Peel and St John’s defied the weather to go joint top of the Standard Bank Premiership on Saturday when, in a game wrecked by stoppages for rain, they beat a young Cronkbourne team by seven wickets.

The Tromode side scored 128 for 6 in an innings which was reduced to 32 overs. Openers Max Stokoe and Simon Beard made a solid start before Stokoe was caught by Nick Hawke off the bowling of Akkie Van Den Berg. He quickly took another wicket and Beard fell to Chris Hawke.

A downpour caused a break of more than an hour which left Cronkbourne facing a reduced over count and a desperate need to improve their run rate.

Adam Killey with 35 and Matt Ansell, who made 28, revived the Tromode fortunes. However, Peel and St John’s were left to score at only four an over for victory.

Chris Hawke and Van Den Berg opened in style with a flurry of sixes and had 55 on the board after 10 overs. Rain again stopped play and the target was reduced to 109 from 27 overs.

What now looked like an easy win was halted when Sam Mills came on to bowl. He grabbed two wickets and Ansell dismissed Van Den Berg to send the total from 72 for 0 to 72 for 3.

There were no more panics as Neil Jacobs and Alex Williamson steadied the innings and eased the Mullen-e-Cloie side home to take all 10 points.

The match between Crosby and Castletown was wiped out by the rain without a ball being bowled. A storm hit the Marown pitch and left the ground under water.

Otherwise it has been quite a week for the batsmen with two centuries and a 98 not out. Shaun Kelly hit 103 for Ramsey B in the Forrester while in the Cain Cronkbourne’s Luke Lacey missed his 100 by just two runs at Crosby.

Also in the T20 Forrester, Peel and St John’s B ended on a reasonable 136 against Union Mills. Tom Gascoyne and James Seed proceeded to dismiss both the Miller’s openers very quickly - but then enter Bruce Wagstaff.

In an amazing performance, he battered 100 not out from a total of 139 for 2. The innings was finished in under 15 overs and Union Mills had won by eight wickets.

CRICKET RESULTS

Standard Bank Premiership

Cronkbourne 128 for 6 (Adam Killey35no, Matt Ansell 28 : Nick Hawke 2 -18, Akkie van der Berg 2 -21); Peel and St John’s 112 for 3 (Akkie Van Den Berg 30, Chris Hawke 24 : Sam Mills 2 -14, Max Stokoe 1 -23). Peel and St Johns won by seven wickets on revised target due to rain.

Crosby v Castletown:

Match abandoned (rain)

Standard Bank Cain League

Ramsey A 50 (Shaun Kelly 31, Tom Moffatt 4no : Chris Hawke 2 -6, Greg Hawke 2 -7); Peel and St John’s A 51 for 0 (Tom Gascoyne 22no, Colin Gilbert 17no). Peel and St John’s won by 10 wickets.

Crosby A 143 for 8 (Martyn Oates 34, Jamie Brown21no : Chris Hewson 3 -14, Will Wood 2 -23); Cronkbourne A 145 for 4 (Luke Lacey 98no : Joe Rothwell 3 -15). Cronkbourne won by six wickets.

Standard Bank Forrester Division One

Crosby B 108 (Fred Thompson 41no, Paul Smith 6 : Rob Lawson 4 -19, R Healey 2 -23); Finch Hill A 73 (Ben Bennett 13 : Kierran Cawte 3 -12, Mike Walker 2 -16, Stuart Morris 2 -16). Crosby won by 35 runs.

Peel and St John’s B 136 (Michael Oates 39, Matt Wozniak 31 : Greg Wenn 4 -16, Chris Nash 2 -25, Bruce Wagstaff 2 -25); Union Mills 139 for 2 (Bruce Wagstaff 100 no, Manoj Patel 31no : Tom Gascoyne 1 -17, James Seed 1 -41). Union Mills won by eight wickets.

Ramsey B 188 for 4 (Shaun Kelly 103no, Tom Howard 26 : Tom Kennaugh 2 -32, Richard Jackson 1 -21); Castletown B 128 for 5 (Dave Beggs 27no, Hayden McLarney 24 : Christian Penswick 2 -21, C Leaton 1 -30). Ramsey won by 60 runs.

