All eyes will be on Braddan this weekend to see how the JCK Division Two high-fliers respond to their first defeat of the season.

The Swans suffered a surprise 2-0 reverse at the hands of RYCOB last weekend which ended their unbeaten start to the season - indeed a league run which had stretched back as far as the beginning of March.

That defeat was against Colby but they bounced back in style with an 8-0 hammering of Michael Utd and they will no doubt be hoping for a similar response this time.

They face a tricky test this Saturday though, as they welcome Pulrose United to Victoria Road, a side well placed to challenge for a place in the top four.

Recent results across the division have completely opened up the title race, with only two points covering the top five teams, therefore every game is crucial.

Two other games catch the eye in the second tier of Manx football, namely the clashes between Douglas Royal v Foxdale and Marown v RYCOB. Royal or Foxdale could end up top of the pile by Saturday teatime should results go their way so that match at Ballafletcher could be a tense affair, while the other game really could go either way in Crosby.

Castletown currently lead the way a point ahead of Royal and they will be favourites to get the better of Governor’s Athletic, while Douglas and District face a tough game at home to surprise package Onchan.

The final game sees Gymns make the journey northwest to take on Michael at Balleira Road.

Caren Pegg, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce’s Employment, Training and Skills Committee, has written this special report for Business News on the Chamber’s stance over the work permits issue.

Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce backs MHK Ralph Peake’s call for fundamental changes to the work permit system,

The Isle of Man’s need for economic growth should be apparent to all.

This is in light of a structural deficit (related to the public sector pensions liability) last reported at £80m, which is rapidly eating up government reserves; combined with what indicators and forward projections show is a steadily declining working population and increasing pensioner population.

Without economic growth and its attendant increase in tax revenues, government’s only effective option when reserves run out will be to cut front-line services, with its biggest areas of spend – health, infrastructure, education – inevitably being the hardest hit.

One of the main priorities of the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce is a continued focus on breaking down and ideally removing barriers to business.

This is in response to the island’s challenges but also, perhaps more importantly, to the real opportunities for economic growth provided by the potential attractions of the island as a home for people and businesses who wish to be able to rely on certainty and long-term support from their government – certainty which is singularly lacking in the UK and US at present.

In connection with this desire to remove barriers to growth, the requirement for work permits and the rules surrounding them have recently been closely examined by the Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber is pleased that this topic has also been brought to the fore so early in the cycle of the new Government’s administration by Douglas North MHK, Ralph Peake and would support his call for change.

Over the summer, all members of the Chamber of Commerce were invited to participate in a survey examining the work permit system in its current form and its effect on industry.

Chamber was overwhelmed with both the response level and the many detailed comments provided by way of feedback by Chamber members. The survey response has indicated the importance of the issue to the business community and Island in general.

There were 92 responses in total.

Businesses that participated ranged from small to large businesses.

Participating members included those operating within the financial sector, retail, manufacturing, hospitality, e-business and construction. Over 70 per cent of participating members had at least one employee engaged on a work permit and thus direct experience of the system.

The survey revealed that out of 92 members surveyed 61 members (equating to two thirds) believed that the current work permit system hinders the wider Isle of Man economy.

In addition, over two thirds of those surveyed were supportive of either; the entire system being suspended for a temporary amount of time to assess economic impact or alternatively; further sectors being made exempt from the requirement to obtain a work permit due to economic need.

In addition to these key statistics, various common trends were identified from the survey results in relation to the current work permit system.

Chamber is in the process of producing a detailed analysis of all the feedback received and its full report will be published shortly on the Chamber’s website.

Included in this report will be relevant examples and comments which highlight the difficulties that certain businesses and sectors have encountered with the current work permit system.

Over half of the members surveyed indicated that they believed that the current work permit system prevented their particular organisation from either effective recruitment or from flourishing to achieve its full potential.

Some of the key concerns voiced by members were as follows:

l 1.The current system is lengthy and inefficient.

One member stated that ‘candidates have withdrawn their application as a result of the timescale involved in the process’. Another commented: ‘The WP system is the single largest barrier to our growth as a company. The time lag that applies to those who need a WP discourages many off island individuals from considering a move to the island. In hospitality recruitment decisions are typically made quickly and there is a need to have the new recruit in place immediately’.

The need for the process to be digitalised so that it would become quicker and more efficient was also highlighted.

l 2.Encourages adequacy rather than excellence.

Many of the Chamber members felt that now is a crucial time for businesses to be able to have the freedom to flourish and the work permit system, in its current form, hampers the ability of businesses to do this: ‘We feel like we are constantly working to a process rather than trying to meet the needs of the business. We want to attract global talent to our business as we are a global company but the restrictions on us limit this.’

l 3.Does not encourage upskilling

A few members mentioned that the system does not encourage upskilling and bringing in outside expertise which can encourage growth locally, one commenting: ‘We miss potential opportunities to bring in expertise to the Island.’

l 4.Unmarried partners are excluded

Members rightly highlighted that it is not just the candidate or potential job holder that the system creates problems for but also potentially their families and spouses, which can result in people declining to move to the island: ‘a great many people who have come over with their partners (unmarried) and want to work and contribute but are handcuffed by the system.’

l 5.Lack of Flexibility

Members felt that the current system does not recognise that businesses, roles and individuals change and evolve; recruiting, promoting or transferring between organisations requires a new work permit each time.

