Castletown’s resident Ulsterman Jonathan Rea continued his impressive record at Assen by piloting his Pata Honda Fireblade to a commanding win in the second of Sunday’s two third-round World Superbike races at the Dutch circuit.

It was his fifth win at the 4.542km track, his 12th career SBK victory in total, and a superb follow-up to his third place finish in race one.

The rain arrived for race two but not before it was declared ‘dry’ and started under threatening skies. The first attempt was delayed after the end of the warm-up lap when the rain finally fell in earnest. While some riders lined up on the grid, others, including Haslam, entered the pits to switch from slick tyres to full wets.

The second attempt to start the race was stopped after just three laps when the rain became torrential and red flags were waved. A long wait followed for track conditions to improve, with a shortened 10-lap race finally starting two hours behind schedule.

Rea took the lead on the opening lap and kept his rivals at arm’s length, eventually crossing the line two seconds ahead of fellow British rider Alex Lowes, with Davide Guigliano finishing third.

After the weekend Rea sits fourth in the overall championship standings going into the next round at Imola on May 11.

The Manx government is introducing what it’s calling ‘an action plan’ to promote the long-term management of the island’s green lanes.

A Green Lane Management Strategy has been produced after consultation with a number of organisations, including Green Lanes Our Heritage, representatives of the various user groups and government departments.

The proposed measures will be implemented over the next two years ‘to promote sustainable use of these unpaved highways and to address concerns raised about some of the island’s upland tracks’.

Infrastructure Minister Laurence Skelly MHK said: ‘People on all sides of the debate are extremely passionate about the future of our green lanes. The Department has listened to the interested parties and is now bringing forward what it believes is a workable solution. We will continue to promote the active involvement of volunteer groups and I would encourage everybody to work together to secure the sustainable future of an important and valuable natural asset.’

The Department of Infrastructure management plan does not propose the large-scale closure of tracks to motor vehicles, but does involve closing some dead-end routes and introducing one-way systems on other routes.

There is to be improved signage on the tracks, along with better quality maps showing preferred routes and highlighting the locations of vulnerable tracks.

The Department of Infrastructure will continue to support the Green Lane User Group. It is intended that the group will, over time, become more heavily involved in managing the work being carried out by volunteers and also in monitoring the use of the tracks.

The Green Lane User Group is aiming to promote an ‘Adopt a Track’ initiative, with individuals or groups taking responsibility to undertaking small routine maintenance on the tracks in order to keep them in good condition.

The DoI will continue to operate a full programme of annual maintenance and repair, with priority being given to routes that are in most need of attention, particularly in light of seasonal variations in weather and the impact of storms.

The Green Lane Management Strategy can be viewed {http://www.gov.im/media/1142032/green_lane_management_strategy_february_14.pdf|here}.

Meanwhile, a group of interested parties has been devising a strategy for the wider management of the Manx uplands, to recognise their importance in terms of food production, recreation, heritage and biodiversity, and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture is shortly to seek public comment on its recommendations.

The issue of the state of Manx uplands has been a hot topic in the last few years, leading to many letters from readers in the Isle of Man Examiner and Manx Independent.

The first anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh on April 24 was designated ‘Fashion Revolution Day’ by many in the UK fashion industry, in a bid to stamp out cheap labour.

By posing the question ‘Who Made Your Clothes?’, the campaigners hoped to encourage shoppers to be more discerning and think about the individuals behind the garments.

In the Isle of Man, Shakti Man fair trade shop, Ramsey, put its weight behind the crusade by creating an eye-catching window display on the theme ‘Inside Out’, where models wore garments with labels displayed, along with photos of the individuals who made each item.

The display also featured quotes from fashion industry icons such as Vivienne Westwood, who said: ‘Buy less, choose well, make it last.’

Another, from the chief buyer for fashion retailers ASOS, read: ‘Cheap fashion has run out of steam. Just slow it down a bit.’

Shakti Man proprietor Leni Lewis and assistant Maree Murphy wore their clothing inside out, with labels showing, to demonstrate their support for the ‘Who Made Your Clothes?’ campaign.

