8,000 pounds of mushrooms a week.

But Greeba Farm Ltd will close in September. Mr and Mrs Irwin, who have been trading for the past 10 years, will put the farm on the market as a going concern.

A total of 10 jobs will be lost, three of which are full-time posts.

The couple say they have reached the decision because of the increasing demand for their mushroom-growing consultancy service overseas.

They said in a statement: ‘This has been an extremely difficult decision given the success we have enjoyed, but the move will enable us to refocus our business and time.

‘At this stage, our loyal staff and customers are our main concern and we have, of course, been talking to them about our plans.’

A year ago Mr Irwin, 57 , and his 48-year-old wife were interviewed by Business News and it was clear then that the couple had put their heart and soul into making the operation a success.

The couple were also very much ‘hands on’ and stressed the importance of mushrooms as a food.

The book shelves in the office were crammed with publications such as ‘The Ultimate Mushroom Book’ and ‘The Biology and Technology of the Cultivated Mushroom’

Mr Irwin originally started as an agriculturalist studying at The Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, Gloucestershire, then specialising learning from and working with leading Dutch mushroom growers.

But even Mark, admitted he still learned something new from this most ‘fascinating’ of industries.

At the time the Irwins spoke warmly of how Mark had helped mentor and give vital advice to Anne Gragnic of Brittany in France.

She had got in touch after reading an article about the Irwins in a glossy specialist magazine.

She was trying to set up her own mushroom farm and close business links have since been forged with return visits to Brittany.

On revealing last week’s shock news for the Manx food and drink industry, the Irwins said : ‘Although Greeba Farm’s mushrooms have been grown solely for the local market ensuring their freshness and quality, the farm’s success and Mark’s reputation have without doubt put the Isle of Man on the map within the global mushroom arena with both producers and scientists.

‘We have been working closely with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) and Manx industrial relations and are liaising with the Department of Economic Development (DED). We also hope to be able to talk to local job agencies and companies to provide as much help, information and support as we can for our staff.

‘Obviously we’ve always wanted the farm to continue and be developed further but we will be considering all options and interested parties.’

Greeba Farm’s success was publicly acknowledged last year when, on the couple’s 10th anniversary of owning the business, it was awarded the Best Medium Sized Enterprise of the Year Award in the Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence.

The Irwins added: ‘It has been an amazing experience and we are very proud of what has been achieved.

‘We would like to acknowledge and thank all our staff, customers, suppliers and the many people who have supported us over the last 10 plus years.’

Ralph Peake MHK, acting Minister of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ‘This is a well-established and award winning local business which has demonstrated that high quality local products can compete, especially when they are high value, short shelf life.

‘It has proved an important part of our flourishing food and drink sector.

‘As the business has been built up with such expertise, this is an opportunity for a new owner to step forward to continue the success of this respected product.

‘DEFA will work with the Irwins to promote the business as a going concern. It is timely that the new food business grant scheme, approved by Tynwald in July, may allow a new owner to be supported to take on and grow the business.’

Chrystals Commercial Director, Neil Taggart, said: ‘The farm has clearly benefited from considerable investment and is an attractive proposition to be marketing.’

During last year’s interview with Business NewsMark and Kathy said they were pleased that their influence and knowledge was spreading far and wide.

The Irwins also challenged culinary thinking by successfully experimenting, in association with Davisons of Peel, creating a mushroom ice cream. But for many island folk these truly Manx grown and award winning mushrooms are a real winner as part of a breakfast feast, or in omelettes and indeed all sorts of other tasty treats.

Undoubtedly all eyes will be looking to see what happens to the farm in the future.

A sponsored swim held at the Western Swimming Pool, Peel, has raised just over £910 for support for people with the bone marrow cancer myeloma.

About 5,500 people are diagnosed with myeloma every year in the UK and the charity Myeloma UK helps them and is paying for research into the condition.

It is the second most common form of bone marrow cancer.

There are patients on the island with this cancer and the youngest is 24 years old.

For personal reasons organiser Mary Doyle, who works for the hospice, started Mary’s Mighty Myeloma Challenge in January.

This involved a number of challenges including the TT Swim Challenge at the pool with her husband, Steve and nephew Finn.

This meant swimming 2,416 lengths over an 11-week period.

A good friend, Maeve O’Broin, then walked them Parish Walk to Rushen to raise additional funds for the charity.

The final challenge was the sponsored swim which saw Mary teaching aquafit and lots of people getting involved in either baking or swimming.

