Construction on the first major extension of Noble’s Hospital since it opened in 2003 reached a milestone.

The £4 million new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for vulnerable babies was ‘topped out’ by Health and Social Care Minister Howard Quayle.

He was on site on Monday to put in one of the roof slates marking a significant phase of the construction work, which is on time and budget.

With the building shortly to be made water tight, work will continue on the internal build and the fitting-out over the next few months.

It is due to be completed in February 2015,

Mr Quayle said: ‘I am delighted to be here today to help mark this major milestone in the building work.

‘The new unit will offer the very highest standards of care for critically ill babies, conforming to the latest best practice and the latest European and British perinatal medicine standards.

‘The result of this work will be a state of the art neonatal unit of which the island can rightly be proud.’

The Minister added: ‘I would like to extend my thanks to everyone involved in the project for getting us to this stage and for doing so on time and on budget.’

Following approval for funding in Tynwald, building work on the NICU started in October last year.

The extension adjoins Jane Crookall Maternity Unit on the east side of the hospital complex, and there will be a direct link to the existing delivery suite.

The current capacity of nine cots will remain – but there will be extra space between them to reduce the risk of cross-infection between babies.

It also allows more privacy.

The unit’s upgrade was vital for the Isle of Man’s health service to continue offering neonatal care, after regulations changed shortly after the hospital opened.

Regulations stipulate that there must be a minimum of one and a half metres between cots.

A new feature will be overnight accommodation for parents.

And there will be a resuscitation room with one cot which will enable staff to stabilise sick children before they are transferred to the UK in privacy.

The unit will also include a seminar room as well as additional room for the storage of vital equipment.

Dr Prakash Thiagarajan, consultant paediatrician and neonatologist at Noble’s Hospital said: ‘This is a significant investment for the future which everyone at Noble’s Hospital is very grateful for.

‘It will allow us to offer the very best care and state of the art services for seriously ill new-born babies in those crucial first hours and days of life.

‘Being able to provide the best start for babies born on the island in the best possible environment is something we are really looking forward to.’

Noble’s Hospital can care for babies born after 27 weeks’ gestation.

Care for babies under 26 weeks and specialised procedures such as cardiac surgery comes from the UK.

A second Jurby Motofest will take place during next year’s TT despite disappointing numbers attending the inaugural event this year.

Motofest 2015 will see a few changes but the venue at Jurby Motodrome will remain unchanged, according to organisers who say this year’s event was well received by those who went.

Tina Carter, the event director, said they had hoped for around 1,000 people each day but the best attended attraction on the final Friday evening drew an estimated crowd of about 800.

‘We haven’t added up final numbers yet,’ she revealed. ‘We had some excellent bands – Rumours of Fleetwood Mac were fantastic. The other nights averaged out at perhaps 300 people, which is not the end of the world.’

‘Everyone who came – both the public and the bands – loved it and have said how well organised it all was.

‘This has broken us in gently and next year people will know it’s on so we expect the numbers to go up.

‘We’ve not had any negative comments but some people said there weren’t enough people there.

‘If that’s the worst anyone can say then that’s a major success.’

The event was originally to have taken place in 2013 on fields near the Creg-ny-Baa but ran into difficulties over site access, health and safety and branding issues governing any trackside event.

A special hourly bus service linked Jurby with the Ramsey, including the night owl service, and camping with toilets and hot showers cost £5 a night. Next year this is to be free.

A dual sprint over a quarter mile for both cars and bikes is to be repeated next year and organisers hope to organise some track days using the Jurby race circuit, too.

Tina said the daytime bands in particular were hit by the unsettled weather and the fact that racing took place on each day throughout Race Week. And with initial set up costs higher than expected, little was left in the budget for advertising.

‘More will be spent on advertising next year. People said they didn’t know about it.’ she said.

Planning permission was not granted for the festival and camp site until February this year and this meant many people had already organised camping before the festival site was confirmed.

