The number of people out of work in the island has dropped.

Figures released by the government today show that 890 were registered unemployed at the end of May.

That’s a fall of 96 from the end of April and is 182 fewer than for the same month last year.

The Isle of Man’s unemployment rate is 2 per cent.

That compares well internationally.

The most recent figure for the UK, which is April’s, shows an unemployment rate of 6.6 per cent.

In the Republic of Ireland it’s 12 per cent, Germany 5.2 per cent, the USA 6.3 per cent and France 9.8 per cent.

During May 138 people in the island signed on and 234 signed off the unemployment register.

A total of 668 vacancies were notified to the Job Centre during the month and at the end of the month 324 positions were still vacant and held on file.

As usual, the disparity between those figures illustrates a skills gap.

There are more vacancies for people with a healthcare background than there are people with those qualifications looking for work, for example.

There are also more vacancies for skilled engineers than there are skilled engineers looking for a job.

However, there is some bright news for jobs that are arguably less skilled.

There were 212 vacancies for work in hotels, bars and in catering notified during the month, with only 89 people with those backgrounds looking for work.

Included in the statistics are people who are signing on for credits only, and so not getting benefits. In total there were 48 of them.

The island’s lowest May figure for unemployment since 1978, the earliest year for which records are available, was in 2001, when just 154 were out of work.

In 1985 there were 1,999 and in 1994 there were 1,425.

There was a small increase in water pollution incidents last year.

An annual report published by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture shows the number rose to 28 in 2013, from 24 in 2012.

The year saw the Environmental Protection Unit (EPU) deal with pollution incidents in rivers, harbours and beaches, with 27 categorised as minor (only a limited effect on water quality and aquatic life) and only one as significant (more harmful, widespread effects on water quality and aquatic life). No incidents were in the ‘major’ category (widespread, persistent damage to aquatic life) in 2013, in contrast to 2012, when there were three major incidents, including a substantial fish kill.

Despite not leading to widespread contamination or fish kills, many of the incidents discovered in 2013 required multiple visits, both to stop the pollution and to clean up sites so they could recover, the report – {https://www.gov.im/media/1196114/river_pollution_incidents_2013.pdf|click here} – states.

Two major farm slurry spills in 2012 resulted in the EPU taking successful legal action against the perpetrators. No slurry-related incidents were recorded in 2013, but there was an increase (from one in 2012 to eight in 2013) in incidents involving suspended solids, such as mud and silt.

These usually involve run-off from construction or quarry sites or newly-ploughed fields following heavy rain. Oil, sewage and other pollutants make up the rest of the cases.

River quality is a long established and reliable indicator of the ‘health’ of the environment and it remains under pressure from incidents such as sewage spills and oil leaks, as well as run-off of silt and mud from poor building and agricultural practices. Inland waters are protected by the Water Pollution Act 1993.

It’s the second year in a row that incidents have increased. In 2008, 49 incidents were recorded. That fell to 30 in 2009, decreased again to 25 in 2010 and dropped by another five to 20 in 2011.

Phil Gawne MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ‘The countryside and its wildlife are invaluable assets that everybody has a duty to protect and all businesses should behave in a responsible and sustainable way that doesn’t inflict damage to our natural resources.

‘The more we can reduce the number of pollution incidents, the more chance sensitive wildlife has to flourish.’

He urged the public to remain vigilant, saying: ‘I’d encourage people to contact the EPU immediately they witness a water pollution incident, rather than leave it days or even weeks to report the problem, because by then damage may well have been done to the habitat and wildlife and the polluter not identified or held to account.’

Nigel Farage, the leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, is coming to the island in November.

He will be speaking at the Gaiety Theatre in Douglas at an event organised by the Sporting and Dining Club.

After two decades on the fringes, Farage’s UKIP gave the main parties a rattling in the recent local elections, where it recorded its best-ever result.

Farage was born in Kent, where he still lives.

In 1993 he co-founded a new Eurosceptic party – The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), which had one principal goal – to get Britain out of the EU.

Farage was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 1999.

In the 2010 General Election Nigel Farage raised eyebrows when he contested John Bercow’s seat in Buckingham. It was a subversive thing to do as the Speaker of the House is neutral and not usually challenged.

But on the morning of the election, Farage was involved in an air crash caused by the UKIP election banner the plane was towing getting caught in the plane’s tail fin.

