Chihuahua owners will have the chance to bring their dogs along to a unique chihuahua party.
The ‘Afternoon Chi Party’ will include a best dressed competition, raffle, games, a photo booth and plenty of snacks and drinks. Money raised will go to the MSPCA.
It will take place on Sunday, September 11, from 2pm to 4pm at Ark Jerkyll in Foxdale.
Email nikkiquinn@manx.net to confirm your place
Visiting delegates from the gambling world are set to enjoy a spectacular climax to this week’s KPMG eGaming summit.
The Palace Hotel and Casino in Douglas will host the closing event for the gathering onThursday.
It will also serve as the Autumn eClub event and the sponsors are hoping for a great turnout on the evening.
The event will start with drinks in Whispers Bar from 5.30pm and will be followed by an evening of games and live music in the Palace Casino, with drinks, canapés and a taste of the Orient courtesy of the ‘Majestic at the Casino’ Chinese restaurant.
The evening is open to all delegates attending the seventh annual KPMG eGaming Summit at the Villa Marina, and, as with all eClub events, anyone involved in eGaming or with an interest in the sector.
The Palace is owned by Sefton Group plc.
Adrian Brockhouse, Sefton Group plc operations director, and his management team are looking forward to staging the gathering which will bring the curtain down on this year’s summit, which will see more than 30 expert speakers and panellists from the world of eGaming.
Mr Brockhouse said: ‘The 2016 KPMG eGaming Summit is such an important event for the Isle of Man, with this sector already being such a significant local employer and with the potential to become even bigger, in turn helping the Department of Economic Development to achieve its vision of increasing the local workforce, job opportunities and people relocating here.
‘It is a fantastic opportunity to get together to look at the future of the sector, but also to fly the flag for Isle of Man plc and what an attractive proposition it is for companies to base themselves here. The Palace Casino was established more than 50 years ago and is the only such facility in the island. As such, we work closely with our counterparts in other areas of the local gaming sector and look forward to hosting them, as well as local eClub members, at this very special closing party which promises to be a fun and fitting conclusion to the island’s annual industry conference.’
eClub is a social meeting place for anyone involved or interested in eGaming in the Isle of Man.
Initiated by KPMG and Continent 8 Technologies, eClub offers a space for people working in the industry to make contacts, or discuss industry trends and developments.
For more information and how to get involved with eClub visit www.facebook.com/Isle
Home Affairs chiefs have defended the decision to convert Port Erin’s police station into a staff training centre.
The closure of Port Erin police station was announced in 2014 – less than 20 years after it first opened – as part of a major rationalisation of the police force’s management and local services.
But this month it reopened as a training base for personnel from across the Department of Home Affairs.
It will primarily be used for police training but also for the fire and rescue service, prison and probation service, emergency communications and emergency planning.
Three officers have relocated to Port Erin to work with new police recruits, as well as with experienced officers seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills.
The south is now policed from Castletown although a limited police counter service is provided at the Port Erin Commissioners’ office on Bridson Street.
In a statement, the DHA said the original plan had been to create a police training centre at its new Tromode headquarters – but that this would have cost more than price likely to fetched by the sale of the police station which it said would require a lot of money to convert.
It said: ‘As part of the overall reorganisation of the DHA estate, the police training facility on Murray’s Road in Douglas closed earlier this year. The intention had been to redevelop an area of the department’s new corporate headquarters at Tromode as a police training centre.
‘However, the department was informed that the cost of this work would potentially exceed the receipts generated by selling Port Erin police station. The station was also said to have limited appeal on the open market as significant funds would be required to convert it for residential or commercial use from a bespoke police station.
‘Consequently, the department opted to retain the former police station in Port Erin for use as a staff development centre. The building is now serving as a training base for personnel from across the department, including the Isle of Man Constabulary.’
The DHA said staff savings had been achieved through a reduction of nine posts within the southern neighbourhood policing team – one inspector, one sergeant, six constables and one secretary.
It had not been considered ‘operationally viable’ to split the remaining members of the team across two police stations just six miles apart and so, following a strategic assessment, the decision was taken to consolidate resources at Castletown.
Reorganisation of the estate, merging of services and the relocation of staff have contributed to savings of more than £10m since 2008, said the DHA.