There were unforseen expenses, too, which ate into the advertising budget. Tina explained: ‘It took eight months to get permission for the grass to be cut! It’s in an area of special scientific interest so we had to get bird and grassland surveys first – that cost us £1,500 in total.

‘People just don’t realise the amount of organisation and planning involved.’

Any rumours of financial losses are totally unfounded with everyone having been paid and no one left out of pocket, she said.

Now the event has actually happened, Tina feels people will be more willing to get involved next year and organisers are even hoping to get some sponsorship next time around.

She said: ‘Next year it will definitely stay in Jurby because more visitors are spread out across the island now.’

Police are investigating a burglary at a home in Castlemona Avenue, Douglas.

During the break-in a number of items were stolen, including two laptops, a charger and an external hard drive.

The burglary took place some time between 10pm on Wednesday and 7.50am the following morning.

Police say they believe this was an opportunistic break-in, and they are urging all householders to be vigilant.

Anyone with information should contact constable Lana Gardner at Lord Street police station on 631212, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The items stolen were a red Acer Aspire One D257 Notebook laptop and charger lead, a silver Acer laptop installed with Windows 8, and a Weston blue and white 250GB external hard drive.

A 3D seismic survey of potential gas deposits in Manx waters off Maughold Head would cost £5 million pounds to carry out.

But the Manx government is seeking to grant exclusive rights to a specialist contractor to carry out the survey at no cost to the taxpayer.

Economic Development Minister John Shimmin told the House of Keys that the survey firm would then recover its costs by selling the seismic data to companies seeking a prospecting licence.

Replying to a series of question by Michael MHK Alfred Cannan, the Minister said: ‘We now need to commission the seismic survey which will give us much more insight into the potential value of hydrocarbons within our waters.’

He said his department had consulted with a number of island residents with substantial experience in the industry who had agreed a good-quality 3D seismic survey report, replacing 2D surveys carried out in the 1990s, was ‘vital if we are to progress to extraction’.

Mr Shimmin said block 112/25 to be surveyed was an ovoid shaped area (shaped like an egg) buffering the island’s 12 mile limit off Maughold Head. Technical studies carried out by BP Exploration indicated a possible discovery of a significant volume of gas there. With increases in gas prices and advances in drilling techniques, the gas deposits may now be economically viable to extract, he said. He told MHKs the study would be undertaken for a nominal sum of £1 to government and it will be for the contractor to recover its costs through the subsequent sale of the 3D data to companies participating in any hydrocarbon licensing round next year.

But his department was proposing an option within the agreement to purchase the survey data should it be considered beneficial to own the commercial rights.

‘A seismic survey in this block and surrounding area would cost several million – estimated at about £5 million. We do not believe it would be a good use of government resources to invest in the survey, as the cost might generate no benefit if the results reveal further development is not viable,’ he said.

Mr Cannan questioned whether following the UK model of going straight into the licensing round was the right way forward. He suggested there should be a full debate before any decisions were taken.

Mr Shimmin pointed out that Mr Cannan is on the committee looking into this matter and said his questions were ‘premature’. ‘Unless we get the 3D seismic results we have no data and information which anybody can utilise,’ he said.

He said there were alternatives models and there were ‘serious doubts’ at the way the UK has exploited its gas reserves. ‘Therefore we are looking at a Norwegian model which is more about sustainability,’ he told MHKs. He said it was intended to tender later this year for an independent consultant to assist with the hydrocarbon licensing round.

A full-time warden will be reinstated at Onchan Commissioners’ sheltered housing accommodation at Springfield Court.

And a full-time warden will remain at Heywood Court, despite part-time hours being considered.

These were two of the three recommendations of the commissioners deputy clerk, Tim Craig, to be approved by the local authority on Monday.

The board has also agreed to install passive sensors in each flat – to automatically raise the alarm in the event of a fall – over a year after the issue was first raised.

A petition with 48 signatures was presented to Onchan Commissioners following the retirement of a full-time warden at Springfield Court in July last year, leaving only a part-time warden at the 68 flats.

The contract was 18.5 hours per week.

