Thursday, November 29

• Brown Sugar at The Outback Douglas.

• Karaoke, Guys and Dolls, Douglas.

• Soundcheck, Basement, Youth Arts Centre, Kensington Road, Douglas, 6.30pm. Also Saturday and Wednesday.

• Ramsey Folk Club at The George Hotel, Ramsey, 8pm.

• Karaoke with Ray Sloane at The Saddle Inn, Douglas.

• Guitar Lessons at The Meeting Room, Archibald Knox, Onchan, 5-45-6.45pm.

• Alternative Havana, Fiesta Havana, Douglas. Also, Friday. Full On Fridays.

• Lon Dhoo Male Voice Choir. All Saints Church, 7.30pm.

Friday, November 30

• Ian Thompson at The Queens, Douglas.

• DJ, karaoke and disco, Samuel Webbs, Douglas.

• Clown Calls for War At The Engine Room, Ship Inn, Castletown.

• Dickie at The Whitehouse, Peel.

• Brown Sugar at Jaks, Douglas.

• Ian Thompson at The Queens, Douglas.

• Borderline at the Port St Mary Pavilion, food from 7pm, music from 8.30pm.

• Karaoke, The Albert, Douglas, 9pm.

• Thai Night, authentic food and music, The Railway, Douglas, 6pm. Also Wednesday.

• Little Miss Dyanmite at The Creek, Peel.

• Manx Music session, Tynwald Inn, St John’s, 8.30pm.

• Irish Traditional Music session, The Mitre, Ramsey, 9pm.

• Kiaull as Gaelg, The Albert, Port St Mary, 9pm.

• Slice of Life at Jaks, Douglas.

Saturday, December 1

• Age of Steam at The Highwayman, Peel.

• Ian Thompson at The Sidings, Castletown.

• Dickie at The Manor, Willaston.

• Anita J at The Queens, Douglas.

• Caution Runners at Jaks, Douglas.

• Symbollix at Jaks, Douglas.

• Manx Music session, The White House, Peel, 10pm.

• Little Miss Dyanmite at The Mitre, Ramsey.

• Karaoke with Dobbo at the Decks, Liverpool Arms, Baldrine.

• Karaoke at the Central Hotel, Ramsey.

Sunday, December 2

• One Wo/Man, One Guitar, One Night, at The Mitre, Joe Russell and Ross Skillicorn.

• DJ Karaoke and Disco at Jaks, Douglas.

• Music Box with David Castro and Stephanie Chatterley at Guys and Dolls, Walpole Avenue.

• Karaoke at The British, Douglas.

• Karaoke, The Crescent, Queen’s Promenade, Douglas, 8pm.

Tuesday, December 4

• Acoustic Sing-a-Round, The Manor, Willaston.

• Rock Choir, Youth Arts Centre, Kensington Road, Douglas, 6pm.

• The What You Want Acoustic Music Club, The Manor, Willaston, 8.30pm.

Wednesday, December 5

• Winter Wurlitzer, Villa Marina Arcade, 1pm, Jimmy Thomson with Paul Costain and the Buchan Chamber Choir.

• Karaoke at The British, Douglas.

Thursday, November 29

• Theatrix Theatre Company Musical Theatre age 8-12. Also Saturday Babies Irish/mod, 9am. Prep Ballet/Tap, 10am, Babies Ballet/Tap, 11am. Musical Theatre, age 5-8. Monday, Senior Ballet, 4pm, Senior Tap, 5pm, Senior Jazz, 5.45pm Adult Irish, 6.30pm. Tuesday Community Ballet/Tap, 4pm. Beginners Irish, 4.45pm. Junior Irish, 5.30pm. Adult Tap, 6.15pm. Wednesday Grade 2 Ballet/Tap, 4pm. Novice Irish, 5.30pm. Adult Ballet, 6.15pm.

• Quiz Night at The Railway, Douglas from 8.30pm. Call 670773.

• Happy Tots, Main Hall, Willaston School, 9.45am, £1 per family including refreshments. Call 621577.

• Storytime for pre-schoolers, Henry Bloom Noble Library, Victoria Street, Douglas, 10am. Call 696461.

• Age Concern Isle of Man free computer sessions, iMuseum, Douglas, 10am-12.30pm. Also Wednesday. Monday, Ramsey Town Hall, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm; Tuesday, Ramsey Town Hall, 10am-12.30pm; Wednesday and Thursday, Southlands, Port St Mary, 2-4.30pm.

• Isle of Man Farmers’ Market, at Tynwald Mills, St John’s, 11am-3pm.

• Parents and tots, Auldyn Infants School Community Room, Ramsey, 1.30pm.

• Arbory Tots, from birth, Parish Hall, Ballabeg, 2pm. Cost £1 per family. Call 832394.

• Toddler Tunes, Community Room, Michael School, 2pm. Call 878090.

• The Children’s Centre Parent Support Group, informal chat with family support workers, at Douglas Family Centre, Woodbourne Road, 7-9pm.

• Manx Gaelic class with Cathy Clucas, Arbory Commissioners’ Hall, 7.30pm. Call 838527.

• Bingo Quiz, Manor Hotel, Willaston, 9pm.

Friday, November 30

• Baby and Toddler Group, 9.30am-11.30am at Glen Maye Community Centre. All pre-school children welcome. Refreshments provided. No charge but donations welcome. Call 845681.

• Willaston Weekly Drop In Centre, Willaston Methodist Church, Barrule Road, 10am-noon.

• Drop in for coffee and a chat, Sulby Methodist Church, 10am-noon.

• Parents and Tots, upper room, Sulby Methodist Church, 10.30am. Call 897364. Also 3.45pm Sparks after school club with themed activities.

• Mums and Tots, Laxey Working Men’s Institute, 10am-noon. Call 479839.

• Tiddlers, parents and tots, Elim Church, Second Avenue, Onchan, 10am. Call 434933.

• Prayers with Bears Tots group, All Saints Church Vestry, Alexandra Drive, Douglas, 10am. Call 483248.

• Parents and tots, Philip Christian Centre, Peel, 10am.

• Garage Sale at the back of Crossroads Charity Shop, Victoria Street, Douglas. 10am-4pm.

• Storybox, Family Library, Westmoreland Road, Douglas, 10.30am. Also Saturday, Sticky Finger Craft for 6+, 10.30am; Wednesday, Busy Bee Time for pre-schoolers, 1.45pm. Call 673123.

• Michael School Christmas Fair, 6pm-8pm.

• Save the Children (Douglas Branch) Festival of Trees, first floor of Ronaldsway Airport at 6.30pm. Call 621491. Until January 6.

• Meditation at The Refinery, Duke Street, Douglas, 7pm. Call 467818.

