There’s a big mistake on page one of today’s Manx Independent.
It says the paper costs £1. It doesn’t.
It should cost 75p, as usual.
We used the wrong front page template information. Please accept our apologies.
The barcode is correct. The price there is 75p and that will ring through correctly at tills at shops that use that technology.
Our staff have been contacting newsagents this morning to inform them about the error.
Today, THURSDAY
SOUTHWELL FLAT ALL WEATHER: 12.30 Majestic Manannan (Each way) 1.0 Sir Geoffrey (NAP) 1.30 Silly Billy 2.0 Maggie Pink 2.30 Mick Dundee (NB) 3.0 Charlotte Rhodes
HUNTINGDON JUMPERS: 12.40 Flemi Two Toes 1.10 Just Benny 1.40 Ringa Bay 2.10 Promised Wings 2.40 Cloud Creeper
AYR SELECTIONS: 12.20 You’resomedreamer 12.50 Happy River 1.20 Kris Cross 1.50 Boris The Blade 2.20 Ultra De Chatelet 2.50 One For Harry 3.20 The Squinty Bridge
WOLVERHAMPTON TIPS ON THE FLAT: 3.50 Anfield 4.20 Scottish Boogie 4.50 Holli Deya 5.20 Tony Hollis 5.50 Captain Myles 6.20 Powerful Pierre 6.50 Dazzling Valentine
The Isle of Man Photographic Society is now at the half-way point through the season, and it’s been an absolutely cracking one so far.
Numbers attending have been high throughout the programme of events, our occasional speakers (both of them) provided excellent audio-visual presentations, while entries from newer members in our regular competitions have been universally praised by our judges, and in some ways have challenged our more established members. It all promises to be an exceptional year for the society.
Our two speakers were Dr Jeremy Paul (with a superb presentation of wildlife photos taken on safari in the Masaai Mara on the borders of Kenya and Tanzania) and Peter Clague (with travel photos from a trek in Chile, including the two widely varying landscapes of the Atacama desert and the mountains of Patagonia) – and both providing authoritative, interesting commentaries and excellent entertainment for our members.
Another highlight early in the programme was the three way digital battle with the Western and Southern Clubs (the other photo clubs on the island) held at Glen Helen – not only did the IOMPS win the overall trophy, but two entries from our members vied for the title of best image in competition – a most pleasing result, but accompanied with the perhaps dubious requirement to organise the same event next year.....
As regards competitions, we have as usual had regular assignment and open competitions for our members, these always being judged by external judges to ensure impartiality in their results – and we would readily acknowledge and thank them for their generous contributions to the success of our programme, the commentaries given to each entry providing invaluable guidance on critical features such as composition, contrast, use of colour, and lead-in lines for successful image-making. Here newer members have shone a light for the society, bringing new ideas and a fresh approach to their images which is necessitating older members to try harder – a situation remarked upon by several of our judges.
Mark Falconer and Nessie Gillen look to be setting the pace in the Standard Group, but with strong competition from Norma Cowell, Mark Thorsby, Joy Brodie, Sue Collier and others in our various classes.
In the Intermediate Group, Jenny Shanley, Elaine Dewhirst and Annette Slater are the ones to watch, though again with others such as Shirley Lotfy, Jiri Podobsky and Phyllis Christian providing competition. The Advanced Group is, as usual, being dominated by Sue Jones, Ron Shimmin, Ruth Nicholls and Bob Servante, with Brian Speedie emerging as something of a surprise this season.
The second half of the programme starts on Wednesday, January 8, with a presentation by our president, Tony Curtis, of some of his work – title as yet unknown since he is working on it over the Christmas break – but sure to be entertaining! Thereafter our regular competitions and presentations will resume, culminating in late March with our Annual Competition, this year being judged by husband and wife team of John and Margaret Sixsmith, both highly qualified and experienced, so certain to be a highlight event for anyone interested in photography.
The programme closes in May with the Bebington Salon, a digitally-projected presentation of some 400 images, competitively chosen from some 2800 entries and representing the best of current british photography – again sure to be a very popular evening.