Reviewing staffing, Mr Craig was asked to look at returning a full-time warden to Springfield Court but cutting hours at 32-flat Heywood Court, to part-time.

In the report Mr Craig said: ‘The tenants at both complexes are aware from their contact with friends of units run by other providers that Onchan has the lowest warden provision of any sheltered accommodation on the island.’

Armed forces charity SSAFA, which has allocation rights over half of the flats at Heywood Court, did not support any reduction in warden provision.

Mr Craig said the reduction in staffing at Springfield Court had led to calls for assistance being routed through to the local authority’s on-call officer during office hours.

‘This is effectively providing a warden service by an alternative and costly route, as all on-call officers are on a higher pay scale than the wardens,’ he said.

‘It also has an impact on the officers’ other duties, as priority has to be given to the emergency.’

The current budget provides for 2.5 full-time warden posts.

With one full-time warden at each complex, Mr Craig’s third recommendation to be approved was to use the savings in the first year to provide a passive sensor motion detector and fall detector in each flat.

Funding for this will need further approval from the board.

In May 2013, the one-off purchase and installation costs for this were about £12,500.

At that time, Mr Craig had advised that passive sensors would alert a warden or call centre in an emergency rather than relying on warden contact by means of an intercom call once on a normal working day and the resident to trigger any further emergency call.

‘Experience has shown that this has not always been possible, and the casualty has been some time before being discovered,’ he said.

‘This has not yet produced a fatality, but it has not assisted in the prognosis for recovery.’

Douglas Choral Union - the society which brought Les Miserables and Miss Saigon to the Isle of Man - has introduced a ‘DCU Bursary’ to support the development of local students pursuing further education in drama, dance, music and theatre.

The bursary is intended to aide funding for local students planning to study any aspect of Theatre at College, University, be it on-stage or off.

The bursary is available for anyone up to the age of 25 and you don’t have to be a member of the society to apply. However, the society would be keen to see chosen individuals participating in school visits and workshops with a view to passing down their newly acquired skills, experience and knowledge.

Tony Jones, chairman of the Douglas Choral Union, said: ‘The DCU has received such fantastic support from the Isle of Man public over the last few years that we find ourselves in a position where we can help directly to improve the standard of theatre and arts on the island. By helping students to complete studies we hope their knowledge and skills will filter back to the island and keep Manx theatre at the highest standard, the standard the Manx public expect today.

‘I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our title sponsors, Dougherty Quinn Advocates, without whom we wouldn’t be able to provide such exciting opportunities for the island’s talented individuals.’

Each applicant will be asked to complete an application form before meeting with the committee, which will assess that applicant’s future plans.

The closing date for the committee to consider applications is July 31 for courses starting in September 2014.

Meanwhile, following the success staging The Who’s Tommy, the DCU have already been working hard behind the scenes on their next production – the musical comedy Sister Act.

The production - to be staged in February 2015 - will again be sponsored by Dougherty Quinn.

Sister Act tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a would-be diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look – a convent.

Under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.

This production will see the return of the DCU’s team of director and choreographer, Tara Wilkinson and musical director Andrew Hilton.

Having starred in many West End productions playing lead roles in such hits as Starlight Express and Saturday Night Fever, Tara brings a huge amount of knowledge and exciting ideas to the Gaiety stage and has already directed such hits at the Gaiety as Miss Saigon and Tommy.

Andrew is currently with the national tour of Singing in the Rain.

Both Tara and Andrew were involved in the direction of the national tour of Sister Act.

Auditions for Sister Act will be taking place on Sunday, July 13, and Monday, July 14, and everyone is welcome.

For more information and audition pieces, email membership secretary Kayleigh Parkinson at kayleighdcu@hotmail.com for more information.

Application forms for the bursary are also available from Kayleigh Parkinson at the same email address.

The man who oversaw the maintenance of schools for more than three decades has been honoured by the Isle of Man Government.

Education Minister Tim Crookall MHK presented Jon Webb with an illuminated address – a decorative certificate awarded for 25 or more years’ service with the government that is signed by Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood.