• Clothes Sale, Foxdale School, 7pm-9pm. £1 admission.

• Ballakermeen High School Association Christmas at 6pm. Email p.crilly@bhs.sch.im

• The Link (interesting talks and a buffet supper), Onchan Baptist Church. 7.30pm.

• Macbeths, Douglas, sponsored volunteers shaved. Shaving courtesy of Marias Hairdresser, 7.30pm.

• Peel Lifeboat Ladies Guild Savoury and Wine Evening at Peel Golf Club, 8pm. Tickets £10.

Saturday, December 1

• Laxey Woollen Mills, Glen Road, Laxey, 10am-5pm. Also open weekdays.

• Auldyn School Christmas Fayre, 10am-noon.

• Green Centre, opposite Iceland, Chester Street Complex, Douglas. Information about recycling, energy, insulation and environmental matters. Zero Waste Mann, Isle of Man Friends of the Earth and Manx Energy Advice Centre. Open from 10am.

• Isle of Man Farmers’ Market, at Northern Lights Community Centre, Ramsey, 10am-1pm.

• Isle of Man Farmers’ Market, at Villa Marina, Douglas, 10am-2pm.

• Manx Footpaths Conservation Group Saturday Walk, Fenella Beach, 10.30am.

• Coffee and chat, St Mary’s on the Harbour, Castletown, 11am.

• St. Peter’s Christmas Fair, Parish Hall, Royal Ave, Onchan, 2pm-4pm. Admission £1.

• Erin Arts Centre Players – A Christmas Carol, 7.30pm. Tickets £10, also Sunday.

Sunday, December 2

• Sunday School, Sulby Methodist Church, 10.30am. Also youth group for school years 7+, 7pm. Call 450104.

• Fishing workshops for beginners, includes both river and sea, bait, spinning and fly fishing, at Adventurous Experiences lecture room, Patrick Road, St John’s, by Kelvin Tastagh, owner of Kelvin’s Tackle, 2pm. Entry £3 donation to RNLI. Call Kelvin on 478224.

• Car Boot, Legion Hall, Janet Corner. 12-4pm. Call Kath on 824759.

• Manx Footpaths Conservation Group Sunday Walk, Ballaugh Plantation, 1.30pm.

• Car Boot Sale, Morton Hall, Castletown, 2pm. Call 673320 or 481532.

• Castletown Metropolitan Silver Band rehearsals, Queen Street Mission Hall, 7pm.

• Hospice Christmas Fair, noon-5pm at the Villa Marina.

• Meditation and chat at Pure Inspiration, Studio 1, The Harbour, Ramsey. 7.15pm. Call Gary on 817735.

Monday, December 3

• Kittens tots and carers group, St Ninian’s Church, Douglas, 10.30am. £1 per family. Call 629683.

• Parents and tots, Dhoon Church Hall, 9.30am. Call 426395.

• Noah’s Ark Tots Group, Church on the Rock, behind Ramsey Bus Station, 9.30am. Call 459890.

• Breastfeeding Buddies, The Salvation Army Citadel, Ridgeway Street, Douglas. 10.30am. Call 656030.

• The Y Factor, Talent Show for young people. Youth Arts Centre. Call Fiona Helleur on 437339.

• Coffee morning and chat, St George’s Church Hall, Upper Church Street, Douglas, 10.30am-12.30pm.

• Roll’n’Play for preschoolers, Philip Christian Centre, Peel, 10.30am.

• Parents and tots, St Olave’s Church, Ramsey, 1pm.

• Northern Lights Community Centre, Ramsey, Tots play. 1.30pm-3.30pm. Pilates 6.15pm-7.15pm. Also, Tuesdays, Hatha yoga, 6.30pm-7.45pm. Call Isis on 303836. Wednesdays Tots craft and play. £1.

• Peel Toddler Group, Corrin Hall, Peel, 1.30pm.

• Action Songs and Rhymes, from birth, The Children’s Centre, Woodbourne Road, Douglas, 1.30pm. Also Tuesday, Sulby School, 9.30am; Philip Christian Centre, Peel, 2pm; Wednesday, Auldyn School Community Room, 9.15am and 10.30am.

• Michael Miniatures’ parents and tots, Ebenezer Hall, Kirk Michael, 2pm. £1.50 per family. Call 491592.

• Vannin Bridge, Onchan Pensioners Hall, 2pm. Also Thursday.

• Onchan Silver Band practice, The Band Room, off Main Road, Onchan, beginners, 6.30pm and seniors, 7.30pm.

Tuesday, December 4

• Manx Cancer Help drop-in day, Lisa Lowe Centre, The Old Schoolhouse, Cronkbourne, 11am-4pm.

• Parents and tots group, Cronk-y-Berry School side entrance, 9.30am. Admission £1, Call 469756. Also Thursday, 1.30pm.

• Toddle Inn, mums and tots group, Port St Mary Baptist Church, 9.30am. Also Wednesday, Living Hope Community Church, Lancashire House, Santon, 9.30am. Call 835091.

• Laxey mums and tots, Laxey Pavilion, 1pm. Call 438408.

• Manx Gaelic conversational class with Adrian Cain, The Rovers, Douglas, 1pm. Also Manx Gaelic class with Brian Stowell at Isle of Man College, Douglas, 7pm. Call 623821.

• Whist for Hospice, Michael Methodist Church, 7.30pm. £2.

• Foxdale mums and tots, community hall, Foxdale School, 2pm. Call 420234.

• Abbey Acorns, ages 4+ at the Abbey Church, Ballasalla, 3.30pm.

• Peel Footlights Youth Theatre, children aged eight-16, Philip Christian Centre, Peel, 4pm. Also Thursday. Call 843819.

• Ramsey Gardening Club, Quayle Hall, Waterloo Road, Ramsey, 7.30pm.

• Whist for Hospice, Michael Methodist Hall. 7.30pm. £2. Raffle and refreshment.

Wednesday, December 5

• Parents and tots, Salvation Army Citadel, Lord Street, Douglas, 9.30am. Call 627742.

• Mini Club for parents or carers and their babies, toddlers and pre-school children at Anagh Coar School, 9.30am or Braddan Church Hall, 2pm. Call 675091.

• Ballabeg Busy Bugs for under fives, Arbory Parish Hall, Ballabeg, 10am. Call 429676 or email BusyBugs2009@manx.net

• Mums and tots, Marown Hall, Peel Road, Crosby, 10.15am. £1.50 per family.

• MS Society coffee morning, Harbour Lights, St Paul’s Square, Ramsey, 10.30am-noon.

• Independent Living Centre, Open Day, Ballakermeen Rd, 9.30am-3.30pm. Call 642511.

