Bewitching Butterflies is the title of the next Manx Wildlife Trust wild family fun event.

It takes place on Wednesday next week (August 17) in the gardens of Milntown, in Ramsey.

Go along for butterfly spotting during a guided walk around the gardens.

Observe caterpillars and butterflies and find out which flowers butterflies like best.

Bewitching Butterflies takes place from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Normal admission prices apply, plus a minimum donation of £1 to the MWT.

Parishioners representing the churches of the island’s northern plain gathered in Ballaugh Parish hall to bid farewell to the rector of Ballaugh, the Reverend Canon Cyril Rogers, on his retirement.

Captain of the Parish Edgar Cowin paid tribute to Mr Rogers’ active participation in rural life. St Mary’s Church choir directed by Dr Fenella Bazin sang an anthem followed by ‘Now the Boats are Outward Sailing’.

The Rogers family came to the island 19 years ago and their children, Jamie, Katie and Michael, attended local schools.

In his holiday time, Mr Rogers undertook his long-distance cycle rides, which included a 1,000-mile journey from John O’ Groats to Land’s End, as well as a ride across Ireland and a circuit of the Isle of Man, all to raise funds for good causes, including the restoration of Ballaugh church tower.

The farewell party – one of several – was organised by parishioner June Young, who arranged for the surprise appearance of the rector’s friend and cycling companion, Ian Wallace, from Luton.

When the Church of England began the re-organisation of the northern parishes in 2010, Mr Rogers accepted the challenge with good grace.

He then said: ‘I am determined to do this and to see healthy thriving congregations in each of my churches and those churches serving their local communities. I am looking forward to seeing some positive things happen.’

As the final stage of the reorganisation, he was given responsibility for St Stephen’s in Sulby – in addition to churches in Ballaugh, Jurby and Andreas.

As well as his ever-expanding duties as a clergyman, he served as chairman of Amnesty International Isle of Man group.

In his role as diocesan social responsibility advisor, he was able to offer confidential assistance to anyone anxious about their personal finances.

In recent years he was appointed to the senior post of northern rural dean.

Mr Rogers and his wife, Anne, will be returning to England where they will live in Basingstoke, to be closer to their grown up children, Jamie, Katie and Michael.

The vacancy caused by his retirement has yet to be advertised.

Adventurous Experiences has twice been a finalist for the award for Corporate Social Responsibility at Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence.

Owner Keirron Tastagh has told us why he entered his company and what he gained from it.

The award for Corporate Social Responsibility at the Awards for Excellence has traditionally been the preserve of the larger corporates with big budgets to spend on community and charity projects. In 2014, however, a much smaller company – Adventurous Experiences – entered and became a finalist. Last year, the company repeated the achievement.

Adventurous Experiences was set up to provide exactly what the name suggests – a range of activities to take you slightly out of your comfort zone and give you an experience you will never forget. These include sea kayaking, coasteering and gorge scrambling.

The company is also focussed on youth development with a number of programmes for youngsters of all ages and this was Keirron’s reason for entering the Awards for Excellence.

He said: ‘We wanted to highlight one of our long-term development programmes, our Youth Scholarship - Development and Leadership Programme, which we entirely funded and delivered ourselves.

‘The programme actually initiated in 2003, prior to the company being established in 2004, and it’s much more than a community project – it’s a real commitment to the Isle of Man.’

He added: ‘The recognition as a finalist in 2014 in this most sought after category – Corporate Social Responsibility – assisted us in partnering with Conister Bank for our current intake of students. We have recently returned from a three-week overseas expedition in Vancouver Island, sea kayaking and mountain walking, following 18 months of training with Adventurous Experiences. Conister really understood what the programme stood for, and what it was achieving.

‘We were a finalist again last year, a terrific accolade for the commitment by our team to coaching people, changing perspectives. The night makes you feel very special.

‘It’s recognition of how a small business can really make a positive long-term change to the island, embracing real risk management education.’

