The latest property sales recorded at the General Registry.

Jonathon Michael Allen and Andrea Allen, The Mount, Mount Gawne Road, Port St Mary, bought Mayfair, 23 Loch Promenade, Douglas, for £700,000.

It was bought from William Peter Cooper of Kent.

Betty Doreen Lightbody, by trustees, and Elizabeth Jane Hoosen-Owen as trustee, of 8 Clifton Drive, Ramsey, and William Vernon Lightbody as trustee, of 11 Pinehurst Avenue, Douglas, sold 45 Strand Street, Douglas, for £385,000, to Zara Louise Limited, whose registered office is at 49 Victoria Street, Douglas.

Steven Neil Quayle and Lindsay Helen Quayle, sold 6 The Cherry Walk, Heightonwood, Tromode, for £353,000, to Darren Stuart Barnes and Diane Maureen Barnes, of 58 Cronk Grianage, Strang.

Doreen Katrina Patricia Andrews, by coroner, and Kenneth Alan Quilleash, as coroner, of 1-5 Church Street, Douglas, sold 7 Turnberry Avenue, Onchan, for £335,000, to Rita Mary Barrow, of 53 Howe Road, Onchan.

Neil Barry Maddrell and Sansance Tam, sold 40 Seafield Close, Onchan, for £330,000, to Ian Peter Smith and Deborah Claire Armstrong, of 12 Hillcroft Rise, Governor’s Hill, Douglas.

Harold Malcolm Hirst, by personal representatives and trustees, and Melanie Catherine Hirst, as personal representative and trustee, of Bradford, and Andrew Harold Gibson Hirst, as personal representative and trustee, of Malaysia, sold 8 Hollydene Avenue, Birch Hill, Onchan, for £320,500, to Donald Mason Beggs and Lisa Jayne Beggs, of 71 Wybourn Grove, Onchan.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, whose registered office is at Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s, sold the former Wool Control Centre, Peel Road, Douglas, for £250,000, to Omar Richard Hajar, of Cronk View, Glen Chass Road, Port St Mary, and Richard Marcus Melhuish, of Glenville House, Scholague Road, Hillberry, Onchan.

Patricia Elizabeth Kermode, of Florida, sold Treetops, 6 Highfield Crescent, Onchan, for £245,000, to Nicola Ann Johnson, of 32 Third Avenue, Onchan.

John Philip Andrew Corlett, sold 14 Cronk-y-Berry Moar, Cronk-y-Berry Gardens, Douglas, for £242,000, to Robert William Graham Crookall and Danielle Yvette Lamb, of 20 Cronk-y-Berry Avenue, Douglas.

Anita Jayne Ash as executrix, of 108 Tromode Park, Douglas, and Rosemary Adele Kinley, as executrix, of 107 Dreeym Beary, Tromode Park, and Irene Louise Ackary by executices, sold Ardery, Somerset Road, Douglas, for £220,000, to Geoffrey Stobart and Hilary Anne Stobart, of Struan, Quarterbridge Road, Douglas.

Rachel Ann O’Neill, of 5 Central Drive, Onchan, sold 7 Berry Woods Grove, Governor’s Hill, Douglas, for £186,000, to Martin Patrick Higgins and Janice Voirrey Higgins, of 6 Clypse View, Onchan.

Eleanor Trussell, of Manchester, sold 15 Templar Terrace, Ramsey, for £35,000, to Martyn Wayne Callister and Tracy Monica Callister, of 3 Coburn Drive, Ramsey.

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We publish details of all house sales unless we receive a written request from the police or probation services.

Peel Commissioners have received no nominations for the seat vacated by Neil Cushing.

The deadline for nominations passed at 5pm yesterday (Wednesday) without any forms of nomination being received.

Town clerk Peter Leadley said: ‘We will be discussing our next course of action at our meeting on Tuesday so things should be clearer then.

‘We are normally required to have a board of nine but if there were only eight, the chairman has the casting vote so that would not be a problem.’

Commissioners chairman Ray Harmer said: ‘Unfortunately we did not receive any nominations. We are considering options, including a reduction in the number of commissioners, ultimately to seven in the next full term.’

Mr Cushing stepped down from the board through a letter which was read out at the commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, January 7. He cited personal issues as the reason for his resignation.

The Isle of Man’s cricket development officer Gareth Dawson is leaving the island to take up a new role in Gibraltar in March.

The Yorkshireman has been based on Manx shores for six years overseeing the development of the game in the island. This culminated with the senior side competing at the ICC Europe Division One Championships last summer, having previously won two promotions under Dawson.

Dawson will head to Gibraltar to work with the national men’s squad in the lead up to the ICC European Division Two T20 tournament, which is to be held in Essex at the end of June.

Ironically the Manx are also due to compete at this competition along with Austria, Germany, Norway and the winner of the Division Three competition held in May.

IoM Cricket Association chairman Neill Angus has said Dawson’s move to the Rock is a chance to review the development officer position: ‘The Association is pleased with the progress made under Gareth’s guidance but his departure has offered an opportunity to appraise the structure and direction of cricket in the island. The Association is re-evaluating its strategy and vision and will appoint a successor based on the results of that review in due course.’

The IoMCA’s executive committee has been meeting on a weekly basis and has confirmed the first stages of its review should be completed in the next few weeks.

Mystery continues to surround the tragic final moments of two firm friends and experienced anglers who drowned during a fishing trip off the coast of the Isle of Man.

Coroner of Inquests John Needham recorded a verdict of accidental death for Harold Faragher of Bride and Stewart Curphey of Andreas, both aged 66, after a two-day hearing in Douglas this week.

‘On the balance of probability each man’s death was the result of an accident at sea, of which regrettably the precise cause is not known’, said Mr Needham.

The pair, described as experienced amateur fishermen, launched their 14-foot fibreglass motorboat off the beach at Blue Point around lunchtime on Friday, July 26.

The alarm was raised in the early hours of Saturday, July 27, when the pair had failed to return home, triggering a full air and sea search coordinated by Liverpool Coastguard.

The boat was found upside down 7.5 miles north west of Jurby at 6.20am by the crew of Peel lifeboat.

The bodies of the two men were separately recovered by Ramsey lifeboat and a search and rescue helicopter during Saturday afternoon.

Post-mortem examinations concluded that both men had drowned.

Mr Needham compiled a timeline from eyewitness accounts and records of outgoing calls from their mobile phones, but acknowledged that there were ‘crucial gaps in our knowledge’ and was unable to determine how the pair came to be in the water or how the motorboat had overturned.

‘The exact facts as to why the boat became upturned in the water is still a mystery, but is not something that can be disputed, and unfortunately Harold and Stewart succumbed to saltwater drowning.’

