The manager of the island branch of a charity which supports older people to continue to live independently has been promoted.

Jo Dixon, currently island manager for the MHA Live at Home charity, became area manager for the Isle of Man, Scotland and North West of England from May 1.

She began working for the charity in 2004 and took up her current role in 2013. Jo will continue to be based at the charity’s Isle of Man HQ at Willaston Church.

There are five Live At Home schemes in the island – Western, Northern, Onchan, Douglas, Laxey and Lonan – and the charity also runs the Northern Men in Sheds group.

All of these schemes are run by the local branch of the UK-based charity MHA.

Through their Live at Home schemes, they offer a range of services designed to enhance independence, and include regular social groups, lunch clubs, film clubs, shopping clubs, men’s groups all with transport provided.

They offer advice and signposting on accessing other support services, both third sector and statutory.

They also run befriending initiatives in which volunteers make regular visits to an older person to have a chat and a cup of tea, providing friendship and company.

Currently there are approximately 700 older people who are members of the island schemes, which are run by a team of 12 MHA staff and around 500 volunteers.

Nationally MHA runs 75 Live at Home schemes, along with 64 retirement living schemes and 86 care homes, supporting 16,000 older people. Its mission is to eliminate loneliness and isolation among older people by creating communities that care.

Jo said she was looking forward to taking up her new role, and added: ‘We have experienced significant growth in the need for our services on-island and in the UK over the last few years, and have been able to respond to that need in new and innovative ways by knowing our members and listening to them.

‘My new role will be on a more strategic level.

‘I will use the good practice demonstrated by our Isle of Man schemes to establish services and develop opportunities in line with identified needs of older people and their communities in parts of the UK which currently have minimal Live at Home community services.

‘I will be able to utilise the experience and skills acquired here on the island to drive growth, development and innovation throughout the communities of both Scotland and the north west of England.

‘With a growing ageing population, I feel we have a fundamental part to play in supporting our older generation to live independently in their own homes for as long as they are happy and safe to do so, by offering a range of services which offer quality in later life, and with a clear vision to reduce social isolation, loneliness and foster community engagement for all.’

David Gawne MBE, chairman of Isle of Man Live at Home Schemes, said: ‘I am delighted that Jo’s abilities, her drive and enthusiasm, which has resulted in the increasing and very considerable contribution which Isle of Man Live at Home Schemes are making to the lives of older people in the Isle of Man has been recognised by this significant promotion.

‘The appointment reflects an appreciation by our parent charity of what has been achieved here and reflects that the Isle of Man can and does produce the leaders and the blue print for the wider development of support to older people throughout the UK.

‘Jo leads a team of dedicated staff and volunteers who make a very real difference to the lives of potentially vulnerable people.’

If you want to volunteer to help one of the Isle of Man Live At Home schemes – or are over 60 and want to take part in its activities or know someone who does – phone 616571, email Isleofman.liveathome@mha.org.uk or find the charity on Facebook.

You can also visit the MHA website www.mha.org.uk

TT ace Ryan Farquhar is in a stable condition and doctors are happy with his progress following his crash at the North West 200 on Thursday evening.

A statement from his KMR Kawasaki team on Friday afternoon said: ‘Farquhar was leading Thursday evening’s race when he crashed at Dhu Varren on the third lap, later being taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. The 40-year old had a successful operation late last night and is now in a stable condition with doctors stating they are happy with the progress he has made thus far and are very optimistic he will make a full recovery.’

The team would also confirmed that it would compete in Saturday’s Supertwin race as scheduled, with Jeremy McWilliams, Danny Webb and Darren James set to run in KMR colours in the class.

A couple from Essex decided to break all the rules and have a wedding with a difference using Isle of Man heritage transport.

Mark Vousden, now O’Brian, and Nicola O’Brian wanted to stand out from the crowd on their big day by having a ‘steampunk’ wedding.

Steampunk incorporates Victorian dress inspired by 19th century industrial steam-powered machinery.

The pair, from Frinton-on-Sea, are both massive fans of science-fiction and Mark has had a lifelong passion for transport being involved in the industry for 26 years.

Mark said: ‘The whole steampunk scene incorporates the works of Jules Verne and H.G Wells with their theme of industrial sci-fi and travel to another time through sea, land and air.

‘The island is steeped in all of those things with the Victorian steam trains, the world’s oldest electric trams, horse drawn trams, a massive collection of vintage cars and buses, and we have history here so it was just the most natural setting!’

A vintage bus was used to take the couple and their 20 guests to the ceremony at Douglas Register Office and then to the reception at Bradda Glen. They enjoyed a horse tram ride along Douglas Promenade, a trip on the Electric Railway and also a tour of Port Erin Railway Museum.