Standard Bank Forrester Division Two

Valkyres B 104 for 4 (Rob Weight 32, Abdul Khan 30 : Glyn Gilbert 2 -7, Connor Gilbert 1 -17); Peel and St John’s 105 for 5 (Dean Wales 50no, Neil Shimmin 15 : Andy Coulson 2 -24, Sachet Baniya 1 -8). Peel and St John’s won by five wickets.

Under-14 League

Crosby 251 (Sam Bowers 35, Drew Buxton 33) beat Castletown 200 (Seth Aycock 25).

------------

CRICKET FIXTURES DIARY

Monday, May 13

Standard Bank Forrester Two (6.30pm)

Baker Tilley IOM Cronkbourne

Bacchas v Valkyres B

Best Group Finch Hill B v

Grasshoppers

(match sponsored by Gelling Johnson Farrant)

Tuesday, May 14

Standard Bank Cain League (6.30pm)

Peel and St John’s A v Valkyres A

Ramsey A v Nedbank Private Wealth Crosby A

Baker Tilley IOM Cronkbourne A v Celton Manx Castletown A

Wednesday, May 15

Standard Bank Forrester One (6.30pm)

Nedbank Private Wealth Crosby B v Celton Manx Castletown B

Peel and St John’s B v Baker Tilley IOM Cronkbourne B

Ramsey B v Paddy Power Union Mills

Ronaldsway v Best Group Finch Hill A

Friday, May 17

Under-11 League (6.30pm)

Nedbank Private Wealth Crosby v Baker Tilly Cronkbourne A

Ramsey v Celton Manx Castletown

Cronkbourne B v Colas Finch Hill

Saturday, May 18

Manx Youth Games

Cricket at Bemahague

Sunday, May 19

Standard Bank Premiership (1pm)

Nedbank Private Wealth Crosby

v Ramsey

Celton Manx Castletown v Baker Tilly IOM Cronkbourne

Valkyres v Peel and St John’s

Southern Nomads clinched the Shimmin Wilson Manx Trophy, beating Vagabonds B 34-12 at Ballafletcher on Saturday afternoon.

Vagabonds made the better start and they occupied Nomads’ half for the opening 10 minutes. Nomads eventually secured clean possession and counter-attacked from deep.

Skipper Harry Brereton covered most of the ground and he drew Vagas full back Andy Pease before offloading to the supporting Gerard Landels who went in for the try. Will Cain converted and Nomads were 7-0 ahead.

Vagas returned to the Nomads half from the restart and they didn’t come away empty-handed this time around.

After Jason Bowden had twice got close, the ball was moved left along the back line where Jamie Cooke was lurking as an extra man and he crashed over the line from close range. Johnny Beckley converted to level the game at 7-7.

Will Cain knocked over a penalty to ease Nomads back in front and in the final 10 minutes of the first half they accelerated out of sight.

Prop Colin Kelly started it all off when he burst through the Vagas defensive line. Andy Joughin cleaned up the ruck ball and sent Landels in for his second of the game to make it 15-7, which soon became 17-7 with Cain’s conversion.

Four minutes later, after stealing a Vagas lineout, Joughin’s cleverly weighted grubber sat up nicely for Brereton and when Cain converted Nomads were 24-7 ahead.

Then, in stoppage time at the end of the half, Glenn Buckley crossed to make it 29-7.

Vagas had the tailwind in the second half and when Ross Pulman dived in for a try after just three minutes the lead was reduced to 29-12.

But Nomads put up the shutters and were able to keep Vagabonds at bay for the remainder of the half.With the game safely in the bag, Nomads became more enterprising in the final 10 minutes and ran in the try of the game.

With Vagas on the rack, quick ball was needed, but with Tom Davies and Steve McHugh both in the Nomads back line it seemed unlikely to come.

Credit to both front five forwards. The ball was shipped wide without fuss and Brereton dabbed it down to end the season with silverware.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a silver Nissan Note struck a stone wall in Crosby last Wednesday (May 8) at 10.25pm.

