The mountain bike team for next year’s NatWest Island Games in Gotland has been announced.
Nick Corlett and Elliot Baxter will again head the men’s squad, along with Danny Curtis, Alex Rockwell and Lee Gale.
The women’s team is Emma Atkinson, Emily Looker and Kirree Quayle.
Beach Buddies will begin this weekend’s beach cleaning session from a new venue on Sunday morning, with volunteers meeting in the car park alongside the Old Grammar School in Castletown for a 10.30am start.
Organiser Bill Dale said: ‘We have cleaned the beach in this area previously, but always from the Scarlett end of the bay, so this is a new venue for us - and it has lots of parking spaces.
‘Having visited the area briefly this week, there is a fair amount of waste, largely plastic, to be removed.’
Beach Buddies provides all the necessary equipment but volunteers may prefer to bring their own gloves. Metal, glass bottles, tin cans and some plastics are all recycled - and the rest goes to the incinerator to generate free electricity.
New volunteers, of all ages, are always welcomed, especially families, and well-behaved dogs.
There’s no need to register - volunteers can attend for as long as they like, finishing no later than midday.
An Onchan woman who has cerebral palsy will undertake a major physical challenge on Saturday when she ‘cycles’ 45 miles to help a Ugandan family.
Kathryn Williams will be swapping her wheelchair for an exercise bike at the National Sports Centre to ride the equivalent of Douglas to Jurby in the Parish Walk.
The 36-year-old got the idea while working with Andrew Wansonele who visited the island with charity Scripture Union Ministries Trust.
While here Andrew learned how to establish businesses and now runs an internet shop in Uganda to support university students.
Kathryn said: ‘Andrew’s family have no hot water and only charcoal to cook on. His grandmother looks after numerous children with no income. Some are HIV positive and all live in poor conditions.’
Sponsor Kathryn by emailing kathrynwilliams@manx.net or visit Facebook ‘virtualparishcycle’ or Twitter @onchankathryn
EasyJet says it is introducing ‘firebreaks’ in its schedule to try to minimise the disruption to services – including flights on the Ronaldsway-Gatwick route.
The budget airline’s annual profits before tax fell from £686m last year to £495m, the airline blaming unprecedented external events such as strikes, severe weather and airport issues.
But commercial manager Ali Gayward told the Manx Independent that the three routes operated to Ronaldsway – from Gatwick, Liverpool and Bristol – were ‘all continuing to do well’. And she added: ‘We are committed to the Isle of Man.’
She said that, in response to demand, an extra rotation was being put on the Gatwick service on Saturdays next summer.
EasyJet hit the headlines over several weeks during the summer after passengers were left stranded in Gatwick when Sunday return flights to the island were delayed or cancelled overnight.
But Ms Gayward said of the 199 flights scheduled to operate to the island between June 1 and August 1 this year, only six were cancelled and five were delayed overnight. And she said the reasons were all out of the airline’s control such as air traffic control restrictions and adverse weather.
EasyJet was not alone and all airlines have been affected by unprecedented disruption over the summer.
But Ms Gayward said she recognised passengers need to be confident when they book flights they can rely on getting home or catching onward connections.
She said the entire flight schedule had been reviewed and ‘firebreaks’ introduced so if there is a problem it doesn’t have a knock-on effect on subsequent flights. ‘Our aircraft doesn’t just shuttle back and forth between Gatwick and the Isle of Man. Introducing firebreaks in the schedule will give us a better chance to get back on track. We want to assure our passengers that we do everything we can to minimise disruption,’ she said.
Ms Gayward said that both the Liverpool and Gatwick routes were performing ‘really well’. Bristol had started out with four flights a week but this frequency had been halved to a twice a week service. The commercial manager said that there had been a definite improvement since that reduction in frequency. ‘We need to make sure that routes work. I’m confident about that route moving forward,’ she said.