Despite the fine weather on the day, the inquest heard that the sea state in the area was ‘surprisingly rough’ on Friday afternoon. But citing the evidence of Mr Faragher’s son Michael, who had frequently used the boat in rough conditions, Mr Needham said: ‘It is unlikely that it was simply the sea conditions that caused the boat to founder.’

The inquest heard that the boat was intact, showed no visible signs of damage and had not run out of fuel. The men were not intoxicated and Mr Needham determined that no health issues played a part in the incident.

He added that there was no evidence of any third party being involved.

‘My finding is that the boat foundered or capsized quite suddenly. I don’t know why that was, but I find it’s more likely than not that both men entered the water at the same time.’

‘There are many scenarios that could have occurred, but it would be wrong for me to speculate without evidence to support it.’

It was established that the pair were not wearing lifejackets, but were wearing flotation suits which could assist with buoyancy. However, Mr Needham concluded that they ‘have their limitations’, and could not help keep the wearer’s head above the water once exhaustion had set in.

‘The events of that Friday and Saturday indicate how dangerous the sea can be even for the most experienced. Things can go very wrong very quickly.

‘This case highlights the need for people to wear proper lifejackets when going out to sea in small boats.’

He added that mariners must give definite return times to someone onshore, so that the alarm can be raised quickly if they are overdue.

‘In this case there is no guarantee that these measures would have changed anything, but they might have done, so I must impress on all seafarers the importance of this safety message.’

Mr Needham added ‘they were very popular, loving family men. They were true and proud Manxmen and they are greatly missed.’

Charges for on-street parking may not be the best way forward at this stage.

That was the suggestion of Infrastructure Minister David Cretney in response to a House of Keys question from Douglas West MHK Chris Thomas.

But Mr Cretney, whose department has completed town centre parking studies on Douglas, Peel, Ramsey and Castletown with a view to finding a standardised approach across the island, said he was counting nothing in or out at present.

He was challenged by Mr Thomas over a statement in the report which said: ‘Unconstrained free parking is unlikely to remain an option.’

Mr Cretney pointed out that many other places, even small towns in the UK, were introducing parking charges to offset costs. Similarly he said residents’ parking permits for those living within disc zones were currently issued free of charge but a fee could be introduced in the future to offset costs of registration and enforcement.

‘At this stage I do not believe on street parking charges are the way forward because we need to be sensitive to the difficulties of the retail sector.’

Mr Cretney rejected Onchan MHK Peter Karran’s assertion that on-street parking charges would be a ‘death knell’ for retail but agreed it needed support.

He also opposed a suggestion that parking on the promenades in Douglas should incur a charge during the Christmas period.

Mr Thomas also asked if a variable messaging system showing availability of car parking spaces in Douglas was a viable option and said Chester Street car park was often under utilised.

Mr Cretney said such a system was possible and could be used to good advantage.

The DoI owns two car parks – Chester Street and Drumgold Street – both of which are pay and display and both of which recently introduced Sunday charges.

An investigation into the crash of a Manx2 flight which killed six passengers has ruled that a lack of oversight by Spain’s air safety authority contributed to the crash.

The report also blamed bad decisions by the crew for the incident which saw a Fairchild SA 227-BC Metro IIIcrash at Cork Airport in dense fog after travelling from Belfast in February 2011.

The pilot and co-pilot were both killed as well as four passengers, making it Ireland’s worst aviation disaster for almost 50 years.

The final report has now been published by the Air Accident Investigation Unit of the Irish Department of Transport (AAIU) and states that the primary causes of the accident were decisions made by the Flightline crew in adverse weather conditions.

The report says the crew did not give adequate consideration to the weather conditions in Cork.

It also states this was compounded by inappropriate crew rostering by the operator and a significant lack of oversight by the Spanish air safety authority.

Captain of the flight, Jordi Sola Lopez, 31, from Barcelona, had only been promoted four days before the crash, while the co-pilot, Andrew Cantle from Sunderland, had joined the airline just three weeks before it.

The report said that both the captain and his co-pilot had insufficient rest before starting duty on the day of the crash, meaning they were likely to be suffering from fatigue at the time of the accident.

It goes on to describe their pairing on the flight as ‘inappropriate’.

They breached minimum weather standards during each of three attempts to land the plane, a Fairchild SA 227-BC Metro III, and the captain performed a manoeuvre, reversing engine thrust, which is prohibited in flight.

The report describes how at 9.50am on February 10, while on a third approach to Cork in low visibility conditions, control of the aircraft was lost during an attempted go-around.

The aircraft impacted on the runway surface, inverted and came to rest in soft ground to the right of the runway.

Post impact fires occurred in both engines which were extinguished.

The investigation determined that the probable cause was ‘loss of control during attempted go-around initiated below decision height (200 feet) in instrument meteorological conditions’.

The report examined the relationship between the Spanish owners of the plane, Air Lada, the operator, Flightline and Manx2.com, describing Flightline’s supervision of the service as well as the oversight of Flightline by Spanish air safety regulator AESA as both being contributory causes of the crash.

Manx2 ceased trading in December 2012 and is now in liquidation, but its former director and employees continued to assist the AAIU with the investigation.

A statement from Manx2 said: ‘The devastating impact of the tragic accident at Cork three years ago is not something that the passing of time has diminished and the thoughts and sympathies of all those involved are first and foremost with the families of those who lost their lives and those who were injured.’

A petition set up in protest against the so-called toilet tax has more than 5,000 signatures.

The petition focusses on plans unveiled in Tynwald last week to introduce an annual sewerage charge of £50 per property or flat, set to increase to £100 next year, with further increases likely.

It has been set up by the Isle of Man Politics Facebook group and originally had a target of 2,500 signatures.

This figure was reached so quickly the group amended their target, firstly to 5,000 signatures and now to 5,500.

Spokesman for the group Amy Burns said: ‘We are planning to hand the petition over on budget day [February 18], to hopefully a handful of backbenchers before the sitting.’

MHK Chris Thomas supports the petition. He said: ‘I’m trying to get Tynwald to receive it and it be recorded as a motion on the minutes in the way the student fees [petition] was.

‘It’s an unfair charge. People are surprised by it, which is never a good thing, and there are better ways to address the MEA debt and funding IRIS.’

It was only a matter of time before Keith Amor committed to more TT rides and an appearance in this year’s Classic TT.

The tough Scot has been living and working in Cyprus for the past couple of years, but has clearly missed the adrenalin rush and excitement of road racing.

Each time he has taken part in a parade lap since his official retirement in 2011, or led a group of rookies in a speed-controlled circuit of the Mountain Course, he has come back buzzing with the thrill of it all.

No surprise then that he ultimately announced his comeback alongside Ryan Farquhar in the KMR team for the Lightweight TT a month or so ago.

Earlier this week a second ride was confirmed on a Site Sealants B&W Racing Honda 600 in both of the four-lap Supersport races. Four of Keith’s five TT podium finishes have been in this class.

