A teenager from Douglas has been convicted of assaulting a man at probation accommodation.

Anthony Robert Collis, of Prince’s Avenue, pleaded guilty to a common assault charge in summary court and will be sentenced on September 20.

The offence occurred just two days after Collis, who is 19, had been released from prison where he had been sentenced to nine months for burglary, theft and deception in April.

Prosecutor Michael Jelski told the court how, on August 18, Collis had been staying at David Gray House, Drury Terrace, Douglas, when he assaulted another man in the dining room who was staying there.

CCTV footage was viewed which showed Collis punching his victim twice to the head. His victim claimed he was punched a number of times and also headbutted.

Collis was arrested and told police that he had known his victim for eight months.

He said that man would always find ways of ‘winding him up’ and his assault had been a culmination of this.

Collis also said that he had gone out on the night in question and drank nine or 10 pints of lager.

He also said that he had taken 10 pregabalin tablets, which were not prescribed to him.

Asked on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, how drunk he had been, Collis said ‘10’, with the pregabalin also taken into account.

If it had just been alcohol he said ‘seven’.

Collis told police that he was wound up and the victim had started to tell him how he would never make anything of his life.

He admitted lashing out at him, striking him with his fists and headbutting him.

The court heard that Collis’ arm was in a cast at the time of the attack and that he had missed his usual medication which was prescribed to him.

Defence advocate Louise Cooil asked for an adjournment to allow time for the preparation of a probation report.

Ms Cooil said that her client had an appointment with Motiv8, the alcohol advisory service arranged.

Ms Cooil made an application for bail saying: ‘My client is attending college in September and has been taking positive steps since his release.

‘He is keen to keep his appointment and attend college. He is hoping probation can provide support and assistance. He wishes to be released on bail and would be content with an alcohol ban and a curfew. ‘

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said: ‘You were heavily intoxicated within two days of your release from prison and in breach of the rules at David Gray House over alcohol. I am not satisfied bail conditions would prevent further offending.’

A Freedom of Information request for the release of the health and safety report into a tram derailment has been refused - because of possible legal action.

The Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate launched an investigation after an MER trailer car came off the track while being shunted outside Laxey station in July last year.

Isle of Man Transport blamed the incident primarily on ‘a failure by staff to follow the operating procedure’. The motorman involved subsequently resigned.

Isle of Man Newspapers asked for a copy of the Health and Safety Inspectorate’s report under the Freedom of Information Act.

But our request has been turned down, on the grounds that it was possible that civil action could be instigated up to six years after an incident.

‘Having balanced the factors in favour of disclosure with the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption, we consider the exemption for section 31 investigations and legal proceedings outweighs the public interest in disclosure,’ said FoI co-ordinator Frank Harrison.

We were, however, supplied with a copy of a letter sent to the MER in November which detailed some aspects of the investigation and its recommendations.

It noted: ‘The available evidence indicates that the trailer was on the land side track when it should have been on the crossover to the sea side track.

‘It has not been possible to confirm beyond reasonable doubt why this happened and there are a number of possible factors: the spring loaded points failed, the motorman failed to follow procedures and confusion caused by possible tram/trailer combinations.’

During the investigation a number of procedural shortcomings were identified.

These included a lack of written procedures for shunting manoeuvres and the failure to identify that the length of the coupling bar used to connect certain tram-trailer combinations could affect stability.

Isle of Man Transport was asked to rectify these failings by February this year.

To get two As and a C at ‘A’ level is impressive for any student, but for Archie Veale to have achieved these results is remarkable.

The Castle Rushen High School student is – without any exaggeration – lucky to be alive, never mind sitting mind-stretching exams.

In March 2014 after complaining about persistent back ache, he grew seriously ill having developed septicaemia and was airlifted to Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool. Facing multiple organ failure, he spent 47 days in intensive care and a further four months in hospital.

At one stage he was linked to a bypass machine used in cardiac surgery. Surgeons had to cut down his inner and outer thigh to relieve the pressure building up on his leg muscles.

There were fears that he would have his leg amputated.

By September 2014 he was back part-time at school, walking with the aid of crutches.

Since then the 18-year-old has caught up on his studies, gained seven GCSEs plus these latest results – an A and C in AS level geography and maths and an A in A level product design.

‘I am extremely proud of my result and to be quite honest, very surprised,’ he said.

‘I was struggling with my AS maths greatly but with a lot of combined help from my teachers, family and friends the hard work has obviously paid off,’ he said.

‘From right back in 2014 when I was in Alder Hey, and through the two years which have followed I have missed a lot of school hours due to appointments, physio sessions and a few shorter hospital admissions which has made studying difficult.

‘I have overcome this with great amounts of generosity from many of my teachers who took the time to sit with me in lunchtimes and after school to help me to catch up on missed work.

‘Achieving my results feels like another huge step in my recovery, at many points early on into my illness my doctors weren’t sure I was going to survive let alone sit my A-level exams.’ He joked: ‘I like proving people wrong.’

Remarkably, he is just one year behind the academic peers and will complete his A-levels next year.

He said watching his friends – some of whom he has known from pre-school – leave school and not join them ‘is a very strange feeling’ but added: ‘However, I try not to see this in a negative way, I am very happy for their achievements. Being ill and my recovery is a huge part of my life, and this extra year in school is just a smaller aspect of this.’