EasyJet has been vocal in its support for a third runway at Heathrow and has promised to launch 20 new routes from there potentially including direct flights to the Isle of Man.
Members of the Rotary Club of Douglas along with partners and guests enjoyed a ‘roaring success of a night’ when they donned Scout uniforms for a charity event that raised more than £1,000 for national emergencies around the world.
‘We certainly followed the sentiments of the Scout motto, being in a ‘‘state of readiness in mind and body’’,’ said chief scout for the night Gareth Hooson-Owen.
‘Last year the theme for a similar charity fundraising event was ‘‘Bond, James Bond’’ but for this year we decided to have a scouts’ theme night as a bit of fun and it certainly was,’
He added: ‘It all took place on a steam train and the atmosphere certainly allowed some members to wallow in nostalgia and look back to their days as Boy Scouts ,although middle-age spread had perhaps got the better of some old uniforms.
‘Members of the Northern Adventure Scouts were on the train and did a really great job for an event kindly sponsored by Black Grace Cowley. There were a couple of Scouts to each compartment who ran a number of quizzes, observation tests, knot tying etc.
‘At Castletown Station there was Prosecco and other drinks, all sponsored by Heron & Brearley.’
Menus were in the form of first-day covers with stamps, franked at both Douglas and Castletown stations.
‘It was all in aid of a great cause which sees money raised for the Rotary Foundation going towards the provision of ‘‘shelter boxes’’ and Water Aid in those areas hardest hit by natural disasters plus the worldwide eradication of polio,’
Douglas Council is currently compiling evidence to support an application to court to enter one of the capital’s dilapidated former hotels.
The council’s environmental services committee chairman Cllr Ritchie McNicholl said concerns had been expressed about the Pitcairn Hotel on Church Road Marina.
He asked if a further survey could be completed on the hotel’s current structural state.
Councillors were told a survey would cost between £300 and £500 to complete. Evidence is being put together to support an application to the High Bailiff for a warrant to enter the property.
It was decided a further survey would best be carried out once a warrant to enter the property was in place.
A new dilapidation enforcement officer is due to take up his post shortly.
Willow lantern workshops takes place at Scoill Phurt le Moirrey this weekend.
The event takes place ahead of Port St Mary Commissioners’ Christmas celebration on Friday, December 2.
The workshops, which are free to attend, take place on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Christmas celebration will also see Ballafesson Brass playing in the town hall.
A decision to refuse an FoI request for the release of the health and safety report into the bouncy castle accident has been upheld.
But it has been confirmed for the first time that civil action has been instigated into the incident during last year’s Douglas Carnival which could so easily have become a tragedy.
Onlookers at the Carnival watched in horror as a bouncy castle was lifted by a gust of wind and pitched over railings, flinging six-year-old Liam Hansen into the sea.
Fortunately Liam, from Onchan, was rescued by a quick-thinking hero Johnny Glover who leaped into the water and brought him safely back to dry land. A second child managed to cling on to the bouncy castle as it was blown from Loch Promenade.
The Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture cited as a reason for not publishing the investigation report an exemption covering ‘investigations and legal proceedings’.
It confirmed that the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate’s investigation into the July 2015 incident is now complete – and that it has been decided that no criminal proceedings will be instigated.
Isle of Man Newspapers requested a review of the decision.
And, as expected, the original refusal has been upheld with the DEFA saying the release of the report could prejudice civil proceedings.
It said: ‘In this case, civil action has been instigated. We consider the public interest is best served by allowing the civil action to run its course without any risk of undue external influences.’
Isle of Man Newspapers has submitted four requests for the disclosure of health and safety reports – and all four have been refused.
Where civil or criminal proceedings have been instigated the decision to refuse disclosure is understandable – although the risk of prejudicing civil proceedings is remote,
More debatable, however, is the exemption cited not to disclose the full accident report into the Snaefell Mountain Railway crash, reported in this week’s Manx Independent, where it is stated: ‘Where a decision has been taken not to progress a prosecution, release of the detail of an investigation would be unfair to those involved.’