Son y chied cheayrt ta ymmyd er ve jeant jeh pooar yn tidey dy yannoo lectraghys son ymmyd ayns thieyn sleih. She yn Shetland Tidal Array, va troggit liorish sheshaght-ghellal veih Doon Eidjyn, yn chied ghreie ta giennaghtyn lectraghys veih pooar yn tidey t’er ve kianlt rish grid marçhantagh, as eh jannoo pooar da ny dussanyn dy hieyn ayns ny hellanyn.
Ta shoh er chur taitnys mooar da leeideilee yn jeidjys pooar aa-noaoil, son dy vod ny smoo dy varrant y ve currit er y tidey na er geillyn pooar aa-noaoil elley.
Foddee bodjallyn coodagh yn ghrian as ta laghyn tra nagh vel monney geay ayn, agh bee pooar yn tidey ayn dy reiltagh choud’s as ta’n eayst goll mygeayrt yn chruinney.
Nish dy vel eh er ve soilshit dy vod greieyn pooar yn tidey gobbragh, foddee Nalbin leeideil yn seihll ayns croo greieyn dy ghoaill vondeish er pooar ny marrey. Oddagh yn phooar aa-noaoil shoh ve feeu wheesh as £120 billioon as foddee Nalbin geddyn greim er cooid nagh nee beggan jeh’n vargey shen.
Ta ny smoo dy phooar tidey ry gheddyn ’sy cheayn mygeayrt Nalbin na ayns boayl erbee elley ’syn Oarpey. Ta tidal array elley goll er troggal nish hene ayns Pentland Firth, clagh-veeilley elley gys Nalbin çheet dy ve ashoon slane aa-noaoil. Foddee shoh leodaghey yn mooadys dy charbon ta currit magh as croo obbyr ‘ghlass’ er fud yn çheer. Va ny blodyn cour ny turbineyn ayns yn Shetland Tidal Array jeant ayns ny hellanyn hene, agh ta sheshaght ghellal Velgagh cooney neesht. Ta sheshaghtyn-dellal elley veih er feiy ny cruinney çheet gys Orkney dy phrowal ny greieghyn oc.
T’eh smooinit dy voddagh pooar ny marrey giennaghtyn 20 gys 80,000 oor Terawatt (TWh) dy lectraghys veih tidaghyn, strooghyn as tonnyn chammah as caghlaaghyn ayns çhiass yn ushtey as cre wheesh dy hollan t’ayn. Son co-soylaghey, ta yeearree yn chruinney son lectraghys ec y traa t’ayn mysh 17,500 TWh.
For the first time the power of the tides has been used to make electricity for use in people’s homes.
The Shetland Tidal Array, built by a firm from Edinburgh, is the first tidal energy generating plant to be connected to a commercial grid, providing power for dozens of homes in the islands. This is hugely encouraging to the leaders of the renewable energy industry, because the tides are more reliable than other renewable energy sources.
The sun may sometimes be covered by clouds and there are days when it is not windy, but tidal power is constant as long as the moon goes round the earth. Now that tidal power has been proven to work, Scotland is in a position to lead the world in creating technologies to exploit marine energy. This renewable power source could be worth as much as £120bn and Scotland is set to capture a significant portion of this market.
More tidal power is available in the seas around Scotland than anywhere else in Europe. Another tidal array is being installed in Pentland Firth, another milestone towards Scotland becoming a completely renewable nation. This can reduce carbon emissions and create green jobs across the country. The blades for the turbines in the Shetland Tidal Array were fabricated in the islands themselves, but a Belgian company is heavily involved in the project as well. Other companies from around the world come to Orkney to test their technologies.
It is believed that marine power could generate 20 to 80,000 Terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity from tides, currents and waves as well as changes in water temperature and salt content. For comparison, the current global demand for electricity is about 17,500 TWh.
FIM Capital Limited, an Isle of Man based investment management and fund administration company, has recently announced the appointment of Mary Tait to its main board.
Mary joined FIM Capital Limited in January 2010 after 17 years in the investment management industry.
She specialises in the management of private client and fiduciary investment portfolios as well as providing evaluation services to trust companies and family offices.
Mary is an individually chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment in the UK and Isle of Man and is a member of the Institute of Administrative Management having gained her Offshore Certificate in Company and Trust Administration in 1995.