Farage emerged from the accident remarkably quickly.

Last month UKIP won the largest number of votes of any party in the European elections in the UK, marking the first time in modern history that neither Labour nor the Conservatives has won a British national election.

The organiser of Mr Farage’s appearance in the island, John Wannenburgh, said: ‘Whether you subscribe to Prime Minister David Cameron’s 2006 claim that Mr Farage’s UKIP party is full of “fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists”, or regard him as the only man who offers a feasible alternative to the doldrums of current mainstream politics, he’s a fascinating phenomenon, and I am delighted that to present him to the Isle of Man public in November.’

Tickets are available from the Gaiety Theatre box office (Tel 600555) from Friday (June 20). Tickets are £17.50 per person, including the booking fee. All concessions are available exclusively through the Big Local App, free to download on i-phones and androids.

The event will take place on November 11.

It is sponsored by Specsavers Isle of Man.

A request has been made for any unwanted clothes to be donated to a sale by the Coffee and Chat Group.

The group is holding a hanger sale from 11am to 3pm on Saturday, July 5, in Ballasalla village hall to raise funds for the new breast cancer unit at Noble’s Hospital.

At the sale, a light lunch will be available.

Clothes can be left with Barbara Brereton, Silverdene, Station Road, Ballasalla, or at the Ballasalla Community Centre on a Wednesday morning.

Every week we upload around 150 stories (news, sport, business and others) to our site. The top 10 most-viewed are below.

1. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/car-dealer-s-collision-course-with-dandara-1-6664154|Car dealer’s collision course with Dandara} 7,166

2. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/bodies-of-two-spooked-cows-found-in-sea-1-6656957|Bodies of two cows found in sea} 6,353

3. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/business/plan-to-build-40-homes-and-shop-is-refused-1-6664054|PLan to build 40 homes and shop is refused} 4,029

4. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/rise-in-collisions-during-2014-isle-of-man-tt-festival-1-6664159|Rise in collisions during TT} 3,797

5. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/funfair-worker-struck-by-vertigo-ride-1-6657130|Funfair worker struck by Vertigo ride} 3,255

6. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/dispute-between-car-dealer-and-developer-is-examiner-s-lead-story-1-6663167|Dispute between car dealer and developer is Examiner’s lead story} 2,818

7. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/sport/football-news/ellan-vannin-s-heroes-lose-world-football-cup-final-on-spot-kicks-1-6661112|Ellan Vannin’s heroes lose cup final on spot kicks} 2,774

8. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/sea-terminal-bosses-defend-decision-to-close-doors-on-bike-fans-1-6668877|Sea Terminal bosses defend decision to close doors on bike fans} 2,748

9. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/inquest-opened-into-death-at-creg-pub-1-6668822|Inquest opened into death at Creg pub} 2,372

10.{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/68-pints-of-milk-stolen-1-6660965|Sixty-eight pints of milk stolen} 2,309

Manx Taekwondo won an impressive haul of one gold, one silver and four bronze medals at the Liverpool Open competition recently.

Nino Ontoy was the star of the show taking home a gold medal.

The club also won one silver medal and four bronze medals in the event held at the City of Liverpool Taekwondo Championship.

This meant six of the travelling seven athletes won medals.

Paul Haswell also represented Manx Taekwondo as a centre referee for the day, having recently completed the British Taekwondo refereeing course.

The full results from the weekend saw gold for Nino Ontoy in the pee wee advance 1st Poom -23kg.

A silver medal went to Sherilea O’Boyle in the veterans 1st Dan +67kg.

Tadgh Morrison won a bronze in the pee wee novice -26kg class and there was also bronze in the -34kg division for James Young. Cyrus Tan also secured a bronze medal at the senior advance -58kg and Baltazar De Los Santos at the junior male advance -73kg. Also producing a creditable performance was Jacob O’Boyle who lost against a very experienced opponent.

Manx Taekwondo club instructor, Rod Nielsen, said: ‘It was another brilliant performance to have six of our seven athletes win medals. We are really putting Manx taekwondo on the map with our students’ amazing achievements in UK tournaments.’

Rod thanked all the students’ family members who travelled to support the club, and the various sponsors.

Manx Taekwondo Lion’s is now open, aimed at three to six-year-olds.

Rod said: ‘We are using a very targeted strategy to improve concentration, balance, self confidence, fine motor control, listening, team work and eye-hand co-ordination.’