In short, health and safety reports will not be released if there is a prosecution – or if there isn’t!
Lifting work permit restrictions will create a ‘free for all race to the bottom’.
That’s the view of island TUC president and Unite industrial organiser Eric Holmes who is calling for a meeting with Chief Minister Howard Quayle to discuss moves to expand the range of work permit exemptions in response to a skills shortage.
He also wants talks with Treasury member Ralph Peake who has gone one step further - by calling for the work permits rules to be lifted altogether for a year.
But Mr Holmes said as far as Unite and the TUC were concerned, the removal or further relaxation of the work permit scheme is ‘not up for grabs’.
He said the work permit committee had always looked after the interests of the Manx workers against attempts to ‘parachute’ people into roles from off-island.
He told the Manx Independent: ‘We realise there were recruitment issues within health, education and IT and our affiliated trade unions who cover those areas where able to assure us this was in fact so.
‘We therefore relaxed our stance on the subject and never assumed the Chamber of Commerce would manage to bend government’s ear that much and certainly not to the point whereby they have gained support to look at lower employment groups exemptions or in fact the removal of the system completely.
‘The new parliament contains many business owners or members with vested interests and by allowing this protection or counterbalance to be undermined or even dismantled the island enters into a free for all race to the bottom.’
Mr Holmes said Unite has requested a meeting with the new Chief Minister on two occasions since his appointment and to date not received an acknowledgement.
He said: ‘The internal economy is broken and needs to be supported and that is done with local spend and the greatest group of workers able and willing to buy Manx are the lower paid who don’t have ability to flit across to the UK to buy goods.
‘Mr Peake MHK and the Chief Minister have been taken advantage of and dropped their guard in this instance.
‘We have pledged within the Unite and Isle of Man TUC affiliate trade unions to restore this counterbalance so that issues such as this attempted blanket removal of Manx workers’ protection does not happen and needs to be campaigned against.’
Mr Peake suggested in the House of Keys this month that ‘now might be the time to consider removing the work permit for a year to give business the full opportunity to remove that barrier and offer good employment opportunities’ for people moving here.
One of the island’s best-known jewellers has announced it will shut its doors after more than 100 years in business.
Wilkins the Jeweller, which is situated at 76 Strand Street, will close at 5pm tomorrow (Saturday) but will re-open for the final closing down sale at 10am on Black Friday on November 25.
The sale will run over the Christmas period before shutting its doors for the final time in January.
Owner Michael Hyman has taken the decision to retire and close the Douglas jewellery business which has been in his family for more than 90 years. Michael, aged 66, said: ‘It hasn’t been an easy decision to close the store as the business has been in my family for many years and a big part of my life, but the timing feels right to retire.
‘I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Isle of Man and I would like to thank all our loyal customers for their support over the years.’
Wilkins is known for selling exquisite diamonds and exclusive jewellery brands such as Omega, Rolex and Breitling.
The luxury jewellery shop has been in business since the late 1800s.
Michael’s father, Dave, first bought the business in 1929 with his brothers.
It has remained in the Hyman family since, with Michael taking over from his father in 1968.
The store first traded on the corner of Strand Street and Regent Street from the early 1900s.
It traded on that site and four other sites in Douglas, with the head office located on Walpole Avenue.
Isle of Man Bank expanded its position on the corner which forced a move to Duke Street.
In 2012 the business returned to its ancestral home at 76 Strand Street.
Six years ago Michael brought the Pandora store to Strand Street which he operated until last year when the franchise was taken over.
All stock in Wilkins’ Christmas sale will be priced at up to 60 per cent off.
Michael said: ‘We’re looking forward to launching into a final closing down sale and we’ve got some fantastic bargains on offer for our customers.’
The store will be open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and on Sundays from 1pm to 5pm.
As well as selling a range of jewellery, the shop offers services including watch repairs, jewellery repairs and insurance valuation.