Business flights to London City were disrupted this morning following a protest staged by Black Lives Matter campaigners.
Met Police said it was called to the site at about 5.40am after nine protesters stormed the runway.
The protesters were subsequently arrested. The runway has now reopened and fligts have resumed.
‘We apologise for any inconvenience caused to passengers this morning and advise to check with airline for the latest information on your flight.’
The 6.55am BA service from Ronaldsway was cancelled and other morning flights on the route delayed.
Black Lives Matter UK said the action was taken in order to ‘highlight the UK’s environmental impact on the lives of black people locally and globally’.
A statement said: ‘Whilst at London City Airport a small elite is able to fly, in 2016 alone 3,176 migrants are known to have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean. Black people are the first to die, not the first to fly, in this racist climate crisis.’
The precise cause of an accident, which saw one of the island’s historic steam locomotives derailed, is being investigated, but a cause has not yet been confirmed.
Isle of Man director of public transport Ian Longworth declined to comment further on the accident until an accident report is complete.
Rail services were disrupted when the locomotive derailed just outside Castletown station at around 2.30pm on Friday afternoon.
Passengers who were on the train were taken to their destination using a replacement bus service and workmen from the Department of Infrastructure inspected the line on Saturday to assess the possible cause of the accident.
Mr Longworth did not wish to comment on the accident but said normal service resumed the day after, on Saturday and as far as he was aware there had been no injuries as a result.
No official statement about the accident was released, but it was believed the locomotive might have jumped one of the points sections as it approached Castletown.
A statement released on Twitter said a replacement bus service would operate on Friday in place of the 5.45pm commuter train to Port Erin and the 7.15pm service from Port Erin to Douglas.
Morning services were also cancelled on Saturday between Douglas and Port Erin, once again replaced by an alternative bus service.
The normal steam railway service resumed later on during Saturday.
In March a tram on the Snaefell Mountain Railway was derailed and destroyed after running down hill from the summit. No passengers were on board at the time.
Great racing and a fortnight largely free of serious incidents made this year’s Manx Grand Prix an outstanding event, according to Manx Motor Cycle Club chairman Harvey Garton.
The Manx Grand Prix saw modern bikes competing on the famous TT mountain course on Monday, Wednesday and Friday culminating in the Senior race won by Tom Weedon by less than a second over second-placed Ramsey resident Andrew Dudgeon.
The event runs in tandem with the Classic TT, which took place over the bank holiday weekend, under the umbrella title of Festival of Motorcycling.
After bad weather forced new clerk of the course Gary Thompson to cancel the opening night’s practice, things took a turn for the better with sun dazzle being the riders’ biggest problem most nights.
‘As far as the racing goes, it was just about as good as it gets,’ Mr Garton said.
‘The racing was close, not just at the top end but there were dices between competitors lower down the field. And it was great to reach the end of Friday’s final race without a single incident. Another point is that I understand there were very few incidents on open roads either, which again is very positive.’
He also praised the marshals for turning out to support the event.
The 2017 Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT runs from August 19 to September 1.
The funeral takes place tomorrow for former Middle MHK and government Minister Martyn Quayle who died in hospital last month following a tragic accident.
Mr Quayle was found unconscious at the foot of a flight of stairs in Douglas a few weeks ago.
He was airlifted to Walton Hospital in Liverpool with head injuries and was put in an induced coma but sadly he passed away on Friday August 26. He was just 57. His family was with him when he died.
His funeral service will take place tomorrow (Wednesday) at Marown Parish Church, at 2pm, following by burial in the churchyard.
Martyn Quayle was first elected to the House of Keys in 2001. During his political career, he was appointed Minister for Home Affairs, Tourism and Leisure and Social Care. He grew up in Glenlough Farm and lived in Ballahutchin House in Marown. He leaves his two older brothers Peter and John and is survived by mother Elaine.
In an obituary notice published in this week’s Examiner, his family described him as a ‘true Manx ambassador who put his heart and soul into everything and was so proud to be MHK for Middle’.
They added: ‘Martyn’s family wish to sincerely thank the staff at Noble’s Hospital and the Walton Neurological Centre for all the special care that he received.’
