Treasury have told Douglas North MHK John Houghton there is no record of him ever submitting his form to start paying voluntary pension contributions.

And the chief financial officer Malcolm Couch says it would be inappropriate to send any member a reminder that they are not making voluntary contributions.

We revealed yesterday that Mr Houghton was the only MHK not paying towards his pension.

He insists that he thought he was paying as he had apparently submitted a form to Treasury payroll back in April 2012.

But in an email exchange, Mr Couch told him: ‘There is no record of you submitting the appropriate form to Treasury Payroll.

‘Had we received and acted upon the form authorising voluntary contributions to be deducted, you would have seen an appreciable reduction in your monthly salary, and under DEDUCTIONS your payslip would have shown the line “Tynwald Members Pension Scheme”.

‘Similarly, there is no record of any correspondence or contact from you regarding the Members Pension Scheme since the new arrangements began.

‘This is, as approved by Tynwald, a voluntary scheme. Members needed to return the form in order for their voluntary contributions to the scheme to be set up. It would have been inappropriate for Treasury Payroll to send you, or any Member, reminders that you were not making voluntary contributions to the pension scheme.’

In a statement sent to Tynwald members, Mr Houghton claimed events had shown Treasury in a ‘poor light’ and if reminders had been sent out ‘none of those witch hunts on members would have happened’.

Mr Houghton says he did not check, and does not keep, his payslips. He has shown iomtoday his bank statements which show his take home pay fell by more than £1,000 between April and May 2012 and rose again by nearly £270 in June of that year.

The latest round in the acoustic sessions held at Jabberwocky in Douglas continues this Saturday with a show featuring arguably three of the best acoustic artists that the island has to offer.

A bill made up of Chris Gray, Matt Creer and Ian Thompson should always excite if that’s your bag.

Between them, these three artists will be showcasing their excellent original pieces that have all made their way on to official releases that have gone on to do very well promoting each of them.

The Saturday night show kicks off at 7.30pm.

Tickets can be purchased for £3 directly from Jabberwocky or alternatively, email chrisgraymusic@yahoo.co.uk

This Saturday night the Amber Bar in Douglas plays host to not one but two of only a small handful of Punk bands based on the Isle of Man.

Headliners Poison Hearts have been kicking around and flying the flag for the heyday of Punk for a good while now.

The band mix the early fledgling sounds of the likes of The Sex Pistols and The Damned, via a smattering of Motorhead, to the more recent influences of American Punk Rock band Social Distortion.

Their 2008 debut album True Necromance – which is their only release to date – showcases just what these boys bring to the table.

If a bit of high energy, trashy, no nonsense Punk Rock is up your street, then you can’t go far wrong in giving these boys a listen.

Support for this show comes from Deady Long Legs, another relatively new band on the scene in the grand scheme of things.

That said, they’ve racked up a fair few gig miles in the last 12 months.

They have made appearances at various small festivals on the Isle of Man and played a respectable number of dates in and around TT week in June.

These boys bring a mix of covers from the likes of Green day, Therapy, Social Distortion as well as Bad Religion.

It will be Deady Long Legs’ last gig of the year. They say: ‘What better way to end the year than to play with the Manx Punk legends the Poison Hearts, should be a fun show.’

The band will hit the stage at around 9pm on Saturday night. Poison Hearts will round off the proceedings from just after 10pm and the event is free entry.

For more information on both of these bands, please visit www.facebook.com/pages/Poison-Hearts/10048316895 and www.facebook.com/pages/DEADY-LONG-LEGS/1374939639419598

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Steve Leach brings the latest rumblings, murmurings, news and views on forthcoming events in and around the island’s music scene. Help support the scene by emailing leachsteve@hotmail.com

After a week’s rest and with the Christmas break to look forward to, Ramsey have just one last job to do in 2014 and that is to defeat Congleton on Saturday.

The Cheshire side lie third in the South Lancashire and Cheshire Division Three standings after a stuttering start.

Although Ramsey won the away fixture back in September, Congleton have bounced back and climbed steadily up the table.

They had some player availability problems in that first fixture and this time around will be travelling with a much stronger line-up.

Ramsey should, however, be pretty much at full strength too which will make for an interesting game.

Scott Kneale should be back in the squad after missing the last match because of a school game commitment.