Keirron added that ‘entering the Awards is a risk itself in many ways’, but said: ‘The feeling of accomplishment the whole team get from the Awards is a greater benefit, far outweighing the butterflies you get on the evening itself!

‘I feel that it’s certainly worth while taking the time to enter the Awards. When you’re filling in the entry form, the very act of setting your actions down on paper help focus what you’re doing, and why you do it.’

What impressed the judges: ‘Proving that small companies can also make a positive impact on the community, Adventurous Experiences’ Youth Scholarship Development and Leadership Programme gives young students from the Isle of Man the opportunity to be part of a team embarking on a once in a lifetime shared experience.’

Why not make this the year YOU enter Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence?

There are 16 award categories, including Corporate Social Responsibility, for companies of all sizes, individuals, public sector teams and charitable and community organisations.

You will find full details of all the categories and entry forms to download at www.excellence-awards.im

Mark Cavendish begins his third Olympic campaign in Rio today, Sunday.

In his third Olympics, Cav will commence cycling’s version of the heptathlon with a 15km scratch race at 8.40pm (BST).

The elimination race takes place immediately afterwards from 9.42pm, with the 4km individual pursuit following almost directly after that.

On Monday, he will complete the final three races of the omnium with the 1km time trial from 2.20pm (BST), the 200-metre flying lap at 8pm and the 40km points race at 9.20pm.

Jessica Draskau-Petersson, who has dual Manx and Danish nationality, is to represent Denmark, her country of birth, in the women’s Olympic Games marathon later today.

The 38-year-old former QEII High School student finished an excellent 40th out of 107 in the 2012 marathon in a then personal best time of 2hr 31min 43sec.

She has been predominantly training in the United States of America since the last Olympics.

The 2016 Olympic Games women’s marathon starts at 1.30pm (BST).

Now I don’t think that I am a vindictive sort of bloke.

I don’t hold grudges or try to get even with anyone for something they said that I didn’t like.

If there is something to be said, let’s get on and say it, and draw a line, ready to start again.

But there is one thing that I don’t like, and if possible avoid like the plague.

Shopping. And if I was a follower of the Roman faith, there would be a repetitive theme at confession time.

‘Forgive me Father for I have sinned. I went into Marks and Spencer on my mobility scooter just to get in everyone’s way.’

I can imagine the penance: ‘Copy out the Cotton Trader’s catalogue three times.’

I have this overpowering urge just to disrupt supermarkets. I dream of going into Tesco on the scooter and pretending to have a breakdown in the fruit and veg aisle (mechanical not nervous).

That’s the aisle where it takes the average housewife 10 minutes to decide which leek to buy for the soup she plans to make for tomorrow’s tea.

I would time this pretend breakdown to happen just after the four members of staff who hide in the stockroom with their full pallet trucks and wait for me to come into the store, have made their pre­planned move to block me in. It would cause chaos.

And have you been into one of the Co­op supermarkets? Now in my opinion, the staff in the Co­op are the best. Shoprite staff are well up there, but the Co­op crew have nicer smiles.

But the one snag is the Co­op aisles are so narrow, there isn’t enough room for the customers and staff to be there at the same time.

In fact, if you were half a stone overweight, you would never fit between the shelves.

The Co­op advertise that they support the Fairtrade movement, which is all well and good. All they need to do now is to make the aisles six inches wider so customers can actually get to the stuff.

But my problem is that I am old enough to remember the days you went into a grocer’s shop, and the staff were all behind the counter and the customers were all in front. The lines were drawn and we all had our comfort zone.

To compare simple things like trips to the shops in the old days with a shopping trip in the present time is like trying to compare the Ben my Chree with Odin’s Raven.

They both float and either one of them is just as likely to collide with the pier as the other, but that’s where the comparisons end.

We all suffer from one or more varieties of ‘comparison­itis’.

One of the most common types , especially affecting the elderly, is ‘nostalgeria’.

This is not like comparing two sandwiches and deciding you prefer tuna and sweetcorn to chicken and ham.