Archie has not one iota of bitterness about his dreadful experience, in fact he said it has been ‘life enhancing’ and has influenced his career choice, he plans to study product design followed by a masters in inclusive design – designing products inherently accessible to all people, whatever their needs.

Alder Hey staff have done so much for Archie, he and his family plan to raise funds for the hospital and he hopes to be fit enough to join in the Liverpool Nightrider – a 100km bicycle ride.

The road to full recovery from nerve damage is long, but he said: ‘I really hope that one day I will make a full recovery so I can continue to make my family, my girlfriend, my friends, my “Alder-Hey-family” and my physiotherapists proud and to “repay” all the continued support and motivation they have given me.’

The government has today announced that the Attorney General has retired on the grounds of ill health.

Stephen Harding had been suspended from the role for some time but was still getting his £160,000 salary.

Mr Harding, 54, of Glen Vine, was formally found not guilty of charges of perjury and committing acts against public justice in February 2014 after juries failed to reach a verdict at his trial and subsequent retrial.

But he remained on precautionary suspension.

Chief Minister Alan Bell told Tynwald in March 2014 that it was costing £200,000 a year in personnel to cover for Mr Harding’s suspension alongside that of another suspended member of the Attorney General’s chambers.

This was in additional to the salaries that continue to be paid to staff on precautionary suspension.

Mr Harding was formally cleared of all charges four years to the day since he represented the Treasury as government advocate at the winding-up of a Peel-based developer Street Heritage Ltd (SHL).

The Crown had alleged that Mr Harding misconducted himself at that winding-up hearing and that he lied on oath to cover his tracks at an Advocates’ Disciplinary Tribunal.

Mr Harding told police he deeply regretted ‘an error of judgement’ he made during the winding-up hearing but insisted he did not knowingly or recklessly mislead the court by failing to tell the Deemster that SHL were legally represented or that the company intended to contest the order or seek an adjournment.

In December 2013, the jury in his first trial was discharged after failing to reach a unanimous verdict.

Then in February 2014 a second jury at his retrial similarly failed to reach a verdict.

The prosecution decided to offer no further evidence and Mr Harding returned to court on February 24 when the Deemster formally recorded not guilty verdicts to the two charges he faced.

John Quinn has been appointed acting Attorney General while Mr Harding was suspended.

That temporary post was advertised with a salary of £159,797 a year.

More on this story in Tuesday’s Examiner next week.

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Two opposing campaigns are targeting Keys candidates in the run-up to the general election.

CALM, the Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation, wants reform of the ‘outdated, divisive and discriminatory’ abortion law.

But a campaign called HEAR, Humanity and Equality in Abortion Reform, being launched this week, wants more restrictions.

While women in the island can in some circumstances get an abortion here, it is more difficult than in the UK and many go there instead.

CALM said it was concerned about the recent suspension of some surgical abortion procedures at Marie Stopes clinics in the UK.

After inspections of some Marie Stopes clinics by officials from the Care Quality Commission, all surgical abortions involving general anaesthetic or conscious sedation have been suspended. Terminations involving local anaesthetic or non-surgical terminations are not hit.

CALM spokesman Sam Morris said: ‘The majority of women in the Isle of Man seeking an abortion have surgical abortions – 84 per cent of them, against just 50 per cent in the UK.

‘There are a number of reasons for this, but the law as it stands here means that women have to find the money to travel and stay across, and because clinics need to be sure that the procedure is complete before allowing women to travel back to the island, a surgical termination is usually advised.

‘To put it bluntly, a surgical abortion under general anaesthetic – which has its own risks - has fewer immediate side effects than taking tablets, which can cause a women to suffer excruciating pain and bleeding in the airport, on the plane, or on the boat.’

During the run-up to the general election in September, CALM is continuing to bring what it calls ‘the outdated, divisive and discriminatory’ Termination of Pregnancy (Medical Defences) Act 1995 to the attention of Keys candidates in the hope that it will be debated and revised by the next government.

‘It isn’t right that women in the Isle of Man have to make decisions about their bodies based on available funds, rather than what is best medical practice,’ said Ms Morris.

‘Last year 105 women giving Isle of Man addresses paid for terminations which, in England, Scotland and Wales, are available on the National Health. These women had to find the money from their own purses, borrow from family or friends or even arrange bank loans. We want this to stop.’

alternative

Ms Morris said there could be another alternative.

‘Currently women wanting an abortion, but who don’t fit into the very narrow parameters of the 1995 Act, can either pay to go across or buy safe, but illegal, pills off the internet,’ she said.

‘If a woman does the latter, and the pills are intercepted by the Post Office, she could be prosecuted and face up to two years in prison.

‘If, however, an enlightened new government was to investigate the possibility of local GPs and a dedicated clinic service prescribing the pills legally, a women could avoid travelling to have an incomplete medical abortion across, avoid the financial outlay and be looked after in her own home.’

She added: ‘I can’t second-guess the future House of Keys but there is no doubt that the recent Marie Stopes’ decision has made it more difficult for local women.

‘I urge voters to ask what their local candidates’ views are, and keep the Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation in the spotlight. The island’s women deserve a real choice.’

