The Hall Caine Prize for Creative Writing 2015/16 has been launched.

The prize, which is in its sixth year, is open to students aged 21 and under who are in full-time education in the Isle of Man.

They are invited to write a short story, a memoir or the opening chapter of a novel.

The theme this year is ‘Echoes’.

The prize is named after {http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/people/writers/thc.htm|Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine}, a best-selling novelist in the late 1800s and early 1900s who made the island his home and who served as an MHK.

Hall Caine’s great granddaughter Gloria Rukeyser, also a writer, sponsors the prize to foster the love of writing.

She said: ‘Each year we choose a new theme and I am always impressed at the imagination young writers show in their interpretations. There is always a huge variety of styles, plotlines and endings. I look forward to reading this year’s entries.’

The prize is run by the Department of Education and Children.

The prize has four categories: Primary, in which entrants must write up to 500 words, with prizes of £100, £75 and £50; Key Stage 3 – up to 1,000 words with prizes of £150, £100 and £50; Key Stage 4 – up to 1,500 words with prizes of £175, £125 and £75 and Key Stage 5/IoM College of Further and Higher Education – up to 2,000 words with prizes of £200, £150 and £100. Up to 10 highly commended entrants in each category will receive prizes of £25.

Teachers from the DEC’s primary and secondary schools and King William’s College judge the prize, looking for strong characterisation, good narrative flow and, above all, imaginative story-telling.

The closing date for entries is Friday, January 22, 2016. All entries must be accompanied by an entry form and entries themselves must not carry identifying markers, such as the author’s name or school. They must contain an accurate word count. Entries that don’t adhere to this won’t be considered.

Entrants are advised to study the full rules, which will be advertised in all schools and at the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education, can be viewed at www.gov.im/hallcaine or can be obtained by contacting jan.cowan@gov.im

The competition is again a validated Children’s University activity and entrants will receive three hours’ credit in their passports for taking part.

A prize-giving ceremony will take place in spring 2016.

The winning entries will be published in a book.

Bob Bagshaw celebrated his 90th birthday in grand style and the lifeboat benefited at the same time.

The Castletown resident said he didn’t want any gifts, but would rather donations be given to the RNLI; £220 was raised and a cheque handed over to Port Erin lifeboat station.

But there were also presents. Bob is commodore of the Manx Model Boat Club, and they gave him a set of new tools. He is also a keen member of Men in Sheds, which he visits up to three times a week, and they banded together and bought him a flight round the island. What is more, he took his brother Geoff, who lives in England and who he had not seen for 14 years.

‘It was lovely,’ said Bob .

‘The little single engine ‘plane had on board a Squadron Leader (Geoff) and a Sergeant Flight Engineer (Bob)! My brother found it interesting because part of his training with the RAF was at Jurby.’

Now he said the focus falls on what to do for his next big birthday. ‘We are preparing for my 100th!’

At the Commonwealth Games Federation general assembly in Auckland, New Zealand, it was announced that the assembly has approved its new strategic plan, Transformation 2022, which sets out its new vision for future Games and includes an increase in the number of compulsory sports from 10 to 16.

Sadly the 16 do not include shooting or track cycling, both of which remain in the list of optional sports that may be included at the discretion of the bidding city.

Shooting and track cycling have been two of the island’s most successful sports in recent years and the lack of the two in the compulsory sports may be due to the specialist arenas required for the sports.

The 16 compulsory sports are: aquatics, athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling (road), gymnastics (artistic), hockey, judo, lawn bowls, netball, rugby sevens, squash, table tennis, triathlon, wrestling, weightlifting. It was also announced that the South African city of Durban will be the host city for the 2022 Games.

Two ex-pats from the island have experienced first hand the scale of the humanitarian crisis engulfing the Mediterranean.

Ellie Shaw, who has been working this summer as a stewardess on board a super yacht cruising the Aegean coast, has told of the stark contrast between sunseeking holidaymakers and the desperate refugees who have fled there for the lives.

Ellie, who is from Port St Mary, has been confronted with the refugee crisis on a daily basis. Last Wednesday as the super yacht left Bodrum, it came across an empty inflatable raft, the morning the bodies of little Aylan and Galip Kurdi were washed ashore.

It was the image of a Turkish policeman gently carrying three-year-old Aylan’s lifeless body from the beach that has brought home to the world the scale of the crisis.

Meanwhile, Andrew Davies, a former investment banker from Ramsey who now runs a hotel in the Greek island of Symi, has been hailed a Good Samaritan in the UK national press after set up a reception centre for Syrian refugees.

Mr Davies, who grew up in the Isle of Man, was so distressed at seeing refugee families sleeping rough on the streets of the island that he and letting agent Wendy Wilcox launched Solidarity Symi.

And in just over a fortnight since the venture began, they have helped feed, house, clothe and provide medical aid to hundreds of desperate Syrians - helped by other ex-pats, concerned locals and tourists on their summer break.

Andrew, 43, who attending Andreas School and Ramsey Grammar School and whose mother Pamela and grandmother Susan Butler live in Ramsey, told the Mail on Sunday: ‘We suddenly started seeing all these families arriving, with kids going barefoot. How could we lie on the beach reading books when people were suffering?

‘We had to do something, These are human beings who had to leave their homes or die, often surviving by selling family jewellery along the way. We have seen people with scars from torture, and others who say they have seen chemical attacks.’

Symi, a tiny island of 2,600 people located just six miles from Turkey, is on the front line of Europe’s humanitarian crisis. More than 4,000 refugees arrived in the first half of the year alone. Since then, however, numbers have spiralled.

During a visit to Symi, Ellie saw hundreds of refugees waiting in 40 degrees to be processed before continuing their journey onto mainland Greece.

But she first became very aware of the refugee crisis while staying at a beautiful, boutique hotel in Kos and taking a walk along the beach.

‘I couldn’t understand why there were so many inflatable boats washed up as wrecks,’ she recalled.

Back in Bodrum, eating an ice cream on the waterfront in 35 degrees of sunshine, she saw refugees desperately trying to take shelter and raise money to purchase water for their dehydrated, heat exhausted families.

She told the Examiner: ‘We actually watched a boat of 15-20 refugees come in last night on an isolated beach that we are at.

‘We had to shine our safety spotlight to guide them to a safe landing. It wasn’t long before the local people came to salvage what was there and the refugees left their lifejackets on the beach before disappearing into the night.’

Faye Moffett has taken up her new role as managing partner of the Appleby Isle of Man office.

Faye, group head of the firm’s corporate department, succeeds Sean Dowling, who it was announced in July will become a partner in the new business formed by the recent management buyout of Appleby’s fiduciary arm.

She said: ‘I am honoured and thrilled to be leading the team at Appleby in the Isle of Man, especially at such an exciting time for the firm.

‘There will be changes in the coming months which will bring plenty of great opportunities for the firm.

‘I am looking forward to being at the helm to help strengthen and grow our business while ensuring that our existing clients continue to receive the high level of service they expect.’

Faye trained and qualified as an advocate at Dickinson Cruickshank (which merged with Appleby in 2009) in 1997 before leaving the island in 2000 and spending several years working for leading law firms in Edinburgh.

She rejoined Appleby as an associate in 2004 before becoming partner in 2006.

Faye specialises in banking and finance transactions, including property finance, aircraft and ship finance, and has particular experience in providing opinions on Isle of Man companies and on cross-border security and insolvency issues.

Her clients include Isle of Man companies, international financial institutions and international law firms.

She is highly regarded among colleagues and clients, with respected industry publications Chambers UK and Legal 500 UK having both identified Faye as a ‘leader in her field’.

Legal 500 UK 2015 singled out Faye’s ‘commercially astute’ advice for praise.

A concert held at Amber Bar, in Douglas, to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Summerland fire raised £475 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital’s burns unit.

Teenager Archie Veale, who was treated there for septicaemia last year, received the money on the hospital’s behalf with his mum Lucy from John Brennen, Pete Woodman, Alex Harris, Chris Gray and Tina Brennen. (MW150901-296)

The latest Manx Wildlife Trust event to be held at Milntown, in Ramsey, was the bee’s knees!

The afternoon event was led by the trust’s biodiversity education officer, Dawn Dickens, who led a guided tour around the 15 acres of gardens and woodland.

It was a chance for families to observe bee activity as well as find out which flowers bees like best.

Participants also enjoyed the opportunity to get a close up look at bees in action in a beehive.

Pictured are some of the children who took part in The Bee’s Knees busy bee spotting with Dawn. (JM150826-51)

The Isle of Man Bank is marking its 150th anniversary by carrying out improvements to a popular beauty spot.

Hundreds of bank staff, their families and customers will plant trees, construct picnic tables and benches and create a nature trail at Ballaugh Forest on Saturday, September 19.

Native broadleaved trees will be planted near the picturesque pond area.

Steve Prescott, of Manx Native Trees, is providing most of the trees, although the Department of the Environment, Food and Agricuture is supplying 300 ash trees.

The DEFA’s sawmill is providing sawn timber originating from the forest, which bank staff and customers will use to construct benches and picnic tables.

They will create a nature path, with stopping off points of interest marked by information boards, after receiving expert advice from Andree Dubbledam, from Wildflowers of Mann and the Manx Wildlife Trust.

The bank has commissioned local artist Nick Barlow to craft a sculpture of a raven from timber from the forest and this will be unveiled on the day.

The bird has historic significance in the area, with the nearby Ravensdale river and earlier glen giving name to the former castle hotel and the current pub.

Bill Shimmins, the managing director of the Isle of Man Bank, said: ‘As a community bank, it is befitting to celebrate this significant milestone while giving back to our people and our landscape in way that will benefit the Isle of Man in the years to come.

‘We look forward to spending the day with our customers and members of the public alike in what will be a fun and rewarding occasion.’

The 140-hectare mixed species forest had existed since 1959 but Phytophthora ramorum disease has led to the need to fell all larch trees and the bank’s support will breathe new life into it.

The Celtic League has criticised the destruction of records relating to a probe into a Manx-registered company’s alleged involvement in supplying arms used in the Rwandan genocide.

Chief Minister Allan Bell has confirmed that documents were destroyed 10 years after Customs and Excise completed a 1996 investigation into whether Mil-Tec Corporation Ltd had breached UN sanctions.

That inquiry established that Mil-Tec could not be charged with the alleged supply of ammunition to Rwanda in 1993 and 1994 as the sanctions order did not come into force until 1996.

But Celtic League spokesman Bernard Moffatt, who raised the issue in a letter to the Chief Minister in June this year, said it was ‘unpardonable’ if records had been destroyed ahead of the United Nations International Criminal Trial for Rwanda completing its work.

He said: ‘Quite frankly it is appalling that the Customs Division of Treasury were allowed to destroy their report/documents.

‘The Rwanda tragedy was one of the most appalling genocides in modern times and it is vital as we know from historical genocidal acts committed in the 20th century that all records are secured.

‘This is unpardonable and it is a double betrayal of those slaughtered in Rwanda many with arms sourced by a company registered in this jurisdiction.’

The records relate to the supply of arms to Hutu militia via Isle of Man-registered Mil-Tec. The Hutu went on to carry out genocide of the Tutsi community before order was eventually restored.

In his response, Mr Bell said: ‘With regard to the retention of records in relation to Mil-Tec Corporation Limited, I have received confirmation that following the allegation regarding the company’s activities made in late 1996, the Customs and Excise Division of Treasury did conduct enquiries.

‘These established that as the sanctions orders were not introduced in the island until December 1996, the company could not be charged in relation to its alleged supply of ammunition to Rwanda in 1993 and 1994.

‘As no further investigation or proceedings were possible, the only records were those of the enquiry itself. These were retained in accordance with the Customs and Excise Division’s document retention policy for 10 years and were then destroyed.’

Mr Moffatt said: ‘It would seem that the records were destroyed before the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda had completed its work – and indeed some indictments are still open.

‘This also would seem to be not only an affront to the victims but a slap in the face to the United Nations.’

It is estimated that between 500,000 and a million Rwandans were killed in the 1994 genocide, up to one fifth of the total population.

A review of sentencing in child sex cases is being carried out.

Chief Minister Allan Bell said he hoped a bill to ‘modernise’ sentencing options in a number of areas, including sexual offences, will be introduced to the branches of Tynwald by the end of his administration or early in the next.