It is like comparing a Melton Mowbray pie with one of Bateson’s pork pies, still warm from the oven, with fresh hot gravy dribbled from a jug into the holes in the crust.

Try this simple test. Do you remember bus conductors? If you say ‘yes’ with a hint of longing in your voice, then you have a severe case of ‘nostalgeria’. You should consult your GP or Terry Cringle as soon as possible.

If you can remember bus conductors and their names, you have terminal ‘nostalgeria’.

There is no cure. Off hand, I can only remember the names of three bus conductors on the Pully routes, but as I’m going back about 60 or 65 years ago, I suppose that I must be diagnosed as incurable.

On a double decker bus, the driver was isolated from the conductor and the passengers. He occupied a little cabin that could only be accessed from the road, which meant that because the passengers got on and off at the rear end of the bus, we never actually saw the driver, face to face.

Whereas the conductor was always in full view. The three names that I can remember, were Josh, Fly and Hector.

Does anyone know Terry Cringle’s phone number?

A 24-year-old man from Ramsey has received a 10-week jail sentence for being drunk and disorderly and damaging property.

Michael Anthony Brown, of Lezayre Road, has already served the time on remand so will not go to prison but was also ordered to pay £125 costs.

The Deputy High Bailiff heard how, on May 2 at 10.45am, the complainant was driving his van along Lezayre Road to Parliament Street in Ramsey.

He said he became aware of Brown walking in the road in front of his van and subsequently stopped.

Brown was then said to have punched the side of the van causing three small dents, each a few centimetres wide.

He then tried to get into the van but the complainant drove away before he could.

Police arrived and found Brown shouting abuse which they said did not seem to be directed at anyone in particular. He was arrested and made no reply after caution.

Brown was interviewed at police headquarters and told police that he had been drinking heavily because he just wanted to ‘knock himself out and get some sleep’.

custody

He went on to say that he had no recollection of the incident until he woke up in custody but admitted that it ‘sounded like something he would have done’.

Brown told police: ‘I can’t do anything but apologise.’

The court heard how Brown was also in breach of a 12-month probation order imposed last August for provoking behaviour.

Defending him in court advocate Peter Russell said: ‘The probation report is relatively positive. It does make some reference to my client seeking to blame the other party but that is not the case.

‘He was at Grianagh Court in July and now has a diagnosis of what his problems are. He is taking all his meds and actively engaging with probation.

‘He is very motivated. On the day of the offence he was intoxicated but not a well person. He drank because he was not well and has very little recollection of what occurred. He is already getting help through mental health services. He now presents as a completely different person.’

Brown was also ordered to pay £330 compensation to the owner of the van he punched.

Damage has been caused to a wire fence at the Ayres National Nature Reserve.

The three strand wire fence, on the east boundary of the nature reserve, has had two strands cut.

The damaged area is approximately 200 metres west from the beach at the Point of Ayre.

It is believed that the incident took place between Sunday, August 7 and Friday, August 12.

Constable Mark Kerruish said it is a fairly remote area, but is often visited by fisherman and dog walkers.

If anyone has any information contact Ramsey Police Station on 812234.

The mother of Manx-born band the Bee Gees has died.

Barbara Gibb died at the age of 95 on Friday evening (August 12) in Miami.

She was the mother of Bee Gees Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, Andy Gibb and daughter Lesley.

She was surrounded by family and friends when she passed away.

A pair of young lynx are the newest attractions at the Curraghs Wildlife Park.

The one- and two-year-old female Northern Eurasian lynx, who are sisters, have arrived from the Highland Wildlife Park in Scotland.

They will be housed in an enclosure within the new extension to the lynx area.

Park general manager Kathleen Graham said the pair are settling in well. ‘It’s great to have young lynx again and in a nice new house. They look great in the new part of the enclosure.’

The park is also home to a 19-year-old lynx.

Douglas Choral Union is inviting applications for a bursary to support the development of local students pursuing further education in drama, dance, music and theatre. 

It’s aimed to help students fund planning to study any aspect of theatre at college or university, on-stage or off.