All meetings of the IOMPS are held at the Art Society in Withington Road, Douglas, and are open to the public, non-members with an entry fee of £1. Full details of the programme are available on our website www.iomps.com.
Chris Blyth
Pictured: Society members enjoyed “Travels in Chile” presented by Peter Clague.
A taxpayer-subsidised marketing course designed for anyone involved in food, drinks and crafts on the Isle of Man is to take place in February and March.
The course is designed for anyone running a business including farmers who may be thinking of diversifying their activities or who wish to gain a better understanding of marketing and of the help available to new and established businesses in the island.
There are five workshops at a cost of £20 per person per workshop.
The course will be tutored by Heather Smallwood, a chartered marketer and accredited marketing consultant.
Ms Smallwood’s expertise includes marketing planning, identifying customers, meeting business needs and marketing communications, including news releases.
Two new workshops have been added to cover market research and digital marketing.
Delegates on previous courses have rated it highly and commented on its value to developing their enterprises.
Clare Lewis, of Ballanorman Farm, Ballaugh, said: ‘Attending the marketing workshops removed the mystique from this crucial part of our business planning.
‘The workshops really helped me to focus on what we are trying to achieve in our new business and which areas to concentrate on the most.
‘The workshops were a mine of valuable information about all aspects of marketing whatever the size of your business. This course gave me the tools to take our business forward, to think outside of the box, and to ensure that we maximise all our marketing opportunities, especially those that are free or low cost. I would recommend the marketing Workshops run by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture to any business person.’
The course will run on February 27 and March 6, 13, 20 and 27 starting at 7pm at the DEFA, Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s.
To book a place and obtain details of the course, register with Audrey Fowler, audrey.fowler@gov.im or call 685856 by January 10. Places are limited.
A Douglas woman has been congratulated for overseeing the collection of more than 300 shoeboxes packed with gifts for Operation Christmas Child.
The Barclays Wealth employee has dedicated her own time over the past six years to organise the collections of gifts for children in the poorest nations around the world.
Miss Hall, who this year was assisted by her sister and Barclays colleague Felicity, said: ‘I have been organising Operation Christmas Child through work since 2008.
‘In 2012 I decided to collate money donated by colleagues and buy the products myself, then pack and wrap the boxes. I did this because when I received feedback from my colleagues as to why they hadn’t donated a shoebox in previous years, it wasn’t because they didn’t want to help, it was because they struggled to find the time to complete it.
‘I worked out that to fill a box costs about £10 and the postage and packaging was £2.50, so I started collecting £12.50 each from as many colleagues as were willing to donate, then I used my weekends and lunch hours from September to October to bulk buy all the presents, pack and wrap the parcels.’
She also made use of cardboard waste at work, cutting down the boxes that the office paper is delivered in to a shoebox-style size and shape.
Since 1993 Operation Christmas Child has seen more than 100 million children in 130 countries have received a parcel packed with presents.
Alexandra said: ‘My mum first told me about this charity and explained how little these children have, and how much these shoe boxes mean to them, they even keep the actual shoebox as storage. She told me about one of the times the charity had gone out to visit the children and found two little girls living in the freezing cold. One of the girls had received a shoebox the previous year with a pair of gloves; she had given one glove to the other little girl so that they each had one glove each to keep one hand warm. This story is what really hit home with me.’
Simon Scott, island managing director at Barclays Wealth, said: ‘I’d like to congratulate and thank Alexandra on all her efforts supporting this very important charity project. She has given up her own time to ensure her colleagues are able to support he appeal, and that many, many children around the world have had something to smile about.’
Caption: Alexandra Hall with Christmas presents she collected and wrapped on behalf of colleagues for under-privileged children
Staff at Isle of Man Bank’s Peel branch swapped their desks and counters to serve behind car boot stalls when they organised a special project in aid of two local charities.