It has also been known for a few weeks that he had secured a Classic TT ride, and he confirmed a couple of days ago that he will pilot the Dunnell 350 and 500 Nortons campaigned by Conor Cummins in last year’s inaugural event.

Thursday, January 30

• Free Female Football Fitness Sessions, NSC sports hall, Thursdays 7am – 8am, also noon-1pm. Michael.baker@isleofmanfa.com

• Zumba at 9.30am-10.15am, Total Tone at 10.15am, call Jane 201811. Legs, bums and tums at 7pm-8pm, call Lisa 438150. Also Monday, High Intensity Circuits at 6.30am, Wednesday and Friday 6.30am, call Shelley 487270. School Drop Boot Camp at 9.30am, also Wednesday and Friday at 6.30am, call Errol on 488105. Vibro-Step classes at 12.15pm and 7.15pm, also on Wednesdays and Fridays at 12.15pm-12.45pm and Tuesdays and Fridays at 9.15am-9.45am, call Shelly 487270. Tuesday, Tae-Bo on Tuesdays at 5.45pm-6.30pm, Kettlebells at 6.30pm-7.15pm, call Kate 347160. Wednesday, Kettlebell Core, 6pm-7pm, also Saturdays at 9.30am-10.30am, Call Kelly 220220. Elite Fitness, Douglas.

• Thighs, Bums and Tums, Laxey Working Men’s Institute, 9.30am. Also Tuesday. Call 335635.

• Yoga, Iyengar (mixed) 9.30am-11am, Tuesday (men only class) 7pm-8.30pm; Wednesday (mixed) 6.45pm-8.15pm, 10 Perwick Bay, Port St Mary. Call 452791.

• Wheelie Active Parents (mums and buggies) 9.30am – 11am, Villa Marina reception, £2. Also Walk and talk, Peel promenade, outside Harbour Lights Cafe, 9.45am – 11.30am, £1.50. Friday, Walk and Talk, NSC, 9.30am–11.30am; also Mondays, Poulsom Park, Castletown, 9.45am – 11.30am, £1.50. Racquet Sports and Boccia, 12.15pm–1pm NSC, £1.75, Walk and Talk, 5.30pm–7pm, NSC, £1.50. Tuesdays: Walk and Talk, NSC, 9.30am–11.30am, £1.50. Walk and Talk, Ramsey Mooragh Park, (meet Rugby Club), £1.50, 9.30am–11.30am. Call Gianni 688556.

• Pilates 9.30am and 10.45am, Hot Yoga 6pm and 7.30pm, Friday, Kettlebells 7am and 1.10pm, Get Yoga Fit 10am, Hot Yoga 6.30pm, Saturday, Hot Yoga, 10am and 11.30am, Sunday, Hot Yoga 10am and 11.30am , Monday, Kettlebells 7am and 1.10pm, Get Yoga Fit 10am, Warm Pilates 5pm, Hot Yoga for Beginners 6.30pm, Tuesday, 7am Hot Yoga, 5.30pm Pilates, Wednesday, Kettlebells 7am and 1.10pm, Get Yoga Fit 10am, Hardcore 6 pack ABS 5.45pm, Pilates 6.30pm at The Gym, Ramsey. Call 812100.

• Fitness league exercise class, Ballafesson Church hall, Port Erin, 10.30am. Call 832759.

• Gentle Circuits, NSC, Douglas, 11am. Also Saturday. Call 688588.

• Pilates 2pm, 5.30pm and 7pm beginners to intermediate, 38 Woodbourne Square, Douglas. Call 491449.

• Chair-based exercise sessions, Onchan Youth and Community Centre, 1.30pm. Also Friday, Port Erin Methodist Church hall, 2pm; Monday, Ramsey town hall, 10.30am; Tuesday, Castletown Sandfield residents’ lounge, 2pm; Wednesday, Westlands’ residents’ lounge, Peel, 10.30am. Call 642668.

• Tai Chi Chuan, Lezayre parish hall, 2pm. Call 813222.

• Iyengar inspired yoga classes, Children’s Yoga, 3.45pm-4.45pm, reception to Year 3 and 4.45pm-5.45pm, Year 4 to teenagers. Men’s Yoga, 6.30pm-8pm, mixed ability. Hatha Yoga, Monday, 9.15am-10.45am mixed ability for over 60s. Monday, 11am-12.30pm, Hatha Yoga. Wednesday, 7pm-8.30pm mixed ability. All at Laxey Football Club. Call Jane on 863130 or janepycroft@manx.net

• Unite, mixture of Yoga and Pilates, 4pm-5pm. Also, Fridays 6pm Legs Bums and Tums, 7pm Aerial Suspension Fitness. Saturdays 9.30am Zumba and 10.30am Aerial Fitness. Mondays 6pm Zumba and 7pm Aerial Yoga. Tuesdays 6pm, Fitness Pilates and 7pm Kettlebells. Wednesdays 6pm, High Intensity Interval Training and Fitness Yoga. Jillian’s Unique Fitness Solutions 48 Loch Promenade Douglas.

• Manx Fencing Club, Ashley Hill School, Onchan, 4pm. Also seniors at Ballakermeen High School, Douglas, 5pm; Tuesday, Arbory village hall, beginners at 4pm and Grade 1+ 5pm; Wednesday, Ramsey Grammar School, juniors at 5pm and seniors at 6pm, also at Ebenezer Hall, Kirk Michael, juniors at 6.30pm and adults at 7.30pm.

• Southern Gymnastics Club, Ballasalla School, 4pm. Also Tuesday, Castle Rushen High School, 5pm. Call 473741.

• Northern Gymnastics Club, Ramsey Grammar School, 5pm.

• Men on Mats - Core Strength/Pilates Class Thursdays 6pm-7pm. £8. Jillian’s Unique Fitness Solutions, 48, Loch Promenade, Douglas. Call 376574.

• Anti-gravity Yoga at Savina’s Secret Studio, Glen Falcon Road, Douglas. 6.30pm. Call 203502.

• Western Athletics Club, QEII High School, 6.30pm.

• Zumba, Carrefour Health Club, Douglas, 6.30pm. Also Monday, 8pm; Wednesday, 9.45am.

• Cardiotone, Laxey Working Men’s Institute, 7pm-8pm. Also Monday 7pm-8pm. Call 452729/863602.

• Peel Badminton Club, Corrin Hall, Peel, 7pm.

• Aquafit, Western Swimming Pool, Peel, 7pm. Also Tuesday, 1.15pm.

• Aerobics and body toning, bring your own mat, Philip Christian Centre, Peel, 7pm. Also Monday, Park View Hall, Kirk Michael. Call 455924.

• Yoga, Cooil Methodist hall, 7.15pm. Call 494489.