Mikey Craine looks poised for a recall after Jake Severs picked up a knock and Ben Barlow is back from his holidays to make competition for second row places a keen affair.

Additionally, centre Craig Long may have earned himself a recall with two tries for the B team last week, with back-row/second-row man Matty Meechan doing something similar.

Congleton’s match report from the last game was very kind to Ramsey but their uplift in form suggests caution should be exercised.

Scrum-half Andy Willis is not making the trip and is replaced by Alex Allen.

The starting line-up (barring late training knocks of course) is pretty much the same side that turned over Oldershaw recently and includes leading points scorer Joseph Kanauros who’s averaging nearly 10 points per game.

Ramsey need to win here, pick up a bonus point if possible and deny Congleton a losing bonus point too.

A tall order but Ramsey have looked good at home this season and may be able to pull it off.

Saturday’s fixtures

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division One

West Park (St Helens) v Douglas @ West Park

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division Two

Orrell v Vagabonds @ Orrell

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division Three

Ramsey v Congleton @ Mooragh Park ko 1.30pm

Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield

PDMS Southern Nomads v Emerging Nomads @ King William’s College ko 2.15pm

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

Figures released by the government today show there were 253 fewer people out of work at the end of November than 12 months earlier.

The number is 864, compared with 1,117 in November 2013. But month on month, the statistic is less impressive. It’s two down on the end of October.

The number of people transferring from other benefits to Jobseeker’s Allowance has fallen by 27 during the last 12 months.

Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner will take a more in-depth look at the figures.

The occupant of a burning flat was rescued by firefighters last night.

There was a full turn out of appliances after members of the public smelt burning outside a property in Bircham Avenue, Ramsey.

The initial caller then heard an alarm operating and could see smoke coming from a flat.

Fire engines were sent from Ramsey, Laxey, Kirk Michael and Douglas.

On arrival the first appliance from Ramsey station confirmed that the building was smoke logged.

Firfighters forced their way into the flat and found the occupant who was removed from the building.

The occupant was suffering from smoke inhalation and was treated by crews until the ambulance arrived; they were taken to hospital for a check-up.

The fire was caused by a pan left on the stove.

A fire service spokesman said: ‘We would like to remind the public to be extra vigilant at this time of year especially when cooking, never leave anything on or near a cooker, if you are cooking never leave a working stove unattended.

‘Check that your smoke detectors are working that early warning of a fire can help to save your life.’

A familiar building in Pulrose is set to be re-named this weekend.

The Old Police House which has stood empty for several years is being transformed into a community house by a group of churches led by the Methodist Church.

A competition to rename the house was held this autumn among the children of nearby Manor Park school.

The winning entry was Manor Ark chosen by Emily Hall.

Panda Dooley, youth and community sorker for Pulrose with the Methodist Church said: ‘We loved the name. It’s a play on words (the school is Manor Park), but it also taps into the Bible story of Noah and the Ark.

‘In the story the Ark is a place of safety and security and welcome. That reflects what we want this house to be, a place where people of all ages are welcomed and encouraged, and where good relationships are built.’

Over the last few weeks work has been progressing to get the house ready for public use including decorating, electrical work and litter clearing.

Rev David Shirtliff, Methodist minister for Pulrose, said: ‘We’ve had donations of money, equipment and materials and people’s time and talents.

‘It’s been fantastic. We need to do a little more work inside the house before we’re ready and hope to open to the public around the middle of January.’

The most obvious change so far has been the front door, no longer police blue but bright red.

The new name sign will add to that message of transformation and change.

The house will be renamed tomorrow (Saturday) at 2pm as part of an afternoon of Christmas-themed crafts at the Pulrose Methodist Church across the road.

Tynwald voted unanimously to spend £8.9m on a new primary school for Douglas.

The new Henry Bloom Noble Primary School will replace the Victorian Ballacloan Infants’ School and Fairfield Junior School buildings and will be built on part of the old Noble’s Hospital site on Westmoreland Road.

Education Minister Tim Crookall told the court that the total cost of the proposed development is £9,539,000, including pre-contract expenditure of £616,200 already approved by Tynwald, was £316,000 less than the figure originally earmarked in the capital budget.

He said the new school will ‘transform the teaching and learning environment for pupils and staff and provide a further catalyst to the regeneration of this inner town area, which has been blighted by the vacant site since the new hospital opened in 2003.’