To view the various jewellery ranges that Wilkins has to offer go to www.wilkinsthejeweller.co.uk
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Maternity store Mothercare has announced it will shut its store in Douglas in December.
The British retailer, which sells a variety of products for parents, babies and children up to the age of eight, will close down on December 15.
A Mothercare spokesperson said the closure of the store in the Strand Shopping Centre is part of a ‘larger transformation plan’ for the business.
The spokesperson said: ‘Mothercare in Douglas on the Isle of Man will close on December 15, 2016. We will be emailing our customers in the area to advise them of the closure.
‘We greatly value all our customers and hope they will continue to shop with us via our website. We would like to thank them for their continued loyalty and support for Mothercare.
‘Whilst we regret the closure of the store, it is part of a larger transformation plan for our business.
‘The plan will see us close a small number of our unprofitable stores across the UK whilst investing in cutting-edge online and mobile shopping channels, as well as refurbishing some of our other larger stores to make the experience even better for our customers.’
It is not known how many jobs will be lost due to the closure.
Mothercare’s announcement comes around two weeks after HMW, which is situated next to Mothercare on the ground floor of the shopping centre, confirmed that it will shut its doors at the end of January due to a change of ownership of the centre.
UK retail giant Sports Direct bought the Strand Shopping Centre in July this year.
When the sale was announced it was claimed that Sports Direct was planning to open in ‘multiple units’.
The centre houses shops including The Card Factory, Peacocks, Manx Crafters’ Gift Shop, Millets and Avanti Cafe.
One positive piece of news from Strand Street is the opening of outdoor clothing shop Newson’s, which has moved from the North Quay.
Apart from the Strand Centre there are no empty units on Strand Street itself, although the number of charity shops has increased in recent years.
Vagabonds B, Douglas B, Southern Nomads and Western Vikings all have a chance to rein in Manx Shield leaders Ramsey B this weekend.
Ramsey’s scheduled game against Castletown has been postponed so they won’t play and while their five-point lead at the top of the table means they won’t be caught, someone will close the gap on Saturday.
Defending champions PDMS Southern Nomads host Douglas B at King William’s College in the game of the day.
Douglas won the earlier leg at Port-e-Chee after building up a lead and surviving a Nomads fightback to hang on for a 30-28 victory.
Since then, through no fault of their own, Nomads haven’t really had much proper game time and will be keen to make amends.
The side had been forced to regroup after some player losses at the beginning of the season.
Skipper Mark Young is sharp in every department and Gerard Landels’ pace in the backline is a great asset.
Douglas, however, have the prodigious Nathan Knights in their backs and with clean ball and an inch or two of space he’s sure to sniff out a path to the try line.
At QEII second-place Western Vikings face Vagabonds B who are in the unaccustomed position of next to bottom.
Vagas for a variety of reasons, are a few games behind everyone else and could theoretically be in second.
Skipper John Cannan is hopeful that some of the experienced heads he had against Ramsey B will be available this week.
Bob Nicholson is solid at prop and Bryan Kennaugh is solid just about everywhere.
Vikings stand-out player is without doubt Kevin Mellor.
He’s been at centre thus far but can easily adapt to back row if needed.
Liam Sweeney too is another name to watch. The big second row certainly knows his way to the try line.
Fixtures: Saturday, November 19
South Lancashire/Cheshire Division One
Douglas v Manchester Medics @ Port-e-Chee ko 1.30pm
South Lancashire/Cheshire Division Two
Oldershaw v Vagabonds @ Oldershaw
South Lancashire/Cheshire Division Three
Ramsey v Christleton @ Mooragh Park ko 1.30pm
Women’s NC North One
Vagabonds v Crewe & Nantwich @ Ballafletcher ko 12pm
Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield both ko @ 2.15pm
PDMS Southern Nomads v Douglas B @ King William’s College
Western Vikings v Vagabonds B @ QEII School
Last Saturday saw Amber in Douglas host the second heat of their Battle of the Bands.