The incident happened on the western side of the Halfway House. The occupants of the vehicle required medical treatment at Noble’s Hospital, but have since been discharged. If you have any information, contact Peel Police Station on 842208

Tesco will meet Castletown Commissioners next month to discuss another bid by the store to get an alcohol licence for an Express store in the town’s Callow’s Yard.

Tesco requested the meeting with the authority be held this week, but cancelled and asked for a date on either June 13 or 14. The store wrote that it is ‘considering resubmitting an alcohol licence.’

The authority replied that June 13 is the best date for them.

Commissioners’ chairman Kevin Weir said: ‘We will just wait and see what they are going to say. We do not know what they want to say. We will see what comes out of it.’

The store first announced it had plans to open an Express store in Callow’s Yard in November 2011, so creating 20 jobs.

However, two bids to secure an alcohol licence – in April and October 2012 – failed.

The court said it was not satisfied there was a need for another licensed premises in the town. Tesco commissioned Ashgrove Marketing to carry out a survey to assess alcohol shopping in the south and submitted its findings to the second hearing in October. However, the court said the survey was not ‘credible evidence’, because of the ‘limited circulation’ and it did not ask the direct question whether there was a need for an additional licence.

The court was ‘shocked’ at the ratio of alcohol licences to residents in the area (one to 80 households in Castletown and Malew and one off licence per 519 Castletown residents).

Castletown Commissioners and the town’s MHK Richard Ronan expressed concern another alcohol licence would be detrimental to the town. The police raised concerns another licensed premises would attract anti social behaviour in the area.

The authority has also expressed concern in the past about the impact on established businesses in town, parking and the impact of deliveries on nearby residents.

Residents have mixed views on a Tesco Express in the town. Some are firmly in favour, saying it will add choice and create jobs; others are concerned about the impact on existing traders.

The number of people out of work in the island dropped by 100 in the last month, according to statistics released by the governemnt.

At the end of April, unemployment stood at 1,108, an unemployment rate of 2.5 per cent.

During the month, 180 signed on and 280 signed off.

There are 783 men out of work and 315 women.

During the month, a total of 773 vacancies were notified to the Job Centre. At the end of the month, 421 positions were still vacant and held on file.

More details on this story in Thursday’s Manx Independent.

His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor Mr Adam Wood officially opened Permanent Bank International’s (PBI) new premises at Hillary House on Prospect Hill, Douglas.

His Excellency attended the launch event last week and unveiled a plaque in the reception area to commemorate the occasion.

The official launch was attended by PBI clients and suppliers. Guests included Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK; Financial Supervision Commission chief executive John Aspden; Department of Economic Development Minister John Shimmin MHK; the Mayor of Douglas Councillor David Ashford JP; and Mayoress Mrs Sylvia Ashford.

They were joined by PBI executives and staff in celebrating the bank’s relocation which signifies the culmination of a year long process that began with the launch of its new brand identity in February last year.

Carlton Freegard, managing director of Permanent Bank International Ltd, thanked all the guests including His Excellency for attending the launch event.

Before inviting His Excellency to unveil the plaque, Mr Freegard said: ‘It is nice to see so many friends here tonight at the official opening of our new premises.

‘Some of you may know that this building stands upon the site of the first Manx home of Sir William Hillary, founder of the RNLI and inspiration behind the Tower or Refuge.

‘Given the turmoil in the financial markets over the last few years, taking shelter from the storm is as important to our clients as it was to the sailors seeking refuge in Douglas Bay all those years ago.

‘Permanent Bank was forged from the fires of financial turmoil and we have fused the best ideals of the mutual with those of the true private bank to create something truly special. We call it ‘‘The Personal Face of Banking’’ and we are proud to display our ethos on our signage for all to see.

‘This location offers us a prominent presence in the heart of the island’s financial community.’

Mr Freegard then thanked all who helped in the relocation including Rose Estates, Apex Ceilings, MP Associates, Argon, EyeSpy, and marketing and PR company MM&C.

He also gave special thanks to PBI’s staff and management team for their ‘planning, perseverance and patience’ which ensured a smooth transition to the bank’s new premises from its previous location in Athol Street, Douglas.

