Sue Woolley was northern reporter for the Examiner group for nearly 30 years. She is now a freelance journalist, writing mainly on local history and folklore.

She is author of My Grandmother’s Cookery Book, Peeps into the Past and Ramsey – a Collection of Images through the Years.

Her newest book, written with Les Clarke and Ray Stanfield, is The Midwood Collection – classic images of Ramsey and the North. It is on sale now in local bookshops.

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What is your idea of a perfect meal?

Home-made chips, Greek salad and tinned salmon. (I used to be a vegetarian, but now I’m a fish and chipocrite).

What is your favourite way to relax?

A massage by Caroline at Essential Health.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Travel. I’m making up for years of bringing up children and not going anywhere.

Do you have any pets?

No. When we lived in Maughold we kept dogs, cats, goats, hens and donkeys. Now we are townies, we don’t keep any animals.

What is your greatest achievement?

Apart from my children (and grandchildren), it has to be completing the British Wheel of Yoga Teacher Diploma. Four years of hard slog. It is my own personal ascent of Everest!

What is your favourite time of the year?

Spring, when everything is fresh and new. I think the island looks at its best in April/May time.

What is the first job you ever had?

I did six months as a cadet nurse, but realised nursing was not for me. My sister saw an advert for a junior reporter on the Ramsey Courier. I applied and got the job. That was 1969!

Do you have any irrational fears?

I don’t like the dark, which was very inconvenient when living out in the middle of Maughold where there were no street lights. Fortunately, Ramsey has very good street lighting.

What is your worst habit?

Being late. I do try my best but have a habit of starting to do things when I know I should be getting ready to go out.

If time/money were no object, what would be your perfect day?

A yoga retreat with an aromatherapy massage and delicious food at Brightlife. I’m a very simple soul.

What is your favourite book?

Current favourite is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I didn’t want it to finish.

What is your favourite TV programme?

Oh gosh – Waterloo Road or Antiques Roadshow! I don’t like anything too loud or too scary.

What is your favourite part of the Isle of Man?

No question – Ballaglass. It is magical and full of memories.

What is the last show/band that you saw live?

Bob Dylan in Glasgow last year. I have been a fan since I was 12 and have virtually all his albums.

What is your favourite band/artist at the moment?

I have a very broad taste in music and even have a list of my 100 favourite songs/classical pieces, but I know nothing about modern pop music. In the car, I listen to the Beatles or Bob Dylan.

Choose three people, dead or alive, to invite to dinner?

Bob (obviously), Maya Angelou and President Obama.

Which do you prefer:

Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings? Harry Potter.

Cats or dogs? Cats.

Birthday or Christmas? Christmas.

Starter or pudding? Starter.

Quiet night in or night out? Quiet night in.

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If you or someone you know would like to answer the same questions, email Jackie Turley on jackie.turley@newsiom.co.im or call 695658.

The iomtoday spotlight used to be known as the Courier Questionnaire and has recently been resurrected as Island Profile, which appears in the Manx Independent each week.

The winners of the 2014 Student of the Year Awards, sponsored by Barclays Wealth and Investment Management, were announced at a special ceremony.

The annual awards recognise the achievements of the island’s exceptional young people in five different categories: citizenship, the arts, academic achievement, sport and endeavour.

The finalists and their families and friends attended the ceremony, held at Ballakermeen High School in Douglas, along with teachers; David Anderson, MHK and member of the Department of Education and Children and representatives from Barclays.

The island’s five secondary schools and King William’s College each nominated students for the awards and a judging panel of Barclays employees interviewed each young person to select finalists from each school and an overall winner for each category.

All 30 finalists were presented with certificates and gift vouchers by Simon Scott, managing director of Barclays Wealth and Investment Management, with the winner of each category also receiving a trophy.

The winners:

Citizenship – Shannon Greenwood (Ballakermeen High School)

The Arts – Isla Callister-Wafer (Queen Elizabeth II High School)

Academic Achievement – Monique Lloyd-Davies (Ramsey Grammar School)

Sports – Alex Bregazzi (Ballakermeen High School)

Endeavour – Alice Gandy (Castle Rushen High School)

Simon Scott said: ‘Barclays is committed to supporting young people in the Isle of Man so we’re very proud to sponsor the awards.

‘The standard of the students shortlisted has been fantastic and it is an amazing reminder of how talented and motivated our young people are.

‘Deciding the winners was very difficult for the judges as all the shortlisted students made such a fantastic impression and their levels of achievement have been truly outstanding.

‘Barclays wants to help improve the employability skills of students and young people to help prepare them for the workplace by supporting them with the development of their people, work and money skills through our Lifeskills programme.

‘Our sponsorship of the Student of the Year Awards, which celebrates the successes of students, is an important part of achieving this locally.

‘All the students that were shortlisted and nominated should be extremely proud of their achievements and know that their teachers, family, friends and the judges are all very impressed with their accomplishments both in school and in the local community.’

David Anderson said: ‘It is very important that we recognise our island’s outstanding youngsters and the annual Student of the Year Awards is a great way to celebrate their endeavours.

‘The awards not only recognise the students’ own achievements, whether they are academic, sporting, artistic or about helping others, they also reflect how much the students invest in school life and how they help to mentor and inspire others.’

For further information, please contact: Harriet Black, Orchard PR, harriet@orchardpr.com, 01481 251251.

Photo caption L-R:

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About Barclays

Barclays is an international financial services provider engaged in personal banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking and wealth management with an extensive presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. Barclays’ purpose is to help people achieve their ambitions – in the right way.

With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs approximately 135,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for customers and clients worldwide.

For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.com

Barclays offers wealth and investment products and services to its clients through Barclays Bank PLC and its subsidiary companies.  Barclays Private Clients International Limited, part of Barclays, is registered in the Isle of Man.  Registered Number: 005619C.  Registered Office: Barclays House, Victoria Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM99 1AJ.  Barclays Private Clients International Limited is licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission, registered with the Insurance and Pensions Authority in respect of General Business, and authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK in relation to UK regulated mortgage activities.

A Tynwald select committee is inviting the public’s views on animal welfare legislation.

The move follows a Petition for Redress presented by Roseleen Harrison at St John’s in July requesting that Tynwald consider the introduction of animal welfare legislation in the Isle of Man comparable to that contained in the UK Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The committee’s members are Kate Beecroft MHK (chair), Brenda Cannell MHK and David Cretney MHK.

Observations for consideration by the committee should be addressed to Marie Lambden, Third Clerk of Tynwald, Legislative Buildings, Douglas, IM1 3PW. m.lambden@tynwald.org.im.

The closing date for submissions is January 23.

A plan to convert the former Wesleyan Sunday school building in Victoria Square, Port Erin, to offices has been given the broad support of its neighbour, the Erin Arts Centre, but the arts organisation wants to ensure access is maintained to an entrance at the back of the centre.

Oceanweb Ltd has applied (14/01299/B) to convert the building into offices with a workshop to administer and service the equipment for its business providing IT for the super yacht industry. The plan includes creating four car parking spaces behind the building.

The spaces would be on what is an historic right of way to the entrance to the EAC said director John Bethell.

The main doors of the centre are too heavy to lock, so when the centre is locked and unlocked, it is done using the rear door; the door also acts as an emergency exit.

‘It’s the parking in the back we have concerns over,’ he said. ‘There is an historic right of way through there to get to the back door (of the centre).

‘We also have concerns about them backing in and out onto the main road and parking on that little spot of land. And that door is a fire exit. It’s not that we do not want anything to be there but the plans do not make it clear where our back door or the fire exits are. We have to make sure out right of way is maintained.’

The commissioners backed the plan on Dec 2.

If Tesco was to apply for an alcohol licence for an Express store in Castletown, the town’s authority would not object they said at last week’s meeting.

Several months ago, Roy Tilleard, the developer of Callow’s Yard (CY) where the store would open, wrote asking for the board to support another alcohol license application by Tesco at 17/19 Malew Street.

Mr Tilleard wrote Tesco’s Store Acquisitions Director ‘has confirmed that they still wish to open the store at Callow’s Yard but that it is still dependent on the grant of an alcohol licence.’ Tesco has said an alcohol licence is required to make the store viable. He said if Tesco opened, Poundland would like to open a Dealz Store at CY.

The authority replied until there is official confirmation that Tesco wants to try once more to open an Express store in town, they would not discuss their stance on an alcohol licence.

When the store last applied for an alcohol licence (its third attempt), it was turned down because of the great number of outlets selling alcohol in town, the authority took a ‘neutral’ stance over Tesco’s application.

Commissioner Colin Leather raised the issue on November 3 and urged board members to make a decision about what he said was a ‘simple question’, but fellow commissioners said they wanted official confirmation first.

In private on December 2 they decided to raise no objection if an application was made again, a decision made public last Monday.

Ramsey Group Practice has apologised to patients after an unprecedented number of telephone calls on Monday, December 17, swamped its phone system.

Practice manager Mandy Kelly has apologised on behalf of the doctors and staff for delays in answering inquiries.

Dr Alex Allinson GP said: ‘Christmas is often a busy time for GP surgeries, but on Monday the Ramsey Practice received 835 calls with over 380 between 8am and 11am.

‘With this large number of calls, some patients were unable to get through to the practice and had to try repeatedly.’

The surgery has since been working closely with Manx Telecom and consulted other organisations that deal with large numbers of calls. As a result, over the Christmas period, a new system is being introduced to allow calls to be held in a queue. In addition, a new automated switchboard is being installed, with more reception staff available to answer calls at peak times.

Patients should call on days other than Mondays if their inquiry is not urgent.

The Mountain Road has reopenend following an incident earlier near Guthrie’s Memorial.

The road was blocked after a car ended up on its roof.

In a separate incident, emergency services were called out at around the same time to another incident on the roads at Milntown.

As the damp weather conditions continues, police are urging motorists to take care in the challenging driving conditions.

Residents in Ramsey can look forward to roadworks in the New Year.

Work will focus on the reconstruction of the highways and footways on Bowring Road, including the installation of new water mains and associated drainage.

Phase one will involve a six-week closure of the section of road from Parliament Square to Station Road, starting on Monday, January 5.

Phase two, which is scheduled to take eight weeks to complete, will result in full reconstruction of the highways, footways and utilities from Station Road to Stone Bridge. One lane of the road will be kept open throughout this phase to maintain traffic flow into and out of Ramsey. Traffic lights will be in operation 24 hours a day and manned at peak times.

The scheme will also see the closure of Derby Road from its junction with Bowring Road. Access to businesses and homes will be maintained where possible and diversion routes will be signposted.

John Houghton MHK, the politician at the Department of Infrastructure with responsibility for highway services, said: ‘This is an important project that will provide a better ride quality for motorists and improved footpaths for pedestrians, as well as upgrading essential services provided by Manx Utilities.

‘The department is taking a phased approach to the work to try to minimise the disruption and I’d like to thank the people of Ramsey in advance for their patience and understanding.’

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/work-to-start-on-blackboards-bridge-1-7007351|There will also be roadworks on the main road between Douglas and the south from January 6 as the bridge at the Blackboards is strengthened.}

The headteacher of St Ninian’s High School has paid tribute to a member of his staff who died over the weekend.

Rob Campbell died in a road accident in the early hours of Saturday morning, as {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/pe-teacher-named-as-pedestrian-who-died-in-road-accident-1-7015698|we reported yesterday}.

Andy Fox, the headteacher, this afternoon released a press statement about the PE teacher, who lived in Santon.

It reads:

All at St Ninian’s High School are in shock at this time after hearing of the tragic loss of Rob Campbell, 31-year-old physical education teacher.

Rob started work in the school in September 2007 and had taught across all age groups in that time. He was a very hard working and conscientious colleague, running clubs, teams and also looking to help develop the department and its teaching methods.

Rob encouraged the use of new technology in PE lessons and was also piloting a new digital tracking tool he had developed for students to self-assess their skills in the subject.

He led the initiative to raise funds to re-equip the school fitness training room and develop part of it into an A level and GCSE teaching base.

To facilitate this work he had developed links with Strength and Conditioning coaches to enable students to improve their core strength and so be more successful in a myriad of activities. Rob had recently been promoted in school to a temporary post as Key Stage 3 Coordinator in PE.

This was a role he relished and he had great plans for the future.

He was a very popular member of staff, always having a glint in his eye as he saw the opportunity for a joke or sharing a smile or a laugh with a colleague. He was natural mimic and could take any personality off quite easily – but in both a funny and sympathetic way.

He also had a conciliatory nature and would look to find the path of reason in professional debate.

This positive nature and the attempt to find a way forward has been very much appreciated by all who knew him well.

He will be very fondly remembered as a really nice person.

Rob was very much a sportsman, having played football for Ramsey AFC over many years.

In recent years he had branched out into other sports and had done some fairly serious running, taking part in the Ramsey Bakery Winter Running League, the Race the Sun event and also the Isle of Man Cross Country League.

At the present time he was injured but looking forward to returning to competition in his favourite sports in the New Year. He took part in fun staff sporting events and was part of the staff table tennis team. He was always ready to have a go and join in – that was Rob Campbell.

As a teacher, he was very positive with students and had high expectations. He had a growth mindset, which he used in his teaching to great effect.

He saw potential in all and did his best to help unleash it.

He often saw something in a student that they had not realised themselves, hence his passion for strength and conditioning – the pre-requisite for all successful sports people.

This year Mr Campbell, as the students would have known him, ran the Year 7 boys’ teams. It will be particularly hard for these students to realise the loss of their coach and mentor.

The school will do its best to support them as required in the New Year.

The school has contact with CRUSE bereavement counsellors and contact can be made before the start of the new term. Details will be placed on the school website in due course.

In conclusion, Rob was one of those individuals you could not fail to like.

He will be very sadly missed by all at the school.

All one can say at this time is that our thoughts and prayers go out to Amy, Rob’s partner, and Rob’s family and friends.

The most-read story on our site last week was the story about the Fairy Bridge clean-up.

Thousands more read that report than the next most-read.

The top 10 for the week beginning December 14 were:

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/fairy-bridge-and-tree-cleared-of-clutter-1-7004645|Fairy Bridge and tree cleared of clutter} 11,459

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/man-22-dies-in-road-accident-1-7013596|Man, 22, dies in road accident} 8,472

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/second-fatal-accident-on-island-s-roads-1-7014819|Second fatal accident on island’s roads} 7,084

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/video/News/mountain-crash-3931966536001|Video of mountain crash} 5,495

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/christmas-tree-with-names-of-dead-disgusts-1-7006649|Christmas tree with names of dead disgusts} 5,188

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/health/the-end-of-free-dental-checks-1-7007469|The end of free dental checks} 4,012

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/shake-up-for-ferry-services-1-7011672|Shake up for ferry services?} 3,205

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/houghton-i-feel-let-down-1-7000251|Houghton: I feel let down} 2,773

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/driver-on-trial-for-death-of-daughter-1-7008357|Driver on trial for death of daughter} 2,532

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/video/news/the-2014-santa-dash-3948204503001|Santa dash video} 2,245

Police have officially released the name of the 22-year-old man who died in a crash on the Mountain Road on Friday.

He was Ben Collister and he lived in Ballasalla.

Mr Collister’s identity had been widely shared in social media.

Tomorrow’s Isle of Man Examiner reports tributes to him.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/man-22-dies-in-road-accident-1-7013596|Click here to read Friday’s report about the tragedy.}

Isle of Man Sub Aqua Club gave an early Christmas present of £200 to the hyperbaric chamber.

The money was donated to the club after it provided free cover at the tin bath races in Castletown in August and members decided it should be used to help support the chamber.

Club diving officer John Kermode, who passed over the cheque said: ‘We are always very willing to help with events and community projects. Our club has been teaching people to dive for more than 50 years and we always welcome any new members, including would-be divers.’

He added, the club has two boats and runs dives every week. It also offers further training for existing divers including those certified by other organisations who want to convert to British Sub Aqua Club certification. The club will be running try-dives and taking on trainees in the new year and is offering gift vouchers for dive training. For more information contact Clive Bush on 464218, Paul Leneghan on 495931 or email clive-bush@manx.net

Manx concert ‘Oie’ll Verree’ will take place on January 5, at 7.30pm in the Ebenezer Hall in Kirk Michael, organised by Michael Heritage Trust.

Admission is £6.

Tickets are limited and are available from James Kennaugh on 878342.

Manx Telecom’s Pay As You Go mobile customers will be able to use the company’s mobile broadband and 4G service from January 5, when it’s opened up to all Pay As You Go customers with a compatible SIM card and 4G handset.

4G delivers speeds up to 10 times faster compared to 3G mobile broadband.

Manx Telecom launched the island’s first 4G service in July, when it was initially made available for its Pay Monthly mobile customers.

Sure’s 4G service is not up and running. It said it would be in November but it’s been put back to February.

The majority of Manx Telecom’s Pay As You Go customers will need to swap their existing SIM card for a new 4G compatible SIM card to access the network.

Customers can check whether their handset and SIM are 4G compatible by going to www.manxtelecom.com/4g. The website will then tell them the next steps they might need to take.

There may be frustration at further delays with the Douglas promenades redevelopment - but it’s more important that the scheme is done right.

That’s the view of the manager of Douglas Development Partnership Chris Pycroft after the Department of Infrastructure announced the multi-million pound project was unlikely to resume until next autumn.

The Partnership’s advisory group, which includes representatives from the business community, central government and Douglas Council, was due to meet yesterday (Monday) to discuss the situation.

Mr Pycroft said: ‘My personal view is there has got to be progress but it’s got to be right.

‘Effectively this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and the job has got to be done properly. At the same time it is desperately and urgently needed.’

He said there was likely to be frustration in some quarters about the delays. But he added: ‘It is important to get the job done properly so that probably tempers the frustration.’

The DoI says ‘a pause’ is needed to explore other options including the preferred location of the horse tram tracks, while retaining the focus on improvements to the highway, footways and drainage.

The process of finalising designs, taking proposals to Tynwald and submitting an application for planning approval means work is unlikely to start again until the autumn.

Douglas Council had planned to suspend the horse trams for 2015 for the roadworks. But it has confirmed now they will be running after all.

Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne announced in October the next phase of project was being put on hold pending consideration of an alternative plan to relocate the tramway onto the promenade walkway.

The original plan was to create a dedicated section for a single track with passing places at the seaward side of the road. Part of the walkway, north of the War Memorial, would be used whichever option was chosen. It will cost £3m-4m to relocate the tracks.

The options were outlined at an exhibition at the Sea Terminal seen by some 3,000 people.

Families admired an ice sculpture inspired by the Disney film Frozen that took centre stage in Douglas at the weekend.

The creation was carved by internationally acclaimed husband and wife team Darren Jackson and Stephanie Quayle Jackson, and revealed in its full glory in Regent Street on Saturday lunchtime.

Their sculpture, which took shape throughout the morning, featured statues of Elsa the snow queen and Olaf the snowman.

And once finished, it proved popular with children keen to have their pictures taken next to them.

Last year Darren and Stephanie produced a scene from Narnia, with the Ice Queen’s throne surrounded by trees and a couple of reindeer.

They are also behind the giant Loaghtan sheep which is standing guard over the Bungalow on the Mountain Road, as well as the 30ft sculpture of Manannan at the Mannifest event.

This year the couple won the sculpture competition at the Southern Agricultural Show, with a bull’s head fashioned from farm implements that was based on the show’s 2014 supreme champion.

Other festive attractions in Douglas on Saturday and Sunday included a craft, food and gift fair in Castle Street and Marina Road.

But Douglas Development Partnership was unable to secure a continental market.

The ice sculpture was sponsored by Sure.

The Isle of Man Examiner’s front page this week is dominated by the two tragedies in which young men died.

Our reporter quotes tributes paid to them.

Inside, we report on the furious reaction some had after the Chief Minister, Allan Bell, described pensioners are ‘burdens’.

On the same page, page 3, there’s a stunning shot of the Ramsey swing bridge. It’s well worth a look.

We were in court when a man was jailed after he sold an ecstasy tablet to a woman. The woman later collapsed.

A reporter was also in court when a drink driver was jailed.

The paper also includes the latest on the horse tram development and the proposal for ‘expressions of interest’ to run ferries to and from the island.

In addition, just for the festive season, there’s your Christmas television guide.

The Examiner is in the shops now.

Police are appealing for information after carol singers allegedly stole money from a house in Colby.

At around 7pm on Sunday, December 21, an elderly man had two young carol singers call at his address in Ballacriy, Colby.

One asked to go to the toilet and the man later noticed some money had gone missing from the house.

If they called at your house or you know who they are, contact the Southern Neighbourhood Policing Team on 832222.

Royal Skandia, the Isle of Man employer, has been rebranded to Old Mutual International.

Old Mutual International is the cross-border product provider of Old Mutual Wealth, a leading investment business with offices in the Isle of Man, Dublin, UAE, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Old Mutual Wealth’s strategy is to offer customers investment services which combine financial advice, product solutions, investment management and asset management.

Old Mutual International is very proud of its long heritage in the Isle of Man, having been established under the Skandia brand more than 20 years ago.

It is now one of the largest financial services providers in the Island, employing over 350 people in its office on Kind Edward Road, Onchan.

Skandia was acquired by Old Mutual plc in 2006 and the launch of the Old Mutual International brand completes its integration into the FTSE 100 group.

Employees in the island have worked tirelessly fund raising throughout the year for Hospice Isle of Man, a local hospice charity, including Rebecca House, the children’s hospice.

They have raised £8,000 which they were presenting to the hospice yesterday, together with some Christmas presents that employees have kindly donated to Rebecca House.

heritage

Paul Feeney, chief executive of Old Mutual Wealth, said: ‘We are incredibly proud of our Skandia heritage in the Isle of Man and in fact we want to reignite the Skandia passion for innovation and high quality support for financial advisers and customers within Old Mutual International.

‘We are committed to building a strong cross-border investment business under the Old Mutual brand that will offer financial advisers and their clients new investment solutions, using the skills and resources we have invested in over recent years.

‘Being a major employer on the island gives us a sense of responsibility locally, and we are proud to play an active role in the communities we serve.’

Police are appealing for help from the public with an investigation into a road traffic collision.

The crash happened in Parliament Square, Ramsey, during the evening of Monday, December 8.

One of the vehicles involved that has not yet been found. It is believed to be a silver Peugeot 407 car registration number JMN-845-P.

A police spokesman said: ‘It is possible that the driver may be off the island for the Christmas period.’