Their wedding is believed to be the first steampunk themed wedding to take place in the island.

Both Mark and Nicola have a special connection to the Isle of Man. Mark visited on holidays in the 90s and he also encouraged Nicola to take up a seven month work contract with the island’s health service.

He offered to drive Nicola 300 miles to the sea terminal in Liverpool and she asked him if he’d like to come over for a couple of days as he knew the island and could show her round, despite the couple being broken up at the time.

‘He had the choice of walking away or buying a ticket for the island,’ Nicola said. ‘Even though the last minute ticket was going to cost him £103 and leave him broke until payday, he chose the latter, stuck it on the credit card and a couple was formed!’

Nicola described the day as ‘utterly bonkers’. ‘The last thing we wanted was an anodyne boring hotel wedding so we wanted something that no one would forget!’

A vigil will be held in St John’s to remember islanders who died in the First World War.

The all-night event, organised by The Royal British Legion, will mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme and will honour the 1,261 Manx people killed in the war.

It will be held on June 30 from 9pm to 7.30am on July 1 at the Royal Chapel of St John’s and the national War Memorial.

The names of all the Manx people who died in World War One will be read throughout the night and song ‘Sunset’ will be played at 10pm.

At 7am a reveille military call will be sounded and at 7.30am whistles will sound ‘Over the Top’. Ellan Vannin Pipes and Drums will also play ‘The Tunes of Glory’.

The Archdeacon of Mann, the Venerable Andie Brown, Chaplain to the Royal British Legion said: ‘This commemoration allows us all to acknowledge the sacrifices made to remember each individual, to pray for peace and to mark the futility of war.’

Fighting at the Battle of the Somme began on July 1, 1916 and lasted four and a half months. In total, 60 nations from the British Empire and Europe were involved in the fighting.

All individuals and organisations are welcome to attend the vigil.

Health bosses say a series of initiatives should improve the quality of care provided to people in the public and private sector.

They are aimed at the island’s healthcare assistants and care support workers.

The island’s Healthcare Assistant Forum has worked with Chief Nurse Linda Radcliffe to develop a code of conduct, introduce the Care Certificate and launch a mentorship programme.

Minister for Health and Social Care Howard Quayle MHK said: ‘Healthcare assistants and care support workers represent a significant proportion of the island’s health and social care workforce. In the UK for example, a recent review showed that this group made up around a third of the caring workforce in hospitals and now provide more time at the bedside than nurses.

‘These individuals are an integral part of the professional teams that provide care services in the Isle of Man. They are highly valued and deliver care with kindness, professionalism and skill. These new initiatives are designed to ensure that they are supported through consistent training to gain a greater appreciation of the role they have to play in raising the standard of care.’

The Healthcare Assistant Forum is made up of healthcare assistants from health and social care services within government as well as from private sector nursing and residential homes. It was formed to give the sector a voice on topics that affect it.

The new code of conduct has been adopted across the island and outlines seven of what healthcare bosses describe as ‘behaviours’ that must be adhered to. They include being accountable for actions and promoting privacy and dignity.

The Care Certificate, an award launched in England last year, has been adopted in the island. It has 15 standards covering areas such as duty of care, communication and fluids and nutrition.

Chief Nurse Linda Radcliffe said: ‘The new Care Certificate will help to ensure that our healthcare assistants and care support workers can provide consistently good quality care.’

The new certificate includes support for trainees through mentorship. To achieve this, a healthcare assistant mentoring programme has been developed to train existing staff, helping them to provide mentorship to new employees.

A defibrillator, paid for by the family of a Kirk Michael man saved by one, has been installed outside Michael Commissioners’ office in the village.

Chris Corlett’s family and friends funded the project after his heart stopped at work and an on-location defibrillator was used to resuscitate him.

Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation has bought 180 machines and is installing them islandwide, with the aim of having them placed on the outside of buildings.

The Isle of Man Ambulance Service, Rushen Emergency Ambulance, Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation and St John Ambulance have formed a steering group to ensure there is a standardised approach throughout the island.

Paul Healey, chair of Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation, said: ‘It feels very appropriate to launch this 2016 scheme using the equipment purchased through money raised by the Corlett family and friends after Chris Corlett’s life was saved by one of these machines.’

The island’s newest primary school will offer top-class facilities for pupils and the community in Douglas.

That is the view of Minister for Education and Children Tim Crookall MLC about the new Henry Bloom Noble Primary School on Westmoreland Road in Douglas.

