Today’s Manx Independent is full of the latest news from the TT Races.

It also reports on an incident at the fun fair on the promenade, which is now being investigated by health and safety bosses.

In the sports section, we have the race reports and in news tributes to those who died during the races.

Also this week:

Two dead cows are spotted in Peel bay. We have photos.

It’s the end of an era as a stallholder at Douglas market prepares to quit. He doesn’t want to.

We have a full report on the two people who appeared in court after walking on the TT course when it was closed.

A D-Day veteran prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of the Allied invasion of France.

Castletown Commissioners discuss their tactics over the proposal to change Callow’s Yard.

Douglas wheelie bins are going to get microchips.

The latest from Sweden and the Ellan Vannin team’s progress there.

The paper includes your seven-day television guide, the Isle of Man’s What’s On guide and your points of view in your letters.

The Manx Independent is in the shops now.

The Steam Packet’s seacat, Manannan, will be operating on reduced power for the remainder of the TT period after ingesting discarded fishing gear which has damaged a shaft bearing on one of her four engines.

The ferry company says there may be some ‘slight’ delays to departure/arrival times as a result of longer crossing times.

Chief executive Mark Woodward said: ‘Divers from the Department of Infrastructure have inspected the vessel and found and removed fishing gear which became entangled around one of the vessel’s impellors.

‘The jet duct is scored, but thankfully does not appear to be badly damaged.

‘This has happened on previous occasions, and we have campaigned long and hard about the risks to scheduled services from fishing gear discarded in Manx waters.’

He added: ‘The practical consequences are that Manannan will operate at a slower speed for the remainder of the TT period until the damaged engine can be repaired. It may also be necessary to reschedule some sailings after the TT period to allow a permanent repair to be effected. We will advise passengers of any changes necessary to schedules as soon as we are able.

‘With virtually no slack in her TT schedule, there is little alternative and the result is that there may be some delays to passage times and departure timings until the damage can be repaired after TT.’

Steam Packet engineers are closely monitoring the issue.

To mitigate delays, the company says it is drafting in additional resources where available to improve turnaround times and will also roster crews to start earlier each day.

In the second part of a two-part piece, island-based campaigner C.A.(Tony) Brown looks at the potential impact of some geoengineering ‘solutions’ to climate change

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In a previous column on geoengineering, I touched on some of the methods being researched which either ‘suck’ CO2 from the atmosphere, or regulate sunlight. Here they are, in more detail.

One key method is the extracting of CO2 direct from the air by blowing air across water, and chemical-covered surfaces, in order to generate carbonate solids, from which CO2 is extracted by heating.

This would entail the following:

– extracting just 50 parts per million (ppm) of CO2 from the atmosphere would require 1,300 industrial facilities around the world, each consisting of an array of five machines 10 metres high and 1km long – attached to a CO2 extraction chemical plant, and another entire infrastructure to transport and bury the resulting waste.

– the materials and energy resources needed for building would be enormous (as it would, in fact, be for many geoengineering projects), and the sites would take a whole century to build at the rate of 13 a year.

Cold brightening, on the other hand, would entail the deployment of up to 1,500 unmanned, satellite-controlled vessels fitted with 28 billion millionth-of-a-metre nozzles, all pumping sub-micron-sized drops of seawater into the air so as to promote condensation in stratocumulus clouds.

The larger number of smaller droplets would enable the reflection of enough extra sunlight to offset, in theory, the warming effects of a doubling of CO2 concentrations.

But there are, again, drawbacks.

These include the disturbance of ocean circulation patterns, and unpredictable interference with climate systems, with potentially devastating effects.

Stratospheric aerosol spraying would entail the injection of 5 million tonnes of particles into the atmosphere by several thousand jet fighters, totalling a million 4-hour flights per year, to facilitate the blocking of 2 per cent of incoming radiation, and this would – again in theory – offset the warming effects of a doubling of CO2 emissions.

Five million tonnes is a tenth of the amount of sulphur pollution which currently arises from fuel combustion and industrial processes, but due to its altitude it would stay in the atmosphere for 50 times longer than it would if it were dispersed in the lower atmosphere.

It’s worth mentioning here that the 50 tonnes of sulphur we already have in lower atmospheric pollution have been so effective in offsetting global warming, that without it, and on top of the 0.8 degrees Centigrade of warming we’ve experienced to date, global mean temperatures would be warmer by something between an extra 1.1 and 2 degrees Centigrade!

In the event that China, India and other countries decide to follow the example of the West and introduce air pollution legislation, the scrubbing-out of sulphur, and so on, there could (counter-intuitively) in fact be a sudden rise in temperatures with many ecosystems and species unable to cope.