The event, in Peel’s Corrin Hall, raised a total of £560 which was swelled by a further £500 from the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Community Cashback scheme, which recognises the efforts of bank staff who raise money for local causes. Overall, the result was cheques for £530 each being presented to the Parkinsons Disease Society and the Corrin Memorial Home.
The Corrin Home is putting its share of the money towards the construction of a sensory garden for the benefit of residents.
Peel branch manager Chris Dawson said: ‘The goods and items on offer at the car boot sale were provided mainly by our staff, or their friends and relatives, who also manned the stalls. In addition, they organised raffles and a cake stall and arranged glitter tattoos and a bouncy castle to entertain the children. We all had great fun as well as raising a large sum for charity.’
The Corrin Home plans to provide a sensory garden in a lawned area of the complex to include sweet-smelling plants and water features to try to attract birds to the area, the idea being the provision of a garden - together with seating - will have therapeutic value for the residents.
Pamela Shimwell-Mayo from the Parkinson’s Disease Society was joined in the Atholl Street branch of the bank by Corrin Home officials Harold Crellin and Judith Turner where the cheques were presented by Mr Dawson.
Pictured, from left, are Chris Dawson, Billy Harrison, Olivia McKenzie and Pamela Shimwell-Mayo (Parkinsons Disease Society), Judith Turner and Harold Crellin (Corrin Home), Heather Gleave, Denise Cannell, Tracey Crennell and Marie Horne (Isle of Man Bank).
A Flybe plane on a flight from Ronaldsway with 61 passengers on board had a near-miss with Runcorn Bridge as it came to land at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
Details of the incident are outlined in a report by the Air Accident Investigation Branch.
The Dash 8 plane was coming into land at 9.07am on June 1 this year when it flew below the recommended glide slope, resulting in an cockpit alert sounding.
However, the flight crew took appropriate action to correct the danger and made a safe landing.
Given the good weather and absence of other air traffic, the co-pilot had asked the commander if he could to convert to a visual approach. The co-pilot disengaged the autopilot and turned the aircraft, tracking Runcorn Bridge while descending.
He was concerned he may fly above the ideal glide path if he turned towards the runway too early, so had maintained his descent - but in doing so, the aircraft descended below the recommended ‘profile’.
The aircraft had been descending at a rate of about 2,000ft per minute and a ‘Caution Obstacle’ alert was sounded at a radio height of 894ft as it approached the runway.
Runcorn Bridge is 285ft over the riverbed and crosses the River Mersey.
The Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) uses internal terrain, obstacle and airport databases to predict a potential conflict between a flight path and terrain or obstacle.
‘The obstacle concerned in this case was not positively identified, but was possibly the Runcorn Bridge,’ the report says.
The flight commander said he himself had become distracted from monitoring the vertical profile. He prompted the co-pilot to turn right towards the runway at about the same time as the EGPWS’s alert sounded.
The flight crew adjusted the aircraft’s flight path and confirmed it was safe and appropriate to continue the approach.
Flybe said safety of its passengers and crew is its number one priority.
A spokesman said: ‘The event highlighted in the AAIB report was thoroughly investigated by our own investigators and through correspondence with the AAIB.
‘Both parties concluded that at no time was the safety of the flight compromised. However, in light of the event, and despite the AAIB making no recommendations, Flybe has taken a number of actions to further improve safety.’
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority has revealed there were 45 incidents of laser pens being shone at aircraft at Liverpool Airport last year.
Two Douglas hotels could be amalgamated into one, if planners approve the application.
In fact, PPC Limited has already taken reservations for the single hotel – and needs the approval ‘as soon as possible’.
The proposed hotel would be formed by joining together Ellan Vannin and Gloucester House hotels, located in 31 and 32 Loch Promenade.
In the application (13/91505/C), it states: ‘This application proposes internal alterations and amalgamation of existing tourist hotels to provide a 26-bedroom hotel with associated staff and owners’ living accommodation.’
The proposed work would also see the creation of a residents bar at ground floor level in the corner of the current residents’ lounge.
It would include a lockable security shutter.