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Hospice Isle of Man or the Isle of Man Agricultural Benevolent Trust c/o JC Fargher, Ballafreer House, Union Mills.
Entrepreneur Bianca Miller will be the special guest at an event in the island later this month.
Bianca entered BBC Business competition ‘The Apprentice’ in 2014 and beat 80,000 applicants and 18 candidates to make it to the final where she proposed her concept for ‘True Skin’.
Bianca went on to launch her hosiery brand ‘Bianca Miller London’ in November 2015
Island businessman Jean-Paul Nguegang said An Evening With Bianca Miller will be entitled: How to be a Self-Made Entrepreneur.
He said the event should be of interest to lots of people. Mr Nguegang is founder of the Global Community Foundation, an island based charitable foundation.
The event takes place on September 30 at the Palace Hotel,Douglas.
Two further events are being planned:
l An evening with Dan Ashworth, English FA technical director,at the Empress Hotel, Douglas, on October 14
l Magic of Motivation: Super secrets of world class leaders with Paresh Rughani on October 24 , lunchtime, at the council chamber, Douglas town hall
All bookings are via: www.thegcf.org.im
Roadworks taking place on the main Ballabeg to Colby road are going to take weeks longer than originally planned.
The scheme, which began in mid August was originally scheduled to be completed in three weeks.
Buy now the roadworks are not due to finish until October 3.
The road has been closed from Cronk y Thatcher in Colby to the B42 Ronague Road in Ballabeg on a rolling basis each day between 9.15am and 5pm.
In a statement, the Department of Infrastructure’s highways division said the scheme turned out to be a bigger job than first thought.
It said: ‘Work taking place on the A7 Ballabeg to Colby Road will continue during September to enable further improvements to be carried out.
‘During the scheme it has become apparent that sections of the road require full reconstruction rather than just resurfacing.
‘In addition, the opportunity is being taken to widen a section of footpath in Ballabeg leading to Arbory primary school, which involves replacing and repositioning part of the water main. New hydrants and water feeds to nearby properties will also be installed.’
Once Arbory school reopens tomorrow (Wednesday), the road will be fully closed only when necessary, said the highways division.
At other times, traffic lights will be in operation to help the flow of vehicles.
The school will be accessible during pick-up and drop-off times and access to properties will be maintained.
signs
Motorists are urged to abide by the road closure signs and to drive at an appropriate speed through the roadworks at all other times.
The public transport division is working with highway services to continue bus operations through the roadworks. Efforts will be made to ensure that any changes to scheduled bus services are notified in advance.
‘The scheme, which is now scheduled to finish on 3 October, will improve the lifespan and ride quality of the road, enhance footpaths, kerbing and drainage, and limit traffic speeds to support the safety of all road users, especially children attending the school,’ said the DoI spokesman.
Meanwhile, there have been strong protests at the possible use the old railway line in Foxdale for a temporary relief road when a £800,000 roadworks project in Higher Foxdale gets underway.
The scheme, which involves closing Foxdale’s main road, was initially forecast to last nine months but is now due to take eight months. The DoI hopes the project can start on October 3 but is waiting for planning approval for the work at the Mine’s Road junction.
It has also submitted a planning application to use the old railway line to allow traffic into the village from the St John’s direction. More than a dozen objections to that plan have been been lodged from those worried about safety of their children and the loss of a pleasant country walk.
The scheme involves reconstructing a 500m stretch of the road and footpath from Dove Cottage to Costain’s Yard and laying a stormwater pipe down the centre of the road.
A general election candidate has appeared in court charged with drink driving.
Nigel Anthony Dobson, 63, who is standing as a candidate in Garff, is accused of driving with excess alcohol on Groudle Road on September 2.
No plea was entered.
The case was adjourned by the Deputy High Bailiff to September 29 when it will go before the magistrates court.
Mr Dobson, of Ballachrink Drive, Onchan, was granted bail in the sum of £500.
The other candidates standing in Garff are Andrew Barton, Daphne Caine, Martyn Perkins and Andrew Smith.
An appeal has been launched to find the missing Moddey Dhoo sculpture.
The sculpture, created by Tom Cringle, had been borrowed by the Women’s Institute for its stand at the Royal Manx Agricultural Show at Knockaloe Farm in Patrick.