The presentation marked Jon’s retirement as works inspector with the Department of Education and Children.

Jon was employed by a private company for a decade as a carpenter, joiner and builder before joining the then Board of Education in July 1983 as assistant works inspector, gaining promotion to inspector in 1997 when that post-holder, Bill Coleman, retired.

Presenting the illuminated address, the Minister said Jon was held in high regard by colleagues not only at the Snugborough depot, where he was based, but in schools, Isle of Man College and in the DEC’s various services.

He praised Jon’s ‘vast knowledge of all our buildings, professionalism, commitment and humour’.

‘What an incredible amount of change you will have seen over the past 30 years, and how satisfying it must be to drive round the island and see all the schools to which you have had an input,’ Mr Crookall said.

‘On behalf of all your friends and colleagues in DEC and those who have transferred to the Department of Infrastructure; the Education Council; school governors; present and former pupils and department members, thank you for the enormous contribution you have made to education and please accept my very best wishes for a long, healthy and extremely happy retirement.’

Jon said his ethos, and one he instilled in his team, which carries out work and maintenance at schools, was ‘say yes first and say no only if it’s completely impossible’.

He said he treated headteachers, bursars and caretakers, his main contacts within schools, as ‘customers’ – and said he enjoyed making a difference to children’s lives.

Jon said: ‘It has been a privilege to work with excellent Ministers and good directors and later chief executives who understood the challenges of the job and what we were trying to do.

‘In education, I felt part of an organisation and felt valued.’

Jon lives with his wife, Jo, in Douglas. The couple have three daughters: Anna, an accountant, Jessica, who works at Noble’s Hospital, and Abigail, who is studying at Chester University.

He is now working as a self-employed building surveyor but has joined Peel Golf Club and is finding time to chip away at his handicap, as well as spending more time with his family.

A memorial garden to remember and recognise organ donors from the island is planned at Noble’s Hospital.

The hospital’s Organ Donation Committee wants to create a large rock garden in a designated garden area near the front door of the complex, and has started fundraising to raise £5,000 to get it started.

Committee member Diane Taylor, whose son Daniel’s gift helped to save and improve the lives of four others, said: ‘This memorial garden is to remember and honour those who have given life to others and we want to really make this a special place to give Isle of Man families renewed pride for their loved ones.’

The rock garden will have a main feature stone to be engraved incorporating both the Isle of Man and organ donation. Smaller individual stones engraved with each donor name will be placed around the centre piece.

Families of organ donors will be contacted to see if they would like their loved one to be included.

The committee is inviting anyone who would like their loved one to be included to write to Noble’s Hospital addressed to ‘The Organ Donation Committee’ or send a private message on Diane’s Facebook page ‘Organ Donation Isle of Man - The Gift of Life’.

Diane works at Manx Telecom, which has started off the fundraising with a dress down day and a £400 donation through its ‘Its Your Community Awards Scheme’.

The first public fundraiser takes place next Wednesday with an Italian and Bowling evening in Ramsey.

To raise awareness, team ‘igiveyoumyheart.org’ made up of committee members Dr David Walker and Ian Hughes along with Phil Marshall, whose wife Sarah is on the transplant waiting list are competing in the Parish Walk.

The committee will be at signing on nights for the event with water bottles and to answer questions about organ donation, as well as at the finishing point in Peel. A collection box will be available.

Make cheques payable to ‘Organ Donation Memorial’.

An information day focusing on health and social care agencies is to be held at Ramsey Town Hall on Friday, June 27.

There will be 29 agencies ranging from government, third and private sector – including Community Mental Health, Age Isle of Man, Crossroads, Family Library, Manx Utilities, Macular Degeneration, Hospice Isle of Man and Men In Sheds.

Refreshments will be provided by Isle of Man Live At Home Scheme plus a raffle with proceeds being donated to the same charity.

Chair-based exercises, run by the government’s public health staff, will be doing a demonstration in the morning to encourage people to join, highlighting the importance of keeping fit and healthy.