HEAR, which describes itself as ‘a coalition founded on feminist, humanist, and liberal principles, and aims to secure the best for women and their children in the womb’, will be launched at a meeting tonight (Thursday) at the Manx Legion Club in Douglas.

Two speakers will contribute, Lord Alton of Liverpool, who tried to restrict abortion when he was a Liberal MP, and Peter D Williams, executive officer of the Right To Life anti-abortion group.

HEAR says that at present Manx law requires an evidence basis for abortions after sexual crime, and that a psychiatric consultant be the independent doctor in certifying those on the grounds of mental health.

compassion

A statement reads: ‘Almost as much as an abortion law can, it combines rigour with a degree of care and compassion.’ But it adds: ‘Despite these elements our law nonetheless compromises the basic right to life of unborn children.

‘Adding to this injustice, like Britain we allow abortion for disability, an example of informal eugenics and further unjust discrimination.

‘This undermines and distracts from the right response: providing pre- and post-natal care that removes the perceived necessity to end the life of baby with disability. We should abolish this relic of a less caring era, and provide the help to parents that they need to take care of their child.’

HEAR spokesperson Hannah Platt said: ‘We should lead the way in affirming the equal dignity of all human beings – female and male, unborn and born, and regardless of ability. A key area in which we can do so is in the area of abortion.

‘Through our campaign, we will welcome truly calm and charitable dialogue. We aim to make sure that other islanders – and especially candidates for the House of Keys in the upcoming election – get to listen to both sides of the abortion debate, and receive the full story about the value of our native laws, the situation in Britain, and the truly compassionate agenda for needed reform.

‘We call on everyone to join us in working to make sure that our island home remains a bastion and beacon of humanity and equality for all members of the Manx, and indeed human, family.’

Hear also wants more to ‘update’ conscience protections for medics, and the improvement of pregnancy support and provision of psychiatric consultancy.

unworkable

Speaking to The Guardian earlier this year Ramsey GP and Keys candidate Alex Allinson said the Manx law was ‘practically unworkable’.

‘This isn’t really an ethical argument,’ he said.

‘Terminations on the Isle of Man are legal, they’re just really difficult to get. The government seems to be quite happy for women to pay to go across and have [terminations], but isn’t prepared to provide that same service here.’

One of the questions Isle of Man Newspapers is asking all candidates in the general election is ‘Would you support abortion law reform?’

The supplements will be in the Examiner of September 12 and the Manx Independent of September 15.

A full list of candidates is available at iomtoday.co.im on the politics section

Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce has put together a list of questions which it thinks voters may wish to ask House of Keys candidates in the run-up to the general election.

The list was drawn up after the island’s biggest business network surveyed its full membership to see what Manx businesses think the key election issues are for them.

Feedback clearly indicated that economic growth and the sustainability of public finances are the most important issues for Chamber members.

With this in mind, Chamber has prepared questions on the theme of sustainability which voters are being encouraged to put to House of Keys candidates during the election campaign.

Michael Crowe, who is chairing the Chamber’s political working group, said that this initiative is all part of Chamber’s commitment to ensuring that the economy is at the top of the agenda in the general election debate.

He said: ‘The UK’s decision to leave the European Union will change the political and economic framework within which the Isle of Man will have to operate as an international business centre, creating opportunities and risks which will require the Isle of Man’s next garliament to work as a fast-moving, decisive team.

The list of questions is printed below.

Sustainable economy

l What three things would you focus upon now to deliver continued economic success?

l What three steps will you take to increase the economically active population and address skilled workforce shortages, now and in the future? What will you do to attract and retain key employers?

l How do we secure the opportunities of Brexit - what plans do you have?

l What do you intend to contribute to ensure our future workforce meets the needs of employers?

l What will you do to remove barriers to business growth and reduce bureaucracy?

Sustainable Government

l Do you support the need to reduce overall government expenditure, rather than allowing departments to raise additional charges? If so, how have you already demonstrated this and what proposals do you have to accelerate this?

l Recent changes to the Public Sector Pension Schemes make it more affordable to the taxpayer, however, the total liability is still £3billion. Do you support closing the defined benefit scheme to new members in favour of a defined contribution scheme in order to protect existing scheme members and the taxpayer?

Sustainable

infrastructure

l To support a sustainable economy and maintain the quality of life we all enjoy, we need vibrant retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. What initiatives would you propose to protect and develop them during this difficult economic climate and chronic shortage of labour?

l As the funding requirement for the regeneration of our towns and villages already exceeds that available, do you support the allocation of monies from future budgets towards ensuring a fit for purpose physical infrastructure for the island?

l How do you view the current planning policy? Do you have any proposals to improve the co-ordination and strategic focus of the planning system?

A 53-year-old teacher from Ballasalla has been given a six-month conditional discharge by a magistrates’ court after a parking row.

Shem Allanson, of Ballamona Road, opted to take a parking ticket to court which she was given while working with residents at David Gray House, the Salvation Army’s probation accommodation.

The court heard how, on May 9 at 10.19am, a traffic inspector observed Allanson’s car at Prince’s Avenue parked in a two-hour waiting zone, with 9.40am displayed on her parking disc as the arrival time.