It disappeared after it had been left overnight following the show.
Fenella Gray, from the Port St Mary branch of the WI, said: ‘It was going to be picked up the next day, on the Monday, and when they went to pick it up it had gone. We thought it was a practical joke at first but it’s gone on for long enough now. We just want to know if anybody has seen or come across him. I have spoken to everyone and nobody has seen him.’
The Moddey Dhoo is the creation of leading Manx fell runner and plumber Tom Cringle. He made the artwork from wooden pallets in his spare time.
At the beginning of the year the sculpture had to be moved from the entrance to Peel Castle after it had been put there without permission.
Tom had originally placed his artwork on top of Peel Hill but after it was damaged in the storms before Christmas, he moved it to a new location guarding the entrance to Peel Castle.
Tom is also responsible for the Holly King sculpture, which appeared in numerous locations in December.
If anybody has any information about the Moddey Dhoo’s whereabouts contact Fenella on 837247 or email fenellagray@manx.net
St John’s Produce Show at the village’s Methodist Hall attracted a whopping 623 entries on Saturday.
The show was raising funds for Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association (Peel and Western Branch) and Bridge the Gap.
The Premier Award Millennium Rose Bowl for Best Exhibit in Show and the Ffinlo Corkill Cup for Best Vegetable Exhibit was won by the Sloane Family.
Audrey Corrin won cups for the best exhibit in sweets, jams and pickles, the best plum jam, the best cooking apple, and the most points in the sweets, jams and pickles section.
Best exhibit for any other variety jam was won by Jean Jackson, while Tricia Craig scooped the cup for best exhibit of marmalade.
Helen Robinson won the cup for the best confectionery exhibit, with the best chutney award going to Voirrey Quirk.
The award for most points in the confectionery section went to Paul Kelly.
Best chocolate cake was won by Janet Foss and best special fruit cake went to Angela Whitlow.
Best children’s biscuits went to Kitty Ayres, while Reuben Allan won the best children’s confectionery (11 to 16 years) and best photography exhibit.
Kaitlyn Adshead won the most points award in the children’s confectionery section and most entries in the children’s confectionery section.
Isaac Allan was the winner of the children’s confectionery award by a child under 10.
Clyde Quine took the cup for best dahlia exhibit and best exhibit of flowers.
Dorothy Faragher was a big winner with eight trophies, including most points and entries in the flowers section, best vase of roses, best chrysanthemum exhibit, best reflex chrystanthemum exhibit, best sweet pea exhibit and most entries in the vegetable section.
Best aster exhibit was won by Robert Quayle, while the best floribunda rose went to Eric Goldie.
Maeve Quaye won the most points in the flowers and vegetables by a St John’s resident as well as the best rose.
Best pot plant went to Eric Craker. Best potato and best onion exhibit was won by Ian Watterson.
Vanessa Callin won the best tomato exhibit while Jim Caine scooped the award for best carrots.
Best posy of flowers went to Rubyann Craker.
The produce show committee is asking for new ideas for the 2017 show and are also looking for new committee members.
Anyone interested should call 801467 or email sjps@manx.net
A Sulby teenager will spend his 18th birthday in prison after being jailed for 12 weeks for nine driving offences.
Thomas Daniel Richards, of Ballabrooie, was involved in a 70mph car chase with police despite not having passed a driving test.
He pleaded guilty to the nine charges and was also in breach of a suspended sentence imposed in October 2015.
The court heard how, on June 21 at 9.50pm, a policewoman who knew Richards only held a provisional licence, saw him drive past Ramsey bus station in a bright orange Vauxhall Corsa not displaying any ‘L’ plates.
He was reported and was also later seen at Corkill’s garage in Onchan.
Police spoke to Richards, who will not be 18 until September 18, and he admitted driving in Ramsey and Onchan. He was charged with driving with no vehicle licence, no insurance, no driving licence, and failing to notify a change of ownership.
In a second incident, on July 26 at 3.20am, police saw Richards in 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 but he reversed the car away, 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 40mph zone but were still not gaining on the teenager.
Richards turned up towards the school, again on the wrong side of the road, still not stopping despite police sirens.