• Computer Training Sessions for everyone. Leonard Cheshire Disability, Main Rd, Onchan, 11am-3pm. Call 679030.

• Busy Bees parents and tots, Beehive Kindergarten, Onchan, 1.30pm. Also Thursday. Call 674655.

• Ballacottier School Christmas Fair, 6pm-8pm.• Manx Eating Disorders Support Group at CIRCA Shopmobility and Information Centre, Level 2 Chester Street Car Park, Douglas. 7pm-8.

• Manx Gaelic class with James O’Meara, St John’s House, 7.30pm. Call 843436.

• Bingo, South Douglas Old Friends Association, Finch Road, Douglas, 8pm.

• Bingo Quiz, Archibald Knox, Onchan, 9pm.

Pasty and Thad return to cover the hot topics of relegation, Borris Johnson and Elton John

THE mixed league season ended on a slightly disappointing note for blog favourites Castletown Cushags Colts.

The Castletown youth development team’s hopes of staying up in the First Division were dealt an blow by Dani ‘Evil’ Kelly, who we are told led the Vikings C team from the front in last week’s relegation decider, hatching her evil plan by single-handedly smiting the youths of the south with her tremendous speed and excessive hockey skills. The speed at which Dani - sorry Evil - approached the Cushags keeper was too fast to many to see. And, dear reader, a sonic boom is not pleasant when it reverberates off your keeper’s kit. 
However, being very appreciative of both teams’ efforts to file match reports, and having enjoyed reading them, we feel that Jon Allen’s team should probably be allotted at least an additional goal for filing a match report that not only included all of our requested terms, but also extended to almost 800 words. 
Some interesting facts about Jon Allen’s match report of last Saturday’s match:

1, It is nine words longer than the main body of the US’s Declaration of Independence. That’s right, they managed to declare the independence of the world’s most powerful country in less words than Jon Allen needed to write up a 3-1 loss to Vikings C.

2, There are enough letters in Jon Allen’s match report than if you handed them all out, everyone in Castletown could have one each, and you’d still have 200 spare. No, we can’t think of any reason why this would ever happen either. But it’s true.

3, Jon has used three semi-colons and one question mark in the match report. We haven’t checked Jon’s match reports throughly, but we reckon that Jon deliberately outlines the result in these grammatical marks in a strange code for people of the future who don’t understand English any more, in order that they will also be able to note the result for posterity.

So, what were the contents of the match report? Well, quite honestly, regardless of the result, Jon went out with a massive bang. There will not be a better metaphor used within a match result this century than the phrase: ‘Some might say that relegation is all part of the learning experience but like extra maths last period on a Friday, a lesson we could all do without.’ Brilliant.

So how did Jon get our three chosen phrases into his match report? Behold the beauty of the following:
‘Perhaps I should have reflected that like Barack Obama once across the line the struggles would have been forgotten and the campaign manager is a hero.’
‘So to relegation - like liquorice it leaves a bad taste in the mouth but not for long.’
‘I consulted a very short friend of mine who said: “Into the Dark Side they must go. Improve their skills they must. Get bigger they will. Like the Platypus they are not and The Colt empire will rise again wiser and stronger.”’
You’ll all have an opportunity to see Jon sporting his wonderful 200 per cent brilliant headband somewhere on a Division Two pitch side soon...


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HOW OLD?

Neill Jacobs became officially old last weekend, and, having so far only wished him a happy birthday in two formats, we thoughts we’d offer our congratulations on both birthday, and indeed engagement here. A friend of Neill - one of our esteemed South African correspondents – has recently wondered why there are two ‘l’s on the end of Neill, and is pretty convinced it is supposed to be pronounced the Welsh way, (as in ‘Llandudno’), or the Spanish way, as in ‘Me llamo...’, so if all our readers could remember to use either of these when speaking to Neill in future, we’re sure he would appreciate the proper pronunciation of his name. Pasty will be ensuring this is strictly enforced on Manx Radio in future.
Neill wins extra bonus points for not trying too hard to self congratulate himself for an additional annum of survival. Vikings’ Ian Perry was recently seen to send a text to Manx Radio pointing out his result, but also that it was his birthday, and wishing himself a happy one. For this audacious attempt at a radio mention, it only seemed to be fair to add VAT to his age. And 20 per cent on that is quite a big number...


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SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Believe it or not folks, the photos above are actually of two completely different individuals. Hard to believe, I know. We’ve spliced the following two paragraphs together. Why not see if you can work out which ones go with which picture?

Ashley Boris de Pfeffel Johnson-Osborne (born 19 June 1964) is an American-born British Conservative Party politician, who lives somewhere on Douglas Head, and was first elected Mayor of London in 2008. Having initially played for Bacchas, he joined Vikings following a club committee vote at Vikings in 2011.

With over a million votes, he received the largest personal mandate during such an election in British history. Best known for cycling to work, and avoiding consumption of alcohol in conspicuous locations, Johnson-Osborne was criticised for running up excessive taxi fares, including a 540 per cent rise in taxi consumption during the year 2011.

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TAKING THE SCENIC ROUTE

There’s nothing like a nice relaxing drive to a hockey match, singing along to your Elton John Greatest Hits CD to psyche you up before your match as you enjoy winding your way around the beautiful Manx countryside.

Cammags’ midfielder Mark Castle was lucky enough to be in the position to enjoy such a trip last weekend and what better setting for belting out ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ than on the unspoilt beauty of the famous Mountain Road to Ramsey Grammar School.

After digging out his passport, changing his currency and allowing for the appropriate jetlag issues on arrival, Mark was feeling chipper as he departed his flat in Port Erin for the long drive to Ramsey. At approximately the same time, just 10 minutes drive away Mark’s Cammags teammates started arriving at Castle Rushen keen to warm up for the crunch game against Saracens.

Hit off soon followed at CRHS, at which time we can only imagine the joy etched on Castle’s face humming a few bars of Candle in the Wind as he realised for the first time ever he must be the first one at the match, not one other player in red at RGS - he’s truly an asset to the team!

Half an hour later and the only thing redder than his shirt was Mr Castle’s face, as the Rocket Man showed up at CRHS just before the half-time whistle blew - talk about taking the scenic route! ‘And I think it’s gonna be a long long time’...

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BRATT ATTACK

Flamboyant singer/songwriter Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in March 1947.

Flamboyant hockey player/coach Andy Kneale was born Andrew Kneale in March 1989.

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PREDICTIONS

Cast your minds back a couple of weeks and the last person we had to help us out with the predictions was Dr Who’s finest assistant, Katy Stopford. Like many a hockey game for our favourite hockey starlet, it’s fair to say that things didn’t quite go to plan for Katy, earning a disappointing seven points from the 12 games with Pasty on the same scoreline. Thad finished three points better off with 10 points for the week, denying Katy her much sought after mega-prize. Never mind Katy, you’ve still got all your BAFTAs to console yourself with.