Students of any age and experience are welcome at Manx Taekwondo. Contact Rod on 436181 or visit the club’s Facebook page: Manx Taekwondo, for more information on club sessions.

The Manx International Football Alliance has confirmed it is bidding to bring the ConIFA European Championship to the Isle of Man next year.

MIFA chief executive Malcolm Blackburn said the decision was made because of the large levels of support that its representative side Ellan Vannin received from across the island during last week’s ConIFA World Football Cup.

‘We had prepared the bid prior to flying out to Sweden, but we wanted to gauge Manx public opinion before submitting it officially. The support we received while in Ostersund was fantastic and made up our mind to try and bring the championships here in 2015.’

Blackburn is hopeful that ConIFA will make a decision as to where the tournament will be held in the next four to six weeks although competition will be stiff after the success of last week’s World Football Cup.

Abkhazia, a disputed territory and partially recognized state on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus, is one of several associations that have made it clear that they are to launch a bid as well.

If MIFA does get the green light from ConIFA executive committee the 12-team competition is provisionally down to take place between June 14-21, to avoid a clash with the NatWest Island Games and the latter phase of the Uefa Regions Cup.

Reflecting on a remarkable seven days in Sweden that saw the Manx agonisingly miss out on the inaugural World Football Cup title on penalties Blackburn said: ‘Most of the detractors have been silenced and I think people are beginning to realise that this is about more than just football and that the cultural exchanges and identity are also key to this.

‘Ellan Vannin has raised the profile of the Isle of Man on the world stage - the interest has been phenomenal - we did something like 30-40 media interviews last week, while photographer Gary Weightman, who accompanied us on the trip, had 100,000 post clicks on his Vannin Photos Facebook page.’

So what’s next for men of the moment Ellan Vannin? ‘We’re hoping to host Arameans Suryoye in a friendly in August after agreeing a date with the Isle of Man FA.’ Added Blackburn. The two squads became close after sharing a hotel in Sweden.

One team the Manx might struggle to track down for a friendly is the Darfur United refugee side that Ellan Vannin were twinned with in the run up to the World Football Cup.

It has been reported that much if not all of the contingent has gone missing in Sweden ahead of their planned return to Africa.

A group of 25 taking part in this weekend’s gruelling Parish Walk are raising funds for the charity Ataxia UK.

You could be forgiven for not knowing what Ataxia UK is, because the neurological disorder ataxia is so rare, but one of the walkers, Lynne Robinson, is acutely aware of it because her son Macauley (known as ‘Macca’) has it.

The inherited disease – called Friedreich’s ataxia – usually strikes children and involves progressive damage to the nervous system leading to increasing loss of co-ordination, balance and movement. Within 10 to 15 years sufferers are usually wheelchair bound.

Lynne, 41, who lives in Port St Mary with husband Darren, who is also taking part in the parish walk, said Macca first presented with symptoms at the age of 12. ‘His back started hunching when he was 13,’ said Lynne. ‘When he was carrying things he was shaking, he was clumsy.’

So rare is the disease – around 10,000 people in the UK have it – getting a diagnosis took several years and that happened when Macca was 17.

Despite the frustration of knowing for several years something was wrong, but being unable to pinpoint what, Lynne is grateful they did not get an earlier diagnosis, she said: ‘If I would have known when he was 12, well it saved us from what we are going through now – I would have mollycoddled him.’

Now the focus is on making life as normal as possible for Macca, who is now 18. Lynne is keen on finding him a job.

Macca, who’s keen on golf, got a golf buggy for his birthday. He also likes to socialise with his friends, but because the ataxia affects his gait, he has found buying alcohol difficult as shop keepers have mistakenly thought he was already intoxicated.

He carries a card explaining he’s not drunk, but may be clumsy, fall and have slurred speech as he has the medical condition ataxia.

Lynne said: ‘That’s the thing that upsets me the most, people think he is drunk.’

She hopes as the community learns of Macca’s disease this will become less of a problem.

He is stoic in his approach to this devastating disease said Lynne. ‘He is the most laid back person you could meet. He has just got on with it and has been absolutely fantastic.’

She added: ‘First of all he did not want anyone to know about it. Now, a year down the line, everyone does know and because of the incidents [such as difficulties buying drink] the more people that know the better.’