In the Mount Rule area police lost sight of the Polo. The car was traced to Richards’ stepfather who said he had not given permission for the car to be used. Richards pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, taking a vehicle without consent, having no insurance, a licence offence and failing to stop for police.
Chairman of the magistrates Pat Costain told the teenager: ‘Dangerous driving in a built up area involving a police chase is a serious offence. There was a real risk of injury to other road users. Only yesterday in the UK there was a report of a 10-year-old and his aunt killed with a stolen car during a police chase.
‘You have a long list of previous road traffic offences. Despite your young age we consider the dangerous driving was so serious that custody is the only option.’
Richards was sentenced to six weeks jail for dangerous driving and six for breaching the suspended sentence.
He was also disqualified from driving for two years.
Materials to build six new bridges in Dhoon Glen have been airlifted into the area by a helicopter.
The new bridges are being constructed to improve access to the glen.
Island company EG Services were employed by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture to carry out the work.
The company decided to bring in specialist airlift contractor PDG Helicopters to fly in the materials and remove the existing bridges.
Schools have been encouraged to teach their students the Manx National Anthem, following comments made by politicians and members of the public saying that youngsters don’t know the words.
The Department of Education and Children sent an email to all schools stating that members of the public, politicians and government officers had noticed there has been ‘relatively low’ engagement from children with the island’s National Anthem, O Land of Our Birth.
It said that ‘the finer detail of the content of curricula is delegated to schools but it seems there is little argument that pupils should be aware of at least the first verse of the national anthem’.
The DEC stated that more consideration and encouragement should be given to how it is included in the curriculum so students have more opportunities to learn the words.
The email however also said that pupils were proud to join in with the wider community in singing the anthem at events and the response from students has been positive.
A statement issued by the DEC said: ‘Follow ing a small number of comments from members of the public, the Department of Education and Children recently asked schools to consider how the National Anthem of the Isle of Man is incorporated into the curriculum and provide encouragement to young people to engage with the anthem during significant events in which it’s included.
‘The Department of Education and Children believes it is important that students develop a strong sense of pride in the Isle of Man and an understanding of the richness of Manx heritage and culture.
‘Joining in with singing the anthem would form part of that and would be in line with a Tynwald resolution of January 2003, which states that is should be custom and practice that the National Anthem of the Isle of Man is used on official and ceremonial occasions, in schools and a 2011 Curriculum Order, which states that “where appropriate, the content of all subjects shall include references to Manx culture and history”.’
It adds: ‘Schools on the Isle of Man would routinely address many such aspects of Manx history and culture within the curriculum and are proud to do so.’
Both primary and secondary school students in the island return to school today (Wednesday).
Thrillseekers flocked to Jurby Airfield for the annual Drag Fest on Sunday.
Saturday’s racing was cancelled due to the rain but Sunday’s sunny weather attracted a huge crowd of more than 2,000 people who thoroughly enjoyed a great day of racing.
The event, now in its fifth year saw local pit their vehicles against visiting teams from the UK.
Personal bests were set by Gary Leach from Peel on his Kawasaki with 8.8 seconds, and fellow Peel man Fynlo Hughes who recorded nine seconds for the first time. Matthew Draper competed in his first Drag race on a pre-1980 Yamaha reaching the semi-finals only to be beaten by the eventual winner in that class, Mark Patman.
The junior class was won be Liam O’Leary from Ballaugh on a 250cc competition drag bike who also broke the track record three times.
A large field of cars also thrilled the crowds with Ian Merryweather, from Ballaugh, and his 1941 Willys Coupe winning the 14.30 class.
Kieran Baxter won the 13.30 class in his Honda Civic and Malcolm Forbes won the 10.30 class competition in his Slingshot Dragster.
The top car class was one to watch with four cars over from the UK and one from the island. Ben Rushforth from Yorkshire in a V12 Jaguar-powered dragster won the class with a time of 9.24 seconds.
The new group marketing manager for the Sefton Group says she feels proud to be working for ‘such an iconic Manxbrand.’
Merita Taylor is responsible for management of the strategic and operational marketing activity for all of the brands within the company’s portfolio including the Best Western Palace Hotel and Casino, the Sefton Hotel, the Sefton Express Hotel, the Palace Cinema, Palace Bingo, Palace Slots, the Palace Health Club and Paragon Bar and Restaurant.
