Successful Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme participants received their certificates in an annual presentation at the Gaiety Theatre, Douglas, last week.

Pictured are Ramsey Grammar School students Ellen Quane, Luke Wilson, Patrick Crellin, Edward Dunn and Voirrey Baker with their Silver awards.

The Department of Education and Children’s Youth Service is registered as an operating authority with 15 award units, including schools, youth groups and uniformed organisations.

The annual presentation service is sponsored by Isle of Man Bank and managing director Bill Shimmins presented the certificates.

Isle of Man Airport director Ann Reynolds is hopeful that daily flights to Scotland could return next year.

She confirmed that she is currently in talks with an air operator over the launch of a twice-daily service to Glasgow for the start of the 2014 summer season - and hoped to make an announcement soon.

Flybe franchise partner Loganair withdrew direct services between Ronaldsway and both Glasgow and Edinburgh from June 30.

It said its single daily services on both routes had become ‘unsustainable’ – and blamed rising operational costs and falling demand.

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond, on a visit to the island in July to deliver the Chief Minister’s international lecture, pledged to restore direct airlinks between the Isle of Man and Scotland - saying they are ‘far too important’ to lose.

Airport director Ms Reynolds said: ‘I hope that current talks will result in an announcement for daily flights to Scotland for the start of the summer season 2014.’

Head teachers are seeing the benefits of secondary school teachers being exempt from work permit regulations.

The change was introduced in February to make it easier to fill vacancies.

Queen Elizabeth II High School head teacher Sue Moore said: ‘It has been a huge relief to us, partly as it has made the recruitment process quicker so we are able to make a firm offer of a job and have not lost candidates who need to be sure they have a post and cannot afford to wait for work permits to be processed. This happened in the past.

‘Last term we had a vacancy which arose due to promotion at half term and we needed to be able to advertise and recruit ready for September.

‘Competition for the best newly qualified teachers is at its peak then so any delay can be critical. We were able to appoint an excellent teacher.

‘We are also able to offer any vacant post to the best candidate and I am sure that parents would want their children taught by the best possible teachers.

‘It is still the case that most applicants have some Manx connection.

Ramsey Grammar School head teacher David Trace said the amount of paperwork it used to send out to potential applicants concerning the work permit legislation and requirements was ‘daunting’.

He said: ‘For UK and Irish applicants, from countries where nationals do not need or have not even heard of work permits, large numbers of expressions of interest simply melted away with the implication that if they were not Manx they stood little chance of being appointed.

‘This was particularly problematic in the shortage subjects of English, mathematics, the sciences and history and often led to the need to re-advertise.’

St Ninian’s High School head teacher Andy Fox said the new system was ‘much more advantageous than the old’.

This year, eight staff have been replaced in English, science, maths, modern foreign languages and PE, four of which were new to the island.

‘This, of course, is vital for the general teaching workforce on the Isle of Man as it will help bring in new ideas as well as new individuals to add to the teaching force,’ he said.

‘The new system has enabled us to work quickly and efficiently in ensuring the students of the island have the teachers needed to help them succeed.’

In further work permit changes announced this month, applications for engineering and ICT professionals are to be fast-tracked.

The island’s highly successful Island Games team was honoured at a special reception hosted by the Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood.

A team of around 100 made the trip out to Bermuda for the games in July and came away with an impressive medal haul of 36 gold, 36 silver and 25 bronze, topping the medal table by a significant margin.

General team manager Jill Gillings said around 100 athletes had made the trip to Bermuda and of those about 60 had been able to attend the reception.

‘It was a good turn-out and some of the medal winners took their medals along with them too,’ she said.

‘There was a buffet provided and it was lovely to see the team honoured in that way.’

Mr Wood made a short speech at the reception and congratulted the athletes on their success and on the medals they had won.

Certificates from the International Island Games Association were awarded to those athletes who had achieved a new games record during this year’s event, though only swimmer Laura Kinley was able to attend the evening to collect hers in person.

