The Manx Breast Cancer Support Group is inviting residents to take part in the recording for its fundraising CD.

The island’s own X Factor contestant, Greeba resident Simon Lynch is singing one of the tracks, Elbow’s One Day Like This.

And everyone is invited to sing the chorus in recording sessions taking place tomorrow (Saturday).

These sessions will also be filmed as part of a ‘making of’ video, which will be uploaded to YouTube when the CD is released.

The departure lounge at the Sea Terminal will be the venue for the first recording session at 10.30am.

The second session takes place at Noa Bakehouse, in Douglas, at 12.15pm.

The fundraising CD is due to be released on Saturday, December 12, and proceeds will go to equip the breast cancer unit at Noble’s Hospital which is due to open in February 2016.

Other tracks are covers of Take That’s ‘Like the Sun’ sung by Gary Barlow tribute singer Mark Walton, and Jess Glynne’s ‘Hold My Hand’, with a new song, ‘Dear Santa’, from young singer/songwriter Mae Challis.

Backing singers include theatre groups, school children, breast care nurses, radio presenters and fire officers.

Recording and filming is by Dave Armstrong of DAM Productions.

There’s a familiar feel to the latest Isle of Man Newspapers’ Team of the Week with the whole of the XI featuring previously this season.

St John’s attacker Rhys Oates slots into a three-pronged frontline alongside DHSOB’s Darren Hudgeon and St George’s Ciaran McNulty.

Oates bagged a brace as St John’s beat bottom side RYCOB 4-2 to lift themselves up the table and away from the top-flight’s relegation zone.

Hudgeon was also on the scoresheet as Old Boys moved up into third spot with a 6-0 win over Marown at Blackberry Lane.

McNulty makes his eighth TotW appearance of the season after netting twice in St George’s 7-0 win over Rushen.

The brace takes the in-form striker’s tally for the campaign to 26, 11 clear of nearest Golden Boot rivals Furo Davies and Josh Kelly.

In midfield Peel duo Daniel Bell and Lee Gale are joined by St George’s flyer Joey Morling.

Bell and Gale, who make their fourth and fifth TotW line ups of the term, both netted braces as the westerners overcame Ramsey 8-2 at Douglas Road.

The result keeps Steve Falconer’s Sunset City side level on points with leaders St George’s as the season enters its second half.

Morling completes the trio after a man-of-the-match performance against Rushen.

The Spaniards hadn’t lost away from home before Saturday’s defeat, but an impressive display from Morling saw that run ended. The former Union Mills youngster’s pace was a constant thorn in the United defence’s side and he scored twice and set up another two goals during Geordies’ victory.

The hypothetical XI’s defence is made up of players from four different clubs.

Corinthians’ Darren Cain slots in alongside Laxey’s Jonny Shields, Nick Hurt (St Mary’s) and DHSOB’s Tommy Miller. The latter helped Old Boys keep a clean sheet against Marown while Isle of Man FA manager Hurt was one of the Saints’ top performers as they ended a torrid run of form with a 6-2 win over Ayre.

Cain and Shields both stood out at Ballafletcher where the Miners battled back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Cain’s hosts.

Peel’s Max Thomas edges out St George’s Andy Perry for the TotW’s coveted number one jersey after some fine stops against Ramsey.

Referee honours this week go to James Turpin who impressed with the whistle during St Mary’s win over Ayre at the Bowl.

Team of the Week 21/11/15

Goalkeeper:

Max Thomas (Peel)

TotW apps this season: 2

Defence:

Tommy Miller (DHSOB) TotW apps: 2

Nick Hurt (St John’s) TotW apps: 2

Jonny Shields (Laxey) TotW apps: 2

Darren Cain (Corinthians) TotW apps: 2

Midfield:

Lee Gale (Peel) TotW apps: 5

Daniel Bell (Peel) TotW apps: 4

Joey Morling (St George’s) TotW apps: 3

Attack:

Darren Hudgeon (DHSOB) TotW apps: 3

Rhys Oates (St John’s) TotW apps: 2

Ciaran McNulty (St George’s) TotW apps: 8

Referee: James Turpin (St Mary’s v Ayre) RoTW: 1

A man was the victim of an unprovoked assault in Anagh Coar last night (Thursday).

The incident happened at around 10.50pm in the area of Anagh Coar shops.

Police are appealing for information regarding a man in his mid to late-20s, wearing a light-coloured hoodie, who was in the area at that time.

If you can help, call police headquarters on 631212.

Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK has led a senior Manx government delegation to the 25th British-Irish Council summit in London.