Ballacloan school originally opened as Demesne Road Boys School in 1908, closing in 1973 and re-opening after refurbishment in 1974 as Ballacloan Infant school.

Fairfield school originally opened as Tynwald Street School in 1874, becoming a girls and infants school in 1908 on the opening of Demesne Road Boys School, ultimately becoming a mixed junior school.

Ballacloan school and Fairfield school came together as Henry Bloom Noble Primary School in Easter this year.

Mr Crookall said: ‘Both school buildings have served the catchment well for in excess of 100 years.

‘The department has however identified an extensive list of suitability issues that exist at both schools, arising primarily from the lack of suitable internal and external space.

‘The nature of the existing buildings and the site constraints means that it is neither cost effective nor possible to fully address the issues and this is why the department wishes to close these sites and transfer the school to the new school site,’

The scheme is for a two-form entry primary school, with 14 class bases. The redundant former ward block will be converted into classrooms and a special needs unit, with a large extension for the sports hall, assembly/dining hall and youth facilities.

Tooms Bros was selected as contractor following a competitive tendering exercise. Works will begin in January with construction due to be completed by mid-July 2016.

An honesty box containing cash has been stolen from a church.

It is thought that the money was taken while Jurby church was open to the public, most probably during the day of Saturday, December 6.

A second theft was also reported yesterday.

Sometime over the past two weeks a RNLI charitable collection box was damaged and the contents stolen.

The box had been in a communal area of Cooil Ny Marrey residential home, on Queen’s Promenade, Ramsey.

Police sergeant Andy Kneen said: ‘The parish church at Jurby is in quite a remote location, and like many churches, efforts are made to keep it open to the public as much as possible.

‘In contrast, Cooil Ny Marrey is a busy premises with lots of visitors. I would urge anyone with information regarding either of these particularly mean offences, to contact the police at Ramsey.

‘I would like to take this opportunity to ask people who have responsibility for charitable collection boxes to consider some simple security measures. Please take steps such as using lockable boxes, chaining charity boxes to a secure point, or if possible ensuring they are located where there is oversight by staff or residents.’

A local author has written a book of children’s stories to raise money for island’s children’s hospice.

John de Weert cycled across America for Hospice Isle of Man in 2009.

This time he has written a series of books about Freddy the Cornflake.

There are three volumes all priced at £6 each, with a £1 from each sale being donated to the children’s hospice, Rebecca House.

The books are on sale now at various outlets around the island including the Bridge Bookshop in Port Erin, Shoprite Douglas Chester Street and Ramsey Shoprite with £1 from each book sale going to the Rebecca House.

They are also on sale at the hospice in Elaine’s Coffee shop.

John de Weert came to the island in 1990 and liked the glens, cycle routes, Fairy Bridge, Tower of Refuge and the low crime rate so much he stayed.

He was born in 1963, served in the British Army for eight years and cycled across the USA. He currently works for Shoprite as a delivery driver.

He married Joan and they had two sons - Daniel in 1996 and David in 2004.

John said: ‘When putting the children to bed I would make up these stories and they in turn told their friends at school. Then David’s teacher, asked me to write them down so she could read them to the other children in the school.

John will be holding a book signing at Shoprite, Victoria Road, Douglas, tomorrow (Saturday) between 2pm and 4pm.

Braddan Commissioners have throughout 2014 taken the opportunity to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Archibald Knox, arguably one of the most famous residents of the parish.

They started the year with a rebranding exercise using the Knox style in their logo, then sending out a Knox stamp issue to its residents and ending in October with opening up the cottage in Cronkbourne village where he was born.

The cottage was opened for just two Fridays in October, which coincided with Manx National Heritages Open Days, and the commissioners were encouraged by the number of people that took the opportunity to visit.

The staff were astonished to be regaled by stories from past residents about living in the village but even more so by stories from those who had family members who actually knew or were taught by Knox, and at least one person whose family member still had a school art book personalised by him.

As the anniversary years comes to an end, and given that the cottage was only open during the mid week, the commissioners have decided to open up the cottage for viewing for one more day.

Commissioners’ clerk Colin Whiteway said his greatest disappointment was that they had missed the opportunity to capture many of the conversations with the public especially about Knox.

He said he looked forward to new visitors to the cottage and if any one has any personal items, stories or memories relating to Knox would they bring them along so that the commissioners could find some way to record them for posterity.