Picture: MW130917 (33)

The second annual Manx Litfest kicks off on Thursday this week (September 26), a four-day celebration of books, poetry, storytelling and writing.

The line-up includes authors Adele Parks, Andrew Taylor, Barbara Erskine, Victoria Lamb, Matt Haig, Holly Webb and Curtis Jobling, poets Craig Bradley and Paul Harris and performance storyteller Ben Haggarty.

Events will take place in venues around the island, including the Villa Marina’s Promenade Suite, The Studio Theatre at Ballakermeen, King William’s College, Sefton Hotel, Erin Arts Centre, St German’s Cathedral, Ramsey Library, the Family Library and Henry Bloom Noble Library.

Following the success of last year’s Gruffalo Hunt, it’s the turn of Winnie the Pooh and friends to entertain on the Litfest family day, which takes place at the arboretum in St John’s, from 10.30am-4.30pm on Saturday, September 28.

Printed programmes with a full details of the weekend’s events have been distributed to libraries, bookshops, the Villa Marina, the Welcome Centre, and the programme is also available to download from.manxlitfest.com

The programme also includes details of where to get tickets to each of the events. If anyone has any questions, please email manxlitfest@gmail.com

Festival director John Quirk said: ‘We had some great feedback from last year’s inaugural festival and we’ve tried to build on that to deliver a festival which we hope has something for all literature fans to enjoy.

‘Thursday night sees the return of our Book Fanatics’ Quiz Night at the Promenade Suite, which was great fun last year. Friday night sees two main events – a Ladies Night In’ with Adele Parks, also at the Promenade Suite, and Andrew Taylor and Barbara Erskine talking historical fiction with a supernatural twist at Peel Cathedral.

‘Saturday sees our Writers’ Day event at King William’s College, which has a series of four talks and pitch sessions to an agent and publisher. Saturday also sees Victoria Lamb talk at the Promenade Suite at 1.30pm, and Matt Haig will be at the Embassy Room in the British in Douglas Quay at 4pm. Saturday night offers the choice between Killing People for Pleasure and Profit at the Promenade Suite, with crime authors Andrew Taylor and Alan Bradley, and storyteller Ben Haggarty – who was such a big hit last year – performing Gilgamesh at the Studio Theatre.

‘Our final day, Sunday, sees our Isle of Man Writers Showcase, a series of short talks by local authors, starting at 2pm in the Cowell Suite at the Sefton. Ben Haggarty will be back on stage at the Studio Theatre at 4pm for his family performance, the Russian fairytale Maria Morevna, and the curtain comes down on the weekend with a double-header at Erin Arts Centre on Sunday night – IoM performers Voices with reading of “poetry for the modern man/woman”, and UK poet Paul Harris, with his People Watching People-Watching show.’

A registered charity, Manx Litfest is supported by Isle of Man Arts Council and Culture Vannin, in addition to many businesses and individuals .

Mark Cavendish stormed to his third stage win of the 2013 Tour of Britain with a blistering sprint on London’s Whitehall yesterday afternoon.

In a textbook finish he won the 88km pan-flat final stage by more than a bike’s length from Ireland’s Sam Bennett (An Post-Chainreaction) and Elia Viviani (Cannondale Pro Cycling) after another perfect lead-out from veteran sprinter-turned leadout-man Alessandro Petacchi.

People who normally sign on every two weeks to claim jobseeker’s allowance in Douglas have been told they don’t have to sign on again till January.

Today’s Examiner reveals why.

Inside, we also reveal that a former UK government minister is attempting to change the law in the UK and force it on the Isle of Man, over the head of Tynwald.

We also report on a carers’ group’s criticism of cuts being made by the Department of Social Care. It calls the government’s five-year strategy for adults with learning difficulties ‘a work of fantasy’.