Mary thanked everyone for all their support with these challenges adding she wanted to make a small difference to patients with a cancer that currently does not have a cure and hopes one day ‘myeloma will be history’.

She added: ‘I am so touched by all the efforts everyone made to get involved in what was a lovely event – thank you so much.’

She added her appreciation to Kath Andrews and the team at the Western Swimming Pool in Peel.

Should anyone still wish to donate te Just Giving page is still open.

Click here

The replacement bridge in Laxey is on track to be completed by the end of September.

The Department of Infrastructure (DoI) insists the construction of the new bridge is on schedule and is in line with the planned timetable for the scheme.

Work is currently taking place to connect the utilities, to surface the bridge deck and to prepare for the installation of the railings, lighting, street furniture and adornments.

The cost of the completed scheme will be £550,000.

Unlike during TT, the bridge will not be open temporarily for the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling which takes place from August 20 to September 2.

A statement issued by the DoI said: ‘The bridge will not be open on a temporary basis during the Festival of Motorcycling as it was during the TT, as this would involve further significant costs and delay the completion of the overall scheme.’

Work on the new structure began in May after the old bridge was irreparably damaged in December when flash flooding caused part of the structure to collapse – plunging a double decker bus into the river below.

Demolition contractors JCK were mobilised for the delicate operation of removing the Bus Vannin double decker and demolishing the remainder of the bridge.

A temporary pedestrian footbridge was erected while plans were drawn up for a permanent replacement.

The DoI sought the views of villagers, local politicians and heritage bodies over four possible options for the replacement bridge.

While many people wanted the option of a new arched bridge, the department’s engineers opted for a flat bridge which will reduce the likelihood of any future flood damage by allowing the river to flow unimpeded out to sea.

A department spokesman said: ‘Once completed, the replacement bridge will be better equipped to survive the sort of flooding that devastated homes and businesses in Laxey at the end of 2015.

‘The Department of Infrastructure wishes to thank people for their patience and understanding while the work takes place.’

Latest audience figures for the island’s radio stations show a marked drop in the most recent quarter for Manx Radio.

The figures come against a backdrop of falling audiences, not just for broadcast media but print media too, as the public have ever more varied means at their fingertips to access news, sport and music digitally.

Statistics from Rajar, the Radio Joint Audience Research body, showed Manx Radio had a reach of 58 per cent in the first three months of 2016, but in the second quarter ending in June this fell to 48 per cent. The ‘reach’ is the percentage of the population aged over 15 that tunes in for five or more minutes each week.

Figures for the same two quarters, ending in June 2016, show a 1 per cent increase for rivals 3FM.

The spring figures may seem surprising for Manx Radio, which receives a £875,000 subvention from the island’s government, as they cover the busy TT period when tens of thousands of visitors flock to the island, many tuning in to the live race commentary, as well as interviews, post race coverage and information on racing and road closures.

However, station director Anthony Pugh pointed out Manx Radio still had the biggest market share in the island and was usually in the top five across the British Isles.

He said: ‘It fluctuates every quarter and we don’t report on that or any other competitors’ figures. The total amount of listening to Manx Radio remains extremely high and the station still reaches eight out of 10 people in the Isle of Man every quarter.

‘In the 13 years that Manx Radio has been part of Rajar we have rarely been out of the top five in the British Isles and these figures will be there or there abouts out of around 350 radio stations. We are certainly the highest of any in the Isle of Man.’

He said they were more concerned with longer term trends rather than a quarterly variation. On the topic of TT coverage, he said much of this information was available digitally, and AM figures did not feature in Rajar statistics.

‘People don’t just listen via radio, but via the internet. For example on Senior Race Day we had over 60,000 people who made unique connections to our digital output, which includes anything like online phone apps and smart televisions. On the same day there were between 800,000 and 900,000 successful connections to our feeds, so I don’t think that would indicate that listening is down.’

Mr Pugh said in the same period BBC Radio 4 figures showed an increase in listeners in the island, perhaps following the ‘Brexit’ debate. In the course of a quarter, he said, Manx Radio still reached eight out of ten people.

Energy FM is not covered by Rajar.

The devil is in the detail – that’s the reason behind a one-year delay before new TT promoter Vision Nine takes over the event.

Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly, said the TT plans were not in jeopardy, but the postponement until 2018 would give all parties more time to thrash out the finer details of the contract.

‘This received outstanding support in Tynwald and we are now working with Vision Nine on the detailed points. There really is nothing to hide,’ he said.

The multi-faceted nature of the TT means many different bodies are involved in its organisation, so the challenge is to establish the precise remit of each. For example, Vision Nine will take principal responsibility for promoting and publicising the event.