At 11.45am the inspector returned to the car, which was still parked at Prince’s Avenue but now with a disc displaying 11.05am as the car’s arrival time.

Allanson was given a fixed penalty notice but requested a court hearing.

Speaking in court Allanson said that she was a teacher at the Isle of Man College who also taught at David Gray House between 10am and 12pm.

She told the court: ‘They won’t issue us with parking permits. I have to go in at 10am to set up class and leave at 11am to move my car to another location. I don’t like parking in front of the hostel as they’ll see my car and it might get scratched. It’s difficult, there is no wifi so I have to carry laptops back and forth. I’m not allowed to leave these lads for more than five or 10 minutes in case they get into mischief.’

Isle of Man Freemasons have donated a total of £11,405 to Manx Cancer Help, the Children’s Centre, the Salvation Army and Rebecca House, the children’s hospice.

The presentation by the master of St Maughold Lodge Edward Quayle and lodge members took place at the Masonic Hall, Douglas.

As part of their 150th Anniversary Celebrations, St Maughold Lodge held a gala evening at the Villa Marina, when funds, including £1m000 from the Masonic Charitable Foundation, were raised to help the four causes.

Pictured: Graham Lawrence- (charity steward) Mark Eastham (The Children’s Centre), Mary Doyle (Hospice) Edward Quayle (master of St Maughold Lodge), Captain Simon Clampton (Salvation Army), Gareth Nicholson (Manx Cancer Help), Roger Southern (executive lodge member)

A soapbox race will take to the streets of the capital on Saturday.

The Microgaming Douglas Soapbox Race is in its third year, the action starts at 5.30pm, starting at Upper Church Street, ending Barrack Street (near the Outback).

Thousands of people have watched in the previous years.

Karts of all different shapes and sizes (and designs) will take to the course to battle it out to finish fastest.

Money raised from entry fees will all be donated to Hyperbaric Isle of Man.

Last year the event raised £4,000 for the local charity.

A Kirk Michael man has set off on a mammoth 237-mile cycling journey from London to Paris in memory of his mum.

Businessman Nathan Evans began the challenge yesterday (Thursday) and will complete the cycle in just three days.

Today’s journey from London will see Nathan cycle through the South Downs towards Portsmouth where he will catch the overnight ferry to Caen.

Upon arrival he will set off straight away, cycling 87 miles to Evreux where he will catch some rest before setting off on the final leg of his journey, .

He will finish at the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Cycling is a fairly new hobby for Nathan and he admits that he is ‘not a cyclist by any stretch of the imagination’.

He decided to take on the challenge to raise money for the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity.

It is a charity which is very close to Nathan’s heart after he lost his mother, Eleanor, to the illness. He wanted to thank them for looking after his mum, and also help them find a cure for the disease.

Nathsn started his training while his mum was in the midst of having chemotherapy as he wanted to show her that he is doing something to support the people who were helping his mum through her battle.

The Kirk Michael man described his mum as a ‘woman with a great sense of fun and a passion for travel.’

He said: ‘She carried on with her travels until she was diagnosed with cancer.

‘It’s her love of an adventure that gave me the idea to pedal to Paris.’

Telecommunications provider Sure has supported Nathan by providing him with a phone so that he is able to update friends, family and supporters on his progress during his journey.

So far he has raised £1,525, just beating his target of £1,500.

All the money raised will go towards the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity.

It is the only dedicated charity for patients and research at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre,.

The centre is one of the largest cancer centres in the UK with 10 sites across Merseyside and Cheshire,

It offers pioneering chemotherapy, radiotherapy and proton therapy treatments for patients.

Funds raised go towards improving patient experience and funding vital research, the latest therapies and innovations in cancer treatment.

If you would like to support Nathan’s fundraising efforts visit his JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Nathscycle to make a donation.

To find out more about the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity and its work go to www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk/charity/home

Or alternatively visit ‘The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Charity’ on Facebook.

A 55-year-old from Ballaugh has been fined £500 and had his driving licence endorsed with six penalty points.

Keri John O’Leary, of Ballaterson Fields, pleaded guilty to driving with no insurance or vehicle licence and was also ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.

O’Leary had originally admitted the offences via a postal admission but was ordered to attend court to give him opportunity to argue against disqualification.

The court heard how, on June 3 at 6.50pm, police were on patrol on the A13 road – which connects Ramsey with Jurby – and saw O’Leary driving.

A check revealed that his licence had expired in January 2016 and that he was listed as not insured.

He was subsequently stopped and spoken to, and asked who he was insured with.

O’Leary told police that could not remember but said that it was not a local firm.

He admitted that he knew his licence had expired but said that he had needed to transport some racing bikes.

When asked again if he was insured he replied, ‘I hope so.’

O’Leary then went on to tell police that he was worried that he had an email somewhere that he had missed.

Later, he attended Ramsey police station and admitted that he had no insurance.

Defending O’Leary in court advocate Jim Travers said that his client had no previous convictions or cautions.

Mr Travers said: ‘The position is clear with respect to his licence. He was aware it had expired.

‘He was unaware his insurance had expired.

‘The vehicle is a second vehicle used infrequently, to transport his son’s bikes for racing activities.