In health news, we reveal plans for a £930,000 clinical skills centre at the hospital and report about a Peel woman’s book about asthma.

As the island prepares for Breast Cancer Awareness Month we have two pages about the issue andtalk to one woman who says she had a mastectomy for the sake of her children.

The Examiner this week reports on two significant court rulings. In the first, an appeal against a tough sentence drugs has been dismissed. It has been confirmed that the Isle of Man has the right to pass tougher sentences than England and Wales.

The second concerns a case whose origins date back to 1974. A woman who alleged she was kicked at school by a teacher has been told that if she carries on trying to pursue her claim, she could be sent to jail.

We were also in court when a man who has around 25 driving convictions was jailed for eight months having driven while disqualified, with no insurance and over the limit.

This week’s Examiner has two extras: Business Word, our monthly look at business news and a 16-page property news special.

And the back page celebrates the Isle of Man’s 5-0 victory over Cumberland.

The island’s favourite paper is in the shops now

Today, MONDAY

LEICESTER: 2.0 Inspiriter 2.30 Saddaqa 3.0 Almuheet 3.30 Angels Calling 4.0 Rebecca Romero 4.30 Mandy The Nag 5.0 Ethel 5.30 George Fenton

HAMILTON: 2.10 Upholland 2.40 Teetotal 3.10 Act Your Shoe Size 3.40 Are You Mine 4.10 Colonel Mak 4.40 Inherited 5.10 Compton Heights

KEMPTON: 2.20 Devilment 2.50 Nirva 3.20 Maria Bella 3.50 Irradiance 4.20 Spokeswoman 4.50 Lisa’s Legacy 5.20 Angelic Upstart

Reigning champions Corinthians started their Warehouse Fitness Women’s League campaign with a 7-1 win over Peel at Ballafletcher on Sunday.

Leading 2-0 at half-time, Helen Thomas (2), Jade Burden (2), Kiera Morgan, Anna Dillon and Lisa Costain found the target for the Whites, the western response came via a Maxine Smalley effort.

Also at Ballalfletcher, Douglas Royal registered the biggest win of the season with a 21-0 victory over DHSOB. Leading 11-0 at half-time, Andrea Lace (4), Donna Shimmin (3), Becci Pate (3), Rebecca Cole (3), Leanne Quayle (2), Sarah Breen (2), Bekkie Colquitt (2), Angela Waite and Kerry Lockwood scored for the Floodlit Cup winners. Royal consolidate top spot following this win.

Gymnasium claimed their first win of the campaign with a 3-0 victory over Colby. Goal-less at half-time, Eleanor Gawne (2) and Sammie MacDonald scored for the Tromode outfit.

A full round-up of all the women’s football will appear in this week’s Manx Independent.

Ambitious entrepreneurs in the UK are increasingly looking to the Isle of Man for business ‘angels’ who are seeking to not only invest in fledgling companies but to play key advisory and guidance roles.

London-based entrepreneur Patrick Ashworth said: ‘I think the Isle of Man has a wealth of high quality investors who can add value to new businesses based on their own experience, it’s not just about writing a cheque.’

He was speaking after attending an Entrepreneur Event in Douglas hosted by Siliconiom Ltd with sponsorship coming from specialist data centre provider Continent 8 Technologies and leading accountants and tax advisors PwC.

Since their inception two years ago more than 150 entrepreneurs have attended the 18 events which have taken place and around one-third have been successful in gaining their required funding, the average figure in the region of £250,000.

Mr Ashworth, an entrepreneur for 15 years who has previously launched two successful companies, is now looking for investment in a third company which he has founded.

He was one of seven entrepreneurs who, in ‘Dragons’ Den’ style, pitched to potential investors at the event, each giving a six-minute presentation in a bid to gain equity backing for their respective ventures.

He added: ‘A highly successful event, it was my first visit to the Isle of Man but I plan to be back as it is now high up on the list as to where we could possibly locate, grow and develop the business.