But alongside that, the government’s own Motorsports Strategy Group, which includes members of the ACU that organise the races, will deal with organisational and operational matters. He pointed out there was also an impact on other bodies such as the government’s Department of Infrastructure, for road maintenance, Department of Health and Social Care, Treasury and roads policing. For example, if the targeted extra visitors arrive, there will be additional cost implications to factor in for those departments.

‘The challenge now is to decide exactly how each body’s responsibilities are to be divided up,’ he said.

Commenting on the delay, he said: ‘We had to ensure that the integrity ofthe 2017 event was not in jeopardy. As far as finalising the contract is concerned, that is relatively close. It could be a couple of months away at the most, provided we don’t hit any further complications. It certainly won’t end up being at the last minute before TT 2018. Our expectation is that it will be some time next month.’

He added Vision Nine were agreeable to the delay and there was no likelihood of running a further procurement process to appoint a different promoter.

‘The simple answer is that we have to get this right to preserve the integrity of the event,’ he said.

Juan Turner MLC voted against the Tynwald motion to appoint Vision Nine as TT promoters and has since said that, when Tynwald returns, the government should refer the matter to the Tynwald standing committee on Economic Policy Review.

Mr Turner raised concerns over how the contract was awarded to Vision Nine.

He criticised the short time scale of the tender process and questioned projected visitor numbers targeted by Vision Nine.

In March, the government announced it would appoint the London-based company as the new promoter for the TT and Classic TT events, with a start date planned for 2017.

The company was to invest £2.5 million into the events after it took over from the government’s five-man team.

Describing the project as a long-term investment, Vision Nine’s Julian Topham said their income would be from sponsorship and broadcasting deals.

Three members of the original DED TT promotions team were to be given the option to work with Vision Nine, while the remaining two were to continue working for the government department.

After the announcement was made, an online petition was started in March, calling on the government to reverse the decision to allow an external promoter to run the TT races. It now has more than 1,300 signatures.

Rod Lingard is the new chairman of Thomas Miller (Isle of Man) Limited.

He takes over in the role from Ian Jarrett who after almost 50 years with Thomas Miller will be retiring this month.

Thomas Miller is a leading international provider of insurance, professional and investment services.

Mr Lingard is a master mariner with degrees in Nautical Studies and Law and holds an MBA.

He has been a part of the Thomas Miller group for 25 years.

He has held a number of roles within the firm in this time and in 2014 was promoted to joint managing director of Thomas Miller War Risk Services Limited and club manager of the Hellenic Mutual War Risks Association (Bermuda) Limited.

Earlier this year, Mr Lingard relocated to Thomas Miller’s Isle of Man office at Samuel Harris House, St George’s Street, Douglas, where he maintains his war risks responsibilities, along with also taking over as chairman of Thomas Miller (Isle of Man) Limited.

Mr Lingard said: ‘It is a privilege to become chairman of Thomas Miller (Isle of Man).

‘There is a strong team in place with ambitious plans and I look forward to working closely with them to ensure we meet our goals and deliver on our strategy for growth.’

Ian Jarrett said: ‘It has been a pleasure working with Thomas Miller for most of my career and in particular working in the Isle of Man which has become my home.

‘While there have been challenging times I am delighted that the business is in very capable hands and will continue to thrive.’

Firstly an apology for getting my dates completely wrong last week. I incorrectly stated that The Cush were due to appear at Noa Bakehouse last Saturday night.

To recap, The Cush, a band based in Fort Worth, Texas , will visit the island this weekend as part of their European tour with an appearance at Noa Bakehouse in Douglas on Saturday night.

Influence wise they’re described as Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine and Wilco.

The band, having supported the likes of Cat Power, Broken Social Scene, Deerhoof, The Fiery Furnaces and Dead Meadow have pulled in support for this Arts Council-sponsored show from Manx electric, psychedelic drone pop boys, Baad Acid.

DJs John Lynch of The Telescopes and Ballagroove Records very own Gypo Buggane will also be taking to the decks throughout the evening.

The event encourages extravagant dress. Tickets, £12, can be purchased from Noa Bakehouse or from Smokey Joe’s Cafe in Port St Mary.

This Saturday night sees Ignite The Sky heading to Amber in Douglas.

The band who count by Daniel Cross and Richard Kinrade on vocals, Luke Williams and Adam Elston-Lane on guitars, Leo Craig on bass and Aaron West on drums in their line-up, have been around since 2010. Influence wise you’ll hear the likes of Architects, Asking Alexandria, A Day To Remember, Bring Me The Horizon and Slipknot.