Chamber was particularly keen to know whether the current system has affected businesses to the extent that they have expanded elsewhere or, in the worst case scenario, relocated off-island.

The overwhelming response was that the current system had forced certain businesses to consider alternatives.

An alarmingly high number of members (over a quarter) indicated that the work permit system had forced their business to consider expansion or relocation off-island.

One member stated: ‘It’s just another reason not to locate here - on top of the logistics, higher living and utility costs.’

Others commented that the system has led to decision not to increase on-island headcount.

The most stark comment on this issue simply stated: ‘Expansion off- Island? I suspect leaving the island would be more of an option’.

The survey highlighted that certain sectors of the economy are adversely affected by the current work permit system.

Comments provided by members identified issues for businesses operating in several sectors including engineering, manufacturing, retail, construction and hospitality.

One member operating in the manufacturing sector commented: ‘Although manufacturing has no problem in getting work permits approved, they still present a barrier to recruitment if our job offer is competing against one from a company that operates in another jurisdiction. It is a question of job security.’

Chamber is mindful of DED Minister Laurence Skelly’s recent comments in Tynwald that to remove the system in its entirety would bring into play the issue of residency control, a topical subject given the immigration debate that is ongoing in the UK in light of Brexit.

It is accepted that any further changes will need to be carefully worked out and there are wider issues and implications for consideration. It is perhaps for this reason that 52 per cent of Chamber Members were supportive of a work permit system being retained in some form.

However, almost all of those members that wanted the work permit system to be retained were also very clear that further change and flexibility needed to be built into the system as a matter of priority to ensure that it is not a barrier to economic growth.

The evidence from industry via the survey results is that there are key sectors that are being detrimentally affected and stifled by severe skill shortages. Therefore, the additional hurdle of the work permit system as being another barrier to Island businesses simply has to be addressed.

Chamber notes Mr Skelly’s comments that the current system does provide flexibility to carve out further exemptions for particular sectors of the economy.

Chamber would strongly urge Government to consider suspension of the system (at the very least for certain affected sectors) so that economic impact can be assessed. This surely has to be in line with the Government’s stated guiding principle for the new administration of ‘Empowering enterprise for innovation and economic growth’.

In short there is no doubt that there is growing support among the business community for the work permit system to be suspended either in its entirety or for economic sectors that are struggling.

A fair proportion of Chamber members would like to see the work permit system discontinued in its entirety but this is balanced out by a large number of members that would rather change and improve the current system: retain but simplify - improve rather than remove.

The overall message is clear though, change is needed and fast.

Caren Pegg, chairman of the Employment, Training and Skills committee said that ‘if the work permit system is to remain in place in some form, Chamber feels that it is imperative that there is more active engagement with Chamber and industry (by sector where appropriate) to ensure that the work permit system is not prohibiting growth for business or the island.

‘There needs to be improved and more regular processes in place for Government to consider industry feedback and react quickly and accordingly to the needs of the island’s economy to ensure that any gaps in skills shortages can be addressed.

‘The system must be responsive to unemployment levels and industry feedback to ensure that the work permit system is not a barrier to business’.

Micky Swindale, president of the Chamber of Commerce asked that ‘serious consideration be given to suspension of the system, at the very least for certain key sectors (including sectors that commonly recruit unskilled workers), to allow active recruitment in areas where there are identifiable skill shortages.

‘In addition, action should be taken as soon as possible for the system to be moved to an online service in its entirety, and for further flexibility to be built into the system where necessary to allow applications to be processed quickly and more efficiently.

‘But I do believe that if we took the bold step - of complete suspension for a fixed period, with active monitoring of the economic impact on the island throughout it – the outcome would be positive in terms of business expansion, skills capacity, and local employment levels. If we don’t try, we’ll never know.’

Flexibility was one of the most commonly repeated words throughout the survey responses and the Chamber of Commerce believe that as an island we need to be open to anything as long as it creates ease and flexibility for businesses – freedom to flourish

Alongside a wholesale review of the work permit system,

Chamber feels it is very important that support is provided to allow local businesses resources and assistance to train local workers to ensure that there remains a focus on local skills development which will also, in the long-term, assist to address the skills needed for the future of the Isle of Man’s economy.

An inquest has opened into the death of an 80-year-old man whose body was found in Ramsey harbour last week.

Derek Walter Beavers, of Fairway Drive, Ramsey, was found dead on November 10 on the harbour bed.

A post-mortem examination gave the medical cause of death as drowning.

Mr Beavers, who was married, was born in Portsmouth in July 1936 and was a retired company director.