She will also have a strong focus on the Group’s gaming proposition in her new role.
Merita has significant strategic marketing, communication, PR, brand management, event management and sponsorship experience gained in the UK, across the offshore islands and internationally, and has worked for a number of blue-chip corporations in a broad range of sectors.
She has a longstanding interest in motorcycle racing, and has managed brand activation campaigns for a number of the Isle of Man TT’s headline sponsors.
She has experience of working on both sides of the media, having reached senior management level as a national broadcast journalist in addition to her marketing experience, and holds professional qualifications in both areas.
Merita said: ‘Working with a Group that owns so many different brands operating across such a diverse number of sectors presents a real challenge, and one which I am looking forward to. I have joined Sefton Group plc at a very exciting time in its development, and I am very proud to be working for such an iconic Manx brand.’
Brett Martin, Sefton Group plc chief executive officer, said: ‘I am delighted to welcome someone with Merita’s experience to our senior management team. The leisure and hospitality sector in the island is at an important stage of its development as we look not only to diversify and extend the tourist season, but also to create an exciting proposition for local residents. Merita will play a key part in this and I am looking forward to working with her.’
Outspoken island businessman and author Jim Mellon claims Bank of England governor Mark Carney should be fired.
Mr Mellon, 59, says UK prime minister Theresa May should ‘fire’ the Canadian for ‘stupidly’ cutting interest rates.
The Isle of Man resident adds: ‘I am happy to write a short piece for Mrs May if she summons me (in my dreams!) on just how we can turn the UK into the world’s fastest growing major economy, but the first thing she needs to do is to exile Mr Carney.’
Mr Mellon is in the SundayTimes Rich List with wealth estimated at £850 million, and is director of the Isle of Man based Burnbrae Group.
In a hard-hitting ‘Mellon on the Markets’ article for Master Investor, an emagazine for investors and traders, Mr Mellon describes the Bank of England governor as ‘Mark Carnage.’
Last month the Bank of England slashed interest rates to a new historic low of 0.25 per cent
Mr Mellon says: ‘Inflation may appear to be low, but if you are a consumer of services, or of housing, or of coffee shop time, or of public transport, you will not find it to be so.
‘Sure, electronic goods and textiles have been falling in price (not any more though!) and this has masked the true rate of inflation, which is much higher than the official stats suggest.
‘This is why Mark Carney should be fired – at once, preferably.
‘I talked about the plague and curse of academic/investment banking central bankers at the MasterInvestor Show [in London] this year, and how they were manipulating economies into long-term stagnation with their ever running printing presses and distortion of the Wicksellian rules on the true rate of interest and allocation of capital.
‘Well, Mark Carnage is at it again. He has stupidly cut interest rates and reinstated QE at a time when he should be raising interest rates and selling bonds. He left Canada in an almighty mess, and he’s going to do it to the Brits unless Theresa May gets rid of him.
‘What the British govern -ment should be doing is borrowing as much as they can – possibly as much as £1 trillion – at 1 per cent for 100 years, then use the money to cut taxes (corporate tax to zero) and to kick-start infrastructure and really improve education.
‘And by education, I mean continuous education throughout life, because the modern world demands it.
‘We all need to embrace a process of updating our skills; otherwise those darn robots are going to turn us into redundant proles.’
Mr Mellon was writing the article on the train from Edinburgh to London, having just made his 30th visit to the Edinburgh Festival.
He said: ‘Every year, the Fringe gets bigger and wackier, and every year the ticket prices go up – in fact, quite a lot!
‘This ticket price inflation contributes to a noticeable change in the demographics of the audience – i.e. they are getting older (as am I!).
‘When I first started going, tickets were generally a pound or two, and now they are between 10 and 15 pounds.
‘Young people simply can’t afford them, so apart from being denied decent affordable housing and a free education, they are also denied culture.
Mr Mellon praises Janet Yellen, chairman of the powerful board of governors of the American Federal Reserve.
‘Mrs Yellen seems to get it – the world needs interest rates to go back to “natural” levels.
‘This needs to happen before savings are destroyed, productivity goes even further down the tank than it is, and capital stock erodes with old age.
‘I’m pretty sure there will be another interest rate rise in the US this month’.
The full article is at Master Investor.-