They also invited Facebook followers to post their own pictures of themselves wearing their clothes inside out with the promise that they – the Shakti team – would endeavour to identify the label and say where the clothes were made.

A partnership between the government and a charity is improving the lives of children with autism and their families.

The Department of Education and Children (DEC) and Autism in Mann (AiM) have started a project to help improve the outcomes for children affected by autistic spectrum conditions (ASC), their schools and their families.

AiM, which was established in 1991 by two parents and which supports families affected by autistic spectrum conditions, approached the DEC with the idea for the project.

Figures from the National Autistic Society show around 1.1 per cent of the school population have ASC.

The key to the initiative was identifying a specialist teacher of autism.

Carole Williams recently retired as a primary school special needs unit manager and has many years’ experience working with children with autism. She undertook further, specialist training in the UK prior to embarking on the project.

Carole’s initial focus is supporting children of secondary school age. She spends time with them at school and, where appropriate, at home. She is also delivering training to teaching staff and providing drop-in workshops for parents.

Sue Marriott, special educational needs adviser with the DEC, said: ‘The department is pleased to be working jointly with one of our parent groups and feedback on the project so far is encouraging, indicating that it is already having a significant impact on schools, families and, most importantly, young people themselves.’

Mrs Marriott added ‘Parents have commented on the quality of Carole’s advice. She supports them and their children to develop strategies and gives them the confidence and belief to deal with the challenges of this condition.’

Referrals to Carole can be made through AiM and the DEC’s services for children division by phoning 686059.

The drop-in workshops take place at the Annie Gill Building at the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education. The next ones are being held this Thursday (May 1) and on July 3, both from 1pm to 3pm.

Anyone unable to attend a session and who would like further information about the project, can contact AiM on 480167 or email autisminmann@manx.net

Capital punishment in the Isle of Man is the grisly subject of a seminar being held at the Manx Museum in Douglas on Saturday.

The Centre for Manx Studies event will look at how the issue of capital punishment in the island has at times been out of step with legislation in the UK - and at one point in the early 1870s caused a great deal of embarrassment for Queen Victoria.

The seminar, which is open to all and will take place at the Museum’s lecture theatre from 11am to midday, is entitled ‘Colonialism, capital punishment and failing to amuse Queen Victoria: Manx capital punishment 1800-2000’.

It will be led by Professor Peter Edge from the School of Law at Oxford Brookes University.

There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion after Prof Edge’s talk.

A man who attacked another is being hunted by police.

The victim was left with bruising and swelling to his face and head after the attack.

The assault occurred in the early hours of Sunday, April 20, in the area of Christian Road, Douglas, at around 2am.

Police are appealing to anybody who knows the identity of those involved or anybody who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

Gymns can clinch the JCK Combination Two title tonight, Tuesday, if they beat bottom side Foxdale.

Victory would give the Tromode outfit 58 points, one more than nearest rivals Ayre can claim from their three remaining games.

Tuesday, April 29

Canada Life Combination One

6.30pm Union Mills v Michael

6.30pm Dhsob v Ramsey

6.30pm Rycob v Castletown

6.30pm St George’s v Corinthians

JCK Combination Two

6.30pm Gymns v Foxdale

6.30pm Marown v Ayre

6.30pm Braddan v Douglas Athletic

6.30pm Onchan v Ronaldsway @ Ronaldsway

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

Wednesday, April 30

Canada Life Premier League

6.30pm Ramsey v Dhsob

6.30pm Peel v St George’s

6.30pm Union Mills v Rycob

6.30pm Michael v St Mary’s

JCK Division Two

6.30pm Ayre v Marown

6.30pm Malew v Onchan

6.30pm Pulrose v Douglas Royal

6.30pm Foxdale v Gymns

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

Thursday, May 1

Kirby Estates Cowell Cup Group One

6.30pm Rushen v Onchan

Appleby 15-17 League

6.30pm Corinthians v St George’s

6.30pm Ramsey A v Laxey

6.30pm Peel v Union Mills

Firearms officers were deployed following reports of two disturbances in the island within 40 minutes of each other.