‘I liked the feel, the culture and was impressed by what we heard from the Government in terms of the opportunities here.

‘It is all important that a new business finds the right investors and the Isle of Man has a significant number of successful businessmen and entrepreneurs who can bring both finance and business expertise to promising new businesses.’

Chris Hall, a potential investor at the event, has played a major role in establishing the Isle of Man as an e-business centre.

He has built up a portfolio of non-executive directorships and ‘angel’ investments and is currently looking at investment opportunities in the technology software areas.

He said: ‘What has impressed me is the high calibre of the entrepreneurs who have come to the island, coupled with the broad range of businesses and different backgrounds. Future events will be a key contributor to supporting the growth of the island’s technology sectors.’

Entrepreneur and event organiser Steve Hawkins said an increasing number of entrepreneurs were becoming aware that the island offers a unique opportunity to start-up and early stage businesses.

He said: ‘The latest event again attracted an eclectic mix of companies, bringing diversity in terms of both the business proposition and global presence.’

Continent 8 account director Roberta Castle said: ‘We are delighted to be a sponsor of these extremely successful events.

‘Over the past two years they have proved to be a catalyst in a number of start-up companies looking to move to the island. Each event is a tremendous showcase for the island and feedback from this one is already very positive.’

Ian Clague, senior partner at PwC said: ‘The results from these events make impressive reading and a number of entrepreneurs who only came here looking for investment were so impressed with the island’s can-do approach, commercially aware government and sophisticated business infrastructure that they are now looking to relocate their business here.’

Steven Taylor, Steve Pickett and Peter Whittaker are set to strengthen Heron and Brearley’s leadership for future growth strategy.

The appointments to the board are all from within Heron and Brearley’s existing leadership team.

Mr Pickett, Mr Taylor and Mr Whittaker will be continuing to work under the group’s managing director, Ian Lennox.

Steven Taylor joined Heron and Brearley in 1995 and was later appointed to lead and transform the group’s on-trade division in 2010, at just 32 years old.

As retail director, Mr Taylor was a key player in the group’s acquisition of the Market Town Taverns chain in the UK.

He has successfully applied a fresh approach to developing Heron and Brearley’s estate of Manx pubs, with its noticeable impact on the wider rejuvenation of the North Quay in Douglas.

Group chairman, Jonathan Clague said: ‘The recent Carnival Live Lounge venue is the latest example of the contemporary fit and service levels offered by Heron and Brearley venues thanks, in great part, to Steven’s ambitious and youthful vision.’

Steven Taylor now progresses to the main board as overall estates director.

Having been with Heron and Brearley for more than 10 years Steve Pickett spent much of that time providing the excellent stewardship of the group’s successful expansion into logistics through Trade Distribution.

This business has achieved significant account wins in the UK and employs more than 120 people within a group, which is now understood to be the Isle of Man’s largest private sector employer at more than 1,000 staff.

Mr Pickett’s appointment to head the wholesale and logistics divisions allowed the group to consolidate several divisions, adding the existing wholesale operation, Island Automatics and Okell’s, to his portfolio of overall responsibility.

Mr Clague added: ‘Steve Pickett’s motivational and entrepreneurial leadership has already steered Okell’s to a confident future with an exciting re-branding of its entire product portfolio, helping to generate outstanding export growth. These qualities will be an asset to the main board in joining us as wholesale and logistics director.’

He continued: ‘We were very fortunate to have Peter Whittaker join us in 2008 from the Manx Co-operative Society.

‘Rapidly taking the reins of our convenience retail division, Peter has been responsible for the exponential growth of our Spar chain of convenience retail stores all over the island’s towns and villages, transforming the quality of this sector in the Isle of Man, to provide a true alternative to the supermarkets.

‘Peter’s acumen both in retail and property are a further valuable asset he will bring to the main board as retail stores director.’

Heron and Brearley sees the appointments as very much a drive for the future.