The £9.5m school, which will open for the new academic year in September, will replace the ageing Ballacloan Infants’ School on Demesne Road and Fairfield Junior School on Tynwald Street.

The school has a two-court sports hall, an artificial all-weather pitch and outdoor play areas for pupils.

Minister Crookall said: ‘I was delighted that we were able to go to Tynwald and get the money through from treasury and my colleagues and get their support for this project. Now to see the school a few months away from completion and knowing what is coming for the students, teachers and the community is really exciting. I just can’t wait to see it open.’

Head teacher Ian Walmsley said it will be emotional to leave Ballacloan and Fairfield but said the new school will make ‘the world of difference’ to pupils and teachers.

‘We know it’s going to make a change, I’m expecting that change to be massive but I don’t know how big massive is yet. We’re going to look closely at what we need to do to use the building to its full potential.’

A Douglas teenager has been handed a suspended sentence after threatening is ex-girlfriend and kicking in a door.

Dillon Frazer Cowie, of Marathon Drive, pleaded guilty in court to charges of provoking behaviour and criminal damage.

The court heard how, on February 8, Cowie had gone to his ex-girlfriend’s house and contacted her from outside.

Cowie told her that he would ‘batter her if she contacted the police’.

She asked him to leave the area but he refused and it was only when the woman phoned her father, and he arrived in his car, that Cowie left the scene.

Cowie was later arrested for provoking behaviour and made no reply after caution.

In a separate incident on March 25 Cowie went to the Belsfield hotel in Church Road Marina in Douglas.

He had gone to see a man who he said owed him £700. The man refused to open his door and Cowie kicked it until it opened. causing £250 worth of damage.

Once in the room a verbal and physical altercation was said to have occurred between Cowie and the man.

Police were called and when they arrived they saw Cowie leaving the room with his shirt off.

He was detained by officers but was said to have been resistant and belligerent.

He was subsequently handcuffed and taken to police headquarters and told he was being arrested on suspicion of burglary.

Cowie told police: ‘I didn’t think it was burglary if someone was in at the time. I thought it was breaking and entering.

‘I can’t believe he’s pressing charges, he swung at me first. I’m not going to lie, I kicked his door through cos he was gobbing through the window.’

Defending Cowie in court, advocate Peter Russell said: ‘My client and his ex-girlfriend were together a number of months. Almost without fail, previous convictions eminate from incidents to do with that young lady. He would say at times he was provoked but she is no longer in his life.

‘An injunction from another court prevents contact. On the night, he was going round to collect some clothes and she wouldn’t let him in so he lost his temper.’

Talking about the second incident Mr Russell said: ‘Again, a case of not being able to manage his temper. He kicked out and damaged the door. Clearly he has anger management issues.

‘His parents said he was the angriest baby they had ever seen.

‘He recognises he stands in the last chance saloon. There are very much two sides to him. A charming, funny, caring side. The problem is what happens when the switch is flipped.’

Magistrates sentenced to six weeks’ custody for provoking behaviour and two weeks for criminal damage, to run concurrently, suspended for two years.

The court also ruled that due to the fact that Cowie had no income, there would be no order for compensation.

Dragons, crocodiles, elephants, rhinos and even Minions have been spotted on Peel beach, and there may even be a couple of snakes about too.

For the past couple of weeks, a sand sculpture artist has been encamped in a temporary open studio on Peel beach, and has set to work creating all manner of creatures out of the sand.

There are a range of Wallace And Gromit characters, and leering menacingly behind them is a giant seven foot crocodile.

There was a reclining elephant, but he mysteriously transformed into a chained dragon overnight.

The creations are all the work of Roger McGarva, who comes from Scarborough. Since he retired four years ago, he has spent his summers travelling around the UK and Europe and pitching up on any beach that takes his fancy, making his sculptures and raising money for charities along the way.

‘I’ve raised just under £10,000 in around four years,’ said Roger, on Peel beach as he added the finishing touches to the elephant’s trunk.

‘I do it on weekends, and when the weather’s right. People love it, kids love it.’

Roger first came to Peel last September following a friend’s recommendation.

He intends to stay in Peel for a couple more weeks, living out of his motorhome, and then maybe head to Port Erin and set up there. While he is in the island, he is raising money for the RNLI.

He began sculpting when, shortly after retiring, he met a man on Scarborough beach, who taught him the ropes.

‘I saw this man building these sculptures, and it was something I always wanted to have a go at,’ he said.

‘And it started from there. My son was in the Army, and he said: “Why don’t you do it for Help the Heroes, or something like that”. I think I’ve raised over £5,000 for Help the Heroes, but then I started to do it for local charities, like the RNLI.’