Sulphur aerosols stay in the atmosphere for a matter of weeks, but a typical CO2 molecule can remain aloft for more than a century.

Stratospheric aerosol spraying could also have the potential to alter rainfall patterns, causing devastating drought conditions in parts of Africa, South America and Asia.

In fact, a team at the University of Reading has studied this issue and deduced that a reduction in tropical rainfall of a massive 30 per cent is possible.

On top of this, there could also be significant damage to the ozone layer.

Nevertheless, despite all the drawbacks relating to geoengineering methods, various patents have been taken out by a range of companies eager to cash in on the belief that the world will be prepared to pay handsomely in order to prevent a perceived ‘climate catastrophe’.

Exxon Mobil, a company replete with long-term global warming deniers, seems now to have accepted global warming’s reality; that’s the only possible conclusion one can draw, surely, when it has funded a report concluding that sulphur aerosol spraying would be a cheaper response to warming than would phasing out fossil fuels.

Its CEO has, rather memorably, described climate change as an ‘engineering problem’, with ‘engineering solutions’.

In other words, perhaps, make money from wrecking the climate – then make more money attempting to fix it!

Dementia is a funny thing. No, not in that way for its victims and their families and friends; it’s no laughing matter for them.

But Lady Dementia, Greek Goddess of Forgetfulness, can make me smile when she turns her attention my way.

This is because I have just had what I can only describe as Double Dip Dementia.

Last week I was sitting in my office space in Broadcasting House, idly admiring the way my back teeth fit so snugly together, when I remembered something I had to do out in reception.

When I got there after a short walk down the corridor I had forgotten why.

Now this sort of thing happens to a lot of us and we know the answer. You retrace your steps and when you get back to where you started from you remember what you intended to do.

In my case it was to go into the men’s toilet in reception because I had left my mug there after rinsing it out following my midday intake of lemon tea and being distracted by pee pressure.

Now this in itself is something else which happens on a regular basis and what had now happened had been an interlude of me forgetting to put right something I had forgotten to do in the first place.

It made a lot of other people in the building laugh when I told them about it.

I should add that male colleagues of mine are used to seeing my mug apparently abandoned in the toilet and they don’t bother to tell me about it. They know realisation will dawn eventually.

Also, they always know it’s my mug because written on it are the words ‘Gorgeous Grandad’ it having been a Christmas gift from my daughter. (There is only one other Grandad working in Broadcasting House. But nobody ever thinks it’s his mug, of course).

Well, that’s all I have to say. There was something else I had in mind but I’ve forgotten it.

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Examiner sports editor John Watterson tells me he had an email from Kath Docherty giving the results achieved by the Isle of Man’s ‘marital arts team’ in the European championships in Majorca. Giving them under the blanket coverage, John?

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I have had an email from another lady, Sara Goodwins, telling me she read a crime novel set in the 1920’s which said that ‘all the male members of the young set stood up’.

I’m proud of you boys.

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This week’s Manx celebrities are Annacur Rice, Charles Loaghtan, Brown Bobby Darin, Falcon Cliff Richard, Dhoon Glen Campbell and Suzy Qualtrough.

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Ian K. Bleasdale, of Glebe Cottage, Maughold, has been on about encroaching Manxness and recalls working with the late Marge Joughin, heroine of the old Manx Radio phone-in programme the Mannin Line. She was going on about Comeovers and he told her: ‘But I’m one.’ She replied: ‘Oh but you think Manx.’

It’s the thought that counts.

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This week’s Manx crossword clue has come in from regular visitor Frank Bond of Doncaster and it was in the Yorkshire Post: I will? (4) – ISLE.

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Church notice: ‘Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be re-cycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.’

Thyme Limited, whose registered office is situated at the Top Floor, 14 Athol Street, Douglas, bought a parcel of land abutting Circular Road and Hillside Avenue, Douglas, for £1,750,000.

It was bought from Ravensdale Properties Limited, whose registered office is situated at Peregrine House, Peel Road, Douglas.

Other recent transactions lodged at the General Registry in Douglas are as follows:

Graham Ferguson Lacey by trustee and Andrew Paul Shimmin, of 13/15 Hope Street, Douglas, as trustee, sold Walton House, Bridge Road, Ballasalla, for £1,050,000, to Joanne Bateson, of 18 Bradda View, Ballakillowey, Colby.

Andrew John Davies and Elizabeth Jayne Davies, of 8 Eskdale Road, Onchan, sold Keayn Reayrt, Croit-e-Quill Road, Lonan, for £535,000, to Raymond Jack Thornton and Grania Christine Thornton, of Willow View, Four Roads, Port St Mary.

Susan Clare Alexander, of 31 Rhenwyllan Close, Port St Mary, sold 31 Ballacreggan Estate, Port St Mary, for £400,000, to Ian Matthew Halstein and Jenny Alexander Halstein, of 19 Milner Close, Port Erin.

Thomas Peter Kissack sold 13 Cronk Drive, Union Mills, for £292,000, to Stephen Peter Kelly, of 18 Empress Drive Apartments, Empress Terrace, Douglas.

Jean Ann Felton-Aksoy sold Croit-kil-Vine, Lhergy Grawe, Lonan, for £278,000, to Andrew David Lee and Carolyn Anne Hastings, of 13 Larch Hill Grove, Tromode.

Simon James Atherton sold 11 Heather Lane, Abbeyfields, Douglas, for £227,500, to Oliver Graham Neale and Susan Christine Patrick, of 21 Vicarage Park, Braddan.

Michael Paul Jones, of 34 Bellevue Park, Peel, and Tracy Angela Jones, sold 29 Oak Road, Ballawattleworth Estate, Peel, for £204,500, to Keith William Harris and Alexandra Victoria Duff, of Flat 6, 9 Clarence Terrace, Douglas.

Comprehensive Developments Company (Onchan) Limited, whose registered office is situated at Peregrine House, Peel Road, Douglas, sold Marmaris, Clarence Terrace, Douglas, for £150,000, to 2A Castle Mona Avenue Limited, whose registered office is at 2A Castle Mona Avenue, Douglas.

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

Manx Cancer Help is hoping TT fans dig deep for its ‘TT Helmet Tombola’ fundraiser with the top prize a helmet signed by all the leading racers.

Tickets cost £1 each and are available at the Sure store behind the Grandstand on Glencrutchery Road, where the helmet is also available to view.

If entrants miss out on first prize, they also have the chance to win a Moto G phone, courtesy of Sure, or two return flight tickets with Citywing.

The tombola will be drawn on Friday - Senior Race Day – at the Grandstand.

The helmet comes with a certificate of authenticity and would make a fabulous souvenir or keepsake.

Manx Cancer Help chief executive Andrea Chambers said: ‘Road and Track Motorcycles kindly donated a helmet and our fund raising events co-Ordinator, Ally Martin, with the invaluable help of [former TT competitor] Milky Quayle, managed to persuade most of the top riders to sign it making it a unique and collectable item.

‘We decided the tombola would be the best way of generating vital funds for the charity, with the draw taking place on the day of the blue riband event – the Senior Race.’

Island representatives were out in force at a recent high-profile event in Israel.

It was the 2014 Global Lottery Messenger Forum.

More than 75 delegates representing 30 Lottery Messenger brands travelled from 16 countries to take part in the conference at the Hilton Hotel, Tel Aviv.

The Lottery Messenger industry enables the global public to participate online in non-local national lotteries.

The industry is currently undergoing significant growth.

The island was well represented.

Leonard Singer, MHK, who is a political member for the Department of Economic Development with responsibility for eBusiness, made an official welcome.

Island presentations included powerful contributions from Peter Greenhill, chief officer, eGaming Development, Nedbank, Continent 8 Technologies, SMP Partners, ILS Fiduciaries and the emerging Lottery Export Association.

It’s not clear today when regulation will kick-in, but what was clear from the Forum was that to complement the Isle of Man’s formal presentations on the value of the IoM and related regulation, the industry itself talked openly about the need for regulation, why it’s needed, and how it will add value.

Stuart Ballan, head of Middle East at Counting House, who recently visited the island and is based in Israel, said: ‘Analogous to Douglas, where no meeting is more than a five minute walk away, Israel is a small country with significant, global business activity focused in very condensed areas.

‘Everyone knows everyone and this event, and the Isle of Man’s participation, is likely to be the ‘‘talk of the town’’ for many months to come.

‘Both Counting House and the Isle of Man can take pride in the knowledge that today’s event will be a catalyst for changing the global Lottery Messenger industry.’

It’s clear that the first Global Lottery Messenger conference will not be the last and the door is already open for the Isle of Man to participate again, in Israel, in 2015.

Mr Ballan added: ‘Both Counting House and the Isle of Man are extremely pro-active.

‘With Counting House having permanent representation on both the island and in Israel, we have a vehicle; a channel, for promoting the Isle of Man’s value in Israel.

‘We did it successfully in December 2013, again in May 2014, and we’ve already identified a number of relevant industries for future conferences in Israel over the next year and beyond.

‘The co-operation of the Isle of Man and Counting House working together is a text book example of ‘one plus one equals three’.

Counting House is involved in international payment processing services.

The conference room was ‘bulging at the seams’ from the opening presentation to the end of the formalities. It was standing room only at 5pm as Paul Davis, managing director of Counting House, drew the winning ball for the first prize of an all expense paid trip to the Isle of Man.

The winner was Rashmi Patel from London.

Counting House facilitates inbound and outbound payments in local currencies through a robust network of worldwide banking facilities, eliminating the need for clients to establish complex international banking relationships of their own.

Paw and order was the theme of an assembly held at St Ninian’s Lower School for year 7 (11 to 12 year olds) students last week.

The police dog unit visited the school at Bemahague to speak about its role.

In addition, Allie Brophy who delivers a project to help youngsters understand empathy towards animals, spoke about kindness, awareness and responsibility to animals, particularly dogs.

The students were presented with a booklet full of advice and tips, sponsored by Animals in Distress.

Allie relies on sponsors and donations to print the booklets, which are then presented for free.

The students have also been invited to design a poster or collage for the dog bins in the area.

An 18-year-old man has appeared in court charged with causing the death of Lucia Porter by dangerous driving.

Fourteen-year-old Lucia died following a crash on the Switchback road near Peel in March.

Craig Ryan Bridgewater, of Carmane Close, Peel, is also charged with driving without insurance and driving as an unsupervised provisional licence holder on March 8.

He was bailed, with the condition he cannot leave the island without the court’s permission, and is to re-appear in court on July 31.

Another man appeared in court – separately from Mr Bridgewater – but in connection with the same incident.

Andrew James Reeday, aged 19, of Ballakillowey, Colby, is charged with permitting no insurance, and causing or permitting no driving licence and a third charge of wasting police time, all of which are alleged to have been committed between March 7 and 10.

His case was adjourned until June 19. He too was bailed with the condition he cannot leave the island without the court’s permission.

Thursday, June 5

• Ian Thompson at the Villa Marina garden, 6.30pm-7.30pm. O’Donnell’s, Douglas, 9.30pm.

• Redline, Royal Hall, Villa Marina, Douglas, 7pm.

• Borderline at the Mines Tavern, Laxey.

• Heavy Ball at the Highwayman, Peel.

• Skeet at The Queen’s Hotel, Douglas.

• Little Miss Dynamite at the Villa Marina, Douglas, 8pm.

• Nucklehead at the Mitre Hotel, Ramsey.

• Rhythm Aces, at Bushy’s Absolute Stage, Port Erin, 8pm-10.30pm.

• Sweet Revenge at the Tynwald Inn, St John’s.

• Penthouse Dive, 7pm-9pm, Kvarken, 10pm-midnight at Bushy’s Beer tent, Douglas.

• Brown Sugar at The Savoy Hotel, Douglas.

• Shoh Slaynt at the Sulby Glen.

• 3 Million at Jaks, Douglas.

• Karaoke, Guys and Dolls, Douglas.

• Ramsey Folk Club, Mitre Hotel, Ramsey, 8pm-11pm.

• 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, June 6

• Ian Thopmson at the Crosby.

• Dickie at the Whitehouse, Peel.

• Sweet Revenge at the Highwayman, Peel.

• Little Miss Dynamite at The Union, Castletown.

• The Bad Noise at the Mitre Hotel, Ramsey.

• Switch at Bushy’s Absolute Stage, Port Erin, 8pm-10.30pm.

• Fireball, 7pm-9pm, Nuckelhead, 10pm-midnight at Bushy’s Beer tent, Douglas.

• Rumours of Fleetwood Mac with support from The Barry Nelson Band, Jurby Motofest, Jurby Airfield.

• Brown Sugar at O’Donnell’s, Douglas.

• Borderline at Jaks, Douglas.

• Carl Cox at The Courthouse, Douglas.

• 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.

Saturday, June 7

• Ian Thompson at the Haven, Port Erin.

• Dickie at the Manor, Willaston.

• Borderline at the Raven, Ballaugh.

• Robin Crompton at The Sidings, Castletown.

• Dandy Smax at the Highwayman, Peel.

• Little Miss Dynamite at the Mitre Hotel, Ramsey.

• Brown Sugar at the Whitestone, Ballasalla.

• Grass Roots at Jaks, Douglas.

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

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

• Karaoke at the Central Hotel, Ramsey.

Sunday, June 8

• DJ Karaoke Disco at Jaks, Douglas.

• Choral Evensong, St German’s Cathedral, Peel, 3.30pm.

• 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.

Monday, June 9

• Elena Urioste, violin and Zhang Zuo, piano, Erin Arts Centre, Port Erin, 7.30pm. Tickets £10.

Tuesday, June 10

• Salvation Army Band in the Villa Marina Arcade, Douglas at 8pm.

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

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

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

Wednesday, June 11

• Karaoke at The British, Douglas.

• Irish Music session at O’Donnell’s, Douglas, 8.30pm.

Thursday, June 5

• Manx Footpaths Conservation Group walk, Rushen Abbey, 10.30am.

• 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 Youth Club, 6pm-9pm and Wednesday Ramsey Youth Club, 6.30pm-9.30pm.

Saturday, June 7

• Craft Club for under 11s at the House of Manannan, Peel.1pm-3pm, £2. Call 648090 or www.manxnationalheritage.im

Monday, June 9

• Manx Retirement Association, Pilates at Jillian’s Gym Loch Promenade, Douglas 10am-11am. Also open top bus tour at 1.45pm. Call 817007 to book. Tuesday Southern coffee morning at the Cherry Orchard Hotel, Port Erin at 10.30am.

• 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 (10 to 11 year olds) 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.

Tuesday, June 10

• 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.

• 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.

• Glen Maye WI, St James’ Church hall, Dalby, 7.30pm. Call 818194.

• 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, June 11

• 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.

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

• Isle of Man Chess Club, Belsfield Hotel, Church Road Marina, Douglas, 7.30pm. Call Alan Robertson 495097. New members welcome.

• Port St Mary WI, Mount Tabor School Room, Port St Mary, 7.45pm. Call 818194.

Thursday, June 5

• 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.

• Fitsteps at Onchan Community hall, 7.30pm. Booking is required via text or Facebook. Fitsteps Isle of Man or call 456056.

• 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, June 6

• 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, Douglas. 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, June 7

• 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, June 8

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

Monday, June 9

• 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, June 10

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

• Linedancercise at John’s football clubhouse, 7.30pm-9pm, call 467285.

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

Wednesday, June 11

• 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, call 835098.

• Ballroom dancing, Villa Marina, Douglas, 7.30pm. Call 623414.

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

Thursday, June 5

• Drop In for a bargain at Willaston Methodist Church from 10am-noon. Free refreshments available.

• Age Concern - free computer training sessions, Douglas iMuseum, Kingswood Grove, 10am–12.30pm.

• Laxey Motorcycle Show, Laxey Promenade, noon-6pm.

• Isle of Man Farmers’ Market, at Tynwald Mills, St John’s, 11am-3pm.

• Stockcar Racing, Onchan Raceway, Onchan Park, 7pm for 7.30pm start.

• Manx Gaelic class with Cathy Clucas, Arbory Commissioners’ hall, 7.30pm. Call 838527.

• Manx Gaelic class, intermediate-advanced with James Harrison, 7.30pm at Arbory Commissioners’ hall. Friday, intermediate-advanced with Adrian Cain, noon at the Manx Museum, Douglas. Saturday, intermediate 10.30am at House of Manannan in Peel; intermediate-advanced with James Harrison 10.30am at the Manx Museum, Douglas. Tuesday, intermediate with Adrian Cain, noon at St Matthew’s Church in Douglas, advanced 1pm at the Rovers pub in Douglas; beginners 7.30pm at Patchwork Cafe in Port St Mary. Call 451098.

• Bingo Quiz, Manor Hotel, Willaston, 9pm.

• Quiz Night at The Railway, Douglas, 8.30pm. Call 670773.

Friday, June 6

• The Manx Aviation and Military Museum, Ronaldsway, 10am-4.30pm. Also Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4.30pm. Free admission. Donations welcome.

• Drop-in for coffee and a chat, Sulby Methodist Church, 10.30am-noon.

• Coffee and chat, Onchan Methodist Church lounge, opposite commissioners’ office, 10.30am-noon.

• Relax Fridays noon-2pm, Trinity Church hall. Bring your sandwiches and enjoy free tea, coffee and company. Call 628374. Also Revive Fridays 5.30pm-6.30pm. Enjoy the company and a faith tea. Call 621004.

• PokerStars Party Night and TT Prize presentation, Villa Marina Gardens, Douglas, 5.30pm-11pm. Free entry.

• Meditation at The Refinery, Duke Street, Douglas, 7pm. Call 467818.

• TT Fireworks Display, Douglas bay, 11pm.

Saturday, June 7

• Theatre Tours, Gaiety Theatre, Douglas, 10am. Tickets for adults £7.50, children £4, family £20. Call 600555.

• Laxey Woollen Mills, Glen Road, 10am-5pm. Also open weekdays.

• Green Centre, opposite Iceland, Chester Street complex, Douglas. Information about recycling, energy, insulation and environmental matters. Zero Waste Mann, Isle of Man Friends of the Earth and Manx Energy Advice Centre. Open from 10am.

• Isle of Man Farmers’ Market at Northern Lights Community Centre, Ramsey, 10am-1pm.

• Isle of Man Farmers’ Market at Villa Marina, Douglas, 10am-2pm.

• Coffee and chat, St Mary’s on the Harbour, Castletown, 11am.

• Milntown House Tours every Saturday and Wednesday at 2.30pm. Call 812321.

Sunday, June 8

• Castletown Metropolitan Silver Band rehearsals, Queen Street Mission hall, 7pm.

• Meditation and chat at Pure Inspiration, Ramsey, 7.15pm. Call Gary on 817735.

Monday, June 9

• Age Isle of Man - free computer sessions for people aged over 50 at House of Manannan, Peel. Lift available and coffee shop, 10am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–4.30pm.

• Afternoon Tea Dance, 2pm-4pm, Manx Legion Club, Douglas.

• Shorties, pirate adventure. Children’s soft play centre, Alexandra Road, Castletown, also Tuesday.

• BBC Radio3 broadcasting live from the Erin Arts Centre, Elena Urioste - Violin and Zhang Zuo – Piano. Performing Bach, Ysaye, Haydn, Chopin and more. Tickets: £10 for adults and £1 for under 18s. To book call 832662 or emailinformation@erinartscentre.com. Patrons must be seated by 7.15pm

Tuesday, June 10

• Computers for Beginners, Onchan Library, 10am-noon. Call 621228.

• Manx Cancer Help drop-in day, Lisa Lowe Centre, The Old Schoolhouse, Cronkbourne, 11am-4pm.

• Lunch Club, Salvation Army Citadel, Lord Street, Douglas, 11.30am. Call 627742.

• Whist for Hospice, Michael Methodist Church, 7.30pm, £2.

Wednesday, June 11

• MS Society coffee morning, Harbour Lights, St Paul’s Square, Ramsey, 10.30am-noon.

• Computer Training Sessions for everyone. Leonard Cheshire Disability, Main Road, Onchan, 11am-3pm. Call 679030.

• Call in for coffee at St Peter’s Church, Onchan, 11am and 1pm.

• Ramsey Probus lunch, Ramsey Golf Club, 12.30pm. Illustrated talk by Sean O’Connell. Call Ian Wells 816404.

• Bereavement support group, friendly get together for anyone feeling isolated or lonely after a bereavement, however or whenever it occurred, tea, coffee and a chat, Scholl Centre, Hospice Isle of Man, 5pm-7pm. Call 647443.

• Samba percussion workshop, no experience necessary, Onchan Silver Bandroom, off Onchan Commissioners’ car park, 7pm. Cost £3, email sambamann@manx.net

• Manx Gaelic class with James O’Meara, St John’s House, 7.30pm. Call 843436.

• Bingo Quiz, Archibald Knox Onchan.

Thursday, June 5

• 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.

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

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

• 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.

• 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 Woodbourne Road, Douglas, 7pm-9pm.

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

Friday, June 6

• 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 Men’s Institute 10am - 11.45pm term time. £2.50 per family inc refreshments. Call 466887.

• 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.

Saturday, June 7

• Young Bowlers Club. Tuition and tips (open to ages 8 to 12), 11am-noon, Surestrike Bowling Alley, Ramsey. To book call 812444.

• 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.

Monday, June 9

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

• 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.

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

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

Tuesday, June 10

• 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.

• Tiddlers Group for parents, grandparents or carers, St Olave’s Church hall, Ramsey, 9.45am-11.30am, £1.50.

• 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, June 11

• 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, Douglas, 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.

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

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

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

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

• Mums and tots sessions for babies and pre-schoolers at Foxdale School. Dads, grandads, grandmas and carers welcome too. 2pm-3.15pm. £1.50 per family. Call Emma 801946.

• Homework Club for year 7s (11-12 year olds), 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.

Palace Cinema

• Maleficent, PG 3D. Nightly 7pm.

• A Million Ways To Die In The West, 15. Nightly 7pm.

Saturday and Sunday matinee Maleficent 2D, 2.30pm and Godzilla, 12A, 2pm.

Broadway Cinema

• X-Men: Days of Future Past, 12A, 3D showings evenings. 2D showings on afternoons.

• Road, PG. Showing afternoons and evenings.

• Postman Pat The Movie, U. Thursday and Friday 11am and Saturday and Sunday at noon.

Thursday, June 5

• Free female football fitness sessions, NSC sports hall, Douglas, 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 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, Douglas, 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.

• 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, 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, June 6

• Pilates at The Pilates Studio, Viking Longhouse, Middle Wharf, Peel, at 9.30am and The Studio, Falcon Road, Douglas, at 1pm; Monday, The Pilates Studio, Viking Longhouse, Middle Wharf, Peel, at 9.30am and Colby Methodist hall at 6pm; Wednesday, The Pilates Studio, Viking Longhouse, Middle Wharf, Peel, at 5.15pm and 6.30pm. Thursday, The Pilates Studio, Viking Longhouse, Middle Wharf, Peel, at 10am (chair-based Pilates for older, frailer adults) and beginners’ Pilates, 6.15pm. Equipment provided. Ring Lizzy Main on 427401 or visit www.pilates-isle-of-man.co.uk

• Zumba classes advanced, 10.30am. Also Tuesday Zumba intermediate, 8.30am, and Zumba for beginners, Tuesday and Friday, 9.45am at Zumba Isle of Man, Silvercraigs Hotel. Call 677776 or visit www.zumbaisleofman.com

• Acrobatics, The 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, Douglas, 7.30pm. Call 612305.

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

Saturday, June 7

• 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, June 8

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

• Bowling club night, Port Erin Bowling Club, Breagle Glen, 4pm-6pm.

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

Monday, June 9

• 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, June 10

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

• Pilates at 9.15am, 38 Woodbourne Square, Douglas. Pilates at 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, June 11

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

• Balance and Pilates, 10.30am, Manx Legion 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.

Babies in the island’s hospital have not been affected by the contaminated drip feeds that have been linked to the death of one baby in England.

Public Health England has issued an alert following 15 infections in newborns in the past four days.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/uk-news/infection-fears-after-baby-death-1-6655226|For more on this story, click here to read the report in our UK news section}

The infection caused by a bacterium called bacillus cereus, seems to have been transmitted via contaminated drip feeds administered to the neonates.

Drips manufactured by only one manufacturer have been implicated and the contamination seems to have occurred on a single day.

A Manx health service spokesman said: ‘The Isle of Man obtains its supplies of such drip feeds from a different supplier and the department would like to reassure members of the public that there have been no such cases locally.’

A career in the fitness industry is appealing to many people.

However, training courses are not cheap, and when you add to that the cost of travel to the UK and accommodation, the cost for Manx residents can easily double.

Earlier this year Karen Hanly, owner of Warehouse Fitness Ladies Only Gym, advertised for a Level 2 qualified instructor to teach at Warehouse Fitness in Westmoreland Road, Douglas.

Karen was disappointed as while there were plenty of applications, none had the necessary qualification.

Karen decided the best way forward would be to become qualified herself and she contacted Focus Training, one of the UK’s leading providers of fitness training.

Like many before her Karen was shocked when she realised just how expensive it would be to attend the necessary courses in England. However, rather than put off her dream Karen discussed the possibility of Focus Training coming to the island. Karen said: ‘I needed to do this course to increase even further the variety of classes available to members at Warehouse Fitness. Another member of staff wanted to do the course too and so we were looking at a total cost of over £2,000. By offering our facilities to Focus Training to run their courses, not only did it reduce the cost for me personally, it also opened up the training possibility to others.’

This idea proved to be a great success and in April 13 people attended the Isle of Man’s first Focus Training Level 2 Gym Instructors Course and Spin Instructors Course.

Mike Watts from Focus Training enjoyed his first visit to the island and said: ‘The facilities at Warehouse Fitness are excellent and the setting makes a perfect teaching environment.’

The island has a focus on reducing obesity levels, especially in its young people, and Karen believes having more qualified fitness professionals can help the island achieve its objectives. It is planned that there will be a second Level 2 Instructors Course and a Level 3/ Personal Trainer Course later in the year. Anyone interested in attending the courses should contact Karen at Warehouse Fitness on 679419 for more information.

Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence 2014 is launching at the end of June, with the Awards Night on November 20.

Last year’s Awards attracted a record number of entries from companies, individual, charitable organisations and the public sector.

In addition to the 16 award winner, 32 finalists were chosen who had submitted entries of a notably high standard. Here we highlight MannVend, finalist in the Corporate Social Responsibility category.