They could raise funds to give them all a holiday, but Lynne said that’s unacceptable. ‘We could not do it, it’s like taking people’s money to go on holiday, my husband Darren said we want a cure.’

All funds raised by doing the Parish Walk, which is sponsored by Manx Telecom, will go towards Ataxia UK’s mission to find a cure by 2020.

‘I thought we’d get as many of us as we could and just do 10 miles, but four or five people said: “Let’s do the parish”. How stupid am I? I have lost 36lb in eight weeks. I have to lose weight to do this flipping walk, I’m the laziest person you can get. Twenty-five will do 1,000 miles between us all in the walk. I cannot wait until it’s all over!’ she said.

Lynne added: ‘We try to treat him as normally as we can. People ask, how are you so bubbly? What do you want me to do? Sit in a dark room and cry? I’m still going out having fun.’

To contact Lynne call 498814 or to donate visit the website justgiving.com/25people1000miles

Isle of Man Sport Aid

recipient and Manx shooter Tim Kneale set a new world record for the double trap event at the Munich World Cup in Germany.

Jurby shooter Kneale, who won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, recorded a massive score of 148 out of 150 targets at the International Shooting Sport Federation event in the Bavarian capital.

His score was enough to secure qualification for the semi-finals and also shattered the previous record held by American shooter and current world champion Walton Eller which was set at the 2013 ISSF Shotgun World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking after the event, the delighted Manx shooter commented: ‘I can’t believe it, a new world record! I must thank everyone who has helped me achieve this.’

Despite the world record, Kneale agonisingly missed out on a bronze medal against the USA’s Jeffrey Holguin 28 clays to 26.

The gold was won by Slovakian shooter Hubert Andrzej Olejnik ahead of Eller.

Tim did, in fact, equal a record in 2010 at the World Cup in Lonato but wasn’t in the GB team at the time so unfortunately it didn’t stand as an official result.

Kneale will again represent the Isle of Man at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next month - the highest level at which a Manx sportsman or woman can represent the island - where he is hoping to continue his fine form.

‘The target is gold but to win any medal for the Isle of Man would be brilliant.

‘I’m lucky enough to have competed in international events for a number of years but generally when you are on the world stage, you’re competing under the British flag.’ Kneale said.

The 31-year-old Jurby man works in Stanraer as an agricultural consultant for the Scottish Agricultural College, he was a keen rugby player, but said he decided to concentrate on shooting at a competitive level after suffering a broken leg.

The challenge of preparing for the Commonwealth Games is particularly hard for Kneale who balances a full-time job with training and preparation for the Games between July 23 and August 3.

His coach, Martin Barker said: ‘I have coached Tim since 2003, he has worked extremely hard and now it has really paid off, he is in a great position for Glasgow 2014.’

Kneale is part of an 11-strong Isle of Man shooting team for Glasgow.

Competing in small-bore rifle will be the British Prone champion York-based Rachel Glover, British 300 metre champion and World team 300m champ Harry Creevy, CSF(ED) Championships women’s gold medallist Lara Ward, Isle of Man Sport Aid recipient Ben Kelly and Gemma Kermode.

All five will be contesting the 50m prone competition, while Kermode and Glover will also be contesting the Three Positional 50 metre small-bore rifle event and Gemma will add the air rifle discipline to her programme.

The remaining names included in the shooting team are all from the shotgun discipline and are Jake Keeling (double trap), Neil Parsons and David ‘Wilfy’ Walton (trap), David Clague and James Bradley (skeet) with team manager Phil Glover.

Barry Buddon Shooting Centre, one of the satellite venues, will host the shooting events during the Commonwealth Games.

Should the island have a single all-island sixth form centre?

That’s the question that will be posed in Tynwald today (Tuesday) by Castletown MHK Richard Ronan.

He will ask Education Minister Tom Crookall: ‘What plans he has to create a single all island sixth form facility?’

But the Examiner understands the Department of Education and Children has no such plans at the moment.

It has, however, identified issues with small class sizes in certain A level subjects and some schools are already teaming up to offer courses such as computing by pooling their resources.

Mr Ronan said he was receptive to the idea of creating a single all-island sixth form centre - but he accepted there may be logistical problems in getting pupils from across the island to one central facility.

He said: ‘I’ve heard this is something which is being talked about.

‘I’ve a daughter going through this at the moment. Our schools are trying to offer the best A-level subjects they can and already they are starting to split subjects over different schools.