The biggest challenge Roger faces is the wind, drying out sculptures and making them fall apart. He was also threatened by some particularly high tides last weekend, which came close to washing his sculptures away. But by nature they are not permanent as all children know, even the biggest sandcastle can be changed in seconds.

‘They tend to last a couple of days, especially with the wind, and then I replace them,’ he said.

‘The best bit is when the kids come up and see the Minions, or the Wallace and Gromit sculptures they all go buzzing when they see them. I think they’re great too. That’s why I enjoy doing it.’

A pupil from Onchan Primary School has placed in the top five of a UK poetry competition with his poem capturing the essence of the First World War.

Josh Carridge’s poem entitled ‘War Zone’ tells the story of fighting on the frontline from an army major’s perspective.

More than 100 schools from across Britain entered the Never Such Innocence (NSI) Poetry and Art Competition which aimed to highlight the importance of soldiers who fought in the war and commemorate the centenary.

Youngsters could write a poem or produce a piece of art inspired by any of the events in the First World War.

Josh’s poem made it into the top five in the nine to 11 age category and he has been invited to attend an awards ceremony at the House of Lords on May 16.

He will be presented his award by General Gordon Messenger, vice-chief of defence staff.

>> Read War Zone by Josh Carridge by clicking this link

All year six (10 and 11-year old) pupils from Onchan Primary School entered the UK competition.

Teacher Hayley Prescott said she heard the news of Josh’s placing in the top five while on a school trip in Normandy.

‘I couldn’t believe what I was reading when I opened the email and I just felt so proud of Josh. It is so surreal that one of our pupils placed in the top five in the competition out of the whole of the British Isles.

‘We are all incredibly proud of Josh and all of year six for the hard work that they put into their poems, I wouldn’t have wished for the job of judging them all as the standard of our year six’s alone was outstanding.

‘We are just so made up that one of our pupils received a prize in reward for their work.

‘The compassion and empathy that Josh was able to demonstrate in his poem writing as an army major was exceptional. We can’t wait for our trip to London now to see Josh awarded for his talent and dedication!’

This was the first year that NSI invited children from the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey to take part in the contest.

Lady Lucy French, chair and founder of NSI, said: ‘I am delighted that our first year in the Crown Dependencies has been such a great success.

‘We are incredibly proud of what the children have produced for the competition and continue to be astonished by their emotional intelligence. They are creating a fantastic legacy for generations to come.’

A special checkout will be open at Tesco in Douglas on Monday aimed specifically for people who may have memory problems.

The Traa dy Liooar checkout is being launched in conjunction with Alzheimer’s Society Isle of Man to coincide with Dementia Awareness Week.

Susan Walker, from the charity, said: ‘The checkout will be opening for people who may have memory problems and need more time to go through.’

The Manx phrase ‘traa dy lioor’ translates as ‘time enough’.

Find out more baout the charity at their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AlzheimersSocietySupportIsleofMan613181/

The Isle of Man TT has been robbed of a second rising star in a matter of weeks after Malachi Mitchell-Thomas died during racing today (Saturday) at the Northwest 200 event in Northern Ireland.

Last year’s Manx Grand Prix Senior winner, who was aged 20 and from Chorley in Lancashire, was killed following an incident on the third lap of the Supertwin race on the approach to Blackhill, the same part of course where Ryan Farquhar crashed on Thursday evening.

The race was immediately red-flagged. No other riders were involved in the incident.

Mitchell-Thomas was treated by medical staff but succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Racing was subsequently abandoned.

The news follows the death of Isle of Man resident Billy Redmayne, who died just three weeks ago, aged 25, at Scarborough.

Redmayne was the winner of last year’s MGP Junior event.

He and Mitchell-Thomas were both due to make their TT debuts at this year’s event, which starts in two weeks’ time.

More than 45 people took part in the first island event to mark Pilates Day, held annually around the world on the first Saturday in May to promote awareness of the many benefits of the Pilates Method.

The event was organised by Pilates teacher and Pilates Method Alliance member Mo Sherring in conjunction with University College Isle of Man.

‘Master teachers within the international Pilates community are thrilled that Pilates Day has now been celebrated on the Isle of Man which is the spiritual home of Pilates,’ Mo said. ‘The day has been a fantastic success and I am delighted with the comments we received.’

The event included practical sessions covering basic matwork, use of small equipment and stretching, and a talk on the importance and function of larger apparatus used in Pilates studios.

Talks were given on the importance of balanced training, the benefits of Pilates for rehabilitation and Joseph Pilates’ history, including the time he spent developing the method while interned at Knockaloe.