• Fencing for all ages. Ashley Hill School, 7.30pm. Also Monday, Andreas parish hall, 4.30pm; Tuesday, Arbory Parish hall, 4pm and Ebenezer Hall, Kirk Michael, 6.30pm; Wednesday, Scoill Ree Gorree sports hall, Ramsey, 5pm. Call 880863.

• Pole fitness class at Savina’s Secret Studio, Glen Falcon Road, Douglas, 7.45pm. Call 203502.

• Zumba, The Dance Factory, Onchan Park, 7.30pm. Call 425270. Also Tuesday.

Friday, January 31

• Pilates The Isle Gallery, Tynwald Mills, at 9.30am and The Studio, Falcon Road, Douglas, at 1pm; Monday - The Isle Gallery, Tynwald Mills at 9.30am and Colby Methodist hall at 6.15pm; Wednesday - The Studio, Falcon Road, Douglas 9.30am and The Isle Gallery, Tynwald Mills at 5.15pm and 6.30pm. Equipment provided. Ring Lizzy Main on 427401 or visit http://pilates-isle-of-man.co.uk

• Zumba Classes at Silvercraigs Hotel, Queen’s Promenade, 9.45am and 10.25am. Creche facility. Zumba Masterclass for beginners, Zumba Gold and Zumba fitness classes for women and mums and tots. Also Tuesday.

• Acrobatics, Dance Factory, Onchan Park, 4.30pm.

• Manx ABC Boxing, Palace Terrace, Douglas. Juniors, 6pm. Seniors (age 16+), 7pm. Beginners welcome. Also Monday and Wednesday.

• Yoga, Morton Hall, Onchan, 6.30pm. Call 494489.

• Tai chi chuan, Murray’s Road School, 7.30pm. Call 612305.

• Indoor bowls, Legion Hall, Port St Mary, 7.30pm. No experience necessary.

Saturday, February 1

• Pregnancy yoga, All Saints hall, Douglas, 10am. Call 461461.

• Yoga, Laxey Working Men’s Institute, 10.15am. Also Monday.

• Yoga, Arbory parish hall, 10.30am. Call 494489.

• Fun and fitness, NSC, Douglas, 11am-noon. Call 688588.

• St Mary’s football club mixed under 11s training, Pulrose football fields, 10.30am. Call 405859.

• Tae Kwondo beginners, Pinewood Complex, Pulrose, 10.45am. Also 6-7yrs, Wednesdays at 5.30pm and Monday and Wednesday, 8-13yrs at 6pm, all ages at 7.15pm. Text 432152.

Sunday, February 2

• Reikido, The Royal British Legion, Port Erin, 11am-12.30pm. Also Monday 8pm-9pm. Call Nick on 07624 398955.

• Yoga and Nutrition, Karma Yoga Studio, Douglas. 6-7.30pm.

Monday, February 3

• Women’s activity morning, NSC, Douglas, 9.30am. Call 688556.

• Beginners Yoga, 10am, Karma, 2nd Floor, 8 Victoria Street, Douglas. Also at 10am (over 60s half price £5).

• Begin to Run ( running club for all abilities), Douglas seafront, meet Jubilee Kiosk, noon – 1pm, cost £2, call Trevor Christian for more details on 688576.

• Stretch ‘n’ Flex exercise, NSC, Douglas, noon. Call 688588.

• Disability Swimming Sessions, NSC, Douglas, 3pm-4pm, £1.55. Also Tuesday, 6pm-7pm.

• Aquafit, NSC, Douglas, 1.30pm. Also Tuesday at noon and Wednesday at 6pm. Plus Deepwater Aquafit on Monday at 7.15pm, and Thursday Deepwater at 6pm. Call 688556.

• Circuit Training, NSC, Douglas, 6pm. Also Wednesday at 6pm. Call 688588.

• Exercise Boot Camp, Corrin Hall, Peel, 6.15pm. Also Wednesday, Philip Christian Centre, Peel, 6pm; Thursday, Glen Vine Church hall, 9.15am.

• Cardiotone, Laxey Working Men’s Institute, 7pm. Also Thursday. Call 452729.

• Women’s self-defence classes, British Legion hall, Port Erin, 7.30pm.

• Kirk Michael Badminton Club, Park View hall, 8pm. Call 878536.

Tuesday, February 4

• Fit2Go walking sessions, car park, Station Road, St John’s, 9am. For women looking to improve their fitness. £3.

• Pilates 9.15am 38 Woodbourne Square, Douglas. Pilates 6.15pm Trinity Church, Ramsey. Also, Balance and Pilates 1.30pm Cooyrt Balleigh, Ramsey, (no floor exercise). Call 491449.

• Cheerleading, All Saints Church hall, 4.30pm. Call 254499.

• Pilates, the hall at Church on The Rock, Ramsey, 6.15pm. Call 491449.

• Zumba, Fiesta Havana, Douglas, 7pm. Email sjh@manx.net

• Tai Chi Chuan, Lezayre parish community hall, 7pm.

• IoM Karate Federation, Murray’s Road School, Juniors 7pm, Seniors 7.30pm. Call 612305.

• Badminton club, Arbory School, Ballabeg, 8pm. Call Liz on 466370.

• Early Morning Boot Camp, 6.15am-7am. Also Wednesday and Friday. Evening Boot Camp, 6pm-6.45pm, Tuesday and Thursday, and 9am-9.45am Saturday. Also Kettlebell Classes, Wednesday, 6pm-7pm, Saturday, 8am-8.45am, Marown Millennium Hall. Call 465335.

Wednesday, February 5

• Gentle yoga, women’s class, Gena’s Dance Academy, Peel, 9.30am. Call 456782.

• Balance and Pilates 10.30am Manx Legions Club, Douglas. (No floor exercise). Call 491449.

• Gentle body toning, NSC, Douglas, 11am. Call 688588.

• Chair-based exercises/Stretch and flex, NSC, Douglas, noon. Call 688588.

• Thompson Travel Netball Club junior training, Braddan School, 6pm. For ages 10-14.

• Valkyrs Hockey Club training, QEII astro pitch, Peel. Juniors (8+), 6pm; Seniors (13+), 7.30pm. Call 801802.

• Iyengar inspired yoga, 6pm-7.30pm, Brightlife, Andreas. Call Kel on 452015.

• Bowling club night, Port Erin Bowling Club, Breagle Glen, 6.30pm.

Thursday, January 30

• Tea dance, South Douglas Old Friends’ Association, Finch Road, Douglas, 2pm.

• Dance classes for children, Centenary Centre, Peel, 4pm. Call 450688.

• Modern Line Dance classes for all levels at the Legion Hall, Onchan. Also Monday and Wednesday. Call 670308.

• Strictly Come Dancing for beginners, Royal British Legion Hall, Port Erin, 8pm. £3.50 per person.

• Irish set dancing above Macbeth’s, Victoria Street, Douglas, 8pm. Call 457268.