He was speaking following the launch a campaign calling for tougher sentences for paedophiles. That campaign was launched by Lisa Taylor, a victim of child sex abuse herself who has bravely waived her right to anonymity to reveal how the trauma she suffered as a little girl is still having an impact today.

Mr Bell said he was aware of concerns about sentencing of sex offenders but that he wanted to be careful to avoid a witch hunt.

He said: ‘I have huge sympathy for anyone caught up in this sort of horrific situation.

‘It is quite clear, as we have seen in the UK, that the protection available through the law is not sufficient to deter some of these people from their activities.

‘The government has a role to play in providing sentencing options but it is up to the judiciary to decide what the level of sentence should be. It would be quite wrong for us to try to dictate on a case by case basis as to what sentence is considered appropriate.

‘However, there is a review of sentencing. A new bill will be brought before the Keys to modernise sentencing options in a number of areas. A sexual offences bill is being drafted as well. We are aware of concerns. But we don’t want a witch hunt. This isn’t a massive problem in the island.’

A quite bizarre incident on the exit to Creg-ny-Baa saw French newcomer Nicolas Pautet and Donald Gilbert of Horsham miraculously escape serious injury after a most unusual coming together.

Pautet overtook Gilbert on the brakes into the corner, and the onboard footage from the Frenchman’s Kawasaki shows him round the right-hander perfectly and head off down the straight towards Sunny Orchard and Brandish.

The amazing footage on Facebook shows Gilbert’s Yamaha reappear on the left-side, having presumably collided with the bank, then glanced off side of Pautet’s machine.

The rear-seat mounted Go-Pro caught the incident as Gilbert’s legs appeared to go between the wheels of Pautet’s bike.

The latter braked heavily and ultimately brought his bike to a halt close to the entrance to Lanjaghan Lane, with Gilbert still trapped beneath the bike.

So graphic is the footage that Gilbert’s gloved hand can be seen grasping onto the rear seat of the Yamaha until a split-second before it comes to a standstill close to a race marshal.

Mercifully, both riders escaped serious injury and the pair can be seen in another picture laughing the incident off in the paddock later. Gilbert has bandages on both legs, presumably caused by friction burns or contact with the Yamaha’s exhaust.

An international body has given a vote of confidence to the Manx economy.

Moody’s Investors Service has confirmed the island’s Aa1 credit rating.

Moody’s commented: ‘The Isle of Man’s Aa1 sovereign rating and stable outlook reflect the island’s resilient economy and the government’s robust finances.

‘The former is supported by the economy’s growth, which is stronger and less volatile growth than that of other offshore centres, as well as its significant diversification away from banking towards high growth sectors such as ICT, despite being a small economy.’

Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK said: ‘The Isle of Man is an international financial centre which can be relied upon by its investors to provide a stable, pro-business environment in which they can flourish and by other countries as a responsible and reliable partner. Whilst the report’s conclusions demonstrate the Isle of Man’s continued and sustained economic success, we must remain vigilant in maintaining sustainable public finances.’

The Isle of Man used to have a higher rating from Moody’s.

In 2013, it was downgraded from its Aaa rating.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/moody-s-downgrade-comes-as-no-surprise-says-teare-1-6318383|Click here to read about that.}

The Aa1 rating is the same as the United Kingdom’s and the second best rating.

Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States have the higher Aaa rating.

To read what the Moody’s ratings mean {https://www.moodys.com/Pages/amr002002.aspx|click here.}

Boxer Mathew Rennie is one bout away from securing the Isle of Man its first Commonwealth Youth Games gold medal.

The Manx ABC pugilist will take on Northern Ireland’s Aidan Walsh in the final in of the 64kg weight class tomorrow, Thursday.

Rennie guaranteed himself a silver medal in the early hours of Wednesday morning when he defeated Scotland’s Kieran McMaster on a split decision.

This result came 24 hours after the talented teen overcame Ropati Potoa Hall from hosts Samoa in the quarter-finals.

Archer Charlotte Harris teamed up with New Zealand competitor to finish fourth in the mixed pairs event after a shoot-off. Harris had a bye in the first round of the individual event and after an incredibly close match that went down to a shoot-off, she narrowly missed out on progressing any further.