This week, and we have the much-travelled slippery Sam Spooner, who is to alliteration what this blog is to Manx Hockey - read into that what you will. Spoo spoo has earned the right to predict this week’s games for being the man who brought into sharp focus the undeniable link between Ash Johnson and Boris Osborne - good on you Spooner it had to be mentioned sooner or later as long as the tabloids don’t get hold of the scandal we should be running again next week.

Spooner’s predictions are below, have a good ‘un!

Pasty and Thad


SPOONER’S PREDICTIONS


WI-MANX MIXED DIVISION TWO

Castletown Cosney 2 v 1 Vikings D


WI-MANX MIXED U16s

Castletown 1 v 4 Vikings

Rascals 1 v 3 Bacchas

Rogues 4 v 1 Valkyrs

WI-MANX MIXED CUP

Valkyrs B 0 v 4 Vikings A

Valkyrs A 2 v 3 Bacchas A

Ramsey A 1 v 3 Bacchas B

Celts 1 v 2 Vikings B

WI-MANX MIXED PLATE

Bacchas C 5 v 4 Harlequins A

Vikings C 6 v 1 Harlequins B

Valkyrs C 3 v 2 Saracens

PASTY’S PREDICTIONS

WI-MANX MIXED DIVISION TWO

Castletown Cosney 3 v 3 Vikings D


WI-MANX MIXED U16s

Castletown 3 v 2 Vikings

Rascals 4 v 2 Bacchas
Rogues 3 v 1 Valkyrs

WI-MANX MIXED CUP

Valkyrs B 2 v 4 Vikings A

Valkyrs A 3 v 2 Bacchas A

Ramsey A 2 v 1 Bacchas B

Celts 4 v 0 Vikings B

WI-MANX MIXED PLATE

Bacchas C 1 v 3 Harlequins A

Vikings C 3 v 0 Harlequins B

Valkyrs C 2 v 4 Saracens


THAD’s PREDICTIONS

WI-MANX MIXED DIVISION TWO

Castletown Cosney 3 v 2 Vikings D


WI-MANX MIXED U16s

Castletown 2 v 4 Vikings

Rascals 3 v 6 Bacchas

Rogues 4 v 1 Valkyrs


WI-MANX MIXED CUP

Valkyrs B 1 v 5 Vikings A

Valkyrs A 2 v 4 Bacchas A

Ramsey A 0 v 2 Bacchas B

Celts 3 v 1 Vikings B


WI-MANX MIXED PLATE

Bacchas C 6 v 2 Harlequins A

Vikings C 4 v 0 Harlequins B

Valkyrs C 4 v 1 Saracens Sabres

Railway Cup semi-finals take centre stage this weekend

Saturday, December 1

Blackburn Construction Services Railway Cup

Laxey v St George’s 1.30pm

St John’s v St Mary’s 3pm

2pm kick-offs

Canada Life Premier League

Corinthians v Union Mills

Ramsey v Castletown

Rushen v Marown

JCK Division Two

Douglas Royal v Michael

Foxdale v Douglas Athletic

Canada Life Combination One

Union Mills v Corinthians

St George’s v Castletown

Marown v Rushen

JCK Combination Two

Malew v Douglas Athletic

Michael v Douglas Royal

Rycob v Foxdale

Ronaldsway v Pulrose

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Sunday, December 2

10.30am KO

Appleby 15-17 Division One

Laxey v Peel

St George’s v Colby

Union Mills A v Ayre

Appleby 15-17 Division Two

Braddan v Union Mills B

Ramsey v Rushen

Ronaldsway v Onchan

Warehouse Fitness Women’s Floodlit Cup

Castletown v Rushen 2.10pm KO @ Bowl

D’Royal v Gymns 3.40pm KO @ Bowl

Warehouse Fitness Women’s League

Laxey v Peel 2pm

Paddy Power Veterans’ League

2pm kick-offs

Colby A v Douglas and District

Foxdale v Colby B

RYCOB v Ronaldsway

MOVEMBER will be marked at Macbeths, in Victoria Street, Douglas, tomorrow (Friday) evening.

Everyone is welcome to show their support for the campaign, which is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces across the world each November.

From 7.30pm sponsored customers will be ‘Movembered’ by Maria from Maria’s Hair Studio, in Bucks Road, Douglas.

There will also be snacks and raffles.

The aim of Movember is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

MANX motorists could soon invoke the envy of their peers by sporting a four-letter word on their car number plate.

From this weekend the government is to release a new-style number plate bearing the word MANX which will be available to buy as a cherished number.

This is the first time Manx numbers have used a four-letter word rather than the traditional MAN or MN variants used as a prefix or suffix.

The Department of Infrastructure which is releasing the numbers on December 3 hopes over time the sales could bring in more than £12m which it plans to spend on the island’s roads.

If predictions prove to be correct the sought-after MANX 1 and 1 MANX plates could fetch as much as £100,000 with the less desirable combinations starting at around £5,000.

The new MANX series will be available to purchase online at www.gov.im/onlineservices and at post offices from Monday December 3.

Infrastructure Minister David Cretney said he was pleased his department had identified the new range of number plates and delighted the service would allow customers to browse and pay for numbers on-line.

TREASURY Minister Eddie Teare MHK has ruled out the reintroduction of government mortgages.

He was asked in the House of Keys to consider such a measure by John Houghton (Douglas North) who suggested it was needed in view of the ‘severe difficulties’ faced by would-be home owners in getting a mortgage from a high street bank or other lender.

Mr Teare said Treasury was working with the Department of Social Care to devise a replacement first time buyers’ scheme but he had no plans to set up any other scheme outside the framework of the housing review.

Mr Houghton claimed banks were withdrawing products leaving young people unable to get mortgages. The situation was ‘becoming more and more serious as time goes on,’ he said.

Mr Teare said he didn’t think the banks were necessarily withdrawing from the first time buyer’s mortgage market but that they were going back to lending criteria that existed five to 10 years’ ago. ‘We should not concentrate on one area, serious though it is,’ he added.

Zac Hall (Onchan) said the average house price in the island was approaching £300,000 and this was ‘out of reach to many young couples’.

He claimed the government’s ‘laissez faire’ approach was leading to a divided ‘have and have not island’.

The Minister denied there was a laissez faire policy and pointed out that the maximum support under the existing first time buyers’ scheme was £150,000. He accepted there was a substantial waiting list but he suggested that the cost of housing had more to do with planning policy and the price of land.