Friday, January 31

• 5pm-5.45pm under 6 years ballroom; 5.45pm-6.30pm 6-9 years ballroom; 6.30pm-7.15pm 9-12 years ballroom; 7.15pm-8pm 12+ years ballroom, St Matthew’s Church hall. Also Tuesday, 4pm-4.45pm under 8 years ballroom; 4.45pm-5.30pm Dynamites freestyle; 5.30pm-6.15pm 8-12 years ballroom; 6.15pm-7pm Energisers freestyle; 7pm-7.45pm 12+ years ballroom; 7.45pm-8.30pm Explosions freestyle. Call 474063.

• Modern Dance, The Dance Factory, Onchan Park, 5.45pm. Also Thursday at 4.30pm. Tap Jnr, 6.45pm. Also Tap Adv at 7.30pm. Also Beginners Tap, Tuesday at 4.30pm.

• Argentinian Tango beginners class, St Paul’s hall, Ramsey, 7pm. Call 880650.

• Line Dancing, Ebenezer Hall, Kirk Michael, 7pm. Beginners welcome, adults £3.50, children £1.50. Call 878687.

Saturday, February 1

• Dance Time for children, Port Erin Methodist hall, from 9.30am. £2.50 per half hour. Call 835696.

• Ballroom dancing for children of all ages, Royal British Legion hall, Port Erin, 10am.

• Irish dance mixed, 3pm. Also Prim/Int on Monday at 4.30pm and Tuesday at 6.15pm. Beginners on Tuesday at 5.15pm. Stage Snr 4pm. Also Stage Int at 5pm, The Dance Factory, Onchan Park.

• Sequence dancing, Onchan Pensioners hall (across from library), 8pm. Call 829669.

• Social sequence dancing, Pulrose Methodist Church hall, Douglas, 8pm. Also Monday, Wednesday and Sunday. Call 842878.

Sunday, February 2

• Perree Bane Manx folk dancing, Ballasalla village hall, 7pm.

Monday, February 3

• Ballet, Viking Works, Riverside, Peel, 5.45pm. Also Thursday at 4.30pm.

• Country dancing, Willaston hall, 7pm-9pm. Call 628521.

• Ceroc dance night, Masonic Hall, Douglas, 7.30pm-10.30pm.

• Line dancing, Port Erin Methodist Church hall, 8.15pm. Call 436219.

Tuesday, February 4

• Oriental dance exercise, Gena’s Dance Academy, Peel, 10am. Also Wednesdays, The Gym, Ramsey. Call 300020.

• Linedancercise at John’s football clubhouse every Tuesday evening 7.30pm-9pm call 467285.

• Sequence dancing with Port Erin Dancing Club, Port Erin Methodist Church hall, 8pm. £1.50.

Wednesday, February 5

• Tea Dance at St John’s Methodist hall, live music with Eric and Jimmy, 2pm. Call 842548.

• Ballroom dancing for children, Centenary Centre, Peel, 4pm. Call 450688.

• Ballet, The Dance Factory, Onchan Park, 4.30pm.

• Latin Line Dancing, 7.30pm. Beginners welcome. Royal British Legion Hall, Port Erin, 835098.

• Ballroom dancing, Villa Marina, Douglas, 8pm. Call 623414.

• Rhythmic dance, St Ninian’s dance studio, Douglas, 8pm.

Palace Cinema

• Frankenstein 3D (12A). Nightly at 8pm. Saturday and Sunday 2.30pm.

• Jack Ryan Shadow Recruit (12A). Nightly at 7.30pm.

• Frozen 2D (PG) Saturday and Sunday 2pm.

Broadway Cinema

• The Wolf of Wall Street (18). Nightly at 7pm. Wednesday 2pm.

• Moshi Monsters the Movie (U). Saturday and Sunday at 11.30am.

• Mr Peabody & Sherman (U). 3D Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. 2D Saturday and Sunday at 4.30pm.

Saturday, 1st February

• The Croods ( U ) at 4.30pm. Millennium Hall, Crosby Playing Fields

Thursday, January 30

• Gym time active play for pre-school children, Manx Gymnastics Centre, Douglas, 9.30am. Call 625636. Also Friday and Wednesday.

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

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

• Krafty Kids (pre-school age) Philip Christian Centre, Peel, 10am.

• Action Songs and Rhymes, birth-5 years, Ballasalla Primary School. Plus many other sessions across the island. Free, but donations welcome. Call 479452 for further venues and times.

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

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

• 2nd Onchan Beavers, Scout Headquarters, Onchan, 5pm.

• St John Ambulance Cadets (10+), 6.30pm-8pm, Douglas headquarters. Badgers (5+), 5.30pm-6.30pm, Age Concern in Peel. Adults meetings, Thursday, Monday and Tuesday, Douglas headquarters. Friday, Ramsey, St Olave’s Church hall. For all other times and venues call 674387.

• Santon Beavers, Kewaigue School, 5pm. Also Cubs at 6.30pm. Call 623244.

• Good News Club for primary school children, Living Hope Community Church, Bayview Road, Port St Mary, 6pm. Email weirfamily55@hotmail.co.uk

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

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

• Army Cadets, Scout Hall, Peel, 7pm. Also Tuesday.

• Onchan District Explorers, Scout Headquarters, Onchan, 7.30pm.

Friday, January 31

• Baby and Toddler Group, 9.30am-11.30am at Glen Maye Community Centre. Free but donations welcome. Call 845681.

• Baby and Toddler Group at Glen Maye Chapel, 9.30am-11.30am.

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

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

• Laxey Mums, Carers and Tots at Laxey Working Mens Institute 10am - 11.45pm term time. £2.50 per family inc refreshments. Call 466887.

• Parent and toddler group, Ballasalla Primary School, 1.45pm.

• Theatrix Theatre Company Musical Theatre, Douglas, Saturday noon-2.30pm for ages 8-12. Also Saturday, Babies Irish/mod, 9am. Prep Ballet/Tap, 10am, Babies Ballet/Tap, 11am. Musical Theatre, ages 5-8. Monday, Senior Ballet, 4pm, Senior Tap, 5pm, Senior Jazz, 5.45pm, Adult Irish, 6.30pm. Tuesday, Community Ballet/Tap, 4pm. Beginners Irish, 4.45pm. Junior Irish, 5.30pm. Adult Tap, 6.15pm. Wednesday, Grade 2 Ballet/Tap, 4pm. Novice Irish, 5.30pm. Adult Ballet, 6.15pm.

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

• Storybox, Family Library, Westmoreland Road, Douglas, 10.30am-11am. Also Saturday, Sticky Fingers craft, 10.30am-noon; Alternate Wednesday, Busy Bee Time for pre-schoolers, 1.45pm-2.45pm. Tuesday, Sing and Sign with Nickie Gaskell, 11am-noon. Call 673123.

• Parents and Tots, upper room, Sulby Methodist Church, 10.30am. Call 897364.