The current owner’s bedroom on the ground floor would be turned into an alcohol store room.
The application continues: ‘We note that the applicant has taken reservations for the proposed accommodation so it is necessary that these proposals are formally approved ASAP in order that the works can be carried out.’
All work would be carried out to the satisfaction of the Isle of Man fire prevention officer and building control.
It says the application is supported by the Department of Economic Development.
Paul and Pauline Cain took over the Ellan Vannin hotel in March 2012.
Since then they say they have been wholeheartedly putting all their time and effort into improving and putting Ellan Vannin back on the map.
It has gone from a three star to a four star hotel, and they aim to provide a five star service.
The Curraghs Wildlife Park will trial Friday opening during the winter period from Friday next week (January 10).
The park, including the cafe, will be open on Fridays, 10am to 4pm. Last admissions will be at 2pm.
General manager Kathleen Graham said: ‘In the last year we have had a staggering increase in membership.
‘Many of our members have pre-school children and to add value to their memberships we have decided to trial a Friday opening during the winter season.’
Visitor services manager Tina Jauncey said: ‘We will be delighted if we attract visitors to the park on Fridays, all are welcome. This is more about offering slightly extended opening times in the winter as a service, particularly for our members who have been very supportive.’
Previously the park has been open weekends and school holidays from November to Easter. From April 1 it will open seven days a week.
Retailers are breathing a huge sigh of relief as island shoppers hit the sales in style.
Tills have been ringing as families enjoying the festive season have flocked out in droves to snap up bargains.
The message from shopping bosses is that people have been canny and holding off from splashing out for as long as they could.
Tynwald Mills enjoyed its ‘best ever’ shopping day last Saturday, according to managing director Stephen Bradley.
And another crucial factor that appears to be emerging is that Thursday nights have been real thrillers for attracting people into the capital’s late opening shops.
A special ‘footfall counter’ erected recently on the corner of Regent Street near Isle of Man Bank has revealed ‘encouraging’ figures, according to Chris Pycroft, development manager at Douglas Development Partnership.
He revealed that four of the best five days for numbers were on late opening Thursdays. Top was Thursday December 12 when 14,833 people were detected by the footfall device. Second was Saturday, December 21, when the figure was 14,326.
Third was Thursday, December 19, when 13,386 passed by.
Next came Thursday, November 21, with 12,013. This was the night of the switching on the Christmas lights in Douglas. And fifth was Thursday, December 5, when 11,468 people were detected on the busy corner which is something of a shopping hub.
Mr Pycroft said the raw statistics produced by the device were interesting and appeared to show that Thursday night shopping drew in the crowds.
He said the early indications were promising but further analysis would have to be undertaken.
John Shakespeare, Strand Shopping Centre manager, told the Manx Independent that shoppers had been holding off before hitting the sales in style.
He said: ‘People have been leaving it later and later until it becomes frantic.
‘It has definitely been buzzing and Thursday nights and Sundays have been a particular success.’
He said all the centre’s stores and cafe had been enjoying a roaring trade as the the surge in shoppers intensified. But he said that records had not been broken.
Mr Shakespeare said that at HMV tills had been ringing ‘flat out’ as people stocked up on items such as DVD boxsets and music CDs.
He revealed that the best selling items from HMV appeared to be ‘The Class of 92’ DVD about Manchester United players and the latest CD from One Direction.
‘They have been flying off the shelves’ he said.
‘It has definitely been buzzing but the trend has been to come out later and later.’
The centre’s other stores had also been busy and Millets had been enjoying brisk sales of storm jackets and the like, said Mr Shakespeare.
He said people still enjoyed going out to shop and the support of Manx shoppers indicated the importance of shopping locally.
Stephen Bradley, managing director of Tynwald Mills, said last Saturday was ‘our best day ever’ as people came to enjoy the sales.
Mr Bradley, who is also chairman of the retail committee of the Chamber of Commerce, said: ‘Christmas came late this year. But we were full to capacity for our first Saturday of the sales.’