The band also has a three track EP which is available as a download for free from https://ignitethesky.bandcamp.com/album/rain

Support for this free show comes from pop punk boys Honest Eyes. Doors open at 8pm with Honest Eyes kicking things off around 9pm.

Fresh news now from the offices of Small Bear Records.

The latest release is ‘World Outside My Window’, the debut album from Maldune bassist Steve Nash.

A solo album was first mooted quite a few years ago and many discussions with Phil at Small Bear Records occurred in various bars and at various gigs.

Fellow Small Bear Records label mate Clara Barker also lent her vocals on a couple of the tracks.

Steve said: ‘World Outside My Window is mellow, chilled out and relaxed. It’s written about life, experiences, mistakes and good times.’

The album is available on CD or as a name-your-price download from https://stevenashsmallbear.bandcamp.com/album/world-outside-my-window.

To finish, some news regarding indie boys Red Shift. The band will be playing at The Station, Port St Mary, this Saturday night.

One of the most promising bands to come up through the ranks of Soundcheck, Red Shift comprises of singer/guitarist Adam Kelly, guitarist Juan Shimmin, bassist Jack Smith and drummer Sam Callin.

The band plays a range of covers spanning classic 60s sounds of Chuck Berry and The Kinks all the way through to more contemporary offerings from the Artic Monkeys, Catfish and the Bottlemen and The Wombats, as well as some of their own original pieces.

The band will follow up this show with appearances in Douglas at Sam Webbs on August 19 and The Railway on September 10.

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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

The number of people out of work in the Isle of Man has dropped again.

Figures released by the Manx government show that in July there were 620 people on the register.

That’s down 16 from June and a drop of 170 from July 2015.

There were 405 unemployed men and 215 women.

The figure is the lowest since October 2008, a month after the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the banking crisis sparked the global financial turmoil.

Twenty years ago, in July 1996, there were 1,260 on the register.

There were 812 job vacancies notified to the Job Centre during July this year and, at the end of the month, there were still 524 jobs waiting to be filled.

The unemployment register does not just include those getting benefits. It includes claimants who are signing on just for credits. There were 27 of those.

But people under 18 who are registered with the DED but not claiming benefit are not included. There were 34 of those.

The unemployment rate is 1.4 per cent in the Isle of Man.

That compares with 4.9 per cent in the UK (the March to May official statistic), 4.5 per cent in Germany, 7.8 per cent in the Republic of Ireland and 24.1 per cent in Greece.

Some on social media have suggested that the Isle of Man’s figure is lower because a number of people have left the island.

Finding hard evidence to back that assertion is difficult, although an interim census was carried out in the spring and the island awaits its outcome.

In the health and medical sector, there were 47 vacancies but only 15 people with medical qualifications out of work.

In contrast, in the construction sector there were 13 vacancies but 56 people with a background in the industry looking for work.

New eco-friendly homes in the south of the island are also good for the wallet, the government says.

Families living in the first public sector homes in the Isle of Man to achieve the internationally recognised Passivhaus standard are using up to 58 per cent less energy than the average UK household.

A study has shown lower levels of electricity and gas consumption in the two eco houses, which were constructed during the final phase of the Janet’s Corner development in Castletown.

Results for the first 12 months of occupancy of the three-bedroom homes at Thie Grian revealed annual energy consumption of 9,070 kilowatt hours (property 1) and 7,589 kilowatt hours (property 2). Average annual energy consumption in the UK is 18,378kWh, according to data published by the UK Government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change.

The figures for the properties in Castletown were also well inside the target (10,329kWh) required to meet the certified Passivhaus standard.

The low-energy homes, winners of two of the main categories in the 2015 Energy Awards, were built as part of wider efforts by the Department of Infrastructure’s housing division to encourage more sustainable construction methods in the Isle of Man.

The Passivhaus standard, which was introduced in Germany in the 1990s, helps to substantially reduce energy costs and to improve indoor air quality.

This is achieved in part by high levels of thermal insulation, including triple-glazed windows, the use of whole house ventilation and heat recovery, and careful detailing and construction to maximise the airtightness of the building.

These ‘passive’ construction methods are used rather than more sophisticated technology such as solar panels, wind generators or ground source heat pumps.

Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK said: ‘The department has been monitoring the performance of the two homes and the initial results are very impressive.

‘I am passionate about protecting the environment and this clearly points the way towards a more sustainable approach to providing affordable housing in the Isle of Man.’