‘Should we have so many A level centres around the island? Just because we’ve done something for 50 years doesn’t mean it’s actually the best way.

‘To create a centre of excellence for sixth form students could possibly give our students an edge for getting into university. Stepping away from the secondary education environment might be positive. But there is a question of logistics.’

Among schools looking at sharing resources for some A-level subjects next year are Castle Rushen High School and Queen Elizabeth II School.

A billionaire’s planning application for wind turbines has provoked anger among his neighbours.

Today’s Isle of Man Examiner reports on the Port Erin community’s reaction to John Whittaker’s proposal.

Also this week we report on the death of well-known businessman Brian Mylchreest, who was 97. We remember his distinguished record during the war.

The paper also includes:

Interviews with the three recipients of awards in the Queen’s Birthday Honours

>A report about the disruption to an A-level examination in one of our secondary schools

>PokerStars tells our business reporter that its staff in Onchan should not worry about the takeover

>News that the government is seeking a new tourism director, two years after a similar position was axed. The salary is negotiable.

>A campaign for a shop in Marown. There is nowhere to pop out to buy a pint of milk in the whole parish.

>An account of the charity sleepover at the top of Snaefell

>A two-page feature about Belle, the new film that is to hit cinemas this week

With our great sports section, Final Whistle, 12 pages of business news, the island’s social diary and the best forum for your views in our letters pages, the Examiner is an essential read this week.

The island’s favourite newspaper is on sale now.

A car dealer was burgled in the early hours of this morning.

They struck at Honda Kingswood Grove in Douglas at about 3am.

Two suitcase-size generators were stolen.

Officers appealed for anyone with information about this burglary or is offered or knows of these being offered for sale, to contact Douglas police on 631212.

Police this morning appealed to the public to help them find out who vandalised a business almost a week ago.

Overnight of Wednesday, June 1/Thursday, June 12, paint was thrown over the door and windows of the Hair Boutique, at the Pinewood Complex, Laburnum Avenue, Pulrose, Douglas.

Officers say it caused considerable damage and financial loss for the owner.

Constable Michael Taylor said: ‘This is a rare incident in the area and I appeal to anyone who may have any information, no matter how insignificant that they may feel it is, to contact me via 631212.’

Manx archer Kirsten George helped Great Britain’s women’s team win bronze at the European outdoor youth championships recently.

The Isle of Man Archery Club member joined Isabelle Carpenter and Lucy Mason as they represented GB in Slovenia’s capital city Ljubljana where they won the cadet women’s compound team bronze medal.

During the bronze medal match against Ukraine the trio stayed focused and showed that all their hard training during the build up to the event had paid off.

Simon Scott, compound youth coach of Archery GB, said: ‘Isabelle, Kirsten and Lucy really showed their individual shooting strengths during the tournament.

‘They also worked fantastically together as a team and clearly enjoyed every moment of the bronze medal match.

‘They have proved themselves to be some of the best archers in their age group in Europe and we hope that they can continue their success on the world stage too.’

There was plenty of success for Archery GB in Ljubljana, with the squad taking home a men’s team cadet recurve gold medal, a men’s team cadet compound bronze medal and a men’s junior team compound silver medal.

As a result, Great Britain finished seventh in the overall medal table.

The European Outdoor Youth Championships has been held since 2000 and is organised by the European World Archery Federation.

For more information regarding the championships visit www.worldarchery.org

Loans given to the Sefton Group as part of a government bail-out deal were not lawful, according to independent legal advice.

Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK made an announcement in Tynwald today following the explosive findings of UK barrister Richard Moules, which were received by government last night.

The legal counsel concluded that ‘more likely than not’ both the original £450,000 loan made in 2012 and the £1.2m cash loan given the following year were ‘ultra vires’ - i.e. not lawful.

He concluded both loans should not have paid out as the Sefton Group was not an ‘eligible business’ under the Enterprise Act as it was in arrears with tax and had incurred civil penalties.

The purchase of the Middlemarch site (on the corner of Walpole Avenue and Lord Street in Douglas) for £3.2 million, however, was lawful as it did fall within the scope of the Land and Property Acquisition Fund.

Mr Moules points out that the government could seek to sanction the loans retrospectively.

Economic Development Minister John Shimmin MHK tendered his resignation this morning as a government minister over the matter. But it has not been accepted.