Mr Bell took part in top-level discussions on a range of issues, including the state of the economy, the effects of the conflict in Syria and international efforts to support refugees in Europe and the Middle East. Ministers also expressed their condolences following the recent attacks in Paris and Mali.

As well as contributing to the Summit’s main agenda at Lancaster House, the Chief Minister took the opportunity to hold discussions with his political counterparts from Jersey and Guernsey on matters of mutual interest.

Mr Bell, who was accompanied by Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Richard Ronan MHK, said: ‘The British-Irish Council allows us to take our place alongside the governments of neighbouring islands to discuss common challenges at the highest level.’

The Chief Minister took his place at the BIC Summit alongside the political leaders of other sovereign governments, devolved administrations and Crown dependencies.

As well as assessing the current economic situation across member countries, the Council discussed environmental issues and the need to protect our natural resources.

Mr Ronan said: ‘The Isle of Man takes its international responsibilities very seriously and has progressed strategies to reduce carbon emissions and to support biodiversity and our commercial fisheries.

The Chief Minister also used the visit to London to continue government’s programme of engagement with key figures in Westminster.

Meetings were held with Lord Faulks, Minister of State for Civil Justice with responsibility for the Crown Dependencies, David Liddington MP, Minister of State at Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Pat McFadden MP, Shadow Minister for Europe, and Baroness Williams of Trafford, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Communities and Local Government.

CityWing are to begin flights between the Isle of Man and Derry, according to reports in the Northern Irish press.

It’s understood the firm has struck a deal to service the route twice a week, along with a flagship twice-daily link between Derry and Dublin, which begins in April.

CityWing refused to comment on the coverage when contacted by the iomtoday newsroom this afternoon.

Click this link to see the Derry Now story: www.derrynow.com/news/derry-airport-announces-new-services-to-dublin-and-isle-of-man/59810

Read the full story on our fellow Johnston Press title the Derry Journal: www.derryjournal.com/news/derry-to-dublin-flights-start-in-april-2016-1-7086504#ixzz3shpjBdza

For the fourth year running, Laxey village is hosting its weekend-long Christmas market.

It is being held in conjunction with The Children’s Centre for the first time.

There are two venues – The Institute on the main road and the Pavilion building in Laxey glen.

The markets are on this Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm and with a £1 entry fee that gets you into both venues. There’s no charge for children.

Choristers will sing a candle-lit procession through the darkness of St German’s Cathedral on Sunday for the ancient service of compline.

The event, which starts at 3.30pm, marks the beginning of the churches’ new year. It will also feature new music composed for the occasion by cathedral organ scholar Jack Oades.

Bishop Robert Paterson will lead the service, which will be followed by hot chocolate and cream in the servery.

Indie rock veterans Shed Seven are hitting the road for a tour of the British Isles this December.

And their first stop is Douglas, where they will be performing at the Villa Marina on Tuesday next week (December 1).

They will be performing their greatest hits and fan favourites, including hit singles Going For Gold, Disco Down and Chasing Rainbows, in what is a return to Manx shores following a triumphant gig at The Venue in Central Promenade in December 2001.

Joining Shed Seven will be special guests and fellow 90s stars Inspiral Carpets.

York indie-rockers Shed Seven formed in 1990 out of the ashes of Brockley Haven, and were signed to Polydor in 1993. The band achieved great success between 1994 and 1999, releasing four albums and 14 Top 40 singles at the height of Britpop.

Their debut album, released in 1994, was Change Giver. It peaked at number 16 in the UK Albums Chart, with three singles charting in the UK Top 40 – Dolphin, Speakeasy and Ocean Pie.

They then made their debut performance on BBC’s Top of the Pops in June that year.

In 1996, they appeared at some of the UK’s largest music festivals, including Glastonbury, T in the Park and Reading.

That year also saw the release of their second album, A Maximum High, their most successful album to date. The album spent a total of 26 weeks in the charts, peaking at number eight. And it saw five Top 40 UK hit singles – Where Have You Been Tonight?, Getting Better, Going For Gold, On Standby and Bully Boy.

Their third album, Let It Ride was released in 1998, and spent seven weeks in the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number nine. Hit singles were Chasing Rainbows, She Left Me on Friday, The Heroes and Devil in Your Shoes (Walking All Over).

Going For Gold, released the following year, compiled the band’s singles from 1994 to 1998 alongside new material in Disco Down, which was released as a single.

Shed Seven then split with the record label acrimoniously in late 1999. The line up went through several record companies before deciding to split in 2003, citing lack of support from their label at the time.