Offering a ‘helpful suggestion’ to fund government mortgages, Mr Houghton suggested that some form of government bond should be re-introduced.

Mr Teare ruled that out, too, pointing out that the revenue costs had to be considered.

The Minister told the Keys that he met with the mortgage providers on a regular basis as part of the budget process. ‘I have an on-going dialogue with lenders,’ he said, adding he had attended more than 30 meetings with them - and the issue of the availability of mortgages had been one of the issues raised.

He said that Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw was carrying out a wide-ranging review of housing support, including what options exist to assist first time buyers. Part of this work involved a housing needs survey.

Treasury officers are playing an active role in assisting Social Care in this review, the Minister told MHKs.

‘We will work with Social Care to devise a replacement scheme for first time buyers that will continue to offer significant and sustainable assistance to our young people who wish to own their own homes.’

• What do you think? Email {mailto:opinions@newsiom.co.im|opinions(at)newsiom.co.im} or sign in to add your comment below.

Beach Buddies are holding another beach clean, this time at Perwick Bay, Port St Mary.

All those interested in joining the buddies should go to Kallow Point car park at 10.30am this Sunday, December 2. Volunteers need to wear decent walking boots; the path down to the beach is fairly steep, so might not be suitable for everyone.

Beach Buddies will provide litter pickers, bin bags and gloves – they dispose of the rubbish and recycle where possible.

Last month, the group collected 31 bags of rubbish from Castletown beach, including syringes.

‘This shows how important it is that we clean the beaches to remove such items out of the way of our children and pets,’ said Buddies founder Bill Dale.

BARCLAYS has announced two new appointments to its Wealth and Investment Management division, with Elaine Codona and Lindsey Finnie joining its human resources team in the Isle of Man.

Elaine joins Barclays Wealth and Investment Management as Head of HR for offshore islands, assuming responsibility for the HR function across the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey.

She brings more than 12 years of HR management experience in global organisations, most recently at Coca Cola Enterprises.

Elaine said: ‘I am excited to be joining the team at Barclays and will be focused on building upon the excellent work that has taken place so far across the HR function to attract, encourage, reward and develop the best talent, enabling Barclays to deliver its commercial vision and goals.’

Lindsey also brings a wealth of experience to the HR team, having worked in various industries including in multinational organisations in the UK before taking a recent break to focus on raising her family.

She joins Barclays with enthusiasm for the challenges and demands of her role as HR Business Partner.

She said: ‘I am really looking forward to working with one of the largest private sector employers in the island, which has an interesting and diverse workforce. I am excited to be working with Elaine and the rest of the Barclays Isle of Man team to develop and enhance the existing human resources initiatives and policies.’

Elaine added: ‘Barclays is committed to developing and supporting its staff in the Isle of Man and is currently involved in a new global learning curriculum which aims to develop the core skills of our workforce to improve effectiveness and staff engagement. We are also holding workshops locally covering career management and development designed to help support our colleagues looking to progress their career through the organisation.’

Managing director at Barclays Isle of Man Simon Scott said: ‘We’re pleased to welcome Elaine and Lindsey to the Isle of Man team. They have both had remarkable careers to date and we are looking forward to benefiting from their experience. As one of the largest private sector employers in the island, human resources and people development are very important aspects of our business. As well as our commitment to supporting our staff we also work closely with the Isle of Man Government departments of Education and Children and Economic Development in an effort to help boost opportunities for young people in the workplace, which we will continue to build on in the future.’

BUSHY’s boss Martin Brunnschweiler says he is ‘surprised and disappointed’ that the site of the TT beer tent will be put out to tender next year.

And Mr Brunnschweiler said he hopes the successful tender would not be selected simply on the basis of who submits the highest bid.

This was the 15th year that Bushy’s has operated the beer tent on the Bottleneck car park and in that time it has become an iconic landmark of the TT.

The brewery’s current three-year lease of the Bottleneck car park ends this year and Douglas councillors have resolved the site should be put out to tender.

Council leader David Christian said there was nothing wrong with testing the water and seeing who else was interested.

Mr Brunnschweiler learned of the news this week after returning to the island from a two-week trip to Cambodia.

He said: ‘On on the one hand I’m surprised as I think we’ve been doing a good job. On the other hand, I realise these are hard times. In the past there was a selective tendering process. Something has obviously changed if the Corporation want to go to open tender. I’m feeling a bit disappointed.

‘Normally we like to get an indication that everything is okay before the current year’s TT finishes. But this year I sensed something was different as I couldn’t get a comment from anybody at the Corporation.’

The Bushy’s boss said he ‘certainly intends’ to put in a bid but he expressed concern about what criteria will be used in selecting the winning tender. ‘I don’t know what the wording is and I hope that they don’t have to take the highest bid.’

He said making a profit on the beer tent was by no means guaranteed.

‘It’s very hit and miss. Two years ago, we made a profit by the skin of our teeth. People just assume that we clean up in the TT but we really sweat it out. It’s an expensive thing to put on and we don’t know until the last few days whether we’ll even break even. There are a lot of factors involved. If races are delayed there is a big knock-on effect on us.’

The Bushy’s boss said the 2009 TT, when the government took the decision to cut back on TT entertainment, had been ‘disastrous’ for the beer tent.

For 14 years up to the 1997 TT, Bushy’s had operated its pub on Victoria Street. When that closed, a 10,000-name signature was collected to support the idea for a beer tent across the road.

Mr Brunnschweiler said he was dismayed by the comments of one Douglas councillor Ritchie McNicholl who said the TT is bigger than Bushy’s and that ‘maybe someone fresh should come to the site’. ‘I think that’s an unnecessary thing to say.’ said the brewery boss.

He said there would be a number of people from both on and off-island who might be interested in bidding. ‘We mustn’t be complacent.’ he said.

PEEL’S Christmas lights will be switched on tomorrow (Saturday).

They’ll be switched on by some of the cast members from the Peel Pantoloons in Atholl Place, at 4.30pm.

This year’s Panto is Jack and the Beanstalk which runs from December 4 till 8.

Jack, The Pantomime Cow and the Dame will all making an appearance for the big switch on.

There will also be a visit from Father Christmas who will take an hour out of his busy schedule and come to Peel, where he will meet the children and just maybe have some goodies to hand out.

There is also a Christmas workshop at the House of Manannan from 11am till 4pm, children can make a Christmas lantern at this event and a lantern competition will take place at 3.45pm and a lantern parade to Atholl Street from the House of Manannan at 4pm.

Geoff Birkett will be selling hot chestnuts and Christmas chocolate apples from his stall in Atholl Place with all money going to island charities.

Meanwhile, a Christmas fair planned at Philip Christian Centre in Peel on Saturday has been postponed.