Michael MHK Alfred Cannan has asked for an emergency debate on the matter this afternoon.

In his statement to Tynwald this morning, Mr Shimmin said: ‘As Members are aware, this decision was taken with the honest intention of protecting jobs and businesses on the island.

‘In this regard I believe we have been successful. Recent figures released have indicated that the number of creditors has been significantly reduced in the last 12 months; the prospects for the Sefton Hotel (and indeed the tourist sector) are promising and therefore the losses which would have potentially brought about the demise of other local firms appears to have been reduced; the confidence in the economy was maintained and is currently in a very healthy position; and the taxpayer continues to receive repayments of the loans with interest.

‘However, it is apparent that we did not have the legal vires to make the two loans and for that I apologise to the Court and the people of our island unreservedly. It is vital that Government acts within the law and when wrong doing is identified then someone is held accountable. I take full responsibility for this failure and as a result this morning I have tendered my resignation to the Chief Minister.’

Mr Teare, acting in the place of the Chief Minister who is off the island, told the court that he was not accepting his resignation and would not be passing the resignation to the Governor.

He told the court: ‘It is clear to me that the Minister acted in good faith in the best interests of the island’s economy and people. On the understanding that he has offered a full and sincere apology to myself, the Council of Ministers and to Tynwald, I am not going to forward his resignation to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor.

‘The Council of Ministers recognises the importance of respecting the legal process in these matters and acknowledges that an error was made in this regard. I would like to add my sincere apologies to this court and those of my colleagues in the Council of Ministers.’

He said the position would be reviewed again in light of the latest legal advice to ensure it did not arise again.

In his legal opinion, Mr Moules concludes: ‘It follows from my advice that it is more likely than not that the loans of £450,000 and £1.2 million were ultra vires i.e. not lawful under the EA 2008 and the 2009 Regulations.

‘This means that the government has a power (although not a duty) to seek restitution of the monies from Sefton. Such a claim would, however, be subject to the usual defences to a claim for restitution, including the defence of change of position.

‘As an alternative to seeking to recover the money, legislation could be enacted to validate the transaction retrospectively.’

‘{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/tynwald-to-receive-independent-legal-advice-on-sefton-bail-out-1-6551428|Independent legal advice was sought after a motion from Liberal Vannin leader Kate Beecroft MHK. Click here to read more}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/sefton-group-inquiry-recommendations-approved-1-6452110|Our most recent story about the inquiry into the Sefton loan}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/report-backs-the-bail-out-of-the-sefton-group-1-6283632|Tynwald’s Economic Policy Review Committee said that government was right to back the Sefton loan in 2013}

A ‘TT’ civil marriage ceremony has been held at Ramsey Town Hall, the first since Ramsey Commissioners took over the civil registry service for the north.

Beverley Cartwright and Simon Smith from Shropshire were married in the building’s civil ceremony room overlooking the TT course at Parliament Square during the Sidecar Race 2 event on June 5.

Beverley, a professional counsellor, is the fourth generation of her family to visit the Island for the TT. It was her third visit and the groom’s second.

The bride’s uncle, John Parton, who has been coming to the TT for 47 years, gave her away.

Simon, a commercial vehicle body builder, said: ‘I’d been longing to come over to watch the TT for years and finally made it last year.

‘We’re both mad about bikes and met at a bike rally in England. Ramsey’s a fantastic base for the TT and we always stay at the Ramsey AFC campsite at Ballacloan, so we were delighted that the club’s chairman Malcolm Kelly came to the wedding.

‘The campsite’s a really good place to stay, everyone is so welcoming and the amenities are excellent. In fact everyone in Ramsey we met was so friendly and helpful, especially the staff at Ramsey Town Hall who went out of their way to make sure our day went without a hitch.

‘It was Bev who proposed to me - on Valentine’s Day - and we knew we wanted to have our wedding in Ramsey at the town hall, it’s such an imposing building and, for us, the perfect setting.

‘The registrar, Gemma Kelly, was brilliant right down to arranging for our favourite music track, Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters, to be played, and the wedding was perfect.

‘After the ceremony and once the roads had re-opened we fulfilled another ambition, to do a lap of the course as a married couple on my bike.

‘Everyone really pulled out the stops to make our wedding day special. It’s something we’ll never forget.’