When visiting the cottage people will be able to gain the essence of living in a former industrial village, and the property itself contains information boards regarding Knox, provided by Manx National Heritage, as well as general information about the village.

The cottage will be open between 10am and 4pm tomorrow (Saturday).

This week’s Isle of Man Courier is now available to read online.

All you have to do is {http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk//launch.aspx?eid=442fc134-725b-455b-9397-fb215eec2823|click here} and you read it page by page.

Flights into and out of Ronaldsway were suspended following a computer failure at the London area air traffic control centre.

The 14.40 BA Cityflyer flight to London City was diverted back to Ronaldsway.

It was initially feared that flights would be suspended until 7pm. Flights to Glasgow and Belfast were unaffected.

Flights were grounded across the UK due to a failure of the Flight Data Computer Server at Swanwick Air Traffic Control Centre in Hampshire. All airspace over London was closed for a time but has now reopened.

National Air Traffic Services says its systems have been restored and it is in the process of returning to normal operations.

It apologised for the delays and inconvenience.

Firefighters were called to a blaze at a chip shop this morning.

A cooking range at the shop in East Quay, Peel, had caught light.

Everyone had been evacuated from the building before the firefighters tackled the incident.

Old folk are being given hampers and gifts thanks to donations from a private company

The staff from Nedbank Private Wealth and Nedgroup Investments handed over a record number of Christmas hampers and gifts to Age Isle of Man this month.

Over the past few months, staff have either donated from their cupboards at home or bought a few extra bits with their weekly shopping and thanks to their generosity, enough food and goodies were collected to make up 46 luxury hampers for Age Isle of Man, as well as some gifts for the visitors to their day centres.

In addition, Nedbank Private Wealth’s ‘sustainability forum’ donated a large number of fleece blankets, to help with heating costs this winter. All hampers made were put together with sustainability in mind, from the crisp boxes that were kindly provided by local shops, to the recycled paper shredding that was used as a bed for the goodies in the hampers. In addition, all packaging can be recycled again.

Volunteers from the Nedbank Private Wealth and Nedgroup Investments gave up their time to make up the hampers.

Lynn Kelly, senior training executive for Nedbank Private Wealth, who co-ordinated both the collection of food and the volunteers who wrapped and filled the hampers, said: ‘Staff have been making Christmas hampers for Age Isle of Man for the past eight years and this year, we have received a record number of donations.

‘Something as simple as buying a few extra items with your weekly shop can make a huge difference to someone else’s Christmas, and we know how happy the recipients are to receive the hampers.’

Helen Southworth, chief executive of Age Isle of Man and Steve Dawson, ‘meals on wheels’ manager, visited the bank to collect the hampers which their volunteers will deliver to the homes of those most in need.

Helen said: ‘Age Isle of Man is absolutely delighted to receive so many wonderfully presented hampers and gifts, and I warmly thank the staff for their tremendous effort and generous spirit. I know they will make a huge difference to the lives of some of the older people in the community this Christmas and also make them aware that someone is thinking of them at this special time of the year.’

Pulling planning notices from the Courier could be seen as discriminatory and undemocratic for excluding those without online access, it was claimed in Tynwald.

Speaker Steve Rodan made the comment as he quizzed Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne over what factors would be taken into account when deciding whether to reinstate planning notices in the newspaper.

Mr Gawne said his department was committed to reviewing the new arrangements, announced in October, after a six-month trial.

He said: ‘As part of the review, the department will be engaging with local authorities, local libraries and other key stakeholders to seek their feedback on the operation of the new arrangements.

‘In doing so, the most crucial factor the department will consider is how to ensure that communities are fully aware of applications that will impact on them.’

Mr Rodan said it could be seen as ‘discriminatory and undemocratic to exclude those without electronic on-line facilities or perhaps the capability of attending Murray House or a local authority office or the local library on a weekly basis, from making comment on planning applications on the grounds that they are simply unaware of them?’

Mr Gawne replied that it was equally discriminatory for those who don’t receive the Courier.

Leonard Singer (Ramsey) said while he accepted there are people who don’t receive the Courier what the department was doing was making further restrictions.

‘Everybody should be able to know, wherever possible, what is happening near to where they live, and they are entitled to that,’ he said. S’urely the Minister would want to do the best for the people to be able to access the plans that are going on in their area, and the best way is the way it was and return to putting it in the

Courier.’