‘Ours is a locally owned, family business, employing 30 staff, with all our customers based on the Isle of Man, so it’s hugely important for us to support the community we live and work in,’ says MannVend’s managing director, Tracey Leahy.

MannVend was established on the island 45 years ago by her grandfather.Her father, Brian, is chairman of the company, which supplies vending machines to a wide range of customers including schools, banks, government departments, offices, restaurants and even private homes. It is estimated that their machines dispense over 35,000 drinks every day!

‘We get involved in a wide range of community initiatives, some high profile some low profile: our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) work is extensive. But, as a small family business we don’t enjoy the luxury of a large budget for donations so we have introduced strategies that utilise our team, our products, and our time to benefit others,’ says Tracey.

These include running a ‘feed station’ on the route of the Parish Walk for the last 10 years, to which they have, to date, donated over 15,000 bottles of water and 13,000 Mars bars, supplying team bags and refreshments to Union Mills football team for a trip to Blackpool and donating refreshments to farmers searching for sheep during last winter’s devastating snowfall.

Tracey and her father Brian are also personally involved in a hands-on way with a number of good causes: on Christmas Day every year both help with transport for guests attending the Salvation Army Christmas lunch; Tracey is a mentor for Young Enterprise and is on the advisory committee for the Dreamcatcher Appeal, and Brian, who was born and raised in Kenya, acted as team host for the Kenyan team at the Commonwealth Youth Games, helping out as an interpreter for Swahili and Pidgin English.

But Tracey explains that the project that she is most proud of is ‘Pinkie’ MannVend’s fundraising snack machine:

‘Four years ago we were personally touched by the devastation of breast cancer when we lost a colleague and also a family member to the disease. We felt compelled to do something worthwhile to raise funds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. After much brainstorming and research, Pinkie was born!

‘Pinkie was a snack vending machine which was totally pink and branded with the Breakthrough Breast Cancer logos. It enabled us to raise money for the charity by donating all the profits from sales. The concept was extremely popular as it enabled people from all walks of life, irrespective of income, to contribute. By purchasing an item from the machine they made a donation to the charity, whilst also receiving something in return.

‘Pinkie moved around sites on the island, one month at a time for a 12-month period. Locations included the airport, the Sea Terminal, B&Q and many private workplaces. Our customers embraced the opportunity of supporting this charity by allowing the machine on their premises – some even welcomed it twice!

‘Our objective was to raise £2,000, but we doubled this, and we were able to present a cheque to the charity for £4,000.’

So successful was the imaginative project, the first of its kind to be created, that a number of vending companies in the UK have expressed an interest in emulating it.

The idea is also being repeated this year, using a vending machine to support the artisan co-operative, Mostly Manx, with the provision of a vending machine through which to showcase and sell their goods. The machine has recently been installed in the departure lounge at the Sea Terminal, offering a selection of gifts, souvenirs, snacks and crafts, including a cuddly toy cat with a Manx tartan scarf, chocolate Three Legs, Manx tartan tea towels and artisan-made Manx chocolate.

Corporate Social Responsibility also embraces wider issues such as the environment and sustainability, as Tracey explains:

‘We take our environmental responsibility seriously and that is why the majority of the coffee that we supply comes from Rainforest Alliance or Fair Trade certified farms. Local measure include installing a satellite navigation system to all company vehicles to ensure callouts are carried out by the most relevant member of staff closest to the site, thus saving on fuel.

‘We also encourage our customers to recycle their plastic cups and we have installed a recycling station at work for all recyclable consumables. We have installed solar panels to produce hot water and we ensure that computers and drinks machines are switched off at night.’

Summing up their CSR policy, Tracey says: ‘Our people are our most important asset and we pride ourselves that MannVend is a rewarding place to work, a professional reliable organisation for our customers to do business with, and a business that our community can be proud of.

‘We have worked hard to weather the storm of the economic downturn and we hope that we have also demonstrated that a small company like ours can have high CSR standards.’

Rushen parish’s three MHKs are working hard on filling one Wellington boot each to raise funds for the Port Erin branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI).

The ‘fill your boots’ campaign involves filling an RNLI safety Wellington boot with money by treating it as a swear/fines/spare cash box or paying a fine to indulge in cakes, etc.

The MHKs Phil Gawne, Laurence Skelly and Juan Watterson are keen to put some welly into the fundraiser to help with the RNLI’s massive costs – one pair of safety Wellingtons alone cost £42 and a life jacket is £330.

To find out about being a crew member of help with fundraising at the RNLI, phone 832154 or contact your nearest station.

The RNLI has five stations in the island, including in Douglas, Port St Mary, Port Erin, Ramsey and Peel.