In the first incident, at about 5.30pm on Monday, police were called following reports of a disturbance at Archallagan Terrace, Foxdale, where a man was thought to be armed with an axe.

No one was injured.

A man was arrested and is being held for questioning at police headquarters.

A police spokesman declined to comment on whether armed officers were deployed.

But it is understood that while that incident was being dealt with, a call came in of another disturbance on Nassau Road, Bride, where there were reports of shots being fired. Again, no one was injured.

A man was arrested at the scene and is being held at police headquarters while inquiries continue.

Two MHKs have joined in a challenge to live on £1 a day.

Infrastructure Minister Laurence Skelly and Food and Agriculture Minister Phil Gawne are taking part in the ‘Live below the Line’ campaign, which started yesterday and will run until Friday. It challenges people who live in more comfortable circumstances to see what life is like when you only have £1 each day to buy all of your food and drink.

The challenge takes place each year and seeks to highlight global inequality, and that, while the world produces enough food for everyone, millions of people still go to bed hungry every night.

Mr Skelly said: ‘I’m delighted to see a growing number of people participating in this. This is the third year I’ve taken part. I’ll be buying as much Manx produce as I can and going down the broth route so to speak.

‘Potatoes, carrots, parsley, cheese for the odd baked potato, porridge and milk.

‘You do go through the hunger pains but the biggest thing I’ll probably miss will be caffeine. You wake up for three days feeling like you’re hungover due to the withdrawal.’

The campaign is being promoted by the One World Centre, along with other organisations in the island.

The One World Centre has put together a top tip list and a potential menu for anyone taking the challenge, with lots of recipe ideas on the Live Below the Line website at www.livebelowtheline.com/uk

One World Centre co-ordinator, Rosemary Clarke, who will also be taking part in the challenge, said: ‘In truth it is difficult to come up with very exciting menu ideas on such a restricted budget – and it is likely you will be hungry.

‘But the point of the challenge is to give some insight into what 1.2 billion people are facing each day – and you have to remember that for them £1 has to cover all their living expenses, not just food and drink.’

For more information contact Rosemary or Wendy Shimmin at the One World Centre, Thie Garey Ny Cloie, Foxdale Road, St John’s, by calling 800464 or email info@owciom.org

Arsonists who set fire to a building in the south of the island last night might have exposed themselves to asbestos.

Around 7pm someone torched a derelict building on the Malew football ground in Clagh Vane, Ballasalla.

The building was surrounded by Heras fencing and clearly displayed warning signs for asbestos.

A police spokesman said: ‘Whoever set fire to the building may have been exposed to airborne asbestos fibres and as such should seek medical attention.

‘Police would like to advise members of the public to stay away from such buildings which pose a risk to their health.’

If anyone has information about who was responsible for the arson they can contact police headquarters on 631212 or Castletown police station on 822222.

{http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/asbestos-health-risks.htm|The health risks of exposure to asbestos are explained here.}

Strand Group has acquired a long-established family business.

The expanding business has bought Magee’s Haulage, incorporating Clean-A-Way IOM Ltd.

Strand Group will operate the business under the Clean-A-Way name.

Working locally for more than 30 years in commercial refuse collection, Clean-A-Way is seen as a good fit with the other businesses under the Strand umbrella.

The deal went through on April 1 and all the existing staff have been retained.

The business has a loyal and long-serving team, which is also in keeping with Strand Group’s ethos, where long-service awards frequently hit the 15 and 20 years mark.

While the takeover has been hectic for both teams, it’s been a seamless operation as far as customers have been concerned with existing contracts being handled by the same people and with the same vehicles.

New business contracts are already being negotiated.

John Hellowell, chairman of Strand Group, said: ‘When the opportunity to acquire this well established business came along earlier in the year, it quickly became clear that it was a natural fit with the other services we offer.

‘We’re very happy to welcome the Clean-A-Way team into the Strand family.’

Clean-A-Way currently handles commercial waste collection throughout the island, on a daily, weekly or as required basis.

Vehicles are fitted with Government calibrated onboard weighing systems.

Previously based in Baldrine, Clean-A-Way will now operate from Strand Group’s premises at Spring Valley Industrial Estate and will join the Group at its new corporate HQ in September.

The new premises are under construction at Tromode Estate’s new Gateway Development.

Strand Group includes facilities management company Strand Facilities Services, secure document management company Storall and contract cleaning brand Krypton.

An expert on international finance centres will address tomorrow’s (Wednesday) Appleby Spring Seminar at the Manx Museum.

Naomi Lawton, consultant to the International Finance Centres Forum, will join the Isle of Man Government’s Economic Development Minister John Shimmin MHK as guest speaker at the seminar, entitled The Isle of Man and the World Economy – Where Next?

The speakers at the invitation-only event will focus on the role and position of the Isle of Man in the global economy and how new opportunities for growth might be identified and exploited.

A question and answer discussion will follow, conducted by Sean Dowling, managing partner of Appleby (Isle of Man) LLC.

Ms Lawton, who qualified as a tax solicitor with Freshfields in London in 1995, took on the Secretariat function to the IFC Forum in June 2013.

She has worked as a corporate and trusts attorney with Charles Adams, Ritchie & Duckworth and Walkers in the Cayman Islands, professional support lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills and Watson, Farley & Williams, and as an editor for Practical Law Tax.

She continues to write for Thomson Reuters and Practical Law Tax on UK and international tax issues.

The island cricket squad is to play Atherton in the Lancashire Cup on Sunday, May 11.

Phil Littlejohns (Peel and St John’s) captains the side that will also include Cronkbourne gaggle Alex Stokoe, Adam Killey, Luke Lacey, Max Stokoe, Sam Kebbell, Carl Wagstaffe and Adam McAuley. They wil be joined by Crosby’s Danny Kniveton and Peel and St John’s trio Akkie Van Den Berg, Greg Hawke and Ollie Webster.

Team manager is Colin Jones with Phil Unsworth coach.
The Manx travel to the ICC Europe Division Two Tournament in Essex in June.

A British couple, and their dog, along with one Belgian crewman were saved from the ocean after clinging to a life raft for hours amid 25ft waves by the Manx-registered tanker Tilda Kosan after their 49ft yacht Blue Pearl sank in a storm.

Last Thursday (April 24) the Manx-registered gas tanker was sailing from the UK to Mexico when it received a distress call via the United States coastguard.

The ship, loaded with a cargo of gas, was one of three vessels in the vicinity, about 900 miles north west of Bermuda, to respond to the distress call and divert their course to begin the search for the liferaft from the yacht, which had sunk in heavy seas and complete darkness.

The Tilda Kosan was the first ship to find the liferaft and continued with the rescue operation. After three attempts in difficult conditions, Captain Dionisio managed to get his ship alongside and rescue the stranded sailors from their liferaft.

Rescued from the liferaft were a British couple, Leonard and Lisa Rorke, of Oundle in Northamptonshire, a Belgian crewman Henri Worthlater and the couple’s terrier Dexter.

They were helped on board and the ship alerted the coastguard that the rescue was successful and that the ship would drop the rescued crew off in Bermuda.

The rescued were shivering from cold and weak. They were provided with clothes, hot soup and food and allocated cabins to rest.

The attached low-resolution group photograph shows the yacht survivors with the crew (in the centre either side of Mrs Rorke with Dexter, the dog) on the ship’s deck on top of the liferaft which saved their lives.

Mr Rorke, a computer technician, told a UK newspaper: ‘I cannot find words to adequately describe how skilful the captain was in getting alongside us.

‘We were being tossed around in the life raft and literally clinging on for our lives.

‘We really did not think we were going to live,’ said the 55-year-old. ‘It is nothing short of a miracle that we are still here and have survived.’

Dick Welsh, director of the Isle of Man Ship Registry, said: ‘We are very proud of the actions of the master and crew on board the Tilda Kosan.

‘This demonstrates the skills and bravery of ship’s crew to divert from their course to rescue stricken sailors in very difficult conditions.

‘As soon as a mayday alert is received there is never a thought other than to go to the rescue, often in extreme conditions.

‘We are delighted that there was a happy to ending to this incident and commend the captain and his crew for their rescue efforts.’

Most Manx-registered vessels never enter Manx waters.

They join the Manx Shipping Registry for ease of administration and the low registration fee.

It is meant to drum up trade for Manx businesses, including corporate service providers, lawyers and accountants.

The Tilda Kosan is a 1998 built gas tanker capable of carrying 6,387 cubic metres of liquefied gas cargo - length 99m, Gross tonnage 4693 tons. It was first registered in the Isle of Man in 2002.

{http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/ded/shipregistry/news/shipregistryfactsandfigures.pdf|More details about the Shipping Registry here.}

Growing numbers of children are enjoying a nutritious midday meal at school.

Menus are on a four-week cycle, to ensure variety, and are completely changed every six months, at Easter and October half term, to coincide with weather getting warmer and colder.

The menus that started this week include new puddings and some old favourite dishes that have proved popular in the past.

Take-up of meals in primary schools has risen steadily in recent years, said Chris Wilson, schools catering manager with the government catering service, which provides meals across 33 primaries.

‘The school meal is becoming increasingly popular, with more than 650,000 served last year alone. That’s an increase of some 140,000 meals over the past six years.

‘January, one of the chilliest months, when parents want their children to have a warm meal, tends to be the most popular month for take-up and this January more than 3,700 meals were served every day.’

Menus are designed to whet children’s appetites while meeting 14 key nutritional standards.

‘Keeping the levels of salt, fat and sugar low while making sure essential nutrients are available is key to the design of our menus,’ Chris said. ‘It’s a tricky balance, providing food that children are prepared to eat while offering a range that will stimulate interest and widen the palate.

‘Whether suggesting a tax on sugar, criticising levels of salt in the diet or just observing that too much fat is being consumed, there doesn’t seem to be a week that goes by without another report or piece of research endorsing the role a balanced diet, allied to appropriate exercise, plays in helping children enjoy life to the full.’

School meals staff have a vital role to play in tempting fussy eaters to try new foods, Chris said.

‘The popularity of the service is testament to the hard work and effort our staff put in to not only producing the meals but also to all those within schools who support the service and encourage children to participate in a healthy diet. It’s amazing how many fussy eaters will try food in a school environment, with the right encouragement, that they might not try at home.’

School meals are £2 a day. Children of parents in receipt of Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employed Person’s Allowance or Income Support are eligible for free school meals. One in five children currently qualifies.

Parents who want to sign up their children for meals should contact their school’s administrator. Schools collect money at the start of each half term.

Parents are also invited to visit the school meals wiki and leave comments and queries {https://www2.sch.im/groups/schoolmeals1/|here}

Ambitious Will Rand says he is determined to play a part in Ramsey’s transformation for the future.

Will, 27, is the boss of Osbourne Fine Art and Antiques.

Will told Business News: ‘We are one of a number of businesses who have opened in Ramsey as a result of the recent regeneration to the town and we really feel it is important to plug Ramsey as a great destination for shopping.’

The business has only moved in the last fortnight from Bourne Place to Auckland Terrace.

It is an impressive building which Will believes was built in the Victorian era.

And he told Business News he believes popular TV shows such as The Antiques Roadshow have definitely fuelled the public’s imagination.

The business sells a good range of quality antique furniture, paintings, silver as well as stocking a range of local Manx artists such as William Hoggatt, John Nicholson and John Aitken.

Will is fascinated by the world of fine arts and antiques and says he picked up the bug from his mother, Sue.

He and Sue said the business is already attracting visitors from further afield across the island and there could be spin-off effects as shoppers go in other stores.

Will said: ‘We have been in Ramsey for just under a year down at Bourne Place.

‘We started off as a very small shop.Then towards late 2013 we made the decision that we need more space. The business was doing quite well and you need space to show off furniture.

‘We are glad we have moved, we have been well received in the town .’

Will is currently using two rooms on the ground floor of the period Victorian property.

The plan is to gradually open up to the public upstairs as the business grows.

‘It’s set up like a house and as stock arrives we will move up to the next level,’ explained Will, who moved to theisland four years ago from his native Cheshire.

He graduated from university in urban land economics, but revealed the reasons behind his decision to enter the antiques industry: ‘I’ve always had an interest in antiques and art, and been brought up around antiques, going round antique shops and auctions, and just took the step to open the business.’

Will rents the building and has a flag flying outside.

He and his mother say that Ramsey also has a local auctionhouse and although the two businesses are not connected they do complement each other.

And they are delighted to be based in Ramsey.

Customers will be able to swap internet broadband suppliers more easily from Thursday.

On May 1, the island’s licensed internet service providers (ISPs) and the Communications Commission will introduce a voluntary code of practice for switching DSL (digital subscriber line) broadband providers.

Under it, customers will obtain a MAC (migration authorisation code) from their current provider and supply the MAC to their new provider in order to migrate their broadband service.

The adoption of the code of practice will give consumers an efficient and secure process to change DSL broadband providers, and will ensure that sufficient customer consent is obtained for transfers of service.

The code of practice is also intended to serve as the basis for customer migration processes for new retail telecommunications products that will be launched on the island.

The chairman of the Communications Commission, Juan Watterson MHK, said: ‘The new code of practice will allow customers to change their internet provider easily and more securely, and is also a foundation for smooth switching processes with respect to future telecoms services.’

The island’s DSL broadband providers have opted-in to the Code of Practice, and the large DSL broadband providers – Manx Telecom, Sure and Wi-Manx – will publish details of the switching process on their websites shortly before launch.

Information about changing broadband providers is also on the commission’s frequently-asked questions page.

The full code of practice is available {http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/cc/broadband_migration_code_of_practice.pdf|here.}

To assess the code of practice in operation, there will be a review three months after its introduction.

This will allow broadband providers and customers to give feedback to the commission.

Following the review and any required adjustments, the code of practice will likely continue on a voluntary or mandatory basis.

A Manx estate agency boss is warning that interest rates are likely to rise.

David Creane, who’s the chairman of Cowley Groves, has reported on sales in the first quarter of the year.

He said the first quarter of 2014 compared favourably with the first quarter of 2013 in that unit sales achieved were very similar.

The return to growth in sales last year had continued this year, however, the rate of growth had not increased.

He said: ‘This reflects a gradual return to confidence in the market and as the UK economy has turned a corner this will only improve the local feelgood factor and hopefully an escalation in the number of unit sales achieved.

‘Listings of new properties coming to the market have remained similar again to last year but what is significantly different is that we have quite a number of cash- or mortgage-approved first time buyers registered but without the available stock to sell to them.

‘Whenever we get a first-time buyer house in the right location and priced properly with condition being a factor it is quickly snapped up.’

He said there might be a reluctance with the owners of properties in the £180,000 to £250,000 region to move up the market for a number of reasons, whether it be employment issues, interest rate worries or just a lack of confidence.

‘While this is understandable I would advise that anyone intending to move up market to do so now,’ he said.

Interest rates are at their lowest level for 150 years or more, he said, making it an excellent time to lock into the fixed-rate mortgage at a time when there was an ‘abundance’ of properties at this level available, which made it a buyers’ market.

UK employment levels are now below 7 per cent, which is one of the criteria the Bank of England indicated would trigger a possible interest rate rise.

Mr Creane said: ‘I believe a few other positive signs need to emerge before a rise will happen. During the last few weeks Sterling has strengthened quite significantly, which makes exports more expensive therefore reducing productivity in the UK. So one has to look where the growth is going to come from.

‘At the moment it is consumer-led which can’t last forever. They are dipping into savings while confidence is returning but it can’t last forever.’

He said the question was not would interest rates rise, it was when would they rise.

Cowley Groves felt it might not be as soon as some commentators suggested.