He added: ‘Our move to these splendid premises is positive news not just for Permanent Bank International, but for the island’s banking sector too. PBI widens the choice that local residents enjoy when it comes to finding a home for their hard earned savings. It is also important for local professional firms to be able to place the funds they manage with local banks, and this investment in our new premises is evidence that PBI is dedicated to the local market.

‘After the turmoil of the past few years this does feel like a ‘‘Phoenix moment’’ for Permanent Bank International Ltd having new owners, a new brand, and new premises.’

Permanent Bank International employs 13 staff in the Isle of Man and has customers in more than 70 countries.

The bank is owned by Permanent TSB, a leading provider of personal financial services in the Irish market with strong positions in retail banking.

The company’s roots date back to 1884 with the establishment of the Irish Temperance Permanent Benefit Building Society culminating in the launch of Permanent TSB in 2002. wThe group, Permanent TSB plc, is 99.2 per cent owned by the Irish Government, therefore depositors with Permanent Bank International also enjoy the comfort that this brings.

CHARLES ‘Buster’ Lewin will give evidence to a Tynwald Select Committee on Monday.

Lewin was jailed in 2011 for conspiring dishonestly to secure proxy votes for Douglas East by-election candidate Kevin Woodford.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/election-trial-sentencing-buster-lewin-jailed-1-5236175|Click here to read our report about his sentence}

The Select Committee of Tynwald on the Kirk Michael School Land Exchange will be taking oral evidence in the Legislative Council Chamber, Legislative Buildings, Bucks Road, Douglas, from Lewin.

Lewin has in the past claimed that his former employer Heritage Homes had deliberately misled the committee about the deal.

On November 20 last year it was resolved by Tynwald:

‘That the Report of the Select Committee on the Kirk Michael School Land Exchange Agreement [PP No 0122/12] be not received and: (1) In the light of new evidence received in relation to rights over access routes, that the committee review all matters pertaining to that evidence; (2) That the Committee seek clarification by way of public hearing of the matters raised from Heritage Homes and associated parties.’

{http://www.tynwald.org.im/business/pp/Reports/2012-PP-0122.pdf|Click here to read the Select Committee’s report}

There will be more on this story in Thursday’s Manx Independent.

We have decided not to allow comments on this story because of possible legal issues. If you’d like to comment email opinionsATnewsiom.co.im

THE ‘Big TT Tidy Up’ saw a large number of new volunteers join in the campaign on Monday in Braddan, making a massive difference to the TT course, the Access Road and the Heritage Trail.

However, the event led to a strong message being sent out to dog owners about the high levels of plastic bags with dog waste being found during the 90-minute clean up.

Hundreds of plastic bags full of dog waste were found by the volunteers with the Heritage Trail, in particular, found to have huge numbers of the bags, together with a wide variety of rubbish dumped by the public over what is believed to be several years.

Among the more unusual items found by the 38 volunteers was a complete child’s scooter, a full gas canister, car tyres, road signs, a spirit level, a bag full of clothes and a pram. In total, the rubbish collected weighed a massive 340kg.

However, the majority of the items amongst the 26 bin bags of rubbish were small plastic bags full of dog waste. ‘This is simply not acceptable,’ said Beach Buddies organiser Bill Dale. ‘Clearly, the dog owners have done the right thing and taken the trouble to clear up the dog waste after their pets, but then - incredibly - they have thrown the plastic bag into the undergrowth alongside the path.

‘It doesn’t make any sense. In fact, it would actually be better not to collect the dog waste at all in the first place, because it will eventually decompose, whereas a plastic bag can take up to 20 years or more.’

Braddan Commissioners are the first local authority to join in the ‘Big TT Tidy Up’ campaign and joined in to clean three different areas near Braddan, plus the Old Castletown Road, with board members and staff taking part in the event.

They were also joined by the area’s MHK, Howard Quayle, who said: ‘This event was a credit to the commissioners’ progressive attitude. I really enjoyed the evening, but was genuinely shocked by how much litter we collected. Our bin bags were full by the end of the event.

‘We live on such a beautiful island it’s such a shame people don’t respect it. I hope that campaigns like this one make people more aware that they should pick up after themselves and their dogs.”