Congratulations go to the heat victors and 2015 Battle of the Bands winners, The Fletcher Christian Mutiny who go through to the final on Saturday, November 26.
Commiserations go to Matt Kelly and Han FX.
This Saturday sees the third and final heat featuring Aeons, Eoin O Maol Mhuaidh and Tiger T!
Aeons is made up by ex members of The Water is Rising and The Southern Audio Conspiracy and specialise in all things in the technical metal end of the spectrum.
They are up against acoustic singer/songwriter Eoin O Maol Mhuaidh who in turn battle it out with acoustic Reggae songstress, Tiger T, aka Teresa McNulty of Rusty Jam Revolution fame.
The doors open at 8pm and the music kicks off from around 9.30pm.
For further information, visit their Facebook page www.facebook.com/Amber-Bar-317692424912775/
Staying in Douglas and on Saturday night you’ll see 9 Mile Smile in their regular slot at Jaks.
The band is made up by vocalist Angela Wells, guitarists Graham Smith and Grant Evans, bassist Lewis Thompson and Johnny Wade on drums.
They specialise in covers from the likes of anything from the now ubiquitous Kings Of Leon via The Stereophonics to Blondie and Michael Jackson via Amy Winehouse and Aretha Franklin and just about anything in between.
A good time band and well worth having a look at if you’re in the area on Saturday night. For more information on the band please visit www.facebook.com/9MileSmile
Finally this week and heading out for two shows over the weekend are Konstruktion.
The two-piece band made up by Joy White on vocals and Nige B on keys and vocals have their roots in live versions of dance anthems from the modern chart to ‘old skool’ classics.
If a little bit of Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Rihanna and Lady Gaga at one end through to Diana Ross and Tina Turner at the other end of the spectrum takes your fancy then this will be well worth a look at.
The band head to The Union in Castletown tomorrow (Friday) and the Mitre Hotel in Ramsey on Saturday.
For more information on the band visit www.facebook.com/iommusic
That’s all for this week!
If you have anything for inclusion in The Manx Sound Exchange, please email leachsteve@hotmail.com
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Steve Leach brings the latest rumblings, murmurings, news and views on forthcoming events in and around the island’s music scene. Help support the scene by emailing leachsteve@hotmail.com
Last night’s Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence recognised the success of people from all areas of Manx life.
About 1,200 people packed the Villa Marina in Douglas to watch the spectacular evening, which featured comedian Alexander Armstrong, the presenter of the popular BBC game show Pointless as its hos
We are currently working on a special supplement for Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner celebrating the event and the finalists who have achieved so much.
The winners were:Corporate Social Responsibility: Zurich International Life
Innovation & Independent Thinking: Noa Bakehouse
Business Person of the Year: Equiom
Small Medium Enterprise: Expol
Public Sector Achievement of the Year: Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture - UNESCO Biosphere IoM
Volunteer of the Year: Bill Dale, Beach Buddies
Excellence in the Use of Technology: Triumph Actuation Systems
Company of the Year: Isle of Man Creamery
Charity, Cultural & Social Enterprise: Victim Support Isle of Man
Customer Service: The Lady Chauffeurs
Teamwork: Estera
New Business/Innovation: Manx Ultrasonic Window Blind Cleaning
Young Achiever of the Year: Sam Murphy, PB Sports Performance
International Business of the Year: First Names Group
Digital Champions: Riva Financial Systems
Freedom to Flourish: Derivco IOM
Lifetime Achievement: Allan Bell CBE
John Rimmer’s been shortlisted in the Legal 500 UK 2017 awards.
The advocate’s Athol Street business was nominated in the Offshore Law Firm category
The awards are one of the legal industry’s most prestigious listings.
Peers within the legal professionwill have nominated the popular legal eagle.
These awards, which have been running since 1998, set themselves apart from others in the industry.