• Onchan carers and tots, parish hall, Onchan, 1.15pm. Call 625328.

• Tiny Tunes, music time for 0-3s, Family Library, Westmoreland Road, Douglas, 1.30pm, £2.50. Call 673123.

• Sporty church at Trinity Church hall 6pm-7pm for years 3-6. Football, hockey, parachute games etc. 50 pence including refreshments. Call 628374. Also Sunday school Trinity Church hall, crèche to late teens, 10.30am-11.45am. Call 625409.

Sunday, February 2

• Sunday School, Sulby Methodist Church, 10.30am. Call 450104.

• ROCK Sunday Club for children at Colby Methodist Chapel, 10.30am - 11.30am

• Task and DFC children’s club, Abbey Church, Ballasalla, 10.45am.

Monday, February 3

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

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

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

• Tots play at Northern Lights Community Centre, Ramsey, 1.30pm-3.30pm. Also tots craft and play on Wednesday, £1.

• Noah’s Ark Tots Group, Church on The Rock, behind Ramsey Bus Station, 9.30am. Call 223669.

• Breastfeeding Buddies drop-in clinic, Village Walk Health Centre, Onchan, 10.30am. Call 656030.

• Daniel’s Den, Methodist Church, Arbory Street, Castletown, 10am. Admission £1. Call 822374.

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

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

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

• Onchan Rainbows, 5.30pm. Also 1st Onchan Brownies, 6.30pm.

• Brownies, Corrin Hall, Peel, 6.30pm.

• Manannan Cubs, Scout Headquarters, Onchan, 7pm.

• Do Drop Inn Drama Club, children aged 10+, St Paul’s hall, Ramsey, 7pm.

Tuesday, February 4

• Parents and tots, Auldyn Infants School community room, Ramsey, 9.15am-11.15am.

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

• Toddle Inn, mums and tots group, Port St Mary Living Hope Community Church, 9.30am. Call 835091.

• Super Saints, All Saints Church vestry, Douglas, 10am-11.15am. Call 427185.

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

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

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

• 2nd Onchan Beavers, Scout Headquarters, Onchan, 5pm.

Wednesday, February 5

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

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

• Ballabeg Busy Bugs for under fives, Arbory parish hall, Ballabeg, 10am. Call 429676.

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

• Carers and tots, St James’ Schoolrooms, Dalby, 10.30am-noon. Call 843471 or cherylcousins@manx.net

• Twins/Multiple Births Club, Philip Christian Centre, Peel, 10am-11.30am. Call 458202.

• Parent and toddler group, Castletown Youth Centre, Arbory Street, 2pm.

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

• Ballaquayle Bears Toddler Group, Ballaquayle School hall, 1.45pm-3pm.

• Onchan Ladies meet in Morton Hall, the Pensioners Club, 2.15pm. Call Shirley Baldwin 620352.

• Homework Club for year 7s, Youth Centre, Arbory Street, Castletown, 4pm. Call 822490.

• The Energy Youth Group, Colby Methodist Chapel. 7pm-8.30pm. Call Jane 492010.

• Snaefell Cubs, Scout Headquarters, Onchan, 7pm.

Thursday, January 30

• Onchan Pensioners Club, Morton Hall, Castletown, coffee morning; Friday, sequence dancing, 2pm-4.30pm; Saturday, Arabian dancing, 9am-1pm; Monday, Bridge, 2pm-5pm and 7pm-11pm; Tuesday, coffee morning including raffle, 10am-noon; Wednesday, whist drive, 7pm-10pm.

• Soundcheck, Youth Arts Centre, Douglas, 6.30pm. Also Monday and Tuesday, (6pm-9pm). Monday, Castletown YC (6pm-9pm) and Wednesday Ramsey YC (6.30pm-9.30pm).

Monday, February 3

• Mannin Art Group, 10am, at St Paul’s hall, Ramsey.

• Onchan Ladies’ Choir, Methodist hall, 1.30pm. Call 673453.

• Vannin Bridge, Onchan pensioners hall, 2pm. Also Thursday.

• Possan Aeglagh Manx Speaking Youth Club School Year 6 upwards at Cafe Laare, Lord Street, Douglas, 6.30pm - 8.30pm, subs £1. Call Cathy Clucas on 414331 or email C.Clucas@doe.sch.im for further details.

• Onchan Rotary Club, The Max Restaurant, Groudle Road, 6.30pm.

• Onchan Silver Band practice, the band room, off Main Road, Onchan, beginners 6.30pm and seniors 7.30pm.

• Ramsey Gardening Club at 7.30pm at Quayle’s Hall, Ramsey. £2 entry fee.

• Ayre WI, Grosvenor Hotel, Andreas, 7.30pm. Call 818194.

Tuesday, February 4

• Manx Retirement Association Northern coffee morning at St Paul’s Hall, Ramsey at 10.30am. Also Wednesday, computer group at the Cat With No Tail, Douglas at 10.30am.

• St John’s Art and Craft Group, Methodist hall, 9.40am. Bring your own art and craft. Call 851364.

• The Tuesday Group, flexible learning room to try your hand at basic crafts, have a chat, coffee and fun, Peel Clothworkers’ School, 1.15pm. Pre-school children catered for. Call 614180.

• Isle of Man Chess Club, Belsfield Hotel, Church Road Marina, Douglas, 7.30pm. Call 495097.

• Castletown Metropolitan Silver Band rehearsals, Queen Street Mission Hall, 7.30pm.

• Rotary Club of Rushen and Western Mann meet Falcon’s Nest Hotel, Port Erin, 7.30pm.

• Mannin Quilters, Ballabeg Methodist hall, 7.30pm-9pm. Call 628921. Also Wednesday at St Columba’s Catholic Church, Port Erin, 1.30pm-4pm.

• Ballacottier Senior Youth Project for school years 10+, Ballacottier School Youth Room, 7.30pm-9.30pm.

Wednesday, February 5

• Wednesday, Laxey Sketch Club, 1.30pm-3.30pm, Laxey Football Clubhouse, winter indoors, summer outdoors.

• Sulby Art Club, 2pm-4pm at St Stephen’s Church hall. New members welcome. Call 488014.

• Onchan Pensioners Club, Morton Hall, Castletown, ladies club, 2pm-4pm.

• The Friendship Club for the over 60s, Onchan Baptist Church. Call 674255.

Thursday, January 30

• Karaoke, Guys and Dolls, Douglas.

• Ramsey Folk Club at The Britannia, Ramsey, 8pm.

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

• Guitar lessons at the meeting room, Archibald Knox, Onchan, 5.45pm-6.45pm.

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

Friday, January 31

• Little Miss Dynamite at The Union, Castletown.

• Dickie at The Whitehouse, Peel.

• Chris Winchester at Jaks, Douglas.