He said there was a great atmosphere as folk bagged discounts of up to 50 per cent on a range of clothing and other items. He said that another bonus was the weekend weather proved ideal for people to get out and about shopping.
‘Before we opened for business queues were forming at the doors. It is turning out to be quite a sale for us.
‘It has been a good festive season for us but it came late.’
Another bonus was the ice skating laid on at the shopping centre.
Mr Bradley praised the island’s food shops for the way they rallied over the festive break. He said that despite the bad weather staff had worked hard to keep shelves stocked.
Onchan Primary School has presented a cheque for £771 to the Red Cross in aid of its Phillipines Appeal.
The money was raised from the children’s eight Christmas shows, with a donation also given by Manx Taekwondo who train at the school.
Pictured left to right are: Rod Nielsen (Manx Taekwondo), William Carrol (Red Cross Isle of Man), Anna Griffiths (deputy head at Onchan Primary School)Picture: MP131220 (15)
A local historian will give a talk about old Manx postcards at the Henry Bloom Noble Library in Victoria Street, Douglas, on January 8.
The talk by Peter Kelly MBE, a lifelong resident of Onchan and an architectural historian, will run from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
Mr Kelly, 65, is a member of various Manx historical and heritage groups and first became interested in history when he was aged 12 years old.
Just two years later he gave his first public talk at an Onchan Women’s Institute meeting.
Mr Kelly said of his January 8 talk: ‘The show is entitled “Wish you were here” and is a presentation of Edwardian postcards showing places all around the island like Peel, Ramsey, Douglas and some places which are no longer there.
‘I’ve been collecting postcards since I was 12 years old, so for around nine years now!
‘I have a couple of thousand postcards in my collection.’
Mr Kelly worked for Onchan Commissioners for more than 30 years, managing the in-house archives and giving presentations to schools about the district and continues to make presentations island-wide.
He was elected a commissioner at the age of 27 and, after his three-year term of office, became clerk to the parish board.
In 2011 he was officially appointed Captain of Onchan Parish in ceremony at Government House.
He has also been chairman of the Isle of Man Scout Association for more than 30 years.
He is well-known for his work with the Isle of Man Victorian Society, and his extensive knowledge as an architectural historian.
Mr Kelly gave a magic lantern show in December, which raised more than £600 for the Philippines Disaster Fund.
Free tickets for the talk on Wednesday, January 8, are available from the ground floor counter at the Henry Bloom Noble Library or by calling 696461 or visiting www.douglaslibrary.gov.im
Refreshments will also be provided on the night.
Oie’ll Verree, the traditional Manx concert marking the traditional Christmas Eve, will take place on Saturday, January 4, at Ebeneezer Hall in Kirk Michael.
The concert is sold out and will feature Michael Players as its main guests with a mystery compere to be revealed on the night.
Doors open at 7pm and there will also be a buffet served. Proceeds will go to Michael Heritage Trust projects.
This could be the last year of the concert as many of the cast are retiring, but organisers hope to find more volunteers by September 2014 when preparations for that year’s play begin.
Saturday, January 4
1.30pm kick-offs
Paddy Power FA Cup Preliminary Round
Marown v Braddan
Union Mills v Ayre United
Ronaldsway v Douglas Royal
Colby v Foxdale
RYCOB v St George’s
Rushen United v Malew
Peel v Laxey
Gymns v St Mary’s
Pulrose v Douglas Athletic
Douglas and District v DHSOB
2pm kick-offs
Canada Life Premier League
Castletown v Corinthians
Canada Life Combination One
Corinthians v Castletown
DHSOB v Ramsey
Laxey v St Mary’s
St George’s v St John’s
JCK Combination Two
Foxdale v Douglas Athletic
Onchan v Gymns
Ayre United v Douglas and District
Vagas B lifted the Manx Shield just before Christmas, however there are two remaining games to be played.
The first of these is this Saturday when Castletown host Douglas B at Poulsom Park.
The game is something of a dead rubber as Town will not avoid the wooden spoon and the best Douglas can do is tie for second.