The bursary is available for anyone up to the age of 25.

While you don’t have to be a member of the society to apply, the DCU would be keen for recipients to participate in school visits and workshops to pass down their newly acquired skills, experience and knowledge.

DCU chairman Tony Jones explained: ‘The DCU has received such fantastic support from the Isle of Man public over the last few years that we find ourselves in a position where we can help directly to improve the standard of theatre and arts on the island.

‘By helping students to complete studies we hope their knowledge and skills will filter back to the island and keep Manx theatre at the highest standard, the standard the Manx public expect today.

‘I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our title sponsors, DQ Advocates, without whom we wouldn’t be able to provide such exciting opportunities for the island’s talented individuals.’

Request a nomination form from DCU committee member Kayleigh Parkinson by emailing kayleighdcu@hotmail.com

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to meet the committee, who will assess the applicants’ future plans.

The closing date for applications is August 19 for courses starting in September.

Meanwhile, following their massive success staging Jesus Christ Superstar, the DCU have already been working hard behind the scenes on their next production – the Broadway extravaganza ‘The Producers’.

The production – to be staged in April 2017 – will again be sponsored by DQ Advocates and promises to be an evening of unstoppable laughter.

Based on Mel Brooks’ much loved Academy Award-winning movie, The Producers is a hilarious musical comedy that has taken Broadway and the West End by storm, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards and 3 Olivier Awards.

The DCU will be welcoming back their much respected director, Tony Finnegan.

Tony said: ‘I am so excited to be directing this. In fact, I’ve been wanting to do this ever since seeing it on Broadway! We have a lot of hard work ahead of us to get what I want from my head to the Gaiety stage but I am very much looking forward to the challenge and I think the audience will love it!’

Auditions will take place in October. More information and audition pieces will be posted at www.douglaschoralunion.im and their Facebook page.

The DCU is also keen to hear from anyone interested in working with them back stage – email Charlotte Faragher on charlottefaragher@outlook.com

While 72 per cent of top executives believe the next three years will be more critical to their industry than the previous 50 years, the vast majority are confident of their company’s growth prospects, according to a report issued by KPMG.

The 2016 Global Outlook, a survey of nearly 1,300 chief executive officers worldwide, also revealed that 86 per cent of CEOs interviewed were confident in their home country’s growth, 85 per cent were confident in their industry and 80 per cent were confident in the global economy.

Major areas of concern related to customer loyalty, the impact of the global economy on their business if growth forecasts are not realised and a lack of time to think strategically in response to forces of disruption or innovation.

While the report is based on a survey of CEOs internationally, KPMG Isle of Man’s managing director Mike Fayle said there was much for Isle of Man businesses to consider in its findings.

He said: ‘The report shows that while most CEOs are optimistic about their company’s future prospects, the pace of change that is being driven by new technology across all industries is forcing businesses to re-evaluate their behaviour and their approach to the market.

‘It is telling that despite their optimism, some 82 per cent of those surveyed are concerned whether their company’s current products or services will even be relevant to customers three years from now.

‘Disruptive new entrants are transforming the way traditional businesses work and CEOs are recognising that they need to harness new technology and develop specialised talent to strengthen their capabilities and keep ahead of the game.

‘With four in 10 CEOs expecting to significantly change their operating model over the next three years, it’s a case of now or never for many to make an essential leap forward.’

The negative impact of new technology was a feature in the top risks identified by those participating in the report. Cyber security was at the top of the risk list in the 2016 report, despite not even making the top five in 2015, with 72 per cent of CEOs admitting they believed their organisation is not fully prepared for a cyber event.

Concerns were also voiced about the level of data and analytical sophistication within their companies, and their ability to connect with customers through digital channels.

Mike Fayle said: ‘Cyber security is a huge concern for any business, wherever they are in the world, and it has to be a major consideration for the Isle of Man both from a financial and reputational point of view. The Chief Constable recently outlined the challenge that cybercrime poses and the difficulty of providing enough resources to combat it in a small jurisdiction.