Colin Whiteway, clerk to the commissioners, said: ‘It was really good to see so many local residents joining in and showing how much they care about their environment. It made a really noticeable difference and leaves the area looking really good for our TT visitors.

‘There was certainly a lot of enthusiasm to repeat a similar event again in the future, and we are thinking about doing this again prior to the Manx Grand Prix. It was very worthwhile and the feedback from the volunteers was very positive.’

Andrew Jessopp, vice chairman of the commissioners, thanked the volunteers for turning out for the event and hoped that the community would react positively to it and help organise similar events in the future. He added: ‘It would be appreciated if members of the public would use the litter bins provided or take waste home rather than throwing litter out of vehicles.’

The new-look Canada Life International Manx Championship takes place at Castletown this Sunday and expectations are high for one of the best day of bowling the island has seen.

The championship will now be played over a single day and this, along with a large home contingent combined with the trickery of the green, could mean that this is the year for upsets.

All of the Town players are capable of doing damage and, while there are only a handful that should realistically be able to win the title, the others are all more than capable of causing an upset and dethroning some of the game’s greats.

Aaron ‘Bob’ Clark and Trevor Quayle are the hosts’ best chance of a champion, however you would be daft to overlook Andy Clark and Tony Dugdale who have both been in breathtaking form in the league in recent weeks.

Reigning champion Glynn Hargraves will be leading Onchan’s charge as he aims to defend his title. He has been in great form lately and his recent appearance in the Cain Cup final on the same green will give him confidence.

Double champion Kevin Quirk won that competition and will hope this is the form he brings with him after dipping below his own high standards in the league in recent weeks. If he finds his rhythm he could be unstoppable.

David Bradford is another Onchan player aiming to taste glory and to me it is only a matter of time before he etches his name into the record books and onto the trophy. He is a class act - could this be his year?

Five times champion Colin Kelly will again be amongst the favourites to add to his tally and he leads the Marown bid, ably assisted by former champions Neil Withers and Dean Kipling.

The league leaders have a handful of players who could challenge for top honours and if they all enter the Crosby men could well be represented in the latter stages.

John Kennish is the most prolific champion of all time and with seven wins to his name only a fool would rule out the chances of him chalking up a record breaking eighth title. His return to his spiritual home of South Ramsey has been the catalyst for a mini revival and it will be interesting to see which northerners join him in the draw.

Talking of revivals, the Villa Marina is now a who’s who of top players these days and with the likes of Barney Kelly, Stuart Garrett, Paul Kelly and Paul Skelly in the fold they could realistically find that they have a champion in their ranks as they line-up for their league match the following night.

It should be a fantastic spectacle of bowling and entries are being taken up until 3pm this Friday.

Ddetails of the competition and how to enter are on www.iombowls.com

Please also note that as the competition is now being played over one day BCGBA dress code will be in force for the entirety of the competition and will be strictly adhered to. For further information on the code please see the BCGBA website.

This Saturday, May 18 is a momentous occasion for crown green bowls as the sport is included in the Manx Youth Games for the very first time.

After the opening ceremony and a short exhibition of indoor bowls, more than 50 children will line up at Noble’s Park at 11.45am for what should be an exhilarating day of competition.

This initiative has truly seen an injection of life into the sport not only from the competitors but also from the coaches and helpers who have been involved.

It really has been a team effort and to think that we now have this many children playing bowls on a regular basis is remarkable.

Any bowlers or enthusiasts who want to watch will be warmly welcomed to spectate on the day and should make their way to the Noble’s Park greens anytime from 11.40am-3.30pm.

As well as the various regions competing in singles matches, the children will compete over an obstacle course to gain points for their teams. Anyone wanting more information can contact coordinator Glynn Hargraves on 434201.

WEST Douglas voters will get a chance to quiz the Keys candidates in May 23’s by-election in a requisition meeting held at All Saints’ Church Hall, Alexander Drive, Douglas, tonight (Wednesday) between 7pm and 9.30pm.

Four candidates are fighting the election, which is being held after the election of Geoff Corkish to Legislative Council.