Investigations are continuing and the inquest will reconvene on a date to be decided.

A teaching union is threatening industrial action after two staff were subject to a regime of harassment from pupils.

In a letter to education chief Professor Ronald Barr and leaked to the Manx Independent, NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates says ‘dedicated and committed’ teachers at Ballakermeen High School are being ‘harassed and abused in their own homes’ by pupils at the school. She accuses the Department of Education and Children of failing to take the well-being of staff seriously and suggests they have underestimated the strength of feeling among union members at the school.

‘It is not acceptable that teachers appear to have no protection from harassment and abuse provided by their employer,’ the letter says.

It continues: ‘There has been an overwhelming positive response from members to an indicative ballot on industrial action.’ Moreover, the letter adds the union would not hesitate to proceed to a formal ballot and action if priority is not given to resolving matters.

The row has arisen after two teachers at the school suffered harassment and abuse from a number of pupils out of school hours, away from school premises. In some instances, perpetrators were former pupils.

The union said it was willing to meet members of the department, agree strategies to deal with the current situation and develop policies to deal with any similar matters in the future. A statement released by the Department of Education and Children refuted the suggestion it had not supported the staff involved.

It said it took the situation seriously and had worked with the school, as well as other bodies, to bring the matter to an end.

‘Some of those involved in the situation are no longer in education and, as such, the DEC has no jurisdiction over them. As defined in the Education Act 2001, the department and the school can only deal with behaviour issues that occur at the school, but they have been working collaboratively with partner agencies to address the issues outside school premises.

‘The police have taken appropriate action against a number of students involved.’

The department said robust action had been taken by the school itself, with one pupil being moved to a different school, while provision had been made to educate others at alternative sites for the remainder of their time in school.

Other pupils have been warned that they could face similar action.

The statement also said headteacher Adrienne Burnett had taken steps to ensure there was as little contact as possible in school between the members of staff and the pupils involved.

‘The department continues to offer its full support to the teachers affected and will carry on working with them, the school and other agencies to bring an end to the matter,’ the statement said, adding it was concerned about the effect of any industrial action on pupils and parents and hoped the union would discuss ‘this highly unusual and concerning set of circumstances’ with the department.

Isle of Man NASUWT representative Geraldine O’Neill said she did not wish to comment on the matter.

Ms Keates offered the following statement: ‘It is regrettable that someone has chosen to breach the confidentiality of an exchange of correspondence on a number of issues we are seeking to resolve with the Isle of Man Government.

‘The NASUWT will not be commenting at this time on the letter.’

The new owner of the former Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club in Santon has submitted a further planning application to redevelop the fire-ravaged hotel.

Planning consent was granted in August for the reinstatement, where practicable, of the accommodation block (16/00684/B).

Now John Bentley, East Baldwin-based director of Isle of Man-based Comis Holdings, has applied (16/01246/B) to partially demolish buildings on the north and east side of the reception block, relocate fire escapes, knock down outbuildings and remove some covered balconies.

The fitness training area will be extended acoss the area of the existing swimming pool.

And the swimming pool will be demolished and replaced with a new pool on the lower floor.

The roundabout will be removed, and a new entrance, foyer and canopy together with new retaining walls on the south elevation will be constructed. There will be a new curtain walling system and new windows on the north and east side of the amenity block.

The Mount Murray hotel closed following a devastating fire in 2013.

Comis Holdings was formed last year to negotiate the purchase and redevelopment of the site.

After the sale of the complex was confirmed in February a company director said: ‘Our vision is to provide superior hotel accommodation and facilities in a picturesque setting which can be enjoyed by visitors and locals, as well as a “destination” venue for occasions ranging from business conferences to large-scale tourism events.’

The renamed Comis at Mount Murray will feature 43 bedrooms on the ground floor and 44 on the first floor.

There is a total of 172 entries for the Syd Quirk Half-Marathon in the south of the island this Sunday, with a further 59 in the walk.

The walk will commence at 8.30am from Ronaldsway Industrial Estate, followed 15 minutes later by the run/jog class for those expecting to take longer than two-and-a-quarter hours to complete the 13.1-mile course.

The main half-marathon will set off at 9.30am and this year incorporates the Isle of Man Half-Marathon Championships.

The course consists of two laps of a rectangular route taking in Ballasalla, Cross Four Ways, Ballabeg and Castletown Bypass.

Among those expected to feature prominently in the run are Jamie Newton, Ben Corkill, Mike Garrett, Stuart Christian, Richard Highfield, Orran Smith, Andrew Isaac, Paul Rodgers and Jack Okell. The women’s race is a lot harder to predict, but Keri Parry, first female home in last weekend’s hill race, could be one to watch.

Adam Cowin, James Quirk, Dave Walker, Gianni Epifani, Hannah Hunter, Erika Kelly, Dale and Jayne Farquhar are likely to feature prominently in the walk, along with the returning from injury Michelle Turner and Richard Wild.