‘He had previously insured it with an off-island company. He had also changed his name via deed poll and changed his email address so he didn’t receive an email reminder about his previous policy lapsing. That is the only explanation he is able to give.

‘So it was something of an oversight.

‘He is extremely remorseful he’s made this mistake. He has been here for 19 years or so and had no penalties.’

O’Leary was fined £450 for having no insurance and £50 for having no vehicle licence.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said while passing sentence: ‘I have taken into account the unusual circumstances which led to your insurance lapsing.’

Onchan Commissioners has dropped its threatened legal action against a government body - after a government minister issued a ‘clarification’.

In a public statement on its website, the authority said it now considered the matter closed.

But while the issue with the Public Services Commission has been resolved, Onchan’s clerk Malcolm Hulme said the commissioners would pursue its threat to sue defending Keys candidate David Quirk for defamation unless he makes a public apology for comments he has made.

John Shimmin, chairman of the PSC and Minister for Policy and Reform, said in a statement issued on the government website that the commission wished ‘if possible’ to draw a line under the long-standing case concerning the closure of the squash courts in Onchan Park.

The PSC had upheld a complaint by Rae Hamilton, who was guarantor for the lease of the squash courts, against officers in the Department of Infrastructure.

Its report found that the DoI had behaved improperly, given wrong advice and failed to give any credence to Mr Hamilton’s views.

But its finding that Mr Hamilton had suffered as a result of ‘questionable behaviour’ by Onchan Commissioners prompted immediate demands from the authority for a retraction. It threatened to sue the PSC for defamation if no apology was forthcoming.

Now, in a clarification, the PSC chairman said that no investigation was carried out into the commissioners, its board or its officers.

Mr Shimmin said: ‘The Commission is content to indicate that none of the present members of the Onchan District Commissioners board are being criticised or should have been criticised in any way and regrets any offence that may have been inadvertently caused to them.

‘Furthermore, the statement was not intended to and did not in the Commission’s opinion imply any impropriety or wrongdoing by officers of Onchan District Commissioners (including specifically the Clerk and Deputy Clerk) and therefore regrets any offence that may have been inadvertently caused to them. The Commission wishes to draw a line under this matter.’

On its website, Onchan Commissioners said the PSC’s statement had prompted it to ‘reluctantly threaten the issue of legal proceedings’ but that ‘this issue has now been resolved’.

It set out a summary of events including an insistence that the allegations of maladministration made by Mr Hamilton, who it says had never been a tenant of the squash courts, were unfounded.

‘The board has accepted the apology by the department and the statement of clarification by the PSC and consider the matter closed,’ it says.

Read more

I have been let down by system says Rae Hamilton

Government department admits behaving improperly

David Quirk risks being sued for libel

A leaflet has been published providing guidance for groups casting children for stage performances.

The leaflet has been issued by the Department of Education and Children (DEC) and was devised after groups, who want to be sure they are properly safeguarding the welfare of young performers, approached the department.

Under regulations, children who have yet to turn 16 and leave school usually need a licence, issued by the DEC, to take part in a stage production, whether it be drama, music or dance.

The leaflet contains advice on how and when to apply for licences, what must be provided at venues, the responsibilities of ‘matrons’ or chaperones, and breaks that must be built into performance schedules.

Suzanne Vote, child employment officer with the DEC, said: ‘The regulations are in place to ensure that the well-being of children who take part in productions is taken into account by those staging them.

‘The DEC has an excellent relationship with the many local groups that feature children in their performances and is delighted to see so many young people given the opportunity to take to the stage and fulfil their talents.’

The leaflet and the regulations governing children performing can be found by visiting www.gov.im, clicking on Department of Education and Children and searching under ‘P’ in ‘policies and procedures A-Z’.

Copies of the leaflet will be sent to groups that have recently sought licences.

The leaflet can also be obtained from the DEC at Hamilton House, Peel Road, Douglas, by phoning 685812 or by emailing admin@doe.gov.im

A charity event is planned to mark the Isle of Man leg of an epic journey around the British Isles.

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the Morris Minor Owners’ Club has arranged for a 1962 Morris Minor four-door saloon to travel from John O’Groats to Land’s End.

The car, driven by Bruce Kelsey, will criss-cross Britain to try to visit every branch of the MMOC.

The journey of more than 3,000 miles is expected to take up to five weeks with events being held at each of the 75 stops to raise money for charity. The car travels to the island on Sunday, with transport costs supported by the Steam Packet and Wades Truck Services.

The Manx branch of the club will host an event in the B&Q car park on Spring Valley Industrial Estate. Starting at 10am, it will feature local Morris Minors, with the marathon car due to arrive shortly after 2pm. There will be collections for Marie Curie, which is being supported by the MMOC charity marathon, and Hospice Isle of Man, which will have representatives at the event.

Bernie Wade from the Isle of Man branch of the MMOC said: ‘We’re pleased the island could be included in this historic journey and hope we’ll have a good turnout to greet Bruce. It’ll not only be a great opportunity to see a display of cars and chat to the owners, but also a chance to support worthwhile charities.’

A 26-year-old from Douglas has been convicted of an assault after hitting a man with a pool cue.