Mr Gawne said he did not want to prejudge the outcome of the review but we would take on board the comments made by his Tynwald colleagues.

He added: ‘Let’s not forget there are lots of things we could do to allow greater access but we don’t have the money. I have given a commitment that we are going to review this and the key factor is ensuring people have adequate access to information to make themselves aware of any concerns.’

Mr Rodan said if it was a question of cost, then the most ‘effective, efficient and fair way’ to ensure everyone possible continues the get the information they need would be to require the applicant to bear more of the cost of advertising in the newspaper rather than withdrawing from the newspaper altogether.

Mr Gawne said that would be something that would be considered but added the average cost would be £50 per application if they went down that route.

Peter Karran (Lib Van, Onchan) suggested there should be a requirement for planning notices to be posted on larger boards.

David Quirk (Onchan) suggested it is made mandatory for local authorities to display planning applications and Glenfaba MHK David Anderson said Post Offices should post applications in their windows. ‘Another good idea,’ said Mr Gawne.

He said the review would need to be concluded by April ‘if we are to go down the route of reintroducing advertising in time to increase the planning fees.’

Budding young scientists battled it out in the island heat of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Top of the Bench competition.

The competition, for students aged 13 to 16, saw students identify and prepare a series of chemicals in a practical test in the laboratory, design a poster describing the application of chemistry in an everyday situation of their choice, and complete a multiple choice paper.

Topics included touch screen displays, nanotechnology, extraction and the use of iron, and the structure of crystals.

The heat was run and sponsored by the RSC’s Liverpool local section.

Benevolent fund volunteer visitor Keith Wilson said: ‘All this represented an arduous day but they approached it with enthusiasm, imagination and interest.’

King William’s College won the overall team competition with Seth Aycock winning the year 11 individual competition.

Xifong Christian and Joseph Reaney, both from Ballakermeen, won the individual competition for years 9 and 10. Each winner and the runners-up received certificates and a small prize.

Further heats will be held in Liverpool and the Wirral that will decide who represents the RSC’s North West region in the national final to be held early next year.

All senior schools on the island were invited to send a team to the event. This year teams from Ballakermeen, Castle Rushen, Queen Elizabeth II and King William’s College took part.

Two Romanian teachers visited the island last month to learn more about nurture and support programmes practised at schools for disadvantaged children.

Their visit is under the auspices of Castletown-based charity RO-MAN-AID, which has a long and varied association with Romania dating back to the 1990s.

It began when Castletown residents Rosa and Doug Drown, then both teachers at King William’s College, met Cornel Bucluman, musical director of the Bihor region (in Romania), when he visited the island during the International Festival of Music and Dance in 1990. They heard he had a stroke and with no after care or family to look after him, Rosa and Doug flew him to the island to recuperate. He brought a letter from Marcel Morar, from the Romania Multiple Sclerosis Foundation’s Bihar branch, asking for help to create a ‘social rehabilitation centre’ for treatments relevant to MS that could become a day home/hostel. He appealed for food, clothes, drugs, painkillers and logistical support.

Rosa and Doug met the challenge and it began what has turned into a series of initiatives in Romania funded and/or supported by the island.

Former town MHK Tony Brown has also recently been made patron of the charity.

Rosa’s growing relationship with the country led to a developing interest in the education of Roma children and she embarked on a doctorate on the subject.

Speaking to Isle of Man Newspapers in 2010, she said: ‘There are 10 to 12 million Roma in Romania. Since Romania joined the EU in 2007, the Roma are getting poorer … the only way of getting out of it is to be literate and get a job.

‘It is illegal now to get a job unless you have got eight grades of school, 10 if working in town. In communist times, they did a lot of harm and tried to assimilate the Roma culture, but at least they had a job. After the revolution they had no jobs.

‘In Romania it is economically dire, salaries have been cut by 20 per cent. One Roma family I know, they guy had 800 ley (salary) cut to 600 ley – it cost 120 ley a month to educate his daughter.’

In 2011 RO-MAN-AID established a school project – financed by the island and with support from the Isle of Man Overseas Aid Development Committee – with a focus on ensuring there is social and academic inclusion for Roma and other disadvantaged children. Two staff members, Claudia Oros and Aurica Rostas, visited the island to study schools’ nurture and support programmes and how music and drama can help.