The research team base their decisions on the contribution by individuals and firms over the previous 12 months to a particular business sector or practice area.
The listing recognises John Rimmer as one of the world’s leading practitioners in his field, describing him as ‘the go-to guy’ on the Isle of Man.
The description continues: ‘He has a ‘‘first class’’ reputation for advising law firms, trust companies, banks, life insurance companies, family offices, individuals and charities on trusts, foundations, wills, estate planning, taxation and charity law.’
John is assisted by a small team of specialist advocates.
John first qualified as a solicitor in England in 1993.
After practising in London, he moved to the Isle of Man and qualified as an advocate in 2000.
In 2014 John set up his own private practice, Advocate John Rimmer. He now specialises in both contentious and non-contentious matters concerning the creation, administration, variation and termination of private trusts, commercial trusts, charitable trusts, estate planning, wills, probate and the administration of estates, foundations, family governance and the protection of family wealth.
John is also a consultant to Cains Advocates.
John said: ‘This is a great accolade and we are overwhelmed to be included among such a worthy list and to be representing the Isle of Man in the category.’
With only three weekends left in the top three Manx hockey mixed leagues, the final tables are starting to take shape as each club jostles desperately for position.
PwC Mixed Premier League leaders Ramsey Crookall Bacchanalians A have the rest of the division trailing in their wake and they should have no problems overcoming Alex Cave’s Harlequins on Saturday.
Quins are a determined and steely side but to maintain their Premier League safety they’ll be looking towards key games against Bacchas B and Partitionware Castletown Celts in the coming weeks.
It’s a similar story for Izzy Kermode’s Celts team who have a tough fixture against Canaccord Genuity Vikings A. The latter are undefeated against the southerners in their last 10 meetings, having been last beaten by them back in 2011.
The only member of the Reds side that day who is likely to feature on Saturday is key man Steve Ronan who has a huge role to play if Celts are to cause an upset.
Crowe Morgan take on Bacchas B in the final game in the Premier League. They shared the spoils when they met earlier in the season, but since then Greg Miller’s westerners have been on excellent form, hitting 18 goals in their last two games alone.
They will be looking to make a statement against a talented Bacchas squad on Saturday.
The best of luck to LJ Ramsey A who are off-island this weekend taking on Lymm Men’s A in the England Hockey Vase and will be hoping to match Bacchas’ thrilling victory last weekend.
With their absence from PwC Mixed Division One, it gives Dave Hall’s Valkyrs B a chance to move to within two points of the summit by overcoming Saracens Sabres.
Expect a very tight affair between John McCarrick’s Bacchas C and Vikings B.
Both sides have won four of their last six games in league and cup and there is almost nothing to choose between them.
Over in PwC Mixed Division Two and it’s time for Tim Leeming Bacchas Colts to consolidate their pivotal win against Cammags last weekend by claiming both points on offer again Harlequins Colts.
On paper, this may be the top side against the bottom side but it was Quins who had the last laugh earlier in the month, knocking Bacchas out of the Plate on penalty flicks.
Mike Taylor’s Cammags will be desperate to bounce back against Helen Moyer’s resurgent Valkyrs C who are aiming for a hat-trick of league wins.
Finally to PwC Mixed Division Three where there’s a potentially close game between Bacchas D and Castletown Southerners.
Town are starting to bear the fruit of a recent recruitment drive and are undefeated in the last three, while Bacchas are looking to re-ignite their season after last week’s defeat.
In turn, their vanquishers Saracens Sharks will be relishing the challenge of doing the same to leaders Valkyrs D.