Carl James Druggan, of Kensington Road, pleaded guilty in a magistrates’ court to assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH) and will be sentenced on October 6.

He agreed to accept a caution in relation to a property damage charge and that was subsequently withdrawn.

The court heard how, on May 21, Druggan was out watching the FA Cup Final in Douglas.

At 11.20pm he was in Samuel Webb’s pub in Castle Street playing pool with two women and another man.

A row had started when the other man took exception to Druggan not moving when one of the women was playing a shot.

There was some pushing and shoving which culminated in Druggan hitting the man over the head with the pool cue twice.

While striking the second blow, Druggan was said to have followed through with the cue and hit the pub television, cracking the screen.

In a police interview Druggan gave ‘no comment’ responses.

A probation report is being prepared before sentencing.

The ManxSPCA is to hold a dog show on Sunday at its Ard Jerkyll rehoming centre in Foxdale.

The classes include Waggiest Tail and Golden Oldie and entries, which cost £1 per class, can be made on the day.

All dog are welcome.

The show starts at 2.30pm, however it is to be preceded by the Rescue Dog of the Year awards.

These awards were first made in 1999 and Lyn Renshaw, the ManxSPCA centre manager, remembers one dog in particular from those early days.

She said: ‘Bobby was a long legged Jack Russell cross, with a very big personality and character.

‘He was with us for about 18 months and was rehomed a few times but each time he was returned.

‘Bobby had very bad separation anxiety and when he went into any new home he was very good at pulling curtains down, and ripping up carpets and lino. He had also learnt how to get out of his pen while he was with us, but he was a real favourite with the volunteer dog walkers and the kennels staff.

‘One day a couple came to Ard Jerkyll after reading about Bobby (numerous appeals had gone out for him) and they instantly fell in love with him

‘They went through the adoption process and then came to collect Bobby and said they were going to give him a new name along with his new start in life, and they called him Jake.

‘The next morning we were expecting to get a phone call from Jake’s new mum and dad to say that they would be bringing him back, but how wrong we were. We received a phone call to say that Jake had been an absolute angel, and from that day on Jake never put a paw wrong - it was as though he had chosen his new family and he knew that this time it was right for him and would be for the rest of his life.”

So Jake was an early Dog of the Year Show prize winner, selected because he overcame his problems and found a new life. The number of categories has grown over the years and there are now eight, including Puppy of the Year, Foster Dog of the Year, Veteran Dog of the Year and Pedigree Dog of the Year.

Lyn added: ‘All the dogs that are adopted from the ManxSPCA are extremely special and it is hard to decide just one winner. The awards are an opportunity to recognise a few, but they are a celebration of all our dogs.’

The awards will take place at 1.30pm and guests are welcome to come along and cheer on the winners.

There will be a short break before the fun show classes begin at 2.30pm.

Our series of heritage articles continues with HUGH DAVIDSON putting the spotlight on buildings in the south of the island

This feature will give examples from Rushen since I live there, but the issues are national.

Question: How do you give overseas visitors a favourable impression of Port Erin and Port St Mary when there are highly visible ‘eyesore’ buildings? Answer: Concentrate on the many good parts.

But sometimes there is no escape.

Rushen Heritage Trust has run two acclaimed exhibitions on WW2 women’s internment, attracting more than 6,000 visits.

Distinguished visitors from USA, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Britain came here specifically to visit the exhibitions.

Many had mothers here in 1940. They wanted to see particular places and this proved embarrassing to their local guides.

‘Where was the Health Centre in 1940?’ It was The Hydro, later the Ocean Castle Hotel, now an empty site, creating a gaping hole in Port Erin’s Upper Promenade.

‘Could I please see the Belle Vue Hotel where my mother was interned?’ The name was changed to the Port Erin Royal. It has been empty since 2008, in a poor state.

‘Where was the married camp?’ Trip to the former Balqueen Hydro, once Port St Mary’s flagship building, empty since 1987, one half demolished, the other with the twin towers in pitiful condition.

There are other ‘big eyesores’ in Port Erin such as the Marine Biological Station (closed in 2006).

Port Erin is not unique in having dilapidated sites – Douglas Promenade has at least three.

The principal problem, especially in Port Erin and Douglas, is that the built environment has still not yet fully transitioned from the days of mass tourism to the present mixed economy.

In 1961 there were 15 hotels with more than 20 rooms in Port Erin and Port St Mary. Today there is only one still trading – the Falcon’s Nest.

Of these 15, nine have been converted into apartments, most with reasonable success architecturally.

In particular Imperial Heights is a much more attractive building than its predecessor.

Of the remaining five, three are empty or dilapidated, two demolished or standing empty.

Let’s study three prime examples of high profile building sites not in use, all with adverse impact on pride in the community.

The former Bay Queen is the saddest sight of all, especially for me, since my father Alec Davidson was the architect of the ‘new’ West Wing, completed in 1936.

The Kelly family ran the hotel for over 50 years from 1914-65, when Walter Kelly retired.

The origin was two boarding houses separated by a wide gap. In 1926, this gap was filled with a magnificent new ballroom on the ground floor, new rooms above, and balcony in front. This was all demolished in 2002.