The community police will be bringing their dogs, encouraging community engagement plus the Life After Stroke Association will be offering a free blood pressure service, which incorporates atrial fibrillation checks.

The main aim of the day is to raise awareness within the community for older people to know what services are available to them.

A spokesman said: ‘Prevention is the way forward and we are trying to avoid crisis situations by keeping people safe at home for longer, accessing appropriate support, and most importantly, keeping everyone happy.

‘The recently-formed Northern Networking Group had a similar, smaller event in November 2013, which proved to be extremely popular so it was decided to make this bigger and hopefully better.

‘The whole Town Hall will be utilised and it is looking to be a very informative and entertaining day for all.’

Events take place between 10am and 3pm.

A song-writing supply teacher who believes music is a powerful education tool has penned 50 songs that will be made available to schools.

The TT Festival is one of the topics where Donna Teare saw there was a need for more classroom resources, and led to her writing the five-verse song ‘The Isle of Man (vroom, vroom) TT Race’.

This action song was performed by youngsters from Theatrix performing arts company – where Donna works as a singing teacher – at the Villa Marina Gardens on two days during TT week.

On one occasion, the audience weren’t just there to soak up the atmosphere, they were were handed out lyrics sheets and encouraged to join in with the song too.

Donna explained: ‘It’s an action song which engages the children, through which they are able to learn the story behind the TT.

‘It starts with everyone coming to the Isle of Man and goes through the race and how riders feel. It’s a celebration of the TT. I felt there weren’t many resources to engage children in the TT.’

She said the second performance – on Thursday last week – was ‘really well attended’.

‘There were lots of bikers, and friends and family. We had 100 lyrics sheets and I’m pretty sure they were all handed out.’

Donna has written 50 songs over two years, and as a Christian, believes she’s meant to be using her gift for song-writing in this way.

They cover everything from the 6Rs of the island’s curriculum to promote positive behaviour in schools, to the role of the sun and moon in the seasons.

A number of Donna’s songs are faith driven.

‘The Isle of Man (vroom, vroom) TT Race’ is available on Donna’s website at www.songs4schools.com

The website is currently under construction – and will feature Donna’s entire song collection.

She said it was important that her songs were fun to sing, easy to learn and with memorable melodies.

‘They are educational but not boring,’ she said.

‘Music is such a powerful medium for learning.’

• Donna also leads Roc Vannin, a mixed choir which meets on Tuesday evenings, from 7pm to 9pm at Tower House, in Douglas.

The choir performed at the Villa Marina Gardens last week, including a very different style of TT song penned by Donna ‘We are riding the race of our lives’.

Anyone interested in joining Roc Vannin should get in touch with Carey Chung by calling 466399.

Castle Rushen is the venue for two nights of music-making by young people from the Department of Education and Children’s Soundcheck project and their guests.

The concerts on July 5 and 6 follow on from a successful gig there last year.

DEC youth officer Dave Hattersley said: ‘We are thrilled to be playing in such a fantastic venue again.

‘Performances will start at 6pm and end at 11pm and we’ll have some guest appearances, along with the numerous acts from Soundcheck. The sound and lighting will be controlled by young people, including a superb laser show.’

Soundcheck acts appearing include Zac Phillips, Azariah, Alice Dudley, Marc Mccabe O’Kelly, Red Shift, Full Moon Fallout, Brainstorm and south-based The Same, plus special guests Dusty Plankton, Roc Vannin, The Bar Toads and Chris Gray, with more to be announced soon. Special guest from England is Charly Prior.

Tickets (£5 per night or £8 for both nights, with discounts for students) are available from the Manx Museum, Castle Rushen and at www.manxnationalheritage.im

The Electoral Registration Unit has moved to the Cabinet Office on the third floor at Government Offices in Bucks Road, Douglas.

The electoral registers can be viewed between 10am and 5pm at the reception counter on the third floor.

An appointment is recommended and can be made by calling 01624 685754.

The electoral registers are also available for inspection at local authority offices, the General Registry and the Tynwald library. Appointments may be necessary in some cases.