Removing the requirement for secondary school teachers to have a work permit to get a job in the island ‘has made a big difference in a short time’.

Education Minister Tim Crookall MHK said the move to address difficulties in recruiting teachers had been welcomed by all of the department’s secondary school head teachers.

The exemption, approved by Tynwald in February, was moved by the Department of Economic Development.

Mr Crookall said: ‘It has made a big difference in a short time.’

He added: ‘I’m hopeful we will be able to fill vacancies in all those core subjects.’

In the past, secondary schools could not be confident of getting any applicants, or being able to appoint at all.

Since the exemption was brought in, schools have seen an increase in the number of applicants for teaching posts, including good fields in maths and science posts, which are among the most difficult to recruit.

A number of island teachers have also been taken on.

There are currently seven secondary teaching posts being advertised, compared with 32 vacancies in February.

Castle Rushen High School is looking for an assistant head teacher, a team leader in design and technology, a Spanish teacher, and a teacher to improve transition to secondary school.

Ballakermeen High School is advertising for a science teacher. And St Ninian’s High School, is recruiting a science teacher and a part-time psychology teacher.

In February, Ballakermeen head teacher Adrienne Burnett described the exemption as being ‘one less hoop to jump through’.

She said island schools had been losing out because they could only make candidates offers conditional of being able to get a work permit.

‘They could be waiting two months for a work permit to come through and in the meantime other head teachers will be ringing saying they can offer them a job now,’ she said.

Both Mr Crookall and Economic Development Minister John Shimmin have said the exemption does not disadvantage newly-qualified teachers.

A series of basic errors exacerbated the financial risks of a costly TT sponsorship deal, a Public Accounts Committee report concludes.

And the damning report, to be presented to next week’s Tynwald sitting, finds that Signature contract was not unique but just one of a number of TT-related contracts mishandled by the former Department of Tourism and Leisure.

The lucrative deal with Signature, which aimed at transforming the TT into a more viable commercial prospect, saw the company paid a basic £70,000 a year, plus £15,000 in expenses and 22.5 per cent in commission.

It left government with a £750,000 liability – on top of the £900,000 the company had already been paid – as it couldn’t afford to break the contract.

The PAC report concludes that while the Signature Sponsorship deal has made a ‘significant contribution’ to the commercialisation of the TT. it failed to generate any increase in net revenue.

The report says that by the time the shortcomings of the contract were discovered, the damage was done.

It states: ‘We conclude the financial risk associated with the Signature contract was exacerbated by a series of basic errors in the processing of fees and expenses by the DTL.

‘The Signature contract was not unique but one of a number of TT-related contracts mishandled by the DTL.’

The PAC inquiry uncovered evidence of a ‘fundamental breakdown’ in the relationship between the DTL’s former chief executive Carol Glover and director of tourism Geoff Le Page which it said directly affected the management and control of the project.

The report concludes that Mrs Glover – ‘although well intentioned’ – did not follow proper procedures in appointing Signature as TT marketing consultants.

As a result of her ‘single-minded determination’ to ensure the TT’s success, processes and procedures were over-ridden, there was a lack of control over the management of this and possibly other contracts – and communication broke down within the department and with external suppliers.

‘We remain unconvinced there were no other companies or individuals with the skills and expertise required to develop the TT brand at a more competitive price,’ it adds.

Giving evidence to the committee, former DTL Minister Adrian Earnshaw, said he had been in post for three months when he discovered the Signature contract had not been signed.

Subsequently the contract was split, with him signing one covering the period from May 2007 and Mrs Glover signing the one covering the period before.

That first contract, running from January 2006 to the end of April 2007. has never been found.

And the PAC inquiry found that between January 2006, when the agreement was announced to when the contract was finally signed there were 50 different versions of the contract and at least 150 changes made.

The Steam Packet is taking on extra vessels to help it cope with its busiest two weeks of the year.

The freighter MV Arrow will return to Manx waters later this month, to supplement the fleet for the TT festival, which will see 11,600 motorcycles arrive in the island.