The event is once more sponsored by Haldane Fisher builders merchants.

Race numbers and timing chips will be allocated at registration this evening, Thursday, at Manx Harriers clubhouse, NSC, Douglas between 5.30 and 7.30pm. No registration will be available on the day.

l Round two of the Up and Running-sponsored winter walking league is at Andreas on November 27, checking in at Andreas parish hall from 9.15am.

l Thursday, December 1, Ramsey Bakery Firemen’s Run (round three). Saturday, December 3, Winter Hill League (round three); Sunday, Dec 11, IoM cross-country league (round three); Sunday, Dec 18, Winter Walk League (round three); Sunday, January 1, New Year’s Day fell run, St John’s

Canacord Genuity Vikings play in the second round of the EH Investec Women’s Trophy competition this weekend.

The Manx side have drawn Leeds Adel firsts who currently play in north hockey Division One.

The Yorkshire outfit have three wins, three draws and one loss so far this season and lie fifth in the league. Adel have a few players in their ranks which some of the Vikings players have come up against at the northern counties competition.

At present Manx hockey is currently playing its mixed season, therefore Vikings will have to draw on the experience within the squad and recent training sessions to be ready for Sunday’s tie.

Kirsty Cooper, Jen Turner and Kirsty Bowley are able to travel and should help enable players to play in their favoured positions this round. Megan Roberts is unable to travel after having a great game in the last round.

Vikings will be looking to build on the successful 2015-16 season with a solid performance against Adel who are probably the highest ranked team in the EH league structure they have played. It will be a tough ask to make it through to the third round, but the squad is looking forward to another great experience playing in this competition.

Vikings squad: Samantha Verrall GK, Jen Turner, Katie Errock, Breesha Foxton, Hannah Leece, Ellan Cleator, Kim Carney (Capt), Charlotte Casement, Kirsty Bowley, Mia Greenwood, Chelsea Bawden, Louise Slater, Kirsty Cooper and Paige Mepham.

The latest Isle of Man Newspapers’ Team of the Week has a fresh look to it with more than half the line-up making their seasonal bow.

Rushen goalkeeper Dean Kearns is among the hypothetical XI’s seven first-timers having impressed in United’s 2-1 win over Peel.

It was the Spaniards’ first Old Firm triumph since 2013 and saw the southeners leapfrog their rivals in the Canada Life Premier League standings.

Kearns’s back three in a Conte-esque 3-4-3 are also all 2016-17 debutants. Stephen Corlett was one of Corinthians’ top performers as they beat Laxey 4-1 at Ballafletcher.

St Mary’s Karl Clark slots in alongside Rushen stalwart Chris Shimmin in the backline. Clark was Man of the Match as the Saints closed to within two points of St George’s at the top of the Premier League by beating DHSOB 4-2 at the Bowl.

Rushen’s Mr Versatile, Shimmin, helped Rushen land their first victory over Peel in nine encounters.

The four-man midfield have all been called up to the TotW already this campaign bar one player.

That is Corinthians’ Ruairi Mooney who earns his maiden spurs after netting twice in the Whites’ win over Laxey, their ninth victory in a row.

At the other end of the scale St John’s Andrew Chadwick makes his fourth TotW appearance of the season. The Johnners midfielder continued his fine recent run of form in front of goal as Ramsey were beaten 4-1 at Mullen-e-Cloie.

Also troubling the scorersat the weekend was St Mary’s midfield dynamo Mathew Rennie. The Commonwealth Youth Games silver medal winning boxer hit a brace in the Saints triumph over Old Boys.

Filling the TotW’s final midfield berth this week is Douglas Athletic’s Darren Shields.

The Pinks’ winger helped break down a stubborn Union Mills backline as Athletic triumphed 2-1 at Garey Mooar thanks to an injury time winner from Will Penhallurick.

The three-pronged attack netted nine goals between them on Saturday afternoon,

Grabbing the lion’s share of these was Colby striker Jordan Primrose-Smith who netted five goals in the southerners 10-2 win at bottom side Ayre.

Also making the long trip north worthwhile was Jordan Edge who bagged a brace in the victory that moved Chris McKenna’s side five points clear of the bottom two.

Rushen’s two-goal man Stephen Riding, who completes this week’s line-up, proved the Spaniards’ match winner against Old Firm rivals Peel.

Taking the Referee of the Week honours for the first time this season is Gerry Thomson who took charge of St John’s win over Ramsey.

Team of the Week 12/11/16

Goalkeeper:

Dean Kearns (Rushen) TotW apps this season: 1

Defence:

Ste Corlett (Corinthians) TotW apps: 1

Karl Clark (St Mary’s)TotW apps: 1

Chris Shimmin (Rushen)TotW apps: 1

Midfield:

Mattie Rennie (St Mary’s)TotW apps: 3

Darren Shields (Douglas Ath)TotW apps: 2

Andrew Chadwick (St John’s)TotW apps: 4

Ruairi Mooney (Corinthians)TotW apps: 1

Attack:

Jordan Edge (Colby)TotW apps: 1

Jordan Primrose-Smith (Colby)TotW apps: 1

Stephen Riding (Rushen)TotW apps: 2

Referee:

Gerry Thomson (St John’s v Ramsey)

RotW apps: 1

More than £3m has been spent on reconstructing Douglas promenades so far - and with very little to show for it.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer MHK was asked in Tynwald about the total cost to date of all expenditure incurred on the prom scheme.

Mr Harmer replied that the total spend up to now is £3,017,618, of which £1.64m was spent on phase 1 works.

Other significant spend has been £248,000 on site investigations, £173,000 on early contractor involvement in tramway work, £70,000 on planning applications and the balance of £861,000 on a range of professional fees including specialist traffic modelling and safety assessments.

Lawrie Hooper (LibVan, Ramsey) asked how many further costs there would be before the scheme actually begins.

Mr Harmer said the figures did not include the ‘temporary fix’ which begins this week to resurface the badly potholed northern section of the promenade.

He said that he will be coming back to Tynwald in December with proposals for the promenade scheme and then bring a financial motion to the January sitting.

Tim Crookall asked if the £3m included money spent on new tram rails. The Minister said it did not.

The number of vacant premises in Douglas town centre is at its highest since figures started to be recorded in 2012.

Yet data on the number of people visiting the town centre shows an increase in numbers over the past two years.

Douglas councillors have considered this data and decided town centre events had a significant impact on the vitality and vibrancy overall of the town centre.

It helped to encourage shoppers to visit town centre businesses rather than shopping online.

For this reason £25,240 is to be allocated towards the 2017-18 programme of town centre events.

Chris Pycroft of the Douglas Development Partnership said the figures could be seen as misleading because they were skewed by the large number of vacant units in the Strand Centre, whereas on Strand Street itself, very few shops stood empty.

The Strand Centre has been bought by Sports Direct, which is planning to open a large shop there.

But it is displacing at least two big names – HMV and Mothercare.

‘If you take the Strand Centre out of the equation, it brings it down to a more normal level,’ Mr Pycroft said. He cited a number of new businesses which had appeared in the town centre as well as established ones like Newson’s, which has moved there from the quayside. In addition, he said major work was being done converting three units into one, which represented significant investment in the high street.

‘At any given time there are likely to be 5 or 6 per cent of properties either undergoing refurbishment or in a state of flux between tenants, so the chance of getting vacancies down to zero is about nil,’ he said.

‘We are actually doing quite well at the moment.’

In fact, he said foot fall figures for the town centre had been increasing ever since they were first collated, in 2013, using two cameras at Regent Street Corner and the Strand Centre.

‘Data is recorded hourly so you can see patterns. If there’s an event on, like the carnival, that’s substantially busier than at other times, so you can assess its value. If it’s raining it’s less busy than in good weather, and pay day weekend makes a big difference.

‘The “free after three” scheme at Chester Street car park also created a noticeable secondary peak in the afternoons,’ he said.

He said data confirmed that town centre events directly generate foot fall in the capital as well as having a wider appeal.

‘It generates an overall ambience - even if it does not directly generate additional foot fall,’ he said. ‘And it makes people more receptive to coming in because it’s a pleasant place to be.’

Douglas appointed a new town centre manager, Oliver Cheshire, in the summer. Because the post had been vacant for some time prior to this, the only significant town event this summer was the Douglas Carnival in July.

Councillors were told a monthly news letter is to be compiled for the town’s shop keepers and that the town centre manager should ‘appear’ on local radio to promote any up-coming town centre events.

Several attractions are in the pipeline in the coming months. These include a Christmas market on December 10 and 11 as well as the popular Christmas ice sculpture, usually in the Regent Street/Strand Street area.

New events are also being explored for next year.

Douglas’s Christmas lights will be turned on in a ceremony outside the Town Hall on Ridgeway Street on Thursday, November 24.

The event will include a preview at 6.25pm of ‘The Wizard of Oz’, this year’s pantomime at the Gaiety Theatre.

At 7pm the Mayor, John Skinner, will switch on the Christmas lights, ‘snow’ will fall and Santa will be in his grotto on the corner of John Street.

A number of roads will be closed for the event.

There will be free parking in Douglas Council’s Shaw’s Brow and Bottleneck car parks from 5pm to 10pm on pre-Christmas Thursdays from November 24 and all day Saturday and Sunday until December 24.

Additionally, in Chester Street car park there is ‘Free after Three’ parking Monday to Friday and a flat rate of £2 for all-day Saturday .

Lee Gale is to put football on hold to concentrate on cycling, having been selected for the Isle of Man’s mountain bike team for next year’s NatWest Island Games.

The reigning Isle of Man Football Association Player of the Year has missed the majority of the 2016-17 season for Peel in order to focus his efforts on local MTB competitions.