‘Interestingly, in the Global Outlook Report, there was a strong willingness from respondents to share their experiences about privacy breaches and that shared learning is something that we could easily undertake here in the Isle of Man.

‘We look forward to the seventh annual KPMG eGaming Summit taking place here on September 8, which will generate discussion for many of these issues with an extended programme of presentations from disruptive technology experts.’

On a more positive note, 99 per cent of CEOs interviewed said they were taking action to develop future and existing talent and 96 per cent were expecting to increase headcount over the next three years.

Castletown library is back in business in a new room upstairs in Castletown civic centre.

The library – closed since refurbishment of the centre began earlier this year – can be accessed by lift.

Opening hours have been extended and are: Monday and Wednesday, 1pm to 5pm, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 10am to 12.30pm and Thursday, 3pm to 7pm.

It is also introducing a ‘self-service’ system, whereby books can be returned or borrowed when the library is closed. This is available to readers with a valid membership card, from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. For more information, email library@castletown.gov.im or call in to the library.

Membership is offered free to all Castletown residents.

Librarian Angela Teare said: ‘With so many libraries in the UK closing down, it’s lovely that the local commissioners still appreciate the importance of having a library in the town. We are only a small library, but we do have a good selection of books and would hope that there is something there for everyone.’

The Isle of Man Friends of Anthony Nolan are celebrating 25 years of fundraising for the blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan with an anniversary dinner.

It will be held at The Best Western Palace Hotel on November 11 at 7.30pm.

Comedian, author, and broadcaster Dominic Holland will provide the after dinner speech.

Anthony Nolan saves lives by matching those with blood cancer with bone marrow or stem cell donors, and relies on funding.

Thanks to the work of the Isle of Man Friends group, 1,400 people have registered and at least 24 Manx residents have donated.

Tickets cost £65 (£600 for a table of 10). Contact Ivan Bratty, chairman of the Friends group, on 852486 or ivanbratty@manx.net to book.

The 40th anniversary of the formation of Isle of Man National Transport is being commemorated with a book by local historian and author Richard Davis.

Isle of Man Road Services features the service’s famous ‘red buses’, which mainly operated outside of Douglas and were a familiar sight on Manx roads following the amalgamation of the island’s two bus fleets.

Mr Davis said: ‘Always maintained in a smart and tidy condition, Road Services gave sterling service to the Isle of Man from the late 1920s until nationalisation in October 1976.

‘Viewed with great affection by both residents and visitors to the island, the operation was also highly regarded by other transport undertakings throughout the UK and beyond, many of which were considerably larger organisations operating huge fleets.

‘It has been an honour and a pleasure to have known many of the Road Services’ staff over the years and to have the opportunity to drive some of the buses, and indeed to own one, a 1967 Leyland Leopard, which appears later in the book.’

Images for the book were sourced from the author’s collection, Stan Basnett, the late Bill Lambden’s collection, John Davis, Ray Stanfield, Manx National Heritage and Travel lens Photographic.

Mr Davis has had a lifelong interest in the island’s history and transport.

His previous titles include Douglas Corporation Buses In Pictures - Centenary Edition and Buses of the Isle of Man: 1945-present day.

He has also published three volumes of Those Were The Days, featuring old photographs of the island, with the fourth volume due out later this year.

A proportion of the proceeds from the books goes to the Manx Transport Enthusiasts Association, of which Mr Davis is chairman. The charity is operated by volunteers and is dedicated to the restoration and maintenance of vintage buses based at the former Tours coach depot at Summer Hill in Douglas.

Isle of Man Road Services is published by Lily Publications with an RRP of £15.

Bringing unique and incredibly talented guitar virtuosi to the island is the main aim of GuitarFest.

The festival returns from Friday, October 28, to Sunday, October 30, and this year is moving to Peel.

Jonno Gollow of JonnoPromotions said each performer brought something different and will ensure that audiences have a memorable experience.