MV Arrow was chartered for TT2012 and will be used to provide extra capacity for freight, supplementing the company’s vessels Ben-my-Chree and Manannan, and the previously confirmed charter of fast craft P&O Express

In addition, an extra Manannan service has been added to the schedule for May 22, leaving the Isle of Man for Heysham at 7.30am and returning at midday.

Steam Packet chief executive Mark Woodward said: ‘We originally had plans in place to ensure we had sufficient space for freight and vehicles for this year’s TT, without the need to charter a freighter.

‘However, bringing in MV Arrow on charter from Seatruck Ferries will improve the service to freight customers, proving them with extra capacity and giving us additional operational resilience for what is obviously our busiest time of the year.

‘MV Arrow can take around 1,000 metres of freight and will assist with peak inbound and outbound periods. It’s an expensive “insurance” policy for us, but it demonstrates our commitment to the TT.’

The number of motorbikes booked to visit the island for the TT is up 2.5 per cent on the comparable point last year, which in turn was up 4 per cent on 2011.

Overall inbound passenger figures for the TT period are up 4 per cent on equivalent forward bookings for last year.

‘With all our additional sailings we now have an extra 35,000 seats for this TT period, compared with normal spring period capacities,’ Mr Woodward said.

BECAUSE I am on R&R I will remind peopleof a headline which appeared in the Examiner last month saying: ‘New pubic rents points system rolled out.’

This caused something of a reader riot. The word public has for years been a high risk typo area.

What now follows is another rummage through my Funnies File to dig out some of the other newspaper headlines I have collected, in the Isle of Man as well as far and wide. Some are inadvertently funny, others are a clever demonstration of the sub-editors’ black art.

The Examiner classic in the latter context, which I have published before, related to a letter written to Port Erin Commissioners complaining about a long walk to the village public toilets. It was:

‘To loos a trek.’

Otherwise I have two headlines which appeared in the Isle of Man Courier. One was ‘Man in court for pedalling drugs’ and the other was ‘Erection of a swelling in Majestic Drive, Onchan.’

Outside Manx newspapers the death of Margaret Thatcher reminded me of the following in the London Evening Standard when she was forced to resign as Prime Minister: ‘Oh Happy Day, When Margaret Walked, Oh Happy Day.’

The Sun has always been good for its headlines.

When North Korea was causing trouble some time ago its front page was graced by: ‘How Do You Solve a Problem Like Korea?’

When I was working in Southport in the 1950s my paper ran the headline: ‘Southport a town of old people. Grave problem.’

We also headed a story about a dispute over appointing a female vicar with “’Do you want a woman vicar?’

I remember a headline on a story from the Blackpool Music Festival: ‘Organ trophy is lost by inches. Girl’s stool high.’

It does make sense. The girl was only 5ft 3ins tall and she failed to win the organ class because she didn’t realise the stool she had to sit on was adjustable for height and her feet couldn’t reach the pedals properly.

There are also celebrated single column headlines. When the American newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst made a speech he quoted Edward Bulwer Lytton in saying: ‘The pen is mightier than the sword.’

The sub-editor on one of his papers which reported his speech laid the headline out like this:

‘Pen is

‘Mightier

‘Than sword.’

Finally, many brilliantly conceived headlines never appear in print, for reasons of delicacy. One such was written for a report in an American newspaper on the death of Elvis Presley: ‘Return to Sender.’

A new contact centre launching on the Isle of Man has received more than 200 applications from potential employees after two successful open day campaigns in Douglas.

As first revealed in Business News, Yello is looking to fill around 100 posts by the end of the year.

Managers at the start-up business were hugely impressed by the level of skill and enthusiasm demonstrated by the islanders who came along to the events and they are confident that they can find the right people locally to fill the roles, which range from customer service consultants to senior management.

‘The recruitment day went incredibly well and the quality of the candidates confirms our belief that we can source almost our entire workforce here in the Isle of Man,’ said Martin Linham, chief executive officer of In-Q Ltd, parent company of Yello.

‘Many people said they loved the concept and the services we are offering and they welcomed the flexibility we offer in terms of roles, shift patterns and career development and training.’

Yello has been established with the support of the Isle of Man Government, who have long recognised the value of a locally based contact centre, providing a much- needed 24/7/365 resource for betting and gaming companies based on and off the island.