Health Minister Howard Quayle gave his endorsement to the event and to the physical and mental health benefits of Pilates, saying one of the main goals set down in the island’s Health and Social Care Strategy is for residents to take ownership of a healthy lifestyle choice as far as possible

Meanwhile, Pilates enthusiasts can look forward to October 8/9 when international Master teacher Michael King will be visiting the island.

Rushen beat Old Firm rivals Peel 4-0 on Saturday evening to lift the Ascot Hotel Junior Cup.

Skipper Andy Moody gave the Spaniards an early lead in combination football’s showpiece match in the 10th minute when he poked home.

The Croit Lowey outfit’s good start against a young Peel side continued and they doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark when Mike Williams struck his first of the match.

Peel rallied a bit at the beginning of the second 45 but found themselves further behind in the 59th minute when Rushen midfielder Karl Staniford dispatched a fine effort from the edge of the area.

Man of the Match Williams rubber stamped his side’s victory inside the last 15 minutes when he lashed home Moody’s exquisite cross from the left.

Some fine goalkeeping from Peel stopper Owen Dawson kept the scoreline down in the closing stages as Rushen piled forward in search of a fifth.

Full report in Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner.

Saturday, May 14

Canada Life Premier League

Peel 3-0 DHSOB

JCK Division Two

Douglas Royal 13-2 Governor’s Athletic

Canada Life Combination One

Ramsey 3-0 Marown

RYCOB 3-6 Laxey

JCK Combination Two

Foxdale 1-3 Onchan

Ascot Hotel Junior Cup Final

Peel 0-4 Rushen

With the promise of warmer days ahead, and the official start of summer not too far away, we can start to look forward to holidays and trips abroad.

This is a perfect opportunity to remind you of the ManxSPCA’s dog boarding facility, with its underfloor heating, large pens, frequent walks, and access to veterinary care.

But if you can’t bear to be parted from your pet, then the Pet Travel Scheme could be for you if you are planning to travel to an EU or ‘listed country’ (see www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad for more details).

To qualify for the Scheme your dog or cat will require microchipping and it will need a rabies vaccination which has to be done after the microchipping. You will then be issued with a Pet Passport but your pet will not be able to travel until 21 days after the vaccination, and so you need to plan ahead.

If you already have a Pet Passport now is the time to check that your pet’s rabies vaccination is up-to-date.

And please also note that a registered veterinary surgeon is required to treat your pet dog for the EM tapeworm one to five days before they are due to return home.

Our rescue dogs enjoy the same comforts as our boarders, but the kennels environment is not a long term home and we endeavour to find ‘forever homes’ for the dogs as quickly as possible. We still have little Molly with us – she is the elderly Yorkshire terrier who has needed some dental work but who is in good health.

She has a very gentle and sweet nature, and is used to a quiet domestic environment with lots of routine and so her ‘retirement home’ needs to be similar.

She’s 15 but this breed can live into their 20s and so she could have many years as the perfect companion for someone – could this be you?

We also have an elderly gentleman to tell you about – Harvey is a tri-coloured, 10-year-old Jack Russell. He has a heart murmur and so will need to be medicated for this for the rest of his life, and the Society will help his new owner with the associated costs.

He is a cheeky little dog and, although he can be nervous of new situations, he is playful and friendly and very definitely young at heart.

The small animals unit and aviary are getting fuller by the day, with 60 animals coming in during the month of April including leverets and baby rabbits, an owl, and several corvids (a crow, a jackdaw and a rook).

This is a much higher figure than the one recorded for the same period last year, and the cold Spring weather has undoubtedly played a part. We still need volunteers in these units, not least to help with cleaning out and feeding our resident ducklings – currently numbering 15, and rising.

And finally to the cattery, where numbers are also increasing. Teddy, Bobo adore the various enrichment activities in their pens, particularly the shaggy rug sprinkled with catnip which provides them with hours of enjoyment.

Teddy and Bobo are father and son and they came to us because their owner developed health problems. They are similar in that they are both black and white and friendly and affectionate towards humans, but they have very distinct personalities with Bobo being a lot more confident than his father. They are pictured in one of the cat socialisation rooms playing on their catnip rug with Hazel who has, happily, just found a new home.

Several of our dogs and supporters will be attending an animal blessing service at Glen Maye Methodist Chapel on Sunday, May 29.

The service starts at 3pm and the Reverend Grace Easthope would like as many animal lovers and their pets to attend as possible, and so please mark the date in your diaries. And please don’t forget the bumper cat boot sale on May 21 at the Onchan Fun Farm.