The 25-year-old western winger has quickly acquitted himself superbly to life on two wheels and already has a series of impressive results on his palmares, most notably claiming a fine eighth place overall and first senior in this year’s End2End cycle race and winning the Autumn elite series recently.

The former island cap did return briefly for the Sunset City side recently when he turned out for the club’s combination side, scoring no fewer than six goals as his team thrashed St John’s 11-2.

However, such appearances on the football pitch will be rare this season after the Island Games MTB team was announced last week, with Gale taking his place alongside Nick Corlett, Elliot Baxter, Daniel Curtis and Alex Rockwell which will head to Gotland next June.

Speaking to the Manx Independent, Gale commented: ‘Unfortunately that’s the football finished for this season now.

‘I agreed to play (against St John’s) as the MTB team wasn’t selected - I only found out after the game.

‘Therefore I decided I wanted to go with the mountain bike team as I explore a new challenge rather than the footy.

‘I would like to try and play the odd game but the chances are slim as I will be away racing in the UK. I felt that I wanted a new challenge after winning Player of the Year. It set me back a bit really, we came so close (to winning the title) with Peel but never quite managed it.

‘I’ve only dipped my toe in the water with cycling and as you know it’s huge in the island so I feel I have a lot to offer and can go far with the sports coaching and helping I’m now getting.

‘I’m looking for all the sponsorship help I can get as travelling to the UK and competing won’t be cheap, plus going to the Island Games will cost more than £1,200!’

If anyone wishes to sponsor Lee, he can be contacted via Facebook.

Has centralising catering services in the island’s schools served up a better deal?

Douglas North MHK David Ashford raised the issue of quality of school meals in Tynwald this week – and cited as a problem a rather unappetising cottage pie.

He told the court: ‘Would the Minister agree it is something that needs to be looked at closely?

‘There are many parents concerned about the quality – particularly in secondary education.

‘For instance, I am aware that it has been suggested that cottage pie is being served where it is a pile of tinned mince with a hash brown on top.

‘I think the Trade Descriptions Act should come into play there!

‘It is important that portion sizes are correct, because they seem to have declined since this catering service was centralised.’

Education and Children Minister Graham Cregeen agreed. He said his department has sought the views of all primary and secondary schools on whether they regard the level of service provided by the centralised catering service as better or worse.

He said: ‘Needless to say, the views were mixed. One felt the service was better, with the rest being split between there being no change in the service and that the level of service and the quality of the food was not as good as previously delivered by the schools themselves.

‘The feedback has been given to the centralised catering service who are working on addressing the issues raised. The departments are working together to identify the effectiveness and efficiencies of the centralised catering services.’

The Minister said political member for education Lawrie Hooper was heading a review of the centralised catering service. ‘We will see what provisions can be brought forward and hopefully get a better service,’ he said.

At its latest meeting the society was treated to a talk by Bob Servante on the Farne Islands and Bamburgh Castle.

Bob and Mike, another member of the society, visited the Northumberland coast earlier this year to see the nesting sea birds.

Although the weather was too rough on the Saturday they made the most of it by spending the rest of the day wandering around the harbour at Seahouses before heading up to Bamburgh Castle.

The castle is an impressive site with its great fortifications and the great hall with its high wooden ceiling

Bob even managed to get a photograph of a blue tit coming out of the castle wall.

Thankfully the weather calmed on Sunday and they made the rough crossings to the Inner Farne Island and it was worth the wait.

They were surrounded by hundreds of seabirds flying around them as they travelled over, such as geese, shags, cormorants, guillemots and gulls.

Once they landed they were ‘welcomed’ by hundreds of artic terns diving bombing them, protecting their chicks.

Luckily the rest of the wildlife was more welcoming.

Although they only had an hour to explore the small island they managed to see most of it and visit not only the wonderful wildlife but also some of the historic building that still remain, such as the lighthouse and St Cuthbert’s Church.

They were witness to thousands of puffins, watching them bring in sand eels for their hungry chicks hidden in their burrows. In addition to these charismatic birds, various other sea birds were seen including shags, guillemots, cormorants, razorbills and several species of gulls many of which also nest on the island.

The Farne Islands also support a notable colony of around 6000 grey seals and many were seen hauled out on the rocks around the coastline.

The second half of the evening was a showing of the L&CPU Portfolio.

This contained around 60 photographs taken by other photography clubs in the north of England.

he portfolio contained both colour and black and white images, providing a great visual experience for our members.

There was a vast variety in the subjects photographed from nature to people to landscapes. It certainly gave out members something to aspire to for future competitions.

The overall winning photograph was of a surfer riding a large wave.

A wonderful image and a worthy winner.

If you would like to visit the club and get a feel for what we do and who we are anyone is most welcome to join us. For more information please check out our website www.iomps.com

Lara Howe

The death of Walnut the whippet last week touched the hearts of millions of people as it was widely reported by news agencies across the world

For those of you who didn’t read about 18-year old-Walnut’s last hours, in summary his owner invited fellow dog owners and friends to enjoy his beloved pet’s last walk on his favourite beach in North Cornwall.

Hundreds of people turned up on Porth beach in Newquay after Walnut’s owner invited them via a Facebook message to share a last walk; and then two hours later Walnut was euthanised.

This moving story is all the more remarkable because when animals die pet owners often find their loss is trivialised by those around them.

Although we are a nation of animal lovers many people frown upon mourning and visible grief in relation to the loss of a pet, and they have a ‘just get another pet’ approach which is seldom helpful.

Changing social attitudes may not be easy, but pet owners should not feel afraid to show their feelings.

Your vet and vet nurses will certainly understand, and will help you with your decision about when the time is right to euthanise (which translates from Greek as ‘good death’) - the decision will only ever be reached as an act of kindness to avoid suffering and a pet owner should never feel guilty.

Many people need to take some time out to mourn, and talking to someone who understands can be important.

The island’s Samaritans service is there to help you and they take pet bereavement very seriously. You can call them on 116123.

Please don’t let the thought of dealing with grief put you off adopting.

We have some wonderful animals waiting to meet you.

Missy is one of them and as you can see she is a photogenic black and white cat with the most wonderful big green eyes.

She is only two years old and came to us last month because her previous owner’s circumstances changed. She is very friendly and has lived with dogs and cats before, and so she should fit into a new home very easily.

She likes to talk and make her presence felt, and she’s first in the queue for cuddles, and so if you want a confident cat Missy would be perfect for you.

Over in kennels the four puppies that were abandoned several weeks ago are thriving.

They are now eating solid food and growing by the day.

They spend much of their time with staff in their homes, enjoying a domestic environment, and you can see lots of photographs and videos of them on our Facebook page and on our website.

Many well-wishers have used the society’s Amazon Wishlist to purchase gifts for the puppies, such as teething bones and training pads, and we are very grateful.

erhaps now is also the time, as our minds turn towards Christmas and buying presents, to remind you that by using Amazon you can support the society financially.

The Amazon link on our website’s homepage takes you to the Amazon site through a portal which then means that a percentage of the price of the goods purchased is donated to the society by Amazon as part of its approach to corporate social responsibility.

There is no additional cost to the purchaser and so this is an amazing way to raise funds.

Please give it a go!

And finally, back to Walnut.

Why don’t we start to do something similar here on the Island, on our wonderful beaches in in our beautiful glens and plantations, to celebrate our pets and share our grief at their loss?

The politician in charge of planning and building control says it’s essential that the rules are obeyed.

Tim Baker MHK, member of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, was speaking after a Santon couple was penalised by a court for failing to demolish seven tourist properties, in contravention of an enforcement notice.

Vincent Martin Marlow and Eileen Maria Marlow got planning permission to convert a barn to four tourist properties, but instead built seven new properties. They sought approval retrospectively but were turned down.

The enforcement notice, ordering the demolition of the properties, was served in September 2013 and confirmed by a court in 2014. The notice required compliance by September 2015.

The couple, of Quines Hill, Port Soderick, contested the charge of failing to comply with a notice to knock down the properties Ard Na Mara, Santon, but were found guilty.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes fined Mr and Mrs Marlow £7,000 and £5,000 respectively and ordered them to pay £2,000 costs.

Mr Baker said: ‘Effective enforcement is important as a means of maintaining public confidence in the planning system.

‘The opportunity was given in this instance for the buildings to be demolished without formal prosecution, but the owners failed to remove them, leaving the department little alternative.’

The couple are still required to comply with the enforcement notice.

Close friend of TT legend Mike Hailwood returned to the island this week to talk about his memories of working alongside one of the best riders in road racing history.

Ted Macauley was interviewed by Manx National Heritage curator for social history, Matthew Richardson, on Monday. The recordings will feature in the new TT Gallery at the Manx Museum, which is scheduled to open in 2020.

‘It is an absolute honour for Manx National Heritage to welcome Ted,’ Mr Richardson said.

‘His connection to Mike Hailwood put him at the centre of one of the greatest dramas in the 110-year history of the TT, and to have captured Ted’s perspective on this fascinating episode was hugely rewarding.’

The interview is designed to provide depth to Manx National Heritage’s collections and displays.

Mr Macauley worked with ‘Mike the Bike’ Hailwood throughout his career, and is said to be responsible for the arrangement of sponsorship, as well as organising Hailwood’s bikes during his victorious TT return in 1978, after a period of car racing in the 1970s.

The TT career of the motorcycling champion began in 1958, and his legendary TT status comes from winning 14 races in the 1960s and 1970s.

Hailwood’s career highlight was arguably winning the 1967 Senior TT race against Italian rider Giacomo Agostini.

Born in Oxfordshire in 1940, Hailwood was inspired by his father, who was a motorcycle racer and owned a large motorcycle dealership.

After beginning his racing career at the age of 17, Hailwood showed natural ability while riding for both Honda and MV Agusta, winning nine World Championships.

Hailwood was tragically killed alongside his daughter, Michelle, in a car crash in 1981, but is still a hero to a generation of fans.

Mr Macauley has recently finished working alongside modern day TT superstar Ian Hutchinson on the latter man’s autobiography.

Hutchy: Miracle Man tells the story of the Yorkshire rider’s career, particularly his return to form following a the horrific leg injury he sustained at Silverstone in 2010.

Within the book, high-profile motorsports figures including Valentino Rossi, Mick Grant, Jamie Whitham and Murray Walker offer their opinion on the 14-time TT winner.

A ‘glamping’ site could be opening in Port Erin.

The local authority has asked for expressions of interest from those interested in running the site on the authority’s land somewhere in the village.

Commissioners clerk Jason Roberts would not say where the site is before the deal is progressed.

He said the venture achieves several goals: ‘It is about utilising the village’s amenities, because there has been the loss of hotels and tourists are limited about where they can stay. “Glamping” is high quality and it’s all year round. If it generates an income that’s great, but it’s even better if it means the amenities are used.’

Commissioners’ chairman Nick Watterson said: ‘A number of locations have been explored over the past 12 months, and we are now at the stage of seeking expressions of interest ... to create and manage a site within Port Erin. This is a great opportunity which is envisaged will create employment opportunities within Port Erin and offer visitors a fantastic place to stay.’

A year ago, the authority explored opening a ‘glamping’ site in Breagle Glen, but local opposition meant plans were dropped.

The word ‘glamping’ is a portmanteau widely used to describe ‘glamorous camping’.

A Freedom of Information request from Isle of Man Newspapers for the publication of the accident report into the runaway mountain tram crash has been refused.

No one is to face prosecution over the incident.

But the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture claimed that ‘significant harm would be caused to the reputation’ of the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate if the full report were to be released.

However, it did provide a summary of the report which reveals shortcomings in the recording of inspections and maintenance of the parking brake on the vintage Snaefell Mountain Railway trams – and failures in the way changes to railway infrastructure were managed.

On March 30 this year, tram no 3 was totally destroyed when it left the Summit station unmanned and uncontrolled and travelled about 1.75km before crashing off the track.

It was lucky that no-one was on board at the time and that it derailed before it reached the Bungalow road crossing.

Changes had been made to the track layout at the Summit during the closed winter season.

Work had also been carried out to improve underfoot conditions for passengers, but this had not been completed.

As a result trams arriving at the top dropped passengers outside the Summit Hotel rather than at the newly-created drop-off point.

Tram no 3 had to be moved onto the down line to allow another tram to stop at the Summit station where passenger could alight.

The summary report states that tram no 3 was parked and secured about 10m further down the line than it would have been in previous years. If it had been parked at the station or drop-off point it would have gently rolled to the buffer stops.

‘Train crews are aware of a general instruction not to leave trams unattended when on a running line but it had become “custom and practice” to do so at the Summit station and this happened on this occasion,’ states the report summary.

The parking brake operated by a wheel in the cab, is a different mechanism to the fell brake which slows a tram’s descent during normal operations.

During its investigation the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate found the recording of inspections and maintenance of parking brakes to be poor.

Failures were also identified in the way changes made to the railway infrastructure and property were managed.

An improvement notice was issued which ordered the public transport division to review procedures for managing and communicating changes to railway infrastructure to staff who may be affected.

It also had to review and implement any required changes to the maintenance procedures for the parking brake mechanism, and review supervision requirements at the Summit station.

Much of this work has been done and work on improving the parking brake maintenance procedures is at an advanced stage, notes the report summary. More time has been granted to allow these to be assessed by specialists.

The Isle of Man Bloodhounds held its opening meet of the season at the weekend.

A field of more than 30 riders tackled banks, river crossings and straw bales as they followed the scent of their quarry, keen runner Dave Cain.

Saturday’s drag hunt took place on land at Malew, starting from Church Farm at Great Meadow and then heading to land owned by Murray Cringle, and Eric and Geoff Taggart.

Field master for the day was Simon Riggall and he was joined by hounds Holly, Hackthorn and Dalton.

It saw Dave run on ahead of the hounds, running pre-determined lines.

The hounds picked up his personal scent – known as clean boot – and trailed his route.

The remainder of the field followed behind negotiating various jumps, banks and hurdles and obstacles.

When the hounds caught up with the runner they were rewarded with a fuss and not meat!

The Hunt is grateful for the support of landowners who enable them to meet on land across the island most weekends between October and March.

Isle of Man Bloodhounds was founded in 1974. There are three masters, Simon, Sammy Leahy and Walter Gilbey.

Twelve hundred people packed into the Villa Marina on Thursday night to see people from charities, the public sector and private industry recognised for their work in the community.

It was the 12th Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence, which was hosted by Alexander Armstrong, the comedian and host of BBC1’s Pointless game show.

Here are some of the pictures our photographers took on the night.

There will be more in the Isle of Man Examiner in a special supplement on Tuesday.