In the pool, Niamh Robinson swam a great 50m breaststroke final, going faster than she did in Wednesday morning’s heats to finish fifth. The Lancashire-based teen narrowly missed out on a medal 24 hours earlier when she finished fourth in the 100m breaststroke final. Robinson also contested the 100m butterfly B final on Wednesday where she again swam faster than in the morning’s heats and finished 5th (13th overall) in a blanket finish.

Alex Bregazzi qualified for the A final of the 400m free and swam a great race, much of it on his own, finishing sixth, while Brody Hewison was in the B final of the 100m butterfly and finished fourth (12th overall).

Appleby has snapped up the largest number of listings in the latest Who’s Who Legal Asset Recovery with top lawyers based in the Isle of Man, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the BVI and the Channel Islands.

Included among eight Appleby practitioners from five jurisdictions is Mark Holligon, a partner in the dispute resolution department in the Isle of Man office.

He is described as an ‘extremely accomplished’ practitioner, with expertise covering freezing orders, ancillary relief and general civil fraud matters.

Mark’s work spans the contentious and non-contentious arenas, both onshore and offshore, with a focus on commercial litigation, insolvency and restructuring.

He has a particular interest in what has been described as distressed funds and their restructuring.

He began his career in England, qualifying in the City of London in 1995 and gaining experience with two further leading UK firms before moving to a leading law firm in the Cayman Islands in 2003 and to the Isle of Man in 2008.

Who’s Who Legal identifies the foremost legal practitioners in business law based upon comprehensive, independent research. This fourth edition of Who’s Who Legal: Asset Recovery selects 341 practitioners from 202 firms across 74 jurisdictions as leaders in this field of law.

Alongside Mark, the 2015 edition also featured Appleby lawyers from four other jurisdictions: Bermuda - John Wasty (Partner) and John Riihiluoma (Partner); BVI - Andrew Willins (Partner); Cayman Islands - Jeremy Walton (Partner), Andrew Bolton (Partner) and Christopher Russell; Jersey - Fraser Robertson (Partner).

Details of how and where to vote in Thursday’s Peel and Glenfaba by-elections have been announced.

One member of the House of Keys will be elected in each constituency.

Peel will have two polling stations, one at the Corrin Hall, which is ‘Peel 1’, and one at the Centenary Centre, which is ‘Peel 2’.

The polling stations will be open from 8am until 8pm.

Electors must vote at their allotted polling station which is stated on the polling card which you should have received in the post.

There are four candidates standing for election in Peel.

The candidates are Leslie Hanson, Penny Hardman, Ray Harmer, and David Pownall. The names of the candidates will be printed on the ballot papers in the order stated above.

In Glenfaba there will be three polling stations, one at St John’s Methodist Hall, Main Road, St John’s, which is for German electors, one at St Paul’s church, Mines Road, Foxdale, for Northeast Patrick electors, and one at Glen Maye Methodist church in Glen Maye, for Southwest Patrick and North Patrick electors.

There are two candidates standing in Glenfaba: Geoffrey Boot and David Talbot.

The names of the candidates will be printed on the ballot papers in that order.

No one will be allowed to vote at any polling station other than the one to which they are allotted.

Any electors registered in more than one polling district may vote in either of those districts but, of course, must not vote more than once.

Voting will be by ballot in accordance with the directions for the guidance of voters which will be posted at each station and in every compartment of it.

Anyone who has applied to the returning officer for an absent voter’s ballot paper, and whose application has been approved, may vote by marking and returning the ballot paper in accordance with the instructions sent with it.

The by-elections were prompted after Peel MHK Tim Crookall and Glenfaba MHK David Anderson both won seats in the Council of Ministers in June.

In the 2016 general election, in 12 months’ time, the constituency boundaries will change – Peel and Glenfaba will merge and return two members.

The principal of the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education is quitting after less than two years in the role.

Geoff Draper took over as head of the organisation in January 2014.

A short statement from the Department of Education and Children reads:

Geoff Draper is to leave the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education after nearly two years in post as principal. Geoff is returning to the UK to pursue other career opportunities.