The new Mr and Mrs Smith, who stayed in the island for a few days after the TT for their honeymoon, have already booked for TT 2015.

Ramsey Town Hall has the only civil registry room on the TT course.

Experienced gymnast Alex Hedges will captain the island’s Commonwealth Games team in Glasgow.

It will be Hedges’s third Games having competed at both Melbourne and Delhi in 2006 and 2010.

One of the island’s two bronze medals at the latter was won by Tim Kneale. The shooter, who broke the double trap world record last week, has been picked to carry the Manx flag into the Games’ opening ceremony at Celtic Park on July 23.

The Manx squad of 46 is the largest sent to a Commonwealth Games.

A Douglas teenager has shaved her head to raise money for cot death charity the Lullaby Trust and in memory of her son, Kai.

Chelsea Robson, 18, had her hair cut off at the Strand Shopping Centre in Douglas on Tuesday, along with her uncle, Wayne Hay.

Kai John Robson-McKellar died from cot death last year.

A raffle was organised by Chelsea’s mother, Lisa Christian, who said afterwards: ‘Thanks to everyone who came. The support was amazing. I’d like to thank all the shops that donated prizes, Tommy Campbell butcher’s in Willaston who raised £280, Telecabs and Manx Gas who raised about £500 selling raffle tickets there.

‘I’m so proud of Chelsea and Wayne. We counted up the money there and had about £1,100 but once we’ve got it all in it should be close to £2,500.

If anyone still has sponsor forms please send them, with the money and Kai’s name on the back of any cheque, to the Lullaby Trust, 11 Belgrave Road, London SW1V 1RB, or call Lisa Christian on 234522.

The world’s first gold assured credit card will be launched by Douglas-based bullion depository and trading company IMGold later this year.

The ‘Bullion Card,’ in association with Catella Bank, is backed by Visa and will enable IMGold clients to obtain credit against the value of precious metal they own which is stored in the company’s high security, below ground, vaults in Victoria Street.

Bullion Card clients will have the option to purchase a solid gold companion card manufactured by Rosan Diamond Studio.

Clients can register to own the card at www.imgold.com – and the company expects the first clients to be using their Bullion Cards later this year.

Ed Pearce, IMGold managing director, said: ‘Bullion Card will be unique to IMGold customers and allow them the convenience and flexibility to access cash based on the value of the precious metal they own, but without having to sell it.

‘The card will be available for clients holding precious metals with IMGold of at least £100,000 in value at the time of application.

Clients will receive a credit limit of up to 50 per cent of the value of their precious metal holding.

‘Initial response from clients has been overwhelmingly positive and we already have a number who have registered to be among the first to receive the Bullion Card.’

Bullion Card is a Visa Infinite card and carries a range of benefits, privileges, and experiences from the global credit card brand including comprehensive insurance, Priority Pass, and Personal Concierge.

The card does not have any fixed limits but offers adaptable security thresholds that change over time on the basis of actual usage.

Anticipated representative APR is 7 per cent with a 5 per cent minimum monthly repayment.

IMGold, which is the trading name of Isle of Man Bullion Ltd, was launched last year and has offices and vaults which are electronically protected and monitored by G4S with security systems equalling or exceeding industry standards.

www.imgold.com

888 888

Tributes have been paid to Mylchreests Group company founder Brian Mylchreest, who has died at the age of 97.

He held the rank of colonel during the Second World War, serving in Egypt and leading the Manx Regiment for the Normandy landings.

After the war, he returned to the island where he had the voluntary role of aide-de-camp for four lieutenant governors, and he was the sword bearer for the Tynwald Day ceremony.

For many years he drove the roads open car for the TT. He is pictured below with a Riley in 1947.

Son David said he died peacefully on Sunday night.

‘The respect people had for him was immeasurable,’ he said.

‘That is the word coming back to me from people who knew him.’

Mr Mylchreest, born in the island and a pupil at King William’s College, founded Mylchreests Group in 1961.

On his retirement in 1985 David became managing director. Mr Mylchreest is pictured above in 2011, at a celebration to mark the company’s 50th anniversary.

Among the honours he received were being admitted as lieutenant into the Royal Victoria Order (LVO), and being awarded Order of the British Empire (OBE).

David said his father was most proud of his family.

‘He was never happier in his later years than when family of all ages and sizes were around him.’

He leaves his wife Doreen, son David and daughter Susan, five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.