‘Our message to the would-be buyer is to urge them to look for the best fixed-rate possible and lock in for a long period of time and eliminate any doubt or worries on the amount that you would be required to repay on the mortgage front,’ he said.

‘Excellent deals are to be had but they won’t be around forever. The market continues to be a buyers’ market except for the first time buyers sector where demand is completely outstripping supply but above that bargains are to be had.’

Estate agents have a vested interest in talking up sales and it is difficult to get an authoritative objective view of the Manx property market.

The Isle of Man doesn’t have an equivalent to the Nationwide or Halifax indexes, which monitor the property market in the UK, and the land registry reports from the government are always subject to a lag in time.

It’s now six months since the ill-fated Madeira flight fiasco.

But some passengers are yet to find out whether they will be entitled to compensation under EU regulations for the delay they faced at Ronaldsway.

Albert Mills and Sandra Woods, of Douglas, were two of the holiday-makers that spent five hours stuck on the ground at the airport in October.

Twenty-five passengers volunteered to give up their seats and some bags were off-loaded before the plane eventually took off.

They have had their money returned.

But it’s a different story for Mr Mills and Miss Woods, who decided to stay on board the flight.

On their return they reported their complaint through their travel agent Thompson Travel – one of the travel agents that sold the holiday – but say they have heard nothing more since December.

‘We’re completely disappointed that nothing seems to happen,’ Albert said.

The last Albert and Sandra heard was in a letter from David Thompson of the Port Erin company dated December 19.

It outlined that SATA had concluded the delay was due to ‘extraordinary circumstances’, namely a change in the wind direction.

The charter flight for Atlantic Holidays was then too heavy as it had to take-off from a shorter runway.

But Mr Thompson said Isle of Man Met Office had informed them: ‘The wind change was expected, due to the passage of a frontal trough, and was clearly indicated for around the middle part of that afternoon in the TAFs (airfield forecasts) issued.’

Accordingly, Mr Thompson advised that they were ‘in the process of contacting the Portuguese regulator, National Institute of Civil Aviation, to ask for them to examine the complaint and issue advice on the implementation of the EU regulation 261/2004 relating to delay compensation’.

Speaking to the Examiner Mr Thompson, said: ‘We have been trying our very best to try and make some headway.

‘If we were in the UK the Civil Aviation Authority would deal with it for you.

‘We have to go to the Portuguese authority but they are not interested. We have been trying over the last couple of months to speak to them and we have emailed things and drawn a blank.’

He added: ‘We will be getting in touch with people again in the near future. We have given them enough time to respond.’

The holiday – booked by Sandra as a surprise for Albert – was ruined by the flight fiasco.

Mr Mills said they wouldn’t be in a rush to book a similar direct flight holiday from the island again: ‘It just puts you off completely.’

And in fact this year, they are planning to avoid flying altogether, by taking a car to the Norfolk broads.

Fuel couldn’t be unloaded from the aircraft because there was not the capacity to store it, leading to calls for volunteers to disembark.

The plane took off at around 9pm but flew to Lisbon where passengers had been told a crew change would take them on to Madeira.

On arrival they were told they would be staying in a hotel overnight and be put on a flight to Madeira the next day.

SATA has said it complied with obligations placed on airlines under the EU regulation, including updated information about the delay, drinks while waiting on board, and hotel and transport on arrival in Lisbon.

Gymns secured the JCK Combination Two crown on Tuesday evening with a 6-0 win over bottom side Foxdale.

Victory leaves the Tromode outfit with an unassailable lead at the top of the standings with just one game left to play.

On target for champions last night were Karl Gartland, Shaun Nesbitt, Chris Wilson and hat-trick hero Ryan Edge.

Tuesday, April 29

Canada Life Combination One

Union Mills 3-2 Michael

DHSOB 19-2 Ramsey

RYCOB 4-0 Castletown

St George’s 0-3 Corinthians

JCK Combination Two

Gymns 6-0 Foxdale

Marown 5-5 Ayre

Braddan 3-3 Douglas Athletic

Onchan 0-4 Ronaldsway