‘The reason we have moved to Peel is the Centenary Centre is a perfect size for this type of event, with brilliant acoustics, sound and lighting equipment and also has an established music audience,’ he said.

‘JonnoPromotions is proud to have been part of developing that audience over our past 11 years of music event creation.’

Grammy award-winner Amrit Sond returns to the island on his fourth visit to be guest opening act on the Friday and Saturday evening.

Amrit, who last played at GuitarFest in 2009 and supported Clive Carroll in 2011, uses every surface of the guitar to provide an exciting variety of percussions while playing highly complex contrapuntal guitar lines which negate the need for vocals.

Born in Kenya and raised in the Middle East, his formative years were influenced by Indian, African and Middle Eastern sounds before he moved to the UK where the rock/metal scene caught his attention. Amrit has blended these musical influences to create a truly individual sound that will leave audiences awestruck.

Headlining on the Friday evening is the incredibly talented Mike Dawes, one of the world’s finest and most creative modern fingerstyle performers.

Mike released his debut album in 2013 and has toured all over the world since then.

He has recorded with, sessioned for, and even taught, multiple Grammy award-winning artists, appeared on film and TV soundtracks, released apps and transcribed for international music magazines.

He is coming to GuitarFest after a US tour where he was opening the show for and playing lead guitar for Justin Heywood from the Moody Blues.

Mike will also lead a masterclass on Saturday afternoon.

‘Mike’s guitar skills will have even the most seasoned guitarist listening to, and playing, their instruments with fresh ears,’ Jonno said.

The main headliner is powerful guitarist, singer and songwriter, the Welsh wizard Martyn Joseph. With a career spanning more than 30 years and 30 albums, his versatility is well known and his live concerts are legendary.

Martyn had five UK Top 50 singles in the 90s, including ‘Dolphins Make Me Cry’, ‘Working Mother’, ‘Being There’ and ‘Let’s Talk About it in The Morning’.

Martyn has been referred to as the ‘Welsh Springsteen’ and among his many awards is best folk song at the World Independent Music Awards in 2012. BBC 6Music’s Tom Robinson has described Martyn as ‘one of the most charismatic and electrifying performers in Britain today’ while Mojo magazine described him as ‘Britain’s best kept secret’.

Jonno said: ‘Martyn is a brilliant guitarist and musician as well as an amazing songwriter. I’ve been looking for an opportunity to bring him to the Isle of Man for some time and GuitarFest 2016 seemed a perfect opportunity.

Meanwhile, on Sunday morning JonnoPromotions is hosting a brunch, courtesy of Creative Industries at DED, at the Mereside Hotel where GuitarFest artists will be ‘In Conversation’ about working in the music business, tales from the road and answering questions from the public.

Jonno thanked the Arts Council, Aston International, Swagelok, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, Dougherty Quinn and 3FM for their support.

For more details see www.jonnopromotions.com

Tickets are available from www.eTickets.im/jp and from Celtic Gold, Peter Norris Music, Shakti Man and Thompson Travel.

A man who is thought to have jumped into Douglas harbour on Saturday night was rescued by a passing yacht, Douglas coastguard have confirmed.

At around 6.30pm, the crew on the yacht pulled the man from the water and took him to safety at the pontoon where an ambulance crew was waiting.

The incident took place just as the Millennium Bridge was being opened.

A spokesman for the Douglas coastguard was unable to comment on the man’s condition or why he was in the harbour.

A police spokesman said that they had not been involved in the incident.

Mark Cavendish’s Olympic medal hopes hang very much in the balance at the halfway point in the six-discipline omnium event.

This is the ultimate track endurance test, cycling’s equivalent of a decathlon or heptathlon, pitting the world’s toughest track cyclists against each other in a multi-discipline two-day event.

Cavendish knew going into the event that he would face the stiffest of tests, but he started well on Sunday with sixth place in the 15 kilometre bunch scratch race.