The formbook suggests a Douglas win and who am I to argue?
Town will be looking for a positive start to 2014 and they will put up some resistance.
Finally, apologies to Castletown’s Matt Quine who kicked his side’s only points in the Vagabonds game. It was dark and I thought he was someone else!
Saturday’s fixtures
South Lancs/Cheshire Division One
Winnington Park v Douglas
@ Winnington Park
South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two
Ramsey v Manchester Medics
@ Mooragh Park ko 2.15pm
Vagabonds v Southport
@ Ballafletcher ko 2.15pm (prov)
Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield
Castletown v Douglas B
@ Poulsom Park ko 2.15pm
PwC Men’s Premier
IOMA Group Bacchas A begin the defence of the Men’s Premier Division title when they meet LJ Skye Ramsey A at the NSC on Saturday afternoon.
Andy Whiting’s Bacchas side have been crowned champions for the past three seasons and will be aiming to make it four.
An early victory is essential for the Tromode side and with much of the club’s victorious mixed A team in the squad they should prove too strong for the notherners.
PwC Men’s Division One
A close game is in prospect when last year’s champions IOMA Group Bacchas Colts face runners-up Fearless Saracens A in Saturday’s late fixture at the NSC.
The Tromode side, who have the chance to defend their crown after a league restructure, will be aiming to get the defence off to a winning start while opponents Saracens will be hoping to go one better than last season and claim the silverware.
They have improved their squad with the return of Dave Horan and Dave Bolton to their ranks and should prove to be serious title contenders.
PwC Men’s Division Two
Celton Manx Castletown prepare to meet Paragon Valkyrs C in the lunchtime fixture at King William’s College.
Adam Parker’s Castletown side could be seen as one of the title favourites but will need to claim an early victory here.
Lindsay Riordan’s Valkyrs will be tough opponents for Castletown in what promises to be a close match.
PwC Women’s Premier
Vikings A begin the defence of their title when they meet last season’s runners-up IOMA Group Bacchas A.
Kim Carney’s Vikings side were unbeaten in all competitions last season and will hope to continue that form this time around.
Cath Griffith’s Bacchas side will be aiming to improve on last season’s successful year and will be hoping to push Vikings all the way.
PwC Women’s Division One
Paragon Valkyrs B will be aiming for an immediate return to the PwC Women’s Premier Division when they begin their season against Vikings C at QEII on Saturday afternoon.
Alex Jones captain’s a Valkyrs side whose experiences of playing in the top flight should see them make a winning start against a Vikings side who finished bottom last season.
PwC Mixed U16s’ League
Vikings will be looking to continue their form of last season when they begin the defence of their title against Celton Manx Castletown.
Paul Wood’s Vikings were dominant in the division last season and the young side will be hoping to prove it wasn’t a one off.
Castletown suffered an indifferent season and coach Jon Allen will be hoping for more consistency from his charges this time around.
The island was hit by severe tidal flooding today in a once-in-50-years event.
At around midday, low-lying areas around all of the island’s ports were affected, the Department of Infrastructure said.
The video accompanying this story was recorded from about 12.15pm till 12.45pm.
Before high tide, the Manx Electricity Authority warned that at-risk areas might lose their power and parts of Ramsey lost electricity.
The police station in Lord Street, Douglas, closed its counter and Douglas’s Tesco shop closed from 11.30am till about 3pm after a request from the police.
Motorists whose cars are parked in vulnerable areas were warned to move them.
Many coastal roads and promenades were be closed because of the very rough seas.
The high tide combined with a storm surge to bring flooding in excess of that seen in 2002. Water levels were up to 800 millimetres (31 inches) above the point where the harbour areas start to flood.
Maps indicating the likely affected areas can be seen {http://www.gov.im/water/sewerage/flooding/?menuid=24124|on the government’s website here.}
The areas in blue show where the calm flood waters are anticipated to reach.
The effect of this was worse as a result of wave action.