Group managing director Ian Lennox said: ‘These are anything but “time-served” appointments, but are driven by our understanding that we operate in a relentlessly competitive world.

‘I am delighted that Heron and Brearley has the internal “bench strength” to make these important appointments from within our leadership team. It demonstrates that our long-term strategy of nurturing talent and propagating loyalty will secure the future success of the group.’

Adopted Manxie Aaron Cook claimed victory at taekwondo’s Pan-American Open over the weekend.

The Isle of Man fighter defeated Costa Rican Javier Quesada 12-3 to claim -80kg gold.

He impressed in comfortable victories over athletes from Mexico and Canada in the opening rounds before a dominant 14-5 defeat of world number two TJ Curray (USA) in the semi-finals.

Cook told his 23,000 followers on Facebook: ‘I was also blessed to be awarded best fighter. Thanks for all your support.’

Former world number one Cook slipped to sixth in the global standings earlier this month after a disappointing World Championship campaign in July.

However, his ranking points total of 122.91 was still well within the world’s top 32, the requirement he needed to secure a personal invite to the inaugural World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series in Manchester.

The December event will award winners 80 ranking points and form a crucial part of qualification for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Cook’s next fight is the Costa Rican Open in two weeks.

About £108,000-worth of cannabis resin and £62,000-worth of cocaine was seized by the police in Douglas this morning.

Over the last week officers from the police force’s ‘pro-active team’ and dog unit have worked with Customs and Excise on ‘Operation Ring of Steel’.

At 6.30am today (Monday), officers from the pro-active team detained two women at a hotel on Douglas Promenade.

Following inquiries and a search of the women’s vehicle, they found the drugs.

The women, aged 24 and 27, are from the Liverpool area are currently at police headquarters helping with inquiries.

Detective Sergeant Paul Holland said: ‘Seizing approximately £170,000 of controlled drugs destined for the Isle of Man is a significant seizure.

‘I would like to thank the dog unit and Customs and Excise for their continued support. This highlights the need for the continued partnership work, to remove controlled drugs from the streets of the Isle of Man.

‘This further reinforces the message to these individuals intent on importing and supplying controlled drugs to the Isle of Man that a robust stance will be taken.’

Provisional figures released by the RNLI charity reveal lifeboat launches across the Isle of Man between June to August rose by nearly 50 per cent compared with the same time last year.

Of the five RNLI lifeboat stations on the island, Douglas, Peel and Ramsey all reported a marked increase in call-outs.

The most notable rise has been in services by the island’s all-weather lifeboats which have increased from 13 incidents in 2012 to 26 in 2013.

The busiest stations were Peel and Ramsey, with the all-weather lifeboats launching nine times each and Ramsey seeing the biggest increase on the same period in 2012.

The summer was the busiest since 2008, when Manx lifeboats launched 36 times.

Overall, Manx RNLI lifeboats launched 31 times during the summer of 2013, compared with 21 the previous summer.

Douglas’s all-weather lifeboat launched seven times, Port Erin’s lifeboat attended four emergency call outs and the volunteer crew at Port St Mary were called out twice.

In the UK, the charity’s lifeboats launched 4,300 times – the most in 24 years – and lifeguards attended 14,814 Incidents.

While most were enjoying the prolonged sunshine and the hottest summer for seven years on the beaches and around the coast, RNLI lifeboat crews and lifeguards were out helping those in trouble.

Rescues have included Port St Mary’s launching to a yacht with its propeller caught in a lobster pot, and Peel RNLI lifeboat launching to a powerboat with engine failure.

{http://www.rnlivideolibrary.org.uk/getvideo.aspx?vid=XBZ7Hmug|Click here to see video of the Port St Mary incident}

{http://www.rnlivideolibrary.org.uk/getvideo.aspx?vid=rViXXM3o|Click here to see video of the Peel incident}

In addition, RNLI crews have been busy training to ensure they are in a constant state of readiness to answer the call for help when the pager sounds.