Prospective candidates can apply at careers@talktoyello.com or get further information from info@talktoyello.com.

The Mountain Road will be closed from from Ramsey Hairpin to Creg-ny-Baa between 9.15am to 4.30pm today (Wednesday) and tomorrow to enable TT preparation works to be completed.

Last week’s poor weather meant that only two of the scheduled road closures were used, and this has led to the work running into this week.

The Department of Infrastructure apologises for any inconvenience caused and to thanks the travelling public for their continued patience.

Police are investigating damage to a dark green Citroen car which was parked close to the junction of Scarlet Road and Farrants Way in Castletown.

The incident happened between 9am on Tuesday, May 7, and 9am the following day. It is suspected that the culprit would have used a sharp object to scratch along the side of the vehicle.

If you have information, contact Police Headquarters on 631212. A reward may be payable as a result of your information. Alternatively, call the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

The student voice has been expressed at Castle Rushen High School and that voice has forced a change in the uniform.

It means from next month, sixth form students will be allowed to wear discreet nose studs if they wish.

Year 12 student Chelsea Crossley, 17, explained the background. ‘The students who had piercing felt strongly about the rules not allowing them.

‘A group decided we would come together and form an argument.’

Chelsea and fellow student Amy Robinson, 16, argued to the school governors in February that disallowing the nose studs meant: ‘You were not allowed to express your individuality,’ said Chelsea.

She added as sixth formers, who had moved beyond compulsory education and chosen to continue their studies, they should be treated differently to younger students, sixth formers already wear a different uniform of black and white, whereas students in younger year groups wear navy blue.

‘In sixth form we like to feel there is more leniency, we do not want to be treated with the same prohibition as younger students. We are already allowed some freedom, like free periods, etc,’ she said.

To form a compelling argument, they researched the subject, ‘we looked at all the different interpretations of everyone’s views, emailed universities and employers. A lot of the time they accepted piercings … we did a lot of research.’

The governors asked some searching questions, but were ultimately convinced by their argument and from June 10, students in Key Stage five (years 12 and 13) will be allowed to wear a single discreet nose stud (not bar or loop) piercing. Piercings to eyebrow, lip and tongue are excluded.

Key Stage five team leader Liz Wood said: ‘They should be commended on using their student voice and putting together a presentation which was very clear.’

Delighted with their success, Chelsea said: ‘It was such a great feeling, we actually achieved something we set out to achieve.

‘We thought we were not going to get it, we doubted we would do it.

‘It’s the principle of it, not necessarily the actual rule. It’s just evidence of what is actually achievable when you challenge such authority against all the odds … I learned how to change things.’

• What do you think? Do you agree that older students should be allowed to wear a nose stud if they wish?

Email: melwright@manx.net, or write to the Examiner, Publishing House, Peel Road, Douglas, IM1 5PZ.

Plans are being drawn up for improved engineering and construction craft training facilities at the Isle of Man College.

Education Minister Tim Crookall MHK will seek Tynwald support and planning approval for the £4.9m development later this year.

Work would start ‘early next year’ on a facility for engineering and motor vehicle engineering at the old water treatment works site on Greenfield Road, with the aim it would be open from September 2014.

The space in college vacated by the current engineering department would then provide enlarged construction crafts facilities from spring/summer 2015.

The Minister said: ‘It is essential that suitable training facilities are provided to support the construction and engineering industries and bring through the next generation of engineers and those in construction trades.

‘Suitable accommodation to enable the widening of vocational choices to complement, or offer an alternative to, more conventional academic examination routes at 14-16 and beyond is also important.’

Training in construction crafts and engineering currently takes place across three sites – at the college in Homefield Road and at Hill’s Meadow and Union Mills.

The department believes the other two sites, not owned by the Department, provide a low-quality learning environment as teaching is fragmented and without the facilities available at the main campus.

The improvements would enable new courses in mechanical engineering and electronics, such as mechatronics, supporting new industry on the island.

The engineering building will be named the William Kennish Building, after the Manx inventor and marine engineer who set out early plans for the Panama Canal.