This followed by the 4km individual pursuit in which the 31-year-old Manxman performed brilliantly to record the second fastest time of 4min 16.878sec and catch reigning world champion Fernando Gaviria Rendon of Colombia in the process.

This placed him third going into the always exciting elimination race, a bunch race which sees the last rider to cross the line every two laps eliminated, until one rider remains and takes the win.

Cav was perfectly placed throughout and when overall omnium leader Lasse Norman Hansen of Denmark, who won in London, went out at the first hurdle, followed shortly later by Germany’s Roger Kluge, it looked as though he was set for another top-three finish.

But he made a mistake when overtaking on the blue, flat section of the track at one of the track often referred to as the Cote d’Azur, and was ejected. He was awarded with seventh, but he was painfully aware that he could have been considerably higher placed.

This left him third overnight on 96 points, 10 behind the leader, France’s Thomas Boudat, the 2014 world champion,and two more than Italy’s Elia Viviani who won the elimination race.

The second day of the omnium begins with the time trial over 1km at 2.20pm (BST) today, Monday, followed by the flying lap, a race against the clock over 200 metres with a flying start, at 8pm this evening and the final event, the 40km points race at 9.23pm.

A piece of art representing the seven kingdoms visible from the top of Snaefell and the flight of people to and from the island will go in Castletown square as part of the regeneration scheme.

The art – by local artíst Angela Patchett – will go at the centre of the pedestrianised area of the square near shops.

It is hoped it will be installed later this year.

The town’s retiring MHK, Richard Ronan, said: ‘It is absolutely stunning, it’s unique. It represents Castletown and the island how it is and and has been for centuries with the movement of people. The seven kingdoms have never been recreated before, the birds are Manx shearwaters.’

The town authority welcomed the artwork, but said they felt it required some explanation.

A Douglas woman has been convicted of having more than £11,000 worth of cannabis at her home.

Melanie Anne Freeland, of Hillside Avenue, has been committed to the Court of General Gaol Delivery and will be sentenced there on a date to be set.

The court heard how, on July 21, police went to 36-year-old Freeland’s home on an unrelated matter.

She admitted to police that there was a quantity of cannabis in the kitchen in a rucksack.

In the bag police found 16 100 gram bars of cannabis resin, with a further 112 grams in its front pockets.

A search found another nine 100 gram bars in a cupboard under the sink.

The total value of the cannabis resin found was said to be between £11,144.09 and £11,394.09, with cash totalling £1,170 also discovered in Freeland’s purse.

In a police interview Freeland handed in a prepared statement saying that her partner had drug debts and a person she wouldn’t name had subsequently forced her to store the cannabis. She said she believed someone would be coming back to collect it.

The amount in the front pocket she said was for her own personal use and she said she had saved the cash from her benefits because she had not had to buy any cannabis for the last six months.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said that she was committing the case to the higher court due to high value of the drug seized.

Bail continues with conditions that Freeland reside at her home address, report to police headquarters daily and abide by a 7pm to 7am curfew.

A squabble over a game of pool culminated in one player being attacked with a cue.

The yobbish scenes erupted in Sam Webb’s pub after the defendant, Carl James Druggan, had been on an afternoon drinking session while watching the European football tournament on the television.

But when the 26-year-old, from Kensington Avenue in Douglas, finished up in a pool doubles game around 11.30pm, matters turned ugly.

Another player accused Druggan of standing too close to his pool partner and fouling her shot. The pair started bickering which escalated into some pushing and shoving and general acrimony.

For the prosecution, James Robinson told the court: ‘Words were exchanged again and the defendant took the pool cue when it was handed to him.

‘The defendant then used the thick end of the pool cue to strike the other party twice in the head area,’ he said.

The court heard that the pool cue was smashed into two pieces as a result and the victim suffered injury.

Druggan was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm, on May 21, and later admitted the offence. When he was arrested and interviewed at the police station, he declined to comment on the incident.

At the request of his advocate, Peter Russell, the case was adjourned for two weeks, giving chance for the defendant to pay for a television, damaged in the altercation. He is to reappear on August 25.