The event was organised to raise funds for The Children’s Centre and organisers have apologised for any inconvenience caused by the cancellation.

However, some of the festive attractions scheduled for the fair will now be held on December 9 at the Philip Christian Centre as part of a Christmas boot sale event.

There will be hot food, Christmas crafting, raffles, Santa Claus in his grotto, and face painting as part of the festive activities, plus a car boot sale to raise funds for the Peel Dip.

With the English leagues taking a much-needed week off, the Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield takes centre stage this Saturday.

With all clubs now having played half of their scheduled fixtures defending champions PDMS Southern Nomads are in pole position.

The southerners are tied at the top with Douglas B and the two have to play each other on January 12 in what could be the title decider.

Nomads have perhaps the easier tie this weekend with a re-arranged game against their own second team, the Emerging Nomads.

Southern Nomads had the better of the results last week beating Douglas B 43-15 in a feisty game at Castle Rushen while the Emerging Nomads picked up a beating at Vagabonds B.

While there will be one two players trying to make a play for a first team spot, this game is likely to be one sided with Southern Nomads likely to keep their place at the top of the table.

At Port-e-Chee, if it recovers from last week’s rain, Douglas B will look to keep the pressure on Nomads when Castletown visit.

Town are a game or two behind and currently languishing at the foot of the table.

Dan James will be rallying his troops for this one but I suspect that Douglas may just have too much for them.

In the final game, and perhaps the pick of the round, Vagabonds B host Western Vikings at Ballafletcher in a scrap for fourth place in the standings.

Vikings have had a couple of weeks off to recharge their batteries and will be raring to go. Skipper Mike Sheeley is still on the sick list and the side is likely to be led by Paul Wheeldon in his absence.

Vagas are in an unusually low league position, however, they do have a couple of games in hand and are likely to a threat at the top.

I expect a Vagas’ win but Vikings will make them work for it.

l Ramsey are taking advantage of a free week for both sides and have organised a little celebration game.

Saturday marks the Mooragh Park outfit’s 30th anniversary of joining the RFU and while the club played some friendly games before this date, it’s the closest thing it has to a birthday.

An over-30s side will play an under 30s at The Mooragh and there will be some traditional après match activities in the clubhouse and maybe even one or two new ones too.

l The latest series of pwc-sponsored Junior Rugby tournaments takes places on Sunday at King William’s College hosted by Southern Nomads.

All age groups from under-seven tag to u14 from all clubs in the island will be in action throughout the afternoon with the U7, U8, U9 and U12 kicking off at 12.30pm and U10, U11, U13 and U14 following at 2pm. Parents are reminded to use the car parks at KWC and not park on the roads within the college. pwc is in its third year of sponsorship of junior rugby in the island.

Saturday’s Fixtures

Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield

Southern Nomads v Emerging Nomads

@ King William’s College ko 2.15pm

Vagabonds B v Western Vikings

@ Ballafletcher ko 2.15pm

Douglas B v Castletown

@ Port-e-Chee ko 2.15pm

Friendly

Ramsey U30 v Ramsey O30

@ Mooragh Park ko 2.15pm

WITH the Blackburn Construction Services Railway Cup taking centre stage this weekend, there are only five games taking place in the Canada Life Premier League and JCK Division Two on Saturday.

Two of those games in the top flight are the reverse fixtures of matches which took place last weekend as Union Mills make the short journey to Ballafletcher to take on Corinthians while Castletown travel to the north to face Ramsey at Ballacloan Stadium.

Ramsey took a huge step to securing their Premier League status for another season with a 2-0 victory over Town at the Stadium on Saturday thanks to goals from Martin Torr and Brago Smilyanov, a result which moved the northerners to within a point of Castletown in the league table. A similar result would see this weekend’s hosts move out of the dreaded drop zone.

Corinthians had looked set for all three points at Garey Mooar on Saturday, courtesy of strikes from Lewis Griffiths and Jamie Stoy, which would have moved them level with Rushen in the table, however Mills hit back twice late on through Chris Kelly and Ian Drake to claim a dramatic draw. That means the sides remain just a point apart in the table so a similarly close contest could be in store again.

The final game in the top flight on Saturday sees bottom-of-the-table Marown journey south to take on Rushen at Croit Lowey. The latter were left to rue their missed chances when they suffered a last-gasp defeat to Laxey, while Marown lost 1-6 at home to St John’s.

The Spaniards will be clear favourites to claim victory on Saturday but should be wary of complacency as Marown have improved significantly recently.

One of the two games taking place in JCK Division Two is also a repeat of a fixture from last Saturday as Michael travel to Ballafletcher to take on Douglas Royal.

League leaders Michael suffered something of a blip recently in the quest for the title but got back to winning ways with a hard-fought 2-0 win at Balleira Road to maintain their three-point advantage at the top of the table.

That result left Royal two points off the top four having played a game more than that team directly above them, Ayre United - so they will be eager to avoid dropping many more points of they are to qualify for the end-of-season Gold Cup.

Should Royal lose, Foxdale could go level on points with them if they get the better of lowly Douglas Athletic in the other game in Division Two at Billy Goat Park.

All league games kick off at 2pm.

THE current top two in Manx football go head-to-head for a place in the Blackburn Construction Services Railway Cup final on Saturday.

Premier League leaders, and current cup holders, St George’s travel to second-place Laxey on Saturday in a mouth-watering last-four tie.

The pair have met once in the top flight thus far this season, Geordies producing a breath-taking second-half performance to sweep aside their opponents 1-6 at Glen Road.

Former St George’s stalwart and current Laxey coach Steve Falconer will be hoping for a closer contest this time around, but he will have to do it without injured trio - Neil Brogan, Danny Foulis and Max Murley.

The loss of ex-Geordie Brogan at the back to a broken leg is a big one, particularly against an in-form St George’s attack that has hit a staggering 52 goals in its last seven games since September’s league meeting with the Miners.

Who will fill the massive void left by Brogan’s absence remains to be seen with Dave Corlett, Sam Theobald, Ryan Williamson and 2006 golden boot winner Chris Brown all slotting in at centre-back in recent weeks.

Whoever lines up in-front of keeper Andy Perry will be in for a tough afternoon with Geordies at nearly full-strength for the weekend’s clash.

Midfielders Liam Cowin and James McStay are ruled out with injury and suspension, but apart from that manager Chris Bass Sr has a full deck to choose from with winger Gary Quirk now back from holiday and island international Johnny Myers’s knee injury relenting.

The latter is likely to resume his impressive central-defensive partnership with skipper Sean Quaye. The pair along with goalkeeper Grant Dawson and the rest of the Geordies rearguard have kept four clean sheets in their last six games to help the Glencrutchery Road side reinforce their reputation as the island’s team to beat. Laxey will need to produce something pretty special to reverse this school of thought.