FIXTURES
Saturday, November 19
PwC Mixed Premier Division
11.05am Ramsey Crookall Bacchanalians A v Harlequins A @ NSC
Umpires - Peter Foxton, Tim Leeming
2.05pm Ramsey Crookall Bacchanalians B v Crowe Morgan Valkyrs A @ NSC
Umpires - Connor Duggua, Andy Winslade
12.35pm Canaccord Genuity Vikings A v Partitionware Castletown Celts @ NSC
Umpires - Jamie Brown, Andy Whiting
PwC Mixed Division One
2.05pm Saracens Sabres v Crowe Morgan Valkyrs B @ QEII
Umpires - Vic Ferns, Lindsay Riordan
3.35pm Canaccord Genuity Vikings B v Ramsey Crookall Bacchanalians C @ NSC
Umpires - Alex Cave, Gary Corkhill
PwC Mixed Division Two
11.05am Partitionware Castletown Cammags v Crowe Morgan Valkyrs C @ QEII
Umpires - Helen Cave, Susan Taylor
2.05pm Harlequins Colts v Ramsey Crookall Bacchanalians Colts @ RGS
Umpires - John Harrison, Hayley Taylor
PwC Mixed Division Three
12.35pm Ramsey Crookall Bacchanalians D v Partitionware Castletown Southerners
@ CRHS
Umpires - Andrew Bentley, Laurence Watterson
12.35pm Harlequins B v Crowe Morgan Valkyrs D @ QEII
Umpires - Mike McCarrick, George Powell
PwC Mixed U16
3.35pm Harlequins v Saracens @ CRHS
Umpires - Andrew Bentley, Alison Middleton
3.35pm Crowe Morgan Valkyrs
v Ramsey Crookall Bacchanalians @ QEII
Umpires - Ben Cunningham, Vic Ferns
12.35pm Canaccord Genuity Vikings v LJ Ramsey Rogues & Rascals @ RGS
Umpires - Rob McKenzie, Alexandria Smith
Estera will be represented at the MEBAA Show 2016, one of the leading and fastest-growing business aviation conventions in the world.
Organised by the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association, the seventh MEBAA Show is expected to attract more than 9,000 visitors from more than 80 countries, including 300 regional and international media representatives.
Held at the Dubai World Centre from December 6 to 8, the show will have 450 exhibitors from across the business aviation industry and static displays featuring dozens of aircraft.
Estera Aviation technical director Brian Johnson and Sean Dowling, group director of Estera in the Isle of Man, plan to attend the event.
Mr Johnson, who recently attended the National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in Florida, said: ‘It is important for us to attend major business aviation conferences to meet existing and prospective clients, keep updated on industry developments and understand the divergent needs of differing markets around the globe which enables us to keep all our clients well-informed.
‘There are many services which are common to clients across several jurisdictions, but it is also often necessary to tailor bespoke solutions to meet the requirements of a specific region, whether that is the USA, Middle East, Asia or Europe. Attending shows like MEBAA and NBAA-BACE is an opportunity to understand those requirements and outline the services Estera can deliver to decision-makers and key influencers.
‘The Middle East and North Africa are areas of strong growth in the business aviation industry, and MEBAA is an excellent platform to meet professionals from the region, network and foster corporate and industry contacts in the region and beyond.’
Estera Aviation is part of fiduciary and administration services group Estera, which employs 350 people in 10 jurisdictions including the five major offshore aircraft registry jurisdictions, with more than 50 staff in its Isle of Man office. Estera provides a trust, fund, corporate and accounting services delivered by teams of highly experienced and qualified professionals.
The children at the Hopes and Dreams nursery in Douglas had a special visitor, as Pudsey Bear popped in to meet them at their nursery ahead of the Children in Need celebrations on Friday.
Pudsey came with his friends at Barclays Bank and has been visiting other nurseries around the island
Staff and children dressed up and will be taking parts in activities to raise money for the charity.
Nursery Manager Julie Knowles said: ‘We really enjoyed seeing Pudsey Bear.
‘We are also raising lots of money which Barclays have said they will match, which is fantastic.’
See more Children in Need coverage in Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner.
Martin Jessopp is on pole for Saturday morning’s 50th Macau Grand Prix.