The Manx school project is now gaining recognition in Romania and other schools are planning to follow the model which will be supported by RO-MAN-AID. It is hoped the school will become a well-informed training centre for other schools.

Claudia an d Aurica learned a great deal and observed good practice at Ramsey Grammar School and Peel Clothworkers, they also gave presentations to five primary schools about Romanian and Roma culture.

They described what it was like for families to live in abject poverty, without water or electricity and frequently with 10 or more people living in one tiny room. Without the help of RO-MAN-AID’s project, it would be very difficult or even impossible for children from these families to go to school and many used to drop out in the first few years. The success of the project has meant that all children in their community now attend school.

The third and final round of the Aston International-sponsored Winter Hill League takes place on Saturday at St John’s.

The two-mile course will be based almost entirely within Slieau Whallian Plantation with the start and finish at the Patrick Road entrance.

Start time is 1.30pm with registration from 12.30pm at the old railway station car park on Station Road. Runners who have competed in either of the earlier rounds are reminded to bring the race number used previously.

Following the race there will be a presentation of awards for the league and junior championships at Tynwald Hill Inn where chip butties will be available for all competitors.

l Round three of the Up & Running Ltd Winter Race Walking League is on Sunday at St John’s. Signing on will be at the football clubhouse from 9.15am. Racing will start at 10am with the junior walks, followed by the senior 5km and 10km handicaps.

The post-race Christmas social will also be held at the football club, offering a chance to get. Any donations of a small wrapped gift for the raffle (which goes to help local young walkers with their development) will be much appreciated.

Contact Allan Callow on 473354 if you available to marshal or help out on the day.

Police have warned about icy conditions on the roads.

There were a number of road accidents earlier this morning in freezing conditions.

And the Mountain Road was closed from Ramsey Hairpin to Creg ny Baa due to ice.

Gritters were out this morning.

A car came off the road at the top of the Ballamodha Straight. Police said ice was a factor.

There were one-vehicle accidents on the New Castletown Road at Santon at the junction with Mount Murray back road and on the Ramsey Road at Dhoon.

Police warn drivers to take care.

A packed Villa Marina audience gave a standing ovation to Hector Duff, the special guest at the Ballakermeen High School annual prize-giving.

War hero Mr Duff, who’s 95 years old, spoke movingly of the sadness of war, and said that while there may be victors there can be no winners.

He fought in the North African campaign and is a veteran of D Day.

Mr Duff encouraged his young audience to make the most of the opportunities open to them, and hoped that one of them may discover a better way to settle disputes without recourse to war.

The chair of the school’s governors, Gill Skinner, led the applause and the audience rose to give a sustained ovation to their guest of honour.

This year Mr Duff, who has the Military Medal and the British Empire Medal, was this year awarded the Legion of Honour by France, the Tynwald Honour and Isle of Man Newspapers’ Lifetime Achievement Award.

At the prize-giving event, headteacher Adrienne Burnett took ‘heroes’ as the theme of her address, and challenged her students to be the heroes of their own story.

The school’s A-level examination results had been ‘incredible’ she said and the GCSE results the best on the island.

She said those successes had come about because of the positive way students and staff had risen to the challenge when UK political interference had made achieving high grades more difficult.

Mrs Burnett referred to the heroic sporting efforts of many of the school’s students, past and present.

School teams won 17 inter-school competitions this year in a wide variety of sports. A third of the athletes representing the Isle of Man at the Commonwealth Games had ‘come through the ranks’ at Ballakermeen, and current students are UK national champions and Youth Olympians.

Mrs Burnett praised the vision and determination of Alwyn Collister, former chair of the governing body, who had set in motion the process that led to the new canteen and sixth form facilities.

She pointed out the heroic qualities political leaders needed to spend money in times of financial insecurity and thanked them for being brave enough to make the investment.

The new building has transformed the school.

Mrs Burnett congratulated Annette Baker, deputy headteacher, on being appointed head of Ramsey Grammar School, and paid tribute to her contribution over 30 years at Ballakermeen.

Keith Winstanley, deputy head at Ballakermeen until July, he was appointed Head of Castle Rushen High School.

Prizes and certificates were distributed, and entertainment was provided by school choirs and musical groups.

Three hundred younger students had their own awards ceremony at Ballakermeen, as the Villa Marina cannot accommodate the whole school, which is the island’s largest.