• Ian Thompson at The Crosby, Crosby.

• DJ Tim, Second Venue, 21 Victoria Street, Douglas, 8pm. Also Saturday.

• Karaoke at The Albert, Douglas, 9pm.

• Irish traditional music session at The Mitre, Ramsey, 9pm.

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

Saturday, February 1

• Little Miss Dynamite at The Mitre, Ramsey.

• Dickie at The Manor, Willaston.

• Barefoot Revolution at Jaks, Douglas.

• Ian Thompson at The Haven, Port Erin.

• Manks Concert at The Centenary Centre, Peel. An evening of music, dance and dialect poetry. 8pm. Tickets £7.50 from Celtic Gold and Shakti Man.

• A Star, Shanties and Shenanigans, Port St Mary Town hall, 8pm - 10.30pm Tickets £10. Call 428980 or 436113. All proceeds go to the RNLI.

• Manx music session, The Whitehouse, Peel, 10pm.

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

• Karaoke at the Central Hotel, Ramsey.

Sunday, February 2

• DJ Karaoke and Disco at Jaks, Douglas.

• The Embassy Jazz Club at Embassy Room above The British, 8.30pm, tickets £5 from theembassyjazzclub@hotmail.com

• St German’s Festival Organ Recital, 4.30pm.

• Music Box with David Castro at Guys and Dolls, Douglas.

• Karaoke at The British, Douglas.

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

• Disco Fever at Macbeth’s, Second Venue, Douglas, 10pm-2am.

• One Wo/Man One Guitar at The Mitre, Kirk Michael featuring Paul Reynolds and Linda Qualtrough. 8pm.

Tuesday, February 4

• Manx Youth Orchestra, St German’s Cathedral, 7.45pm–8.45pm

• Acoustic sing-around, The Manor, Willaston, 8.30pm.

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

Wednesday, February 5

• Karaoke at The British, Douglas.

Friday, January 31

• The Who’s Tommy, Gaiety Theatre. Until February 8.

Saturday, February 1

• Jfest. Festival of Youth, Villa Marina.

Dozens of VIPs from across the Commonwealth are to attend a conference in the Isle of Man in 2018.

The Isle of Man is to host the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), the Speaker of the House of Keys, the Steve Rodan SHK, confirmed today after returning from the 22nd CPSOC plenary in Wellington, New Zealand.

More than 50 Commonwealth Speakers and presiding officers were among the 180 delegates who attended the conference at Wellington’s Parliament Buildings between January 21 and 24.

Mr Rodan, who was accompanied by the Clerk of Tynwald Roger Phillips, said: ‘I am pleased that the conference accepted the offer extended by Madam President [Clare Christian] and me to hold the 2018 CSPOC plenary in the Isle of Man.

‘I am delighted that the conference has entrusted the Isle of Man to host this prestigious biennial event in 2018, the first time a nation as small as ours has been afforded the honour. Importantly, CSPOC 2018 presents a unique opportunity to showcase the island and the Manx parliamentary system to the world,

‘I look forward to joining with Madam President and Members of Tynwald in welcoming Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth “family” to our shores to further the valuable discussions and deepen the lasting relationships the CSPOC plenary encourages.’

More on this story in Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner.

Pictured: Speaker Steve Rodan SHK and the Clerk of Tynwald Roger Phillips are pictured in the Great Hall of the New Zealand Parliament

Police say they’ve seized £45,000-worth of cocaine and arrested two men on suspicion of serious drug offences.

A local 30-year-old from the Douglas area and a 31-year-old from Lancashire are currently at police headquarters helping with inquiries.

Detective Sergeant Paul Holland said: ‘Seizing approximately £45,000 of Class A controlled drugs destined for the streets of the Isle of Man is a significant seizure.

‘Again, my message to anyone that deals in drugs or is involved in bringing drugs to the Isle of Man is; be prepared to get caught and spend a long time in prison.’

‘A Voyage of Discovery into the Bible’ is the subject of a series of monthly lectures beginning this Friday in St John’s Mill.

‘First of all I want to teach the bible,’ said lecturer Reverend Dr Jules Gomes.

‘I have taught at university – the students are coming from agnostic and atheist backgrounds, so you do not have to have faith to study theology. Through “Journeying with Jules” [the name of the lecture series and also his website] I’m teaching as an academic, not as a priest.

‘I’m teaching as I would at university, not in a patronising or dumbing down way.

‘Anyone coming to the lectures will get the same level as at university and not wishy-washy bible study.’

He sets the bible within its historic context and draws on various references to literature, art and culture to illustrate the impact of the bible on western civilisation.

An academic of the highest degree – he has a doctorate in Hebrew and ancient Eastern history from Cambridge University, where he also taught – for every minute of lecture time he has spent one hour researching and reading.

‘For my preparation I read the texts in Hebrew and Greek,’ he said. ‘I learned both while doing my first degree.’

Going right back to the source has thrown up some interesting anomalies between our commonly understood version of the bible and the way it is interpreted.

‘There are discrepancies to the original Greek and the way they are translated,’ he said. ‘[In the translation] women were excluded and a lot has to do with patriarchal gender bias. Paul was a feminist; the translators were misogynists.’

He is prepared to cover some dangerous ground such as the negative ways in which the bible has been used to justify ‘slavery, burning of 60,000 witches, anti-Semitism, anti-apartheid’.

This enlightened approach, underpinned by a strong academic foundation, applies to all the lectures which began last year and have attracted more people than the venue could accommodate.

Plus there is a large following around the world watching his lectures online.

‘I’m trying to get them [those who attend the lectures] to adopt critical reasoning and encourage criticism,’ he said. ‘That has been quite successful. A few have said a simple faith is for me. The genius is about explaining things simply.’

He added: ‘I put all my sources online so people can go and do their own study.

‘There are times when I do not know the answer to questions asked, but I will come back. A person with a degree in chemistry from Cambridge asked a question and an entire lecture was born from that question. People coming to the lectures are also agnostics and atheists,’ he said.

He described the lecture series as ‘an academic Alpha course’: ‘It’s exciting it’s happening here in Isle of Man in such a small community.’

Rev Gomes is the Canon Theologian at Peel’s St German’s Cathedral, a new role, and the lectures are fulfilling the requirement to spread religious education island-wide. Hh is also the vicar at Castletown’s St Mary’s on the Harbour.

What brought Rev Gomes, who is Indian born, with an upper caste Hindu Brahmin priest family background and educated at one of the world’s top academic institutions, to the Isle of Man?

‘I collect pipes,’ he said. ‘The first time I heard of the Isle of Man I heard they made Meerschaum pipes here, then King William’s College brought a choir to the cathedral. The position [of Canon Theologian] was not advertised. I thought it would be nice thing to get away from Liverpool [where he was also Canon Theologian at the cathedral] and come to the island for a couple of days. It was a chance to see the Dean and connect with my north west brothers and sisters. I came and fell in love with the Isle of Man.