The Electoral Registration Unit operates a rolling registration system, meaning household details may be revised at any time during the year.

Any changes form the basis of quarterly revisions to the registers.

The Registration Officer undertakes an annual canvass of households and people are encouraged to return registration forms promptly to ensure their eligibility to vote in any forthcoming House of Keys or local authority elections.

Professor St John Bates is pictured presenting Tynwald with a personal portrait in memory of his service as Clerk of Tynwald from 1987 to 2001.

Receiving the portrait, which will be displayed in the Tynwald Library on long-term loan, the Speaker of the House of Keys Steve Rodan SHK, centre, said: ‘As Clerk of Tynwald Professor Bates was noted for his wise counsel and exceptional knowledge of parliamentary procedures much valued by Members. We are delighted to receive the painting which will serve as a welcome reminder of St John’s time with us.’

Also pictured is Tynwald President Clare Christian.

The Isle of Man Passport Office has issued a statement to reassure people that the processing backlog chaos reported in the UK will not affect them.

A spokesperson for the Isle of Man Passport Office said: ‘We would like to reassure our customers that the Isle of Man passport service is unaffected by the current backlog of applications in the UK and there is no backlog here.

‘Standard passport applications have a 20 working days target and we are currently processing them within 15 days. With a continued increase in applications during this busy period we are anticipating processing to be at 20 working days from next week. Our same-day and five-day express services are also available. The advice to the public is, as always, to submit your application in good time.’

Charities can no longer hold car boot sales at Shaw’s Brow Car Park, Douglas Council has agreed.

It comes after a three-month trial to allow charities to use level three for a car boot sale on the last Sunday of January, February and March, was unsuccessful.

The main aims were to raise awareness of the car park’s location to increase use on Saturdays, and raise awareness it’s free to park on Sundays.

But it was noted that the results were ‘inconsistent and inconclusive’ with an increase in the car park’s usage not always leading to increased footfall in the town centre.

In each case though, the charities were pleased with the results of their fundraising.

A number of councillors expressed their disappointment that the car boot sales couldn’t continue.

Environmental services committee chairman Ritchie McNicholl said each car boot sale cost Douglas Development Partnership about £100 in event management fees.

He said if they were to be reintroduced it would be in the winter.

A travelling fundraiser for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute visited the Isle of Man as part of an 80-day tour of the British Isles.

Diane Leigh visited the island’s lifeboat stations in one day as part of her ‘British Things Tour Expedition’.

She set out from RNLI headquarters in Poole on May 13 where she intends to finish on July 31.

On the way she will visit as many lifeboat stations as possible, using shipping forecast zones as her guide, and wants to raise £10,000 for the institute.

This trip is the fulfilment of a dream for Diane, and through doing it she hopes to inspire others to also follow their dreams.

At the age of 12 Diane’s mother died and her life ‘fell into darkness’ she wrote on her website, this darkness only lifted after she had a health scare at the age of 40.

Speaking at Port Erin lifeboat station, where she arrived last Monday afternoon, she said: ‘Life was very desperate and difficult up to that time (of turning 40).

‘I was very down, I was deeply unhappy. I found a lump and for two weeks thought I had breast cancer.

‘The impact once I got the all clear it completely shifted my mind set about life and what I wanted and what I wanted to give. It really happened in an afternoon.

‘I decided to live my life differently and that involved leaving a relationship, moving jobs, moving town.

‘I wanted to live for a year in France, and ended up living for two years in Paris.

‘I’m continuing to live in a way that is true to myself and at the same time hope to inspire others to fulfil their own dreams – whatever that might be.’

While living in France, on a trip back to Britain, she saw the country and culture with new eyes, inspiring this latest idea to capture the essence of ‘ordinary, everyday Britishness’ through travelling the length and breadth of the country.

She wrote her memoir, ‘Dream Seed Magic – A Journey Beyond My Imagination’, when she left France and hopes to publish another based on the British tour.

‘I decided on a coastal tour because I love the coast so much and would be able to represent Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England, it was automatic to raise funds for the RNLI,’ she said.