The Department of Education and Children wishes to thank Geoff for his work at the College and wishes him success in the future.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/education/new-isle-of-man-college-principal-eager-to-build-on-excellent-work-1-6289660|Click here to read our story about his appointment.}

Attorney General Stephen Harding has issued legal proceedings against the Lieutenant Governor, claiming his continuing suspension is ‘unlawful’.

Mr Harding remains suspended on full pay from his £160,000 a year job 18 months after he was cleared of perjury and perverting the course of justice.

He was formally found not guilty of both charges in February last year after juries failed to reach a verdict at his trial and subsequent retrial.

Now he has revealed that he has issued proceedings against Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood for ‘injunctive relief from unlawful disciplinary proceedings’.

The position of Isle of Man Attorney General is a Crown Appointment rather than a government post.

Mr Harding’s case is due to go before the high court in Douglas on October 23. He will be represented by advocate Rob Long.

A ‘technical issue’ with the school bus Go Card system has led to all students travelling for free today (Wednesday).

Isle of Man Bus and Rail have confirmed the issue, which it’s understood affects both the cards themselves and the related website, is being investigated.

While primary school children returned to school today, secondary school children are enjoying an extra day’s break before going back tomorrow (Thursday).

Free school bus travel came to an end on January 8 when Go Cards were introduced, with students being forced to pay a 25p fare each way.

The people who run an award winning greeting card and gift shop are flying the flag for the island in a high-profile campaign to recognise the small business sector.

Mantons Cards has been named among only 100 businesses to be celebrated by SmallBusiness Saturday.

SBS organisers believe those on the list reflect the diversity of small businesses in the British Isles, and span sectors from brewing to app-making to skydiving.

They are viewed as the unsung heroes of the small-business sector.

Port Erin based Mantons, which was named British Independent Retailer of the Year earlier this year, will be among those featured one per day for the 100 days leading up to Small Business Saturday itself which will be December 5.

Last year’s ‘Small Biz 100’ also attended a Christmas Fair staged specially in Downing Street and attended by the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne.

Chris Beards, 45, who runs the shop with his wife Deborah, 46, said it was ‘fantastic’ news and he was ‘thrilled’ the shop had been picked out for the initiative.

And he praised staff Sharon Lakin, Gemma Corkish, Scarlett Burnett and Charlotte Corlett, who is also his daughter, for their help inmaking the shop such a success. The latest news caps what has already been an amazing year for Chris, who lives at Colby.

On a personal front daughter Charlotte, 24, gave birth to twins Harvey and Oliver earlier this year leaving Chris and Deborah as proud grandparents.

Chris said: ‘Most of the cards and gifts we stock are exclusive to Mantons in the Isle of Man, making us a unique destination store on the island. We are proud of our relationship with our suppliers and the trust they show in us by offering exclusivity for the whole island.

‘Being part of the Small Biz 100 is the ultimate reward and motivation to the Mantons’ team, all of whom have contributed, and continue to contribute, to our success.’

A misadventure verdict was recorded on an experienced motorcycle racer who died after an accident at Jurby race circuit in April.

Gary Carswell who had competed in the TT and Manx Grand Prix died after hitting a low wall when he came off his bike exiting a chicane before the start-finish straight at the circuit during pracitices.

The court heard Mr Carswell, who was 46 and came from Ballure Glen in Ramsey, was taken by ambulance to Noble’s hospital but attempts to revive him failed and he was declared dead soon after midday on April 11.

A post mortem report by Dr Christopher Clague said he had died from head and chest injuries consistent with a motorcycle accident.

Shaun Counsell, ACU incident officer and deputy clerk of the course on that day told the court he was not aware of any other accident involving a rider hitting that section of wall and as a result it was never protected by bales or air fencing.

Delivering his verdict, coroner John Needham said he would be recommending the Andreas Racing Association, which organises the races at Jurby, consult the ACU over whether some form of air fencing should be used on the section of wall concerned. He said he could not say if it would have made any difference to Mr Carswell but added he felt it had the potential to lessen the trauma suffered by a rider in such an accident.

He offered his condolences. A statement from Mr Carswell’s family described him as being ‘full of mischievous fun’ and said he would be much missed.