‘People said I would commit intellectual and career suicide moving here, it’s a back water. I prayed for seven days and felt I should come here.’

This Friday’s lecture ‘Knife Crime on Mount Moriah’ begins at 7.30pm.

Some 16 jobs are expected to be lost in the island as Lloyds Banking Group confirmed plans to shed more than 1,000 staff across the British Isles.

Lloyds said it will cut 1,080 roles, with a further 310 roles being outsourced to new employers. But 90 new roles will be created within its retail, risk and commercial banking divisions.

The jobs being cut in the island are said to be internal not frontline staff and the bank says it does not expect any interruptions to customer service.

Reductions are part of an overall organisational change after Lloyds announced in 2011 it would shed 15,000 roles.

In a statement, the bank said: ‘These are group-wide changes and do not focus on one specific region or part of the business. We are highly committed to our customers in the islands and these changes have been carried out to put ourselves on track for future growth, not to limit our geographic footprint. We have not made these decisions lightly and understand the impact they will have on colleagues.’

The Unite union said it would continue to oppose the job losses.

The island is bracing itself for more flooding over the weekend.

On January 3 and 6, many coastal areas were affected and Castletown and Ramsey were particularly badly hit.

The Isle of Man Met Office has today (Thursday) issued weather warnings to highlight the potential for flooding around the times of the spring tides tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday.

Many coastal areas and harbours will be affected, particularly on Saturday, as high tides combine with gale force winds and deepening low pressure to create significant storm surges.

It is predicted that waves as high as four metres will break over promenade walls at Douglas, Castletown, Ramsey, Laxey and Gansey, resulting in substantial amounts of water, stones and other debris being deposited on the roads.

An amber warning is in place for Friday.

The high tide at 11.32am is predicted to reach a height of 7.81 metres and will be accompanied by south to southeasterly winds of 35 to 40mph. This will lead to overtopping in exposed coastal locations and present a risk of minor flooding around inner harbour areas, including Back Hope Street in Castletown, the Tongue in Douglas and Mezeron Corner and West Quay in Ramsey.

Heavy rain is also forecast throughout most of Friday, which could lead to localised flooding, swollen rivers and standing water on roads.

Early indications are that the impact of tidal flooding will be much greater on Saturday.

A red warning is likely to be issued by the Met Office and the situation will be carefully monitored as the weather pattern develops.

Saturday will witness a high tide of about 8.1 to 8.3 metres at 12.20pm, along with southwesterly gales gusting to 55 to 60mph and pressure falling to about 968mb. The resulting storm surge will lead to large waves breaking over sea defences and promenades in Douglas, Castletown, Ramsey, Laxey and Gansey.

Subject to adjustments as more up-to-date information becomes available, the inner harbour areas likely to be affected include: Back Hope Street, Hope Street, Douglas Street, Springfield Terrace, Athol Terrace, Milner Terrace and Victoria Road in Castletown; North Quay, parts of South Quay and Leigh Terrace in Douglas; the Quayside, Market Square and sections of Parliament Street in Ramsey.

Current estimates point to tidal flooding at a higher level to that experienced on Monday, January 6.

The government has issued a press statement to say that police, fire service, ambulance service, Civil Defence, coastguards, Department of Infrastructure and Water and Sewerage Authority are working together to try to mitigate potential damage.

It adds: ‘People in exposed coastal areas are encouraged to take steps to protect their properties and vehicles from the storms and flooding, and to help elderly or vulnerable members of the community wherever possible.

‘Lessons have been learnt from the severe weather events at the beginning of January and a robust response has been planned.’

Officers from the Department of Infrastructure will be helping to place more than 20,000 sandbags at key locations around the island. This is in addition to the thousands of sandbags still in place from the tidal flooding experienced on January 3 and 6.’

One-tonne sandbags and other flood prevention measures will also be deployed in Castletown, Ramsey and Laxey to try to seal off roads and protect homes and shops.

Further contingency measures have again been put in place to deal with the conditions and the following roads will be closed between 10am and 6pm on Friday:

Castletown – The Promenade, Douglas Street and Bridge Street from its junction with College Green to Bank Street

Shore Road, Gansey – From Fishers Hill to its junction with Castletown Road, Rushen

Shore Road Underway – Shore Road to the Promenade

Laxey – The Promenade and Tent Road

Douglas – The Promenade from Broadway to Port Jack

Ramsey – Queen’s Promenade from its junction with Queen’s Drive East to Dale Street, Mooragh Promenade from its junction with Old River Road to Vollan Crescent

The following roads will be closed between 10am and 6pm on Saturday, February 1:

Castletown – The Promenade, Douglas Street and Bridge Street from its junction with College Green to Bank Street, the Quayside – Bank Street, Victoria Road to Alexander Road (roundabout), Back Hope Street, Hope Street, Athol Terrace

Shore Road, Gansey – From Fishers Hill to its junction with Castletown Road, Rushen

Shore Road Underway – Shore Road to the Promenade

Laxey – The Promenade and Tent Road. Shore Road will close at 8am to enable flood prevention measures to be put in place. The one-way system will be revoked to provide access for residents

Douglas – The Promenade and walkway from Broadway to Port Jack, Leigh Terrace – Castletown Road from its junction with Bridge Road to the Nunnery entrance, North Quay – Quine’s Corner to Parade Street

Ramsey - Queen’s Promenade from its junction with Queen’s Drive East to Dale Street, Mooragh Promenade from its junction with Old River Road to Vollan Crescent, East Quay – West Quay to Neptune Street, West Quay – Bowring Road to East Quay, Parliament Street from its junction with Parliament Square to, and including, Market Hill

West Street, East Street and Christian Street from the junction with West Quay to Parliament Street will close at 8am to enable flood prevention measures to be put in place

Peel – Mill Road – Station Place to East Quay

Roads will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians. The police will be in position at strategic areas and will adopt a commonsense approach once the storm surges start to abate. It is expected that pedestrian access will be permitted on a phased basis as conditions improve, but some roads may stay closed to traffic beyond 6pm to allow the clear-up operation to take place.

Motorists are requested to plan their journeys, drive to the conditions and take heed of road closures.

Diversions will be in place on bus routes and updates will be provided by Bus Vannin.

Public safety is the primary concern during the severe weather and people are asked to keep clear of flood waters, as there may be unseen dangers such as open manhole covers. It is also possible that raw sewerage could be discharged into the water.

Extreme caution is also advised for those watching the storms, as some people put themselves at risk during the extreme weather earlier this month. The advice from the emergency services is to stay well clear from areas where waves are breaking.

Motorists should park vehicles away from promenades and harbours to avoid possible damage from flying debris and flood waters.

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 human life is not at risk, the public are asked to call the Department of Infrastructure’s Ellerslie Control on 850000.

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