The still extant 1936 extension added 50 more bedrooms, new reception hall with terrazzo tiles laid by Italians; mezzanine floor modelled on the Art Deco Waldorf Astoria in New York, with two lifts – very innovative at the time; and dining room which could seat 400.

In the 1950s, the Balqueen Hydro (name changed to Bay Queen in 1970) was a top resort hotel, usually full with 300 guests from May 1 to the end of September.

It declined in the 1970s, staggered through the 1980s and closed in 1987, almost 30 years ago.

The hotel was sold in 1965, went through various hands and was eventually bought by Victor and Gladys Sharma in 1987 for £400,000. It was purchased by Hartford Homes for £4 million in May 2007.

The West Wing was registered in 2001 because it was of ‘special architectural and historical interest’. The notes stated: ‘the 1936 extension … is the only one in this distinctive Art Deco style … and represents a unique example of its type in the island context.’

Hartford Homes is progressing a planning application for high quality apartments in front and town houses behind for submission in the next few months.

The Belle Vue Hotel was built by Thomas Costain in 1885. The first owner was Thomas Clague, a well-known entrepreneur of his day. It was developed in three stages – 35 rooms in 1885, then the distinctive turret wing in 1909, and finally the Edwardian wing. In 1932, it had 85 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms.

The Belle Vue housed some colourful personalities such as Gil Robertshaw, Chris Robertshaw MHK, and Jack Wilson who owned three other leading Port Erin hotels and changed the name to Port Erin Royal. In 2008 the hotel was closed and bought by Dandara, who are submitting a planning application for 30 apartments in September.

The Ocean Castle Hotel was built in 1890. It had a pleasing appearance with a triangular design centred by a tower reminiscent of the famous one at Pisa, but not leaning. The 1961 brochure claimed accommodation for 200 guests, a TV lounge and automatic lift.

There were some notable interior features, including a fine coloured glass ceiling. Some guests said that it had the feel of a 1930s transatlantic liner. The hotel was closed in 2007 and demolished in two days in 2010. The empty site looks neglected and untidy.

Successes. There have been some successes in maintaining or restoring buildings in Rushen. The former Collinson’s Café was tastefully converted to office and then residential use by Mr Lithgoe in the 1970s, and the present owner, Jim Mellon, maintains it to a high standard.

The Bay Hotel in Port Erin remained empty for some years in the 1990s, and was successfully renovated by Martin Brunnschweiler – it’s now a thriving dining pub; and the Government did well in updating and improving the Bradda Glen Restaurant complex, now brought to life again by Bob and Sheila Creasey. Some hotels have been tastefully converted into apartments.

So authentic conversion and updating, though not easy in today’s flat market, is possible.

Let’s have a public vote to register the Top 20 ‘Grot spots’

Here’s the personal opinion of Hugh Davidson:

The island is a beautiful country, but its built environment is letting it down.

This makes it less attractive to live in, visit, or do business in.

We are rightly positioning ourselves as a modern international business centre, but highly visible derelict buildings and demolition sites undermine this promise.

As our tax advantages reduce, so our ‘quality of life offer’ increases in importance.

The new Local Government and Building Control (Amendment) Bill, raising penalties for dilapidated buildings, may improve small buildings, but will have little impact on large ones.

The Manx property market is flat and values have declined in recent years. Developers need lots of confidence in the market’s future to justify heavy upfront costs. This is currently lacking.

Our developers are skillful marketers and play a valuable role in our economy but require reasonable profits to be sustainable. The island needs imaginative new policies backed by government spending and a ‘carrot and stick’ approach towards developers. Some suggestions for discussion:

1.Dramatically increase government marketing spend, communicating our many advantages and attracting new people and businesses. While there are some excellent business development plans, the Island seems seriously under-marketed as a place.

2.Establish an innovative Dilapidated Building Register for highly visible dilapidated sites not in use. This could become known informally as the ‘Grot Spot Register’.

3.The Top 20 ‘Grot Spots’ to be registered could be established by public vote. Isle of Man Newspapers could lead this by publicising candidates submitted by the public and organising the vote. (Tip – focus on the top 20 and avoid distracting long lists.)

4.Owners of ‘grot spots’ could be legally obliged to publish an improvement plan within six months of registration.

5.After two years on the Register, any Top 20 ‘Grot Spot’ would become liable to pay rates on an escalating scale. ‘Grot Spots’ detract from community pride and owners should not be rewarded with rate holidays.

6.Owners of any large site empty for more than a year would be required to landscape and plant it within six months, to minimise adverse visual impact.

7.The Government shares a national interest with the private sector in bringing idle sites into economic use. It has succeeded with public/private partnerships in other sectors, and here is another opportunity to use these skills.

8.Developers could be granted a ‘Success Fee’ for bringing Grot Spots into productive use – eg 10per cent bonus for selling all 30 apartments in a new block within two years.

9.The requirement to reserve 25 per cent of new flats for low cost housing is equitable and sound. However it significantly reduces developers’ returns on land assets. The 25 per cent rule is a social policy and therefore government’s responsibility. It was also designed for a more buoyant market. Government could refund lost margin to developers.

Let’s upgrade our built environment so that we can be proud of it.

The island’s latest inflation figures have been published and once again it’s a confusing picture.

The August figures was published this morning.