Property owners in these areas were urgently asked to take steps to protect their own property and move vehicles out of the low-lying areas.
In 2002 an estimated £8m-worth of damage was caused.
Before the storm surge, a Department of Infrastructure spokesman said: ‘We will not be able to stop the flooding from this one-in-50-year event.
‘Public safety is a primary concern and the pubic are asked to stay out of flood waters.
‘Raw human sewerage is very likely to be discharged from manholes in the affected areas polluting the waters.
‘There will also be unseen dangers in flooded areas from open manhole covers.
‘The rough seas will bring additional risks with waves of 4.5 metres expected during the storm. This might cause structural damage to harbours and coastal areas.’
The spokesman said that the police, the fire service, Civil Defence, the Water and Sewerage Authority and the Department of Infrastructure were working closely together to try to mitigate the damage and risks.
The emergency services will respond to any incident where people are in danger and can be contacted on 999.
For general help and support with flooding problems or storm damage, where people are not at risk, the public should call the Department of Infrastructure’s Ellerslie base on 850000.
The Department of Infrastructure called in around 50 staff from leave to help manage the incident. Civil Defence also had around 40 volunteers available.
Although it is unlikely that it will be required, provisions are also in place should people be displaced from their homes.
As a precautionary measure the following roads were closed in anticipation of problems from around 11am:
Douglas Promenade, Broadway to Port Jack
Leigh Terrace, Douglas
Shore Road, Gansey
Castletown, Promenade
Ramsey, Promenade
Parliament Street, Ramsey
North Quay, Quine’s Corner to Parade Street
Laxey Promenade
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/steam-packet-sailing-cancelled-1-6349349|This morning’s Steam Packet sailing was cancelled} due to the stormy weather.
We are retweeting information as it comes in on our Twitter feed. Follow @iomnewspapers
Information will also be on our {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/live-news|Live News} service.
Buses are being disrupted because of road closures and the expected storm surge.
Diversions will be in place from 11am until roads re-open.
Bus Vannin says the services affected are:
Service 1/1A/2
Buses are unable serve stops between Broadway and Derby Castle. Buses are diverted from the Villa Marina Stop via Broadway, Victoria Road, Summerhill, Strathallan Road to Port Jack and vice versa.
Service 2
Buses are unable to serve Gansey and are diverted from Castletown to Port St Mary via Colby and Church Road and vice versa.
Service 4
Buses are unable to serve Leigh Terrace and are diverted from Lord Street via Peel Road and Groves Road to Cooil Road and vice versa.
Ramsey Town Service
Buses are unable to serve Mooragh Promenade and are diverted via Bowring Road to Ormley Estate to turn.
This morning’s Steam Packet service from Douglas to Heysham has been cancelled because of the stormy weather.
The Ben-my-Chree is again sheltering in port.
It obviously means there will be no return sailing from Heysham this afternoon.
A decision on whether tonight’s 7.45pm service from Douglas will sail will be made by 2pm today.
Last night’s sailing was also cancelled. Several sailings were cancelled or disrupted last month, although, in a highly unusual move, the Ben-my-Chree did sail on Christmas Day to transport passengers and cargo to the island.
For the latest from the Steam Packet, {http://www.steam-packet.com/LatestSailings|click here.}
Today, FRIDAY
SOUTHWELL FLAT ALL WEATHER: 12.30 Bonnie Fairy (NB) 1.0 My Single Malt 1.30 Bitaphon 2.0 Lady Of The Vine 2.30 Dame Nellie Melba (NAP) 3.0 Think 3.30 Ridgeway Hawk
MUSSELBURGH JUMPERS: 1.10 Ballycool 1.40 The Starboard Bow 2.10 Reaping The Reward 2.40 Ryton Runner 3.10 Kris C ross
WOLVERHAMPTON TIPS ON THE FLAT: 4.30 Mister Manannan (Each Way) 5.0 This Charming Man 5.30 Sir Reginald 6.0 Delightful Sleep 6.30 Global Leader 7.0 Secret Song