This summer saw three RNLI lifeboats from the Isle of Man take part in a major maritime exercise 15 miles off the coast of Northern Ireland along with three RNLI lifeboats from Northern Ireland.

The scenario involved the rapid sinking of a small passenger vessel with 30 people onboard.

The role of the casualties were played by lifeboat crew, search and rescue mannequins and numbered oranges. The oranges added an extra challenge for the lifeboat crews as they can be quite difficult to locate in large open seas and really test the search techniques of the volunteer lifeboat crews.

{http://www.rnlivideolibrary.org.uk/getvideo.aspx?vid=AoOwdfNW|Watch the video here}

Gareth Morrison, RNLI divisional operations manager for the Isle of Man, said: ‘The fine weather has seen people flock to the coast to enjoy the fine weather, which has meant an increase in call outs for our volunteers. More than half the stations on the island have seen an increase in services during the summer which shows their true dedication of our lifeboat crews to saving lives at sea.

‘Not only has it been busy at the sharp end, but our crews also spent a very busy summer training to ensure they are well prepared for a variety of rescue scenarios.’

The Department of Home Affairs has applied for planning permission to build a custody block at police headquarters in Douglas.

The proposed development would replace the existing facilities, which the department said had reached the end of their operational life after more than 40 years of service.

The project will involve a capital investment of nearly £3m and work would get under way next spring, with an estimated completion date of December 2014.

The new custody block would then be operational by early 2015.

The plans are part of the department’s strategy to consolidate all Douglas detention facilities into one location. This will help to improve efficiency and allow the police to vacate the Lord Street site – freeing it up for potential development.

Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson MHK said: ‘The new block has become necessary to meet the ever more stringent demands of safer detention. In the modern custody setting, the current facilities have become increasingly unfit for purpose.’

He added: ‘The proposed development will be designed and constructed to the latest specifications for police custody units and provide enhanced facilities for healthcare and legal advisers.

‘This will enable better working practices and remove the need for overflow units to be opened at times of peak demand, reducing staffing costs in terms of overtime requirements.’

Some of the highlights from recent One World Centre’s initiatives will be on show at the charity’s annual general meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).

The evening’s entertainment will begin with pupils aged 14 and 15 at Castle Rushen performing a selection of poems they have written on development issues.

This will be followed by a chance to view six short films (none longer than four minutes) created by primary school students on the theme It’s Not Fair!

Vicky Harrop will round up the night with an illustrated talk featuring some of her stunning photographs on the work of ASK (Action Saves Kids) in Bangalore. She currently has an exhibition of these pictures on show at the One World Centre Pop Up shop in Duke Street, Douglas.

The evening will also see a group of local schoolteachers receiving their Global Teacher Award certificates after completing the Global Teacher training through the One World Centre.

The One World Centre exists to educate about global issues such as poverty, injustice and sustainability and to encourage a positive response. We work with young people and community groups across the Island. New members are very welcome and anyone interested in the Centre’s work is warmly invited to attend.

The AGM takes place at Green’s Café in St John’s. Doors open at 6pm. A short formal meeting will get under way 7pm with the entertainment starting around 7.20pm.

For more information email info@owciom.org or call 800464.

These are the first prize winners in Douglas in Bloom 2013:

Hotels and guesthouses without gardens – St Helier’s

Hotels and guesthouses with gardens – Trevelyan Hotel

Private houses with gardens – Mr Davies, Westminster Drive

Business premises – The Strand shopping centre

Pub/restaurant/café – Savoy Hotel

Public/community garden – Ballacottier Primary School

Best Douglas Council property – Mrs Lee, Hillside Avenue

Conservation, wildlife and biodiversity – Mr Cooke, Murray House, Lord Street

Secret Garden – Mr Harrison, Victoria Crescent

Most improved allotment – Mr Cleverley

Judges’ special merit – Mrs Craine, Groves Road

Most imaginative floral display and winner of the Douglas in Bloom trophy – Mr Harrison, Victoria Crescent.