She’s doing the tour on a shoestring and relying on lifts, free accommodation and food – thanking people on her twitter feed - and collecting donations for the RNLI at the same time.

She said she passed quickly through places.

She said: ‘It is intensive, it highlights the similarities and differences, such as accents. There are behaviours we all share and recognise such as putting the kettle on, talking about the weather, insisting on a barbecue in the rain – we all can connect with the same things while accepting regional differences and celebrating those as well.’

She added: ‘I glance back to really remind myself of the achievement of changing my life so that I’m happy and have inner contentment. You learn you can move on, focus on the present to influence the future as best you can, that’s part of my philosophy.’

To donate to Diane’s trip, https://www.justgiving.com/littlebritishthingstour

Drivers wishing to head north along the TT Course will need to find an alternative route for the next two weeks.

Roadworks will take place from 9.30am to 4.30pm each day from this morning (Monday) until next Friday, June 27.

The closed section is from the A3’s junction with the Poortown Road, near St John’s, to Kirk Michael corner.

Peel’s lifeboat, the ‘Ruby Clery’ was involved in a major Irish Sea search on Friday.

The lifeboat was launched at 9pm to assist in the search of a missing fishing boat.

The launch was to search for an 18-foot day fishing boat which had broken down on passage from Port Logan, near the Mull of Galloway, to Kippford, where it was

going for a refit.

Two people were on board. Port Patrick and Kirkudbright lifeboat were out along with the MCA boat from Port William and a helicopter.

The boat was eventually located 10 miles North West of Peel and towed her into Peel by the Peel lifeboat at around 1am.

Both crewmen were well but the tow was slow as the stern gland was letting in water as the propeller turned when towed.

Crew member Shaun Cannan went onboard the fishing boat to assist. Coxswain John Hunter was in command assisted by the rest of the volunteer crew.

Volunteers will be flying the flag for a Manx charity later this month with an annual fundraising drive.

Manx Blind Welfare’s annual flag day is on June 20 and it hopes donations will exceed last year’s total of £8,300.

Volunteers co-ordinator and events organiser Debbie Kenyon said: ‘Many fundraising events and initiatives are organised throughout the year to help us fund the vital services we provide in the Isle of Man and our annual flag day collections are a big part of that.

‘This year our staff and volunteers will be out and about on the streets of Douglas and Onchan asking the public to continue their kind and generous support. If you see one of our collection boxes please do donate anything you can spare as every penny really does make a difference.’ she said.

The Manx Blind Welfare Society caters for around 600 blind or partially sighted people in the Isle of Man and more than 60 staff and volunteers will be involved in the flag day.

The society, based at Corrin Court in Onchan, supports members with a talking book library and a recording studio providing weekly news bulletins. There is also a computer training room, a specialist equipment room and a large dining and social room. The society also provides home and hospital visits and social events throughout the year. Anyone interested in donating or helping should call 674727 or email dkenyon@mbws.org.im

There could be many disadvantages for Manx footballers if the island broke away from the English FA to allow it compete in the World Cup.

Chief Minister Allan Bell made the point in the House of Keys as he heralded recent successes of both the Isle of Man national football team and the Ellan Vannin squad.

Peter Karran (Lib Van, Onchan) asked him to revisit his Tynwald motion from 2007 which called for a select committee to investigate the feasibility of establishing a Football Association for the Isle of Man, independent of the English FA, and a member in its own right of the international bodies.

In a similar vein, Richard Ronan (Castletown) asked the Chief Minister: ‘Does he think one day the Isle of Man FA could follow in the footsteps of the likes of the Faroe Islands, Lichtenstein and San Marino, and enter the FIFA World Cup?’

Mr Bell replied: ‘There are many hurdles to overcome, including achieving Isle of Man FA support for such a move. There are many disadvantages in loss of training facilities and other financial support which would occur.’

The Manx International Football Alliance said it had neither instigated or considered applying for UEFA membership. It said was not a competitor of the IOMFA and had been established to allow players to represent Ellan Vannin internationally.