The memory of one of the island’s most famous residents Sir Norman Wisdom continues to live on at the bar named after him.

The Sefton Hotel’s Sir Norman’s bar recently came under the directionof Harbour Lights.

This was 18 months after its popular Harbour Lights at the Sefton restaurant was launched at the Douglas seafront hotel.

Now a new ‘food proposition’ is being celebrated at the venue.

As well as having benefited from refurbishment including new furniture, Sir Norman’s customers can now enjoy dining from a new menu based on a ‘gastropub’ concept.

To borrow the name of one his many popular films, it is clear the late Sir Norman is still the ‘Man of the Moment’ at this place.

Sir Norman, the legendary entertainer, actor and national treasure made the island his home for many years.

People of all ages loved Norman, known to millions for his comic film character Pitkin, who died in October 2010 aged 95. He was especially loved in the island.

And fans and visitors flock to the bench outside the bar to have their picture taken with ‘Sir Norman’ in the shape of a lifelike statue.

The furniture in Sir Norman’s Bar includes new comfortable lounge seating, as well as a number of tall tables with bar stools, ideal for watching football - Sir Norman loved watching sport!

The bar now opens between 4pm and midnight during the week, and between midday and midnight at weekends, with food served daily until 10pm.

The bar and drinks proposition within Sir Norman’s remains under the direction of the Sefton Hotel.

Harbour Lights director, Ben Heath, said: ‘Sir Norman’s bar is renowned for being a little quirky, and is as popular with local residents as it is with visitors from off-island who are fascinated by the late Sir Norman Wisdom.

‘In creating our new menu we wanted to have some fun and be really creative to meet our customers’ expectations.

‘As well as many dishes being served in a ‘one bowl’ style, a number are also served on boards and platters. With Sir Norman’s being based inside a hotel, it’s essential we showcase the exceptional quality of Manx produce to our off-island guests as well as create a relaxing atmosphere for them to enjoy.

‘We are also catering for our local residents and pre-theatre customers who know they can enjoy being able to eat a three-course meal within an hour before the show if they choose to.’

Meanwhile the other restaurant, ‘Harbour Lights at the Sefton’ is said to offer a different dining experience including breakfast and brunch, cakes, afternoon teas, ‘gin tasting’ afternoon tea experiences, a daytime menu including gourmet sandwiches and a dinner menu. It is open from 10am to 10pm daily, and can cater for large groups in addition to more intimate parties.

Allen Jackson, general Manager of the Sefton Hotel, said: ‘Sir Norman’s is one of the most popular and talked-about venues in the island, so enhancing our customer experience in partnership with Harbour Lights is very exciting.

‘Already we have received a lot of excellent feedback on our refurbishment and new menu from both local residents and off-island guests, including a large number of bookings across Christmas and New Year, which demonstrates how well this change is being received.’

Villagers are frustrated that the coastal erosion at Kirk Michael has not been given higher priority in the government’s national strategy.

Some 40 residents attended a public meeting at St Michael’s Hall to discuss the DEFA’s long-awaited strategy report which was given Tynwald approval last month.

The document sets out how government should adapt to current and future flood and coastal erosion risks, in response to recent extreme weather events such as last December’s flash floods which devastated homes in Laxey and businesses at Hills Meadow in Douglas.

But the report ranks the Kirk Michael coastline as medium risk rather than high priority at present as the rate of erosion means that, with the exception of a small number of properties, the main village is unlikely to be affected within the next few decades.

Michael MHK Alfred Cannan, who called the public meeting, said that the general feeling was one of dissatisfaction at the report’s conclusions.

He has written to the DEFA’s chief executive Richard Lole to express the villagers’ concerns.

He wrote: ‘There was a clear sense of frustration and concern in respect of the importance that has been attacked to the ongoing erosion problems along the Kirk Michael coastline.

‘The strategy fails to consider properly the impact on Kirk Michael and fails to properly evaluate why remedial action in the short to medium term will be more cost effective than delaying matters for an unspecified time period.’

He added: ‘The erosion problem facing Kirk Michael is credible and serious. A stitch in time saves nine. We urge you to act now to give security and peace of mind to local residents.’

Mr Cannan said the feedback from the public meeting was that action now will prevent properties being devalued and will minimise broader cost impacts.

There has been little or no government investment in Kirk Michael and public money invested in Glen Wyllin fish farm will be wasted, it was noted.

Residents said that the rate of erosion was 1.5m a year, not the 1m a year frequently quoted.