Then in 2007, the group announced they were reuniting for a greatest hits tour later in the year with a line-up comprising Rick Witter, Paul Banks, Tom Gladwin, Joe Johnson and Alan Leach. And the following summer saw them play a number of gigs including T in the Park and V festivals.

Meanwhile, Inspiral Carpets staged their own mini-tour of the UK this month ahead of joining Shed Seven for the December tour. It follows the release of their first studio album for 20 years, which was followed by a successful album tour in December 2014. The Manchester band released their fifth studio album after signing to Cherry Red Records. From the album, the band released the singles Spitfire and Let You Down, a collaboration with Manchester punk poet John Cooper-Clarke, who co-wrote and performed on the song.

Doors for the gig open at 7pm for an 8pm start.

Tickets cost £22.95. They are available from the box office on 600555, the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal and online at villagaiety.com

The Isle of Man’s historic railways are attracting more passengers, figures released this week revealed.

The Steam Railway rose from 99,421 passengers in 2014 to 100,653 this year, up 1.2 per cent.

The Manx Electric Railway rose 8.8 per cent, up from 66,350 to 77,182

The Snaefell Mountain Railway rose from 48,029 to 52,055 , up 8.4 per cent.

The Snaefell railway incldes passengers on the evening dining services because they are in the printed timetable. But the special dining services on the Steam Railway and the MER are not included.

Railway chiefs say innovations of luxury steam train dining and mountain top themed nights helped to swell the numbers and that new ticketing systems have also contributed to growing income.

Isle of Man Railways hosted 300 groups on its systems during 2015 and aims to exceed that in 2016.

One tour operator offering railway-themed breaks is returning with 42 group visits to the Isle of Man in 2016.

Indian Hill Station nights offering authentic Shimla cuisine, Pie in the Sky stargazing suppers and even a Sci-Fi Solstice ensured sell-out evenings at the summit of the Snaefell Mountain Railway this year and will be repeated in 2016. Passenger numbers on the line topped 52,000 during the 2015 season, up from 48,000 the previous year.

The Pullman-style Dining Car on the Steam Railway will increase capacity next year with the addition of a fourth sumptuously restored dining carriage. Dining Car services are continuing through late November and December 2015 with a range of Christmas lunches and dinners and festive fireman’s breakfast trains.

Highlights of the dining car calendar for 2016 will include a continuation of the oversubscribed Dining Cars of the World evenings, murder mystery fine dining nights and pie ’n’ mash trains, starting in March 2016. The monthly Friday Commuter Trains will feature a new Curry Club on the evening service.

Kate Beecroft MHK, political member responsible for the public transport division, said: ‘Public transport has had an exceptional summer with the previous reported highs during the TT fortnight continuing throughout the summer. Despite holding fares for the third season, income grew by 14% through increased use of our buses, trains and trams.

‘In 2007 just 18 per cent of railway operating costs were covered by income. This year that figure will be 43 per cent, well on the way to the target of 50 per cent. Implementing the Ticketer system and the introduction of Go smart travel cards have all contributed to the increase in income.’

Phil Gawne MHK, Minister for Infrastructure which includes the public transport division, said: ‘Our network of heritage railways is unmatched anywhere in the world and government continues to invest in the Victorian infrastructure to enable them to operate. Recent innovations including extending the events programme and the operating season enable us to accommodate groups and maximise income.

‘Government is committed to investing in our railways infrastructure. Following the successful and award-winning Ballure Bridge refurbishment completed in March, this winter we will invest more than £1.3million in track renewal on all three railways plus improving various structures – bridges and retaining walls. Additionally, refurbishment of Douglas and Ramsey stations is to be undertaken by the Department during 2016, subject to Tynwald approval, plus repairs at Port Erin Station.’

Isle of Man Railways event highlights for 2016

Rush Hour on the Railways

March 25 to 28

A four-day celebration of Isle of Man Railways including on Easter Monday (March 28) a day of photography on the Steam Railway. Intensive services will operate on the Steam Railway during Saturday 26 March and on the Manx Electric Railway on Sunday 27 March plus Easter Sunday (27 March) now includes the enduringly popular photography day on the Steam Railway.

Manx Heritage Transport Festival

July 27 to 31

During this five-day festival of heritage transport a double headed ‘Boat Train’ will depart Douglas at 09:50 on Thursday 27 July 2016 and will run between Douglas and Port Erin to celebrate the railway’s newest steam locomotive Mannin’s 90th birthday.

Additionally, on Saturday, July 30, there will be a Full Steam Ahead mixed gauge event at Douglas Station with the participation of the island’s volunteer-run railways. For the first time, Isle of Man Railways is joining forces with volunteer-operated Groudle Glen and Laxