The children, staff and parents of Sandcastles Nursery in Douglas have raised nearly £2,500 in memory of their former classmate Jack Cain.

The children held a sponsored walk in memory of five-year-old Jack, who died in May, to raise money for Rebecca House, the island’s children’s hospice.

Aly Moore, a children’s nurse from Rebecca House (pictured bottom row, centre), said she was delighted to receive £2,434.95 and thanked everyone involved for supporting the cause.

Sandcastles also thanked Balloons to Go for donating green and blue balloons for the children to walk with, as these were Jack’s favourite colours.

A bench dedicated to his memory has also been placed in the nursery’s garden with the assistance of Kirby Garden Centre.

The Royal Astronomical Society is coming to the island in January and wants to hear the public’s ideas about how to engage the local community.

The society is marking its upcoming 200th anniversary with the Sky and Earth Project, through which up to 10 schemes designed to engage the public will be given a share of a £1 million grant pool.

The seminar, including a chance for the audience to pitch their ideas, will take place in the afternoon of Saturday, January 17, in the lecture hall of the Manx Museum.

Howard Parkin, former chairman of the Isle of Man Astronomical Society, said he was ‘delighted’ at the news and hoped that there would be many ideas to discuss.

He said: ‘It is a wonderful opportunity for us to welcome such a well-known and prestigious organisation to the island.

‘Hopefully following the meeting a number of projects may be submitted, and perhaps some funding may be available to take science out into the wider community in the Isle of Man.’

He said that groups and individuals hoping to make a pitch should consider projects that could be developed over a period of about five years, adding that he hoped that societies, youth groups, industry representatives and local authorities will support the event.

The society’s visit to the Isle of Man is part of a series of regional ‘Town Hall’ meetings that have taken place around the British Isles.

Starting at 1.30pm on January 17, the meeting will begin with a short overview of the project by Dr Robert Massey, the deputy executive secretary of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Initial pitches for ideas and a networking session will follow, allowing partners to develop combined plans. The seminar will close at 5pm.

Contact Dr Shelia Kanani at sk@ras.org.uk to register your interest in attending the seminar.

For further information about the project and dates see www.ras.org.uk/200

Plans are already under way for the return of a Christmas gift-giving programme in 2015 after a huge response to last year’s appeal.

The inaugural ‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ campaign is set to distribute more than 130 donated presents to older people living with dementia who otherwise might not receive a gift at Christmas.

At-home care company Home Instead worked with the Alzheimer’s Society to identify recipients and partnered with Lloyd’s Bank to appeal for donations.

Their ‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ Christmas trees in four Lloyd’s branches around the island were decorated with gift tags.

Members of the community were able to pick a gift tag and use it to give a gift.

From jigsaw puzzles to large print diaries, slippers, socks and books, the donations included a range of suitable items for people with dementia.

Emer Wiseman, owner of Home Instead, said: ‘Lloyds and their staff, in four branches around the island, have done a great job in promoting this campaign with their customers.

‘We provide care to older people in their own homes. Our clients are assured of regular company from their caregivers but we are hoping that “Be a Santa to a Senior” will allow us to reach out to older people in our community who, perhaps, don’t receive as many visitors as our clients and who would really appreciate knowing that local people are thinking about them this Christmas.’

He added: ‘We are delighted with the way in which members of the local community have embraced this scheme and how everyone has worked together to make it happen. As a result we received 131 presents.

‘I’d like to say a big thank you to Lloyds Bank, and to The Alzheimer’s Society for their help in identifying older people who may really benefit from this scheme.’

For more information on ‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ call 822545 or visit www.homeinstead.co.uk/isleofman

Peel claimed a potentially massive three points in the Canada Life Premier League title race with a hard-fought victory over champions and leaders St George’s on Saturday afternoon.

In a feisty game at Douglas Road, Peel took a first-half lead thanks to Kerron Christian’s close-range header, only for the increasingly prolific Julian Ringham to grab the equaliser for Geordies near the hour mark.

However, just when it looked like the spoils would be shared, substitute Matthew Woods grabbed the winner 10 minutes from time to claim the three points for the westerners and seal a double over the league champions.

The result leaves St George’s a point clear at the top but having played a game more than Peel.

Elsewhere in the top flight, DHSOB remain in third place after a 3-1 win at Ayre, Corinthians thumped Michael United 6-0 and St Mary’s claimed a hard-fought 2-1 win over Ramsey.

At the bottom of the table, Union Mills gave their survival hopes a massive boost with a 4-1 win over rivals Gymns, while Laxey recorded an impressive 3-1 victory at home to Rushen United.

Canada Life Premier League

Ayre United 1-3 DHSOB

Corinthians 6-0 Michael

Gymns 1-4 Union Mills

Laxey 3-1 Rushen Utd

Peel 2-1 St George’s

Ramsey 1-2 St Mary’s

JCK Division Two

Douglas Athletic 4-2 Braddan

Foxdale 3-2 Governors Athletic

Malew P-P Colby

Marown 7-2 Onchan

Pulrose 2-0 Castletown

RYCOB P-P Douglas Royal

Canada Life Combination One

DHSOB 3-1 Ayre Utd

Michael 0-5 Corinthians

Rushen 4-2 Laxey

St George’s 5-4 Peel

St Mary’s L-L Ramsey

Union Mills 1-1 Gymns

JCK Combination Two

Braddan 1-4 Douglas Athletic

Castletown 2-5 Pulrose

Colby P-P Malew

Douglas Royal 1-7 RYCOB

The Rechabite Hall, in Allan Street, Douglas has been completely renovated and is now home to Gloryland Preschool Nursery.

Pictured is Education Minister Tim Crookall officially opening the pre-school nursery with (centre) owner Ama Holden, manager Nicky McNulty and some of the children.

The building features a baby wing, the Sunbeam Room for two- and three-year-olds, and a preschool for children aged three to five as well as staff and office facilities.

Photograph by John Maddrell JM141215 (10)

More than 400 gifts were donated by the public for the annual Christmas Toys Appeal by the Salvation Army and Isle of Man Bank.

The public were asked to buy one extra present and take it to any Isle of Man Bank branch, to be collected by volunteers and taken to the Salvation Army Citadel in Douglas.

The toys were distributed to children whose parents were unable to afford presents and who may otherwise not have had anything to open on Christmas morning.

Jane Howland, corporate sustainability and sponsorship manager at Isle of Man Bank, said: ‘Once again the public in the Isle of Man have shown how generous they can be.

‘This was the 10th year the Isle of Man Bank supported this initiative and we are always happy to assist the Salvation Army in this effort to help the community during the Christmas period.

‘We hope it brought some extra festive cheer to many families.’

The Salvation Army provides help to vulnerable and needy people, including acting as the main distribution point for the Isle of Man Foodbank and providing help towards buying school uniforms, furniture and household goods.

Police are asking for the public’s help after Christmas presents were stolen from a house in Douglas.

The thefts happened between 7pm on December 23 and 10pm on Christmas Eve.

The culprit entered a property in Lheannagh Park and took gifts that were left in carrier bags by the front door.

The items taken where an Isle of Man Children’s Centre 2015 calendar, Avon-branded perfume called ‘Rare Gold’ which was in a box and sealed, a ‘Party Lite’ branded box of 12 tealight candles of different colours, a small box of Thornton’s Continental chocolates and a 7x5 inch silver framed photograph of the two schoolhildren.

These items were gift wrapped in foil type paper, mainly red in colour.

Some of these gifts where in a vintage style gift bag and all inside a carrier bag.

Constable Lissa Barklie said: ‘The police are continuing to seek the co-operation of the public owing to the recent increase in burglaries in the Douglas area during the Christmas period where family Christmas gifts are being stolen.

‘This causes great distress and upset to a families time at Christmas so if anyone has any information or can assist the police in any way please contact police headquarters on 613212 or Crimestoppers if you wish to remain anonymous on 0800 555111.’

Even though the thefts happened more than a week ago, officers first made this appeal to the public this weekend.

A car vandal is being hunted by police in Peel.

The offender did £700-worth of damage by scratching a car in Close Quane overnight on December 30.

Constable Michael Crompton, based at Peel police station, is investigating.

Phone him on 631554.

Christmas 2013 was a different story for many of the island’s Weight Watchers members who were dreading the festive season.

But for Christmas 2014, they all celebrated their first Christmas slim, after collectively shedding 1,920 stone in weight – 26,838 lb or 12 173kg in a year.

Sarah Keggen and married couple Jackie and Laurence Faragher are just three residents who are marking an incredibly successful year after collectively losing over 14 stone between them.

Jackie and Laurence said: ‘With the support of Weight Watchers and the help and advice from our leader, we have managed to lose over 10 stone between us. We are healthier and happier and so pleased we made the decision to join WeightWatchers.

‘Our advice to anyone thinking of joining is do it!’

Sarah has lost four stone and dropped two dresses sizes since joining the programme in February.

‘I have now got a lot more energy and I even had the confidence to wear a dress for the first time in years last month.

‘With Weight Watchers you are not on your own I have had a lot of support from all the members in my group and my leader has always been there and given me advice and support when I needed it.’

The island’s Weight Watchers leaders said Christmas can be a difficult time for weight loss and we often get to the beginning of January feeling weighed down by the excesses of the festive season.

But the excess doesn’t just happen on Christmas Day – in fact, almost half of Brits surveyed planned to be over-indulging by the second week of December.

And almost 80 per cent didn’t think they would stop eating excessively until at least January.

For most, our ‘Christmas Craving’ – the food you can’t say no to – wasn’t Christmas cake, pudding, or mince pies – the top temptation was in fact the humble chocolate.

Tips include donating any leftover Christmas treats to friends, family or a local charity so they don’t tempt you in the New Year.

Weight Watchers meetings are held across the island. For more information contact Bev (Ramsey/Douglas), 434191; Annette (Union Mills), 467548; Tania (Ramsey/Peel), 475298; Caroline (Castletown/Douglas), 437023, Lyndsey (Onchan/Douglas), 458597.

Do you think WeightWatchers works long term? Email opinions@newsiom.co.im or write to Opinions, Isle of Man Newspapers, Peel Road, Douglas IM1 5ED

An illustrated lecture by asttonomer Howard Parkin (FRAS) entitled ‘The Christmas Star’ will be held at St Peter’s Church in Onchan on Friday, January 9, at 7.30pm.

Entry is £5, pay on the door. Refreshments will be served afterwards.

A gate was damaged when someone tried to force their way into a walled garden in Douglas.

The incident happened at a property on Marathon Road, between 12pm on Friday and 10am on Saturday.

The police say the gate leading to a walled garden was forced, damaging the locking mechanism of the handle and the wooden frame.

Constable Lee Wright at Lord Street police station is investigating.

Anyone with information should call him on 631212 or email lee.wright@gov.im.

Alternatively, people can give their information anonymously via crime stoppers on 0800 555111.

A sewing project at the Isle of Man Prison is benefiting hospital patients and generating savings for the Department of Health and Social Care.

Slings made from recycled material by a prisoner at Jurby are assisting the recovery of people being treated at Noble’s Hospital. The slings are reusable and are replacing the single-use, disposable variety previously provided to patients.

Rachel Charker, senior linen assistant at Noble’s Hospital, said: ‘This is helping to save the hospital a considerable amount of money. Whereas the wards previously had to purchase disposable slings, the items produced at the prison can be laundered and reused a number of times at a fraction of the cost.’

She added: ‘I have received 30 slings to date, all of which have been made to a very high standard.

‘They have been exceptionally well constructed to precise guidelines, with great care taken in the sewing and finishing off. This is an excellent example of government departments working together for the benefit of island residents and I hope we can continue this successful venture in the future.’

The ability to provide a range of meaningful activities plays an important role in maintaining discipline and safety at the prison, as well as contributing towards the rehabilitation of offenders. This also supports the Prison and Probation Service’s overall commitment to combating crime and reducing the associated social and economic costs.

Jobs for prisoners in the kitchens, laundry or gardens are supplemented wherever practical by suitable easily-learned, high-volume work provided in partnership with local organisations.

In addition to producing slings for Noble’s Hospital, the prison is engaged in the creation of reusable shopping bags from material donated to environmental charity Zero Waste Mann. It is also hoped to continue the collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Care by producing mammogram capes.

The Department of Home Affairs is looking to build on the success of these projects by identifying opportunities for more work to be introduced into the prison.

Michael Coleman MLC, the politician with responsibility for the prison, said: ‘Encouraging offenders to take part in this type of activity provides purpose and structure to their day and a chance to make a positive contribution to the local community. There’s also the potential to learn marketable skills, which can help offenders to settle back into the community on their release from prison.’

Charities and businesses are being encouraged to join forces with the Department of Home Affairs to offer new work projects at the prison. To discuss ideas, please contact Mike Speers, officer regimes and resettlement, on 891069 or Mike.Speers@prison.dha.gov.im

‘We are Connected’ is an exhibition of art work by children and adults open to the public at the Isle Gallery, Tynwald Mills, St John’s, from January 6 to February 1.

The exhibition is a celebration of the art work created by both adults and children during art workshops held at the gallery during 2014.

Artists Kate Jerry, Anna Clucas and Colette Gambell developed a range of art workshops for children and adults at the Isle Gallery, Tynwald Mills, St John’s, which began in Easter 2013. With funding for materials from the Arts Council, the artists have been able to offer a wide range of techniques and media.

Techniques include painting, printmaking, and 3D sculpture in clay and and other materials.

Artist and tutor Kate Jerry said: ‘The affordable workshops have proved popular and the gallery owes much of its success to the public’s response. The gallery is celebrating the efforts of the children and adults by showing the diverse range of workshops and creative talent by the island’s community.’

The Isle Gallery, formerly know as ‘The Courtyard Gallery’, has been open to the public since the end of 2011, when it began as a ‘pop up gallery’.

Artist-led, the Isle Gallery promotes art in the community and the benefits of art and creativity, not just to professional artists, but to everyone.

Kate added: ‘Many adults that have participated have noted the therapeutic effects of attending the art workshops.

‘The gallery offers a space in a relaxed environment which encourages creativite experimentation, while developing andlearning new skills, techniques and processes.

‘Children are naturally creative and free of inhibitions and self judgment...and we wish to fill the gap, where schools are unable to offer enough visual creative time for children.

‘The children’s art workshops offer workshops which teach all media and techniques during fun sessions for age groups from five to 15. The gallery offers both holiday and regular Saturday, term time art workshops.’

Arts Council funding has now come to an end and the Isle Gallery is looking for the sponsorship of materials for the children’s art workshops.

There will be a special ‘meet the students’ with special guests, the adults and children participating in the show, on Sunday, January 11, between 2.30 and 5pm.

Greeting cards featuring work from ‘We are connected’ are on sale in the gallery, with all profits going towards the children’s art workshops.

Grey seals are not being put in danger by human sewage in Manx waters, it’s been confirmed.

Reports in {http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/isle-mans-seal-pups-poisoned-by-raw-human-sewage-1481803|some media} and followed up by some local news organisations this morning suggested this was the case.

In fact, the study referred to was of the {http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_May|Isle of May} not the Isle of Man.

The Embassy Jazz Club has presented cheques to three local charities after a charity jazz concert held at the Broadway Baptist Church in Douglas.

Money raised from ticket and refreshment sales was divided equally between Wish Upon A Dream, homelessness charity Graih and the Isle of Man Special Care Baby Unit at Noble’s Hospital.

The Embassy Jazz Club have been holding events on the Isle of Man since the beginning of 2014.

David ‘Scotty’ Williams and Samantha Johnson, the Embassy’s founders, said: ‘The Embassy Jazz Club as a whole try to do whatever they can to help others that need assistance. We have held several fundraising events throughout 2014 to raise funds for our named charities Wish Upon A Dream and Remember Me and we wanted to something for other worthwhile charities too.

‘We regularly have the use of a rehearsal room within the churches adjoining buildings and after some discussions with them we came up with the idea of holding a charity concert within the church to give something back.’

The Embassy invited representatives from each of the charities to come along as their guests to enjoy some live jazz and to say a few words about each charity so that the people attending the concert could hear first hand from the people on the ground about what the three charities do and how any funds they receive are used to help the people their charities support.

Scotty and Sam said they were pleasantly surprised at the number of people that did attended.

‘It is lovely to see the public getting behind this sort of event where they give up their time to help others while enjoying themselves in the process. In total, through ticket sales, refreshment sales and donations a total of £465 was raised during the two hour event.

A further cheque for £200 was presented to Graih from Scotty’s full-time employer Lloyds Bank.

Scotty added: ‘Lloyds Bank collects dress down money each Friday from colleagues and the company then asks for suggestions from those colleagues each month as to where these funds should be donated. After working on the charity jazz concert and knowing that Wish Upon A Dream and the Special Care Baby Unit had already received some of this funding within 2014 I had no hesitation in nominating Graih to receive some funding.

‘I was happy to hear that my other colleagues agreed and they kindly added £200 to the £155 donation from the Embassy Jazz Club.’

A man who was being arrested in Ramsey on Saturday morning ran away from the police officers and jumped into the harbour.

Constable Saskia Baxter jumped in after him and swam out to rescue him.

As she reached him, Constable Mark Kerruish entered the water with a lifebelt and rope and they brought the man to shore.

The arrested man was taken to Noble’s Hospital for treatment.

Sergeant Vinny Lund said: ‘Without the bravery and quick thinking from both officers involved in the rescue, the outcome may been very different.

‘The man was out of his depth in the water.

‘To help us with our iinquiries, I would ask anyone who saw what happened or assisted officers to contact Ramsey police station on 812234.’

Both officers sustained minor injuries.

The man arrested was subsequently treated by the mental health service.

PDMS Southern Nomads were confirmed as Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield champions on Saturday after their nearest rivals Douglas B lost 30-15 to Vagabonds B.

Johnny Beckley, Paul Howard and Joe Louw all crossed for first-half tries for Vagas to cancel out Jack Fallon and Murray Atcheson’s scores for Douglas.

Johnny Beckley and Alex Long traded kicks too with Beckley just edging the contest to give Vagas a 20-15 half time lead. In the second half Vagas Arno Cruywagen and skipper Beckley both added to Vagas tally to seal the game and send the Shield south.

Saturday’s results

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division One

Douglas 17-10 Hoylake

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division Two

Vagabonds 42-11 Marple

Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield

Ramsey B 41-17 Emerging Nomads

Vagabonds B 30-15 Douglas B

Friendly

Ramsey 46-0 PDMS Southern Nomads

Full round-up in Tuesday’s Examiner.

Sinethemba Bono, the South African from an informal township in Eastern Cape who was a revelation in last June’s Manx Telecom Parish Walk, has died from injuries suffered in a road traffic accident.

The 37-year-old, who made many friends on his visit to the island, was a passenger in a taxi crash a couple of days before Christmas and died shortly later from brain damage.

He leaves a wife and two children, one less than two years old.

‘It is extremely sad,’ commented five-time Parish Walk winner Robbie Callister. ‘Sinethemba was a really nice guy and his trip to the Isle of Man was the biggest adventure of his life. To that point he had never been on an aeroplane before and he was clearly excited by the whole thing.

‘I said goodbye to him and my other friends from South Africa at Ronaldsway Airport prior to their departure. His accent made him difficult to understand at times, but he said that he had really enjoyed the whole experience and was hopeful that he could return to the island again and do really well in the Parish Walk.

‘He took a copy of Dermot O’Toole’s Parish Walk book home to remind him of the event and show his family and friends what he had done.’

Bono had finished fourth in the 80km Cape Times Big Walk in November 2013 behind that year’s Parish Walk winner Michael George, runner-up Richard Gerrard and Robbie Callister.

He was duly awarded the Old Mutual Finance invitation to participate in the Manx event. The prize included an all-expenses paid trip to the island courtesy of Castletown Golf Club owner Philip Vermeulen, a major shareholder in Old Mutual.

Sinethemba had survived a near-fatal stabbing three years earlier, doctors saying his fitness had saved him.

He was in the leading group of five walkers to reach Santon last June and was placed fourth at Rushen, before dropping time on the Sloc. He ultimately finished 16th in 17hr 47min 19sec.

After the event he said: ‘I want to show my children that there is an honest way of living without drugs or violence.’

A plasterer who died following a crash at Alpine Corner three days after Christmas was driving while apparently intoxicated on drugs, an inquest heard.

Jamie Joseph Cowhig, 27, of Ramsey, died after a single vehicle collision on the main Kirk Michael to Ballaugh road between Bishopscourt and Ballacobb at about 7am on December 28.

At the opening of an inquest into his death, Coroner John Needham said inquiries were continuing into Mr Cowhig’s death and asked for condolences to be passed on to his family.

The inquest heard that the driver had been thrown from his vehicle. A post mortem conducted by consultant pathologist Dr Christopher Clague concluded that the deceased died from blunt force trauma due to a road traffic collision.

The post-mortem examination revealed that Mr Cowhig had been driving while intoxicated under the influence of drugs. Tests showed positive indications for cocaine metabolites, Ecstasy, cannabinoids and benzylpiperazine.

The Coroner asked for further tests to confirm the presence of these drugs to be carried out by forensic toxicologists in the UK.

Born in Whiston in Merseyside, Mr Cowhig lived in Ramsey’s Quayside Apartments at the time of his death.

Mr Needham adjourned the inquest for a date to be fixed and released Mr Cowhig’s body to his family so that funeral arrangements can be made.

The 12th and final team for June’s Isle of Man-hosted ConIFA European Football Cup has been announced.

Padania, who hail from northern Italy and count Mario Balotelli’s brother Enoch in their number, will join Ellan Vannin, County of Nice, Abkhazia, Nagorno Karabakh, South Ossetia, Occitania, Romani People, Franconia, Sapmi, Northern Cyprus and Szekely Land at 12-team Bowl-based tournament.