In the afternoon’s later kick-off St John’s host St Mary’s under the floodlights of Mullen-e-Cloie.

The all-Saints day in the west should be an intriguing contest, with Nick Hurt and Malcolm Blackburn’s hosts keen to prove their top-four berth at the season’s midpoint was no fluke.

Sam Kenny’s visitors will, however, have the glint of silverware in their eyes and may just be favourites to repeat the result of early September’s meeting between the two and edge into Boxing Day’s final.

Why would an Irishman enlist in the Second World War when his country had declared its neutrality?

Raymond Wall, from Loughrea in County Galway, was just 21 when war broke out in 1939. Within days, he had joined the Local Security Force and shortly after he travelled north of the border to enlist.

He would end the war as a leading aircraftman amongst the ground crew of No 90 Squadron RAF at Tuddenham in Suffolk where his tasks included the dangerous job of loading 1,000lb bombs onto aeroplanes.

So what made Wall, who ended up settling in Dublin after the war, leave behind his family and make the trip to England to become a member of RAF Bomber Command?

‘Those were different times then,’ he later told his son. ‘They were dark times. There was an insidious evil rampaging across Europe, and decent men were needed to stop it.’

Over 130,000 Irishmen and women served during the Second World War and 7,500 of them never returned. Many more – estimates put the number at 634,000 – Irish people emigrated to Britain during the war or in the immediate post-war years to work in munitions or in other war-related industries like construction and nursing.

Neil Richardson, author of the much-praised A Coward if I Return, A Hero if I Fall, Stories of Irishmen in World War I, turns his attention here to the bravery of the Irish service heroes whose idealism and knowledge that Nazism was a threat that must be stopped led them to join the Allied forces.

Illustrated with over 150 photographs and memorabilia, Dark Times, Decent Men gathers dramatic first-hand stories from Irishmen who went to war, including those who fought at Dunkirk, North Africa and on the D-Day beaches, the RAF fighter aces and the sailors who served in U-boat-infested seas.

Richardson discovers Irish Jews who fought to defeat the Nazis and the Final Solution, Irishmen who served alongside Easy Company of the US 101st Airborne Division, immortalised in Stephen Ambrose’s Band of Brothers, and those who joined the United States Marine Corps.

Many of these servicemen endured the horrors of prisoner-of-war camps, some witnessed the Nagasaki atomic bomb and eight Irishmen won the Victoria Cross, Britain and the Commonwealth’s highest award for valour in the face of the enemy.

The last battle against a foreign invader on mainland British soil was fought by the 1st London Irish Rifles against the crew of a downed German Junkers bomber on September 27 1940 in Kent in an event that became known as the Battle of Graveney Marsh.

Through first-hand accounts and personal recollections, Richardson tells these Irishmen’s stories, many for the first time. There are tales of those who did not return, and those who did and for whom it was far from a hero’s welcome.

Paying tribute to these service people, Winston Churchill said: ‘When I think of ...Irish heroes...I can only pray that in years which I shall not see, the shame will be forgotten and the glories will endure.’

And thanks to the efforts of Richardson, the sacrifices of these ‘decent men’ live on...

(O’Brien, paperback, £17.99)

A NEW-look points-based system for calculating public sector housing rents will lead to an average increase of 11.8 per cent from April next year, MHKs were told.

And Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw said the knock-on impact of this rent rise would be an estimated £900,000 maximum extra cost in benefits that will have to paid out to tenants.

A shake-up of local authority rents, including a revised points-based formula, was announced earlier this month by the Department of Social Care.

It will result, for example, in the rent for a new build three-bedroom property with a garden and off road parking being increased significantly by around £16 a week to £95 per week while an older two-bed flat (not recently refurbished) with no private garden or off road parking may get an inflation-only increase of 1.8 per cent, taking rent to £63 per week.

Replying to a House of Keys question from John Houghton (Douglas North), Mr Robertshaw said the revised formula, which comes into place from April, will provide an ‘equitable and transparent’ means of calculating the rent for a property to reflect the ‘true amenity value’ of the accommodation to those who live in the property.

He said that, as with every rent rise, both in the public and private sector rental market, there is a knock-on impact for the those claiming income-related benefits and who qualify for housing allowance.

The Minister said the impact on benefits would be determined by the type of property the claimant lives in. But based on the average increase being about 11.8 per cent across the public sector, the maximum increase in income related social security benefits was £900,000.

Mr Houghton said many homes on the Willaston estate in his constituency were in ‘dire need’ of refurbishment or replacement. ‘Would that attract a reduction in rent?’ he asked.

Mr Robetshas replied that new system, which replaced one that has operated since 1989, would reflect whether properties are older or in need of refurbishment.

Brenda Cannell (Douglas East) said pensioners and others on fixed incomes were still reeling from the 10 per cent increase in rents brought in last year. ‘This increase is likely to put many in an arrears situation,’ she said.

Mr Robertshaw said this was part of a rolling programme. ‘Last year we increased rent across the board by 10 per cent. This year we are trying to increase rents fairly and equitably.’

David Quirk (Onchan) asked whether there was an appeal process.

The Minister replied that the new system had been constructed with the support of the local authorities. He said that there was an opportunity in ‘exceptional circumstances’ to reduce the points by 10.

He said the modernised rent pointing formula took into account the significant advances made in building design, improved construction standards and modern amenities, rather than relying on a basic measure of room sizes and facilities such as central heating, double glazing which he said is now seen as standard in modern homes.

Peter Karran (Lib Van, Onchan) accused the Minister of targeting one section of the community.

• What do you think? Email {mailto:opinions@newsiom.co.im|opinions(at)newsiom.co.im} or sign in to add your comment below.

THE police and government environmental health officers are reminding people to think about their neighbours before having noisy Christmas parties.

A noisy party could cost a £5,000 fine in extreme circumstances.

Officers from across the island attend a handful of parties each weekend in response to calls from annoyed neighbours.

Police are appealing for anyone planning to have a party, or who are noisy at night, to think about the effect it might have on their neighbours.

If a party is being planned it might be helpful to inform neighbours about the party so that they are aware and can plan accordingly.

Under the Noise Act 2006 an offence is committed by any person who, after a warning notice has been served on them for causing noise and disturbance between the hours of 11pm and 7am, continues to cause noise and disturbance. In this case the offender, or offenders, could be liable to 3 months imprisonment and/or a £2,500 fine. A person may also be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice for £100.