It takes place 10am to 4pm and there will be a huge variety of stalls, with something for everyone, along with a barbecue and light refreshments.

This is a great fundraiser for the charity and so come along and show your support.

The views of the public are being sought about the island’s adoption process as part of a review by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The review aims to gain feedback on the adoption practices and opinions on whether changes are required and, if so, what form these might take.

Minister for Health and Social Care Howard Quayle MHK said: ‘Supporting parents to care for their children is an important priority for the Isle of Man Government.

‘We believe that strong families make strong communities but we must always put a child’s best interests before anyone else’s. When children can’t live with their birth families, a range of care options are available, including adoption. The process of adoption has lifelong consequences, so it is vital that we get it right for everyone, but particularly so for children.’

Island consultant Jane O’Rourke has been commissioned to independently facilitate the review.

Debbie Brayshaw, director of children and families’ social care service, said: ‘Without listening to the views of the community, we can’t establish a complete picture of the island’s “ideal” adoption process. Whilst our service has experienced professionals, the opinions that matter most are the children and their families and the members of the community who are touched by adoption.’

To share your views email manxadoption@gmail.com or write to Jane O’Rourke, c/o Adoption Review, 3rd Floor, Murray House, Douglas, IM1 2SF.

The Children’s Centre is coordinating a trip which will see 40 Manx youngsters help crew Stavros S Niarchos, a 60 metre-long square-rigged brig ship.

The week-long experience, which begins in Liverpool, is run by The Tall Ship Youth Trust.

The trust works to improve the self-esteem and confidence of young people aged 12 to 25 and encourages more active lifestyles.

During the trip 13- and 14-year-olds from secondary schools across the island will learn ‘life and citizenship skills’, as well as enjoying the experience of sailing on a spectacular tall ship, travelling wherever the wind takes them.

The Steam Packet is helping with the cost of travel to and from Liverpool for the 40 students and eight adults who will accompany them.

Adventure events fundraising coordinator at The Children’s Centre Mark Eastham said: ‘At The Children’s Centre we appreciate and understand the immense value of off-island trips such as the Tall Ship Voyage, and have seen the life-changing impact such experiences can have on young people.

‘Although the challenge is very demanding, it teaches the children the importance of team-building and self-confidence and is a fantastic way for these students to develop skills in a practical and exciting way.

‘The Steam Packet Company has been an active supporter of The Children’s Centre for many years, and we are very grateful it has agreed to assist with the travel costs for this trip once again. It is important such experiences are affordable, which makes this support so valuable in giving as many young people as possible access to opportunities like the Tall Ship Voyage.’

Steam Packet boss Mark Woodward said: ‘It is always a pleasure to help organisations like The Children’s Centre when we can, as they do such important work in the Isle of Man.

‘It is particularly fitting as a shipping company with a long and proud history that the Steam Packet Company is able to support these students as they experience life on a tall ship, and learn the value of teamwork and self-confidence that such a voyage will teach them.’

Peel’s camera club’s top photographic awards have once again gone to David Salter, successfully defending the title he won last year when he was a newcomer to the westerners’ society.

After a long but thoroughly enjoyable final competition of their season, the Western Photographic Society’s blue ribbon awards of Photographer of the Year and Best Overall Image went to the Port Erin-based cameraman.

Dave has been a member of the Southern Photo Society for several year but joined the Peel club last year, along with his good friend John Keelan, who is the southerners’ chairman.

Travelling the world on business in connection with his own chemical consultation business, Dave’s street photography, taken mostly in China, North American and the subcontinent is as varied as it is visually stunning.

These, together with equally impressive surfboarding images, mostly of his 18-year-old son, Greg, whose skills are of top professional quality, have won Dave several of the Open, Assignment and Sports-related competitions throughout the season since it began last September.

He was the strong favourite for the club’s top accolade, and tipped to romp ahead with ease. But, in a fantastic tussle on the night itself, he was closely chased throughout by one of the club’s two junior members, 13-year-old Rueben Allan.

And, when the judge’s scores were totted up in the closing minutes, Rueben had only been pipped by a single mark, he getting 83 out of a possible 100, and Dave Salter with 84.

Medal-winning Rueben, whose flora and fauna images have impressed judges for several years, and whose camera skills belie his age, had entered five cracking images, all of which were either placed or commended with high marks.

The annual open is the 11th and final competition in the Society’s calendar, and is where active members usually enter their best images which have done well in the previous ten. It is also where most of the hardware is up for grabs, six cups and trophies being vied for.

Every contestant enters five of his/her best images in any of the four classes; the three prints classes, mono, large colour up to A3, smaller A4, and the two digitally projected classes, mono and colour. Whilst limited to five images apiece, these can be can all be in one class or spread across all five sections, at the worker’s discretion.

It was judged this year, not for the first time, by former top island civil servant, the now retired David Killip, a long-term friend of the club. He was invited, as always, to award each image marks out of 20, placing his top five in each class and offer commendations to others at his choosing.

Opening the evening at Peel’s British Legion HQ, David revealed that 20 of the Club’s member had decided to contest the championship. As each had five images, they were each aiming for a total 100 marks.

These even numbers had allowed him some interesting calculations, he said. With 20 member going for 100, the total possible score in the comp. was 2000. When given the entries, the week before the event, and having made his choices and allocated each mark, he said the total achieved was 1535.

‘This was 76.75 per cent of the total marks available,’ he added. ‘If you were a university student, graduating with marks of 70% you would have achieved a first class degree.

‘So I think it’s fair to say that this club has every right to call itself fist class, and back that up with the stats!’

As he had perused the 100 images in him home in the week preceding the competition night itself, the judge said he had decided that 56 of them had been worthy of a commendation of some description, or had actually won its class.

In terms of numbrs, the mono prints section was least supported with only 12 entries. But what they lacked in quantity they gained in quality, and he said every one of them was commended to some degree, or had actually won its class.

In fact the mono image which did win this print section was one of Dave Salter’s five entries, a stunning informal portrait of an elderly Indian man carrying a heavy-looking bundle on his head as he walked through the streets of Mumbai. Dave also came third in this section with a superb surfboarding shot taken in Port St Mary Bay.

In the colour prints class, Dave Killip chose a simple but beautifully captured image by Ruth Nicholls, featuring an urn set in a Santorini seascape, which could easily have graced the pages of a Greek holiday brochure.

In the smaller A4 class David selected a crisp and colourful image of woodland fungi, taken by Carol Basnett, as his winner. Carol was also second in this class, and had a third image commended.

Moving to the digital images, projected on the big screen, the mono section went to Dennis Wood, who took first and second place. But Dave Salter took his already healthy points tally on the up by taking 3rd and fourth place.

Finally, in the Colour DPI section, a head and shoulders image by Doug Allan, featuring a Household Cavalry guard on duty, with just one eye peering menacingly into the lens from under his ornate helmet, which took the honours.

This became only the second image of the night to be awarded a faultless 20 marks out of 20, the other being the top black and white print by David Salter entitled ‘A Load on the Mind’.

Dave Killip said he consequently had to choose between these two informal portraits as to which he awarded the Best Overall Image of the Year Trophy. He chose the mono print, and when the points were totalled up this put Dave Salter with the additional much coveted Photographer of the Year trophy too.

Thanking the Club for inviting him back to judge their top competition, Dave Killip said it was, as ever, so difficult when presented with a hundred top class images. As it was an open comp., the range of subject was across the board, comparing macro images of insects with sweeping landscapes, or portraits with architectural patterns.

‘It’s like trying to compare Tchaikovsky with JMW Turner,’ he declared. ‘How do you start comparing apples with pears?’

It was obvious to all members whose images had been scrutinised, adjudicated and, it was felt, appreciated by David that he had spent many hours of his own free time doing so. He was thanked for this by Carol Basnett, standing in for husband Stan, the retiring Club chairman.

Results: 1st Dave Salter, 84 marks; 2nd Rueben Allan, 83; joint 3rd Patricia Tutt and Dennis Wood, 82; 5th Carol Basnett, 78; joint 6th Jim Lace and Doug Allan, 77 marks.

To view all the winners go to www.westernphotographic.org and follow the links from Annual Open and ‘Winning Images’.

A Colby man was among the top 100 finishers at the end of a 160-mile race across a desert, dubbed the ‘toughest footrace on earth’.

Oliver Walker, who is 25 and went to Buchan School, ran in the Marathon des Sables which takes place in the Sahara Desert in Morocco.

On average the course works out to be a marathon a day for six days, although the fourth stage is a gruelling 50 miles long.

He ran the race for children’s charity Hope for Children, which is involved in projects across Africa, Asia and the UK to educate, make healthy and empower the lives of disadvantaged children.

Oliver now lives in London, working as an insurance broker, but his parents Charlotte and Paul still live in Colby.

Asked how it felt to finish the epic races Oliver said: ‘It was a huge relief. Quite emotional, as it was not only the end of the week but also the end of six months of hard training and sacrifice.

‘I finished 97th with a time of 34 hours and 21 minutes, out of a field of around 1,200 that started. Only around 950 competitors finished the race.’

Oliver has so far raised £6,918 and hopes to reach a target of £8,000.

Growing up in the island Oliver was a keen fencer and won a fencing scholarship to Harrow School.

He said: ‘I signed up to the Marathon Des Sables without ever having run a marathon.

‘The hardest thing was trying not to let the thought of the remaining distance of however many miles overwhelm me.

‘This was matched also by trying to run in the heat of the day across baking earth while carrying a heavy backpack.’

‘It was a great week and I enjoyed every step of the race. I think my success was down to a few things, most of which were lucky, namely a lack of blisters, injuries or illness. Also thinking correctly and listening to my body – taking on water, salt and food regularly.’

Oliver said that he would do it again, but not anytime soon, and that the best thing about the experience was the ‘bringing together of hundreds of like-minded people and seeing the power of the human spirit in action – the camaraderie.’

He added: ‘It was the best, richest and most rewarding experience I have had and definitely something that I would recommend to everyone.

‘It pushes you towards your mental and physical limits requiring you to draw on your character. It was everything I wanted it to be and more.’

He was given approximately 11 litres of water a day and shelter – a bivouac – but had to carry food and camping gear which weighed roughly 8-9kg.

During one of the previous races an Italian man got lost for 10 days in the desert before being rescued by a nomadic tribe in Algeria.

You can still donate Oliver’s Hope for Children cause by visiting mds2016.everydayhero.com/uk/oliver

Have you noticed that more than a few things that are part of our everyday lives have got new titles.

Same old, same old, but either re­branded or renamed.

Such as the one-time personnel officer who now works in human resources, or to make it sound even more important, HR. A shop assistant is now a sales advisor or, if it is a posh shop, a sales executive.

Do you ever watch Eggheads on the telly?

It’s a quiz programme in which a guest team of five contestants come up against a resident team of fantastic memories, the Eggheads.

When the contestants introduce themselves they’re always managers or team leaders or executives of one sort of or another.

It seems to be a bit like the thinking that shies away from encouraging kids to try and win the race. Forget the winner, praise the losers who get a certificate for taking part.

Society must not be seen to embarrass the runner-­up by praising the winner.

Another promenade of pot holes, metaphorically speaking, is in the world of politically correctness.

Madam chairman, and her male equivalent, Mr chairman, have become, chair person or in some cases ‘the chair’. Firemen are now fire fighters, the spokesman is now spokesperson, and ladies who are happy to sell their services to eager gentlemen are now sex workers.

It’s not just political correction or gender neutrality that drives name changes.

Towns, cities and even countries can find themselves with new names. Think of the Bombay citizens who, one day, woke up to find that they now lived in Mumbai.

I would think the folk in Iran sometimes wish they were back in Persia, and if Cameron Mackintosh had written ‘Miss Ho Chi Minh City’ he would be quite a few quid poorer.

And it’s not just ‘foreigners’ who change their names.

We have friends who used to live in Cumberland. They haven’t moved but they don’t live in Cumberland any more.

Here, the nationalist party were out in force recently when the Einstein who designed the Census form shot himself in the foot. The name ‘Manx’ was deemed not to exist, and it re­ignited the debate about Manx definition.

The ‘how do you define a Manxman’ question has exercised the minds of nationalists and new residents alike, for as long as I can remember.

Recently, I called into a Douglas Chinese restaurant for at takeaway, The owner is without doubt a Chinese man who I have known for quite some time.

When we had finished our mutual greetings, he said that he had enjoyed reading the Pullyman column in the recent Independent.

I thanked him and commented that I didn’t think that my rambles would have been of any interest to a Chinaman.

‘That may well be,’ he replied in perfect English, ‘but I was born in the Isle of Man, I am Manx.’ And, you see, I have to agree with him.

Presumably, my friend the restaurateur, if he so wished, could stand for election in either local or national politics.

If so, theoretically he could become Mayor of Douglas, or even Chief Minister. And why not? He was born here. He also appears to be a man with more sense than to even give the matter any thought.

• Every penny counts.

In October last year, in the Peel Centenary Centre, Pullyman and Friends staged a show called ‘An evening of comedy, poetry, and tall tales”. It was a sell-out success.

On Friday, May 20, from 8pm we are bringing the show to the Erin Arts Centre.

Tickets (£5) are selling fast. All proceeds will be divided between two local charities, Parkinsons Disease and Alzheimers.

Tickets available from The Erin Arts Centre, Lexicon Book Shop, and online from pullyman.im

Enjoy the show and support the charities.