Sark will have its first full-time senior administrator from next month – following a recommendation from Manx civil servant Colin Kniveton.

Mr Kniveton went on a four month secondment from his post as chief executive of the Department of Economic Development in November last year to help create a civil service in the tiny Channel Island.

Sark was Europe’s last feudal state until a fully democratic government was elected in 2006.

Mr Kniveton recommended the Chief Pleas adopt a full-time senior civil servant to oversee the administrative support team and to work with the conseillers to ensure the proposals approved by the government are moved forward.

Kath Jones will take up that post next month.

She was chosen from among 47 candidates from Sark, the UK, Jersey and Guernsey and will move from the UK to the island to take up the new post next month.

The decision to create the post at a cost of £35,000 was made in May, reversing an earlier decision to reject the proposal on cost grounds.

A Tynwald scrutiny committee raised concerns about Mr Kniveton’s secondment to Sark.

The move meant Chris Corlett was switched to head up DED from his post as chief executive in Social Care, a department which is steering through major reforms.

When he returned from the Channel Island, Mr Kniveton was given a new role in the Chief Secretary’s Office, reviewing the range of services provided by government as part of the Scope of Government exercise.

He was subsequently appointed chief executive of the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure.

Employees at Barclays in Victoria Street, Douglas, will be swapping their suits for aprons and serving a cuppa and a slice of something sweet in the hope of raising £200 for people affected by cancer.

They will be taking part in Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

Last Friday, Darren Armstrong and Ross Doddrell, who work at the Victoria Street branch, were waxed – one had his chest waxed, and the other his legs to raise funds for the charity.

Event organiser Gill Cardy said: ‘We’re delighted to be supporting Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.’

She said of the waxin victims: ‘Their brave efforts show how determined our branch has to raise at least £200 for Macmillan.’

For a free coffee morning kit, visit www.macmillan.org.uk/make time, call 0845 6021246 or text COFFEE to 88080.

A Douglas pensioner has raised £1,424 for charity by tackling a daring skydive at Redlands Airfield in Swindon.

Ros Mills, a 73-year-old who has lived on the island for 35 years took to the skies to take on a parachute jump for local charities and loved every second of it.

Ros said: ‘I’ve always wanted to do it, so last winter I said to myself if I don’t do it now I never will.’

Ros raised the money for children’s hospice Rebecca House and Cancer Research, two charities which are close to her heart.

‘My son’s friend had a little girl who died in the hospice and I have known friends and relatives who I’ve lost to cancer and who’ve recovered from it,’ said Ros. ‘I lost my husband to it 20 years ago, I did the jump on his birthday, so it was a special day.’

Asked how it felt to take the leap Ros said: ‘I was looking forward to it, then when I got up there I thought my God what am I doing, it’s 10,000 feet up here!

‘But then the instructor jumped so I went with him and it was absolutely wonderful, I’d definitely do it again.’

Ros has a son and daughter and said her son wasn’t that keen on her doing the jump at first but supported her on the day.

Asked if she had any more adventurous plans Ros said: ‘Nothing like this, I’ll still be doing some things for charity though.’

Mary Doyle of the Hospice fundraising team thanked Ros for taking part in what she described as such an amazing feat of bravery and for raising funds for Hospice.

‘I have seen the CD of Ros doing the jump and believe me she smiled the whole way through,’ said Mary.

‘We are really touched by her support and ‘can do’ attitude, well done to her.’

So if you thought knitting and bingo were the height of excitement when you reached your 70s perhaps you could take a leaf out of Ros’ book and take to the skies.

For information on the skydiving contact SkydiveLondon via info@skydivelondon.co.uk

For charity details, visit www.cancerresearchuk.org and www.hospice.org.im/rebecca-house