Constable Jonathan Cretney said: ‘The police get called to loud parties which are causing great distress to nearby residents who are unable to sleep, some of whom have young children, or who have to work the next day. Usually when the police attend a property following a complaint of noise at night time then people turn down the music and quieten down, however, if the noise continues after having been warned then the police have powers under the Noise Act 2006 to enter a property and remove any item, or people, who are causing the excessive noise, as well as prosecuting the offenders.

‘We don’t want to spoil people’s fun but not if this fun is at the expense of the welfare of neighbouring residents.’

John Howie from Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ‘If an environmental health officer agrees that noise constitutes a statutory nuisance he may serve an abatement notice under the Public Health Act 1990.

‘Failure to comply with such a notice could result in court proceedings and the issue of a Nuisance Order. Ignoring this order could end up with imposition of a fine of up to £5,000.

‘Legal action is unpleasant and will inevitably further sour the relationship between neighbours. Environmental health officers would rather issue advice to attempt to resolve problems in a friendly manner and consider that legal action is the last resort.’

Inspector Mark Britton said: ‘This is all about neighbourliness and consideration for others.

‘We do not want to prevent people having a good time but when it impacts on others it becomes unacceptable and the Police are called. We are putting measures in place to work with the environmental health officers and we may visit people some days after the party has ended to impress upon them the need to be more aware of the impact they are having. If necessary this may result in them being reported for offences.’

27-year-old teams up with Shaun Muir’s team for next season

WILLIAM Dunlop will ride Yamaha machinery at next June’s TT.

The 27-year-old has signed a deal with British Superbike team boss Shaun Muir that will seem him contest the British Supersport Championship in addition to the TT, North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix.

Dunlop, who finished third in this year’s first Supersport TT, will ride the machinery vacated by Yorkshireman Ian Hutchinson who has been ruled out of the 2013 season after further surgery on his badly damaged left leg.

Rumours are abound that the Ballymoney man will be joined at Muir’s team by Manxman Conor Cummins, with it uncertain whether the latter will continue with Guy Martin and Josh Brookes at Tyco Suzuki.

THE latest installment of the Isle of Man Newspapers’ Team of the Week shrugs off traditional formations and opts for a cavalier 3-3-4 line-up.

With St George’s hammering Peel 8-1 and St John’s claiming a place in this weekend’s BCS Railway Cup semi-finals, it’s no surprise to see no fewer than five players represent those two teams.

One of the other big games in the Canada Life Premier League at the weekend saw Laxey claim a dramatic last-gasp victory against Rushen at Croit Lowey.

The Miners had the better of the first half but were under severe pressure in the second period and only some heroic goalkeeping by Andy Perry kept them in the contest. Therefore, former Ramsey shot-stopper Perry has been rewarded with his second Team of the Week appearance of the season.

Lining up in a three-man defence ahead of him are Johnny Myers, John Roberts and Perry’s Glen Road team-mate Ryan Williamson.

Myers was once again in imperious form at the back for St George’s in that emphatic victory over Peel at Glencrutchery Road and topped off an excellent performance with a simply superb Roberto Carlos-esque free-kick from all of 35 yards.

Roberts and Williamson both impressed for Ramsey and Laxey respectively to earn their first TotW call-ups of the 2012-13 campaign, with the former helping the northerners record their first clean sheet of the season during their 2-0 win at Castletown.

The midfield trio in the hypothetical XI boast no fewer than five goals and 10 TotW appearances between them.

Half of those call-ups belong to St John’s player-manager Nick Hurt whose two goals helped his side defeat Marown 6-1, despite being down to 10 men for much of the game, to seal their place in the Railway Cup.

Also netting twice at the weekend was Geordies attacking midfielder Frank Jones who produced a man-of-the-match display against Peel and scored one of the goals of the game with a brilliant volley on the stroke of half-time.

Completing the midfield line-up is Corinthians’ Lewis Griffiths who impressed for the Ballafletcher outfit in their match at Union Mills. Griffiths helped himself to a goal as his side drew 2-2 at Garey Mooar and just edged his Mills counterpart Chris Kelly for TotW selection.

The attacking quartet justify the choice of formation thanks to the fact they scored a remarkable 12 goals between them in the top flight on Saturday afternoon.

Leading the way was golden boot contender Steven Priestnal who netted no fewer than five times for St Mary’s in the 10-0 demolition of Gymns at the Bowl.

Also getting in on the act in that game was Brian Crellin whose fine season continued with a hat-trick against the Tromode side and is subsequently rewarded with his fifth TotW appearance of the campaign already.

Completing a formidable-looking frontline are two players who also plundered opposition defences at the weekend. Stephen Glover grabbed two goals for St John’s in their aforementioned victory at Marown while St Georges’ Ciaran McNulty earned his third TotW appearance thanks to a brace against Peel.

Topping the refereeing honours this week is Andy Lodge whose display in the middle of the Union Mills v Corinthians game means he is the first official to reach three RotW appearances this season.

Team of the Week

Goalkeeper

Andy Perry (Laxey)

Team of the Week appearances: 2

Defence

Johnny Myers (St George’s) TotW apps: 5

John Roberts (Ramsey) TotW apps: 1

Ryan Williamson (Laxey) TotW apps: 1

Midfield

Frank Jones (St George’s) TotW apps: 4

Nick Hurt (St John’s) TotW apps: 5

Lewis Griffiths (Corinthians) TotW apps: 1

Attack

Ciaran McNulty (St George’s) TotW apps: 3

Stephen Glover (St John’s) TotW apps: 2

Steven Priestnal (St Mary’s) TotW apps: 3

Brian Crellin (St Mary’s) TotW apps: 5

Referee

Andy Lodge (Union Mills v Corinthians)

RotW apps: 3

ENJOY a seasonal busking session by the Isle of Man Wind Orchestra outside the Strand Centre in Douglas.

The Orchestra has been granted a performance licence and will be performing for shoppers tomorrow (Saturday, December 1) at midday and then each Sunday afternoon from December 9 until Christmas.

The Manx-registered charity will be playing festive music including well-known carols and will use the sessions to help raise funds to support its work.

In addition to the open-air performances, the Orchestra will also perform indoor concerts at Tower House shopping centre in Douglas on two Thursdays, December 13 and 20, at 7pm.

At the final pre-Christmas performance on Sunday, December 23, the Orchestra will be joined by a number of former members and friends who will be returning for the festive season and will be coming along to join in.

The Orchestra rehearses at Marown Primary School every Thursday during term time from 7.45pm.

If you would like to come along and join in with the Orchestra and can play a brass, woodwind or percussion instrument, contact Michael Morrison on 437751 or {mailto:winds@wm.im|winds(at)wm.im}, go to the website {http://www.iomwo.com.iomwo.com} or just turn up on the day.

Chairman Mr Morrison said: ‘No matter how cold or wet, a performance is rarely cancelled.’