It shows that the cost of living measured by the Consumer Prices Index has FALLEN by 0.5 per cent over the past 12 months.

But the Retail Prices Index says it’s RISEN by 4 per cent.

RPI includes the costs of housing (mortgage interest costs) while CPI does not.

They are also calculated under different mathematical formulae.

So if your pension and wage rises are calculated using CPI you’ll end up with less money than if they’re worked out on RPI.

On the CPI measure tea got 13 per cent more expensive, potatoes 12 per cent, children outerwear 11 per cent, telephones etc by 7.8 per cent.

The items that got cheaper were travel costs (9.5 per cent down), oil and other fuels (9 per cent), bacon (8 per cent) and biscuits and cakes (9.4 per cent).

Alcohol is up (beer off sales 1.1 per cent and wine 3.7 per cent) and so is tobacco (4.2 per cent).

Overall, food and non-alcoholic beverages are 1.8 per cent cheaper.

The basket of good was compiled based on the results of the Household and Income Expenditure Survey of 2013.

The government says the ‘relative importance of them is taken into account by weighting products according to average expenditure on each’.

Around 1,000 prices are collected for 500 items by staff at the government’s economic affairs division.

About 100 retailers and other organisations help by supplying price information or allowing access to their premises.

Using RPI, on average something that cost £1 in 2000 would cost £1.68.7 now.

Veterans’ groups will get an input into the options for the next government on reversing or amending the controversial move to end free TV licences for the over-75s.

From yesterday (Thursday) free TV licences were no longer be issued by the BBC to Isle of Man residents aged 75 or over.

Pensioners in receipt of income support or income-based jobseekers’ allowance will now get a payment from the Manx government to cover the cost of the licence.

In the UK, however, free TV licences for the over 75s will continue, part funded by the Westminster government until the BBC covers the full cost from 2020-21.

Veterans groups says that’s unfair - and they believe the line between those who should pay and those who should not has been drawn too low.

This week they met with Treasury Minister Eddie Teare and officers from his department and the Cabinet Office to discuss the end of the concession which was approved by Tynwald as part of this year’s Budget.

Colonel Charles Wilson said: ‘Government has two aims - to balance the books and look after the vulnerable. In the case of TV licences unfortunately those two aims have clashed.

‘We accept that some people should pay. Some people can well afford to pay. The government has to draw a line about who is and who is not vulnerable. However, in my view that line is too low.’

He pointed out that someone who is £10 over the threshold and so does not qualify for income support will end up being £140 worse off as they have to pay for their licence fee. He said this illustrated the ‘stupidity’ of drawing the line at income support.

Colonel Wilson accepted the scrapping of free licences from today could not be stopped as the Budget had been approved. But he said those at the meeting had given an undertaking to look at the situation again.

He said that a ‘Manx solution to a Manx problem’ was needed - and it would be a mistake to leave it to the BBC to make a decision.

Ending of free TV licences for the over-75s was very much an election issue, he added.

Mr Teare told the meeting that an issues and option paper would be prepared for consideration by the Treasury after the general election - and that the veterans group would have an input.

David Cretney MLC, who attended the meeting, said: ‘I think it was positive and we were realistic about what could be achieved.

‘At this stage nothing can be done about what has been put in place. This is about the unfairness compared with elsewhere. There needs to be a fairer solution.’

He said he believed that Treasury has ‘sneaked’ through the move in the Budget.

Mr Cretney added: ‘The Cabinet Office have made it clear that when it becomes fully funded by the BBC they expect the same situation to apply in the Isle of Man. They don’t believe the BBC has got it finalised yet.’

Mr Teare said: ‘It was acknowledged at the meeting that nothing could be done at the present time to reverse the removal of the concession or to provide help with the payment of TV licences going forward for persons aged 75 or over who are not receiving income support.

‘However, the representatives of the ex-services associations undertook to input into the issues and option paper which I know will be welcomed by the new administration in the autumn.’

A 45-year-old Douglas man has been convicted of a charge of disorderly behaviour on licensed premises.

Alexander John Gelling, of Brunswick Road, pleaded guilty to the charge and will be sentenced on October 11.

Prosecutor Hazel Carroon told the court how, at 6.20pm on January 16, police were called after an incident at the Woodbourne pub in Alexander Drive in Douglas.

Gelling was said to have been drinking in the main bar with some friends when another man was seen leaning towards him and a disagreement taking place.

The court heard that Gelling then asked the man to go outside with him and they were said to have been being aggressive with each other.

Gelling grabbed the man and pulled him towards the pub door and the pair began tussling in the corridor.

They were said to have been separated by other customers in the pub.

CCTV footage viewed afterwards by police showed the other man throw a punch at Gelling, though it was not clear if it had connected with him.

Defending Gelling in court advocate Andrew Marshall entered a basis of plea on behalf of his client.

In it Gelling said that he had entered the Woodbourne pub at 4.30pm with friends.

He said the other man was heavily intoxicated and was being loud, obnoxious, and verbally abusive.

Gelling said he had tried to ignore him but had become involved in an altercation where they both had hold of each other’s jacket. He added that a punch had been thrown but had missed.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes agreed to the preparation of a probation report before sentencing, which should consider all options, including custody.