Jessopp, who was a podium finisher in this year’s Lightweight TT, pipped eight-time Macau winner Michael Rutter to pole in Friday’s second qualifying session.
Newcomer Glenn Irwin is an impressive third on the grid ahead of TT regular Gary Johnson, Stuart Easton and Horst Saiger.
Last year’s winner Peter Hickman is seventh, John McGuinness eighth and Honda team-mate Conor Cummins ninth.
Ian Hutchinson rounds out the top 10 just ahead of Cummins’s fellow Manxman Dan Kneen.
The 12-lap race takes place at 7.30am GMT on Saturday and will be shown live on BT Sport 3. A highlights show will be on ITV4 on Wednesday, November 23 at 8pm.
TT films seem to appear like buses at present: you wait for six years with nothing then suddenly two appear at once.
Since the release of the 2010 Closer to the Edge, there’s been a lack of TT film coverage but it appears there could now be two films on the subject in production.
Web magazine More Bikes has reported Bourne actor Matt Damon as the star lined up to take the lead role in the uninspiringly named Isle of Man.
The publication reports another big name actor, Liam Neeson, is also expected to take part and well-known Australian TT star Cameron Donald will be the body double for Matt Damon, providing the action shots on a Honda Fireblade.
It says the film is written and directed by Ben Younger and tells the story of an established motorcycle racer who comes to the Isle of Man to tackle the challenge of the 37.73-mile Mountain Course late in his career.
Casting has yet to be confirmed for the film, according to the article.
Filming is said to be scheduled for next June but a government spokesman refused to confirm or deny this, saying only: ‘The department is currently working with people on a number of projects, however, specific details cannot be disclosed at this time.’
Ben Younger’s film is separate to Mark Gardiner’s film based on his book Riding Man which tells the story about his ambition to ride in the TT races.
The screenplay for this, by Todd Komarnicki, who also wrote the film Sully, is virtually complete. Mark said: ‘if Todd does as good a job “selling” the Isle of Man in “Ride” as he did selling Manhattan in Sully, the island will be as pleased as I am.
Corinthians can make it seven Canada Life Premier League wins in a row on Saturday afternoon.
The Whites have won their last six top-flight games to secure a first Cu-Plas Railway Cup spot in 36 years and shoot to the top of the division’s current form table.
Andy Thornton and Danny McMahon’s Ballafletcher outfit will be hoping to cement their place in the division’s top three with a good result against Peel this weekend.
The pair will meet in Colby with Peel’s Douglas Road pitch out of action until the start of next season (see story on page 66). Two late goals saw the westerners clinch a 6-4 win in the reverse fixture and another enthralling game should be on the cards, especially with the Sunset City side reeling from last weekend’s Old Firm defeat at the hands of Rushen.
St Mary’s will be hoping to keep the pressure on leaders St George’s with a good result away at Laxey.
The Saints did well to overcome a tricky DHSOB 4-2 at the Bowl last time out.
Laxey haven’t won in five, but have the potential on their day to cause an upset.
St George’s will be favourites to clinch three points from their clash away at third-from-bottom Colby.
The southerners boosted their top-flight survival hopes with a a big win over rock bottom Ayre last weekend, but will do well to avoid the 9-0 thumping they suffered in the reverse fixture.
Last season’s JCK Division Two champions Douglas Athletic can go along way to securing a second season in the Canada Life Premier League this weekend.
Brian Gartland’s Pinks host Ayre at Springfield Road knowing three points will take them to 14 for the season. Only three times in the CLPL’s nine-season history has this not been enough of a tally to stay up. With Ayre yet to pick up a point this season all signs point towards an Athletic win.
Rushen make the long trip to Ramsey on Saturday. The Spaniards should take the points in this one having won 5-1 at Croit Lowey in August.
DHSOB can add to Union Mills’ woes at Blackberry Lane. The Millers remain in the bottom two after their recent points deduction and conceding a last-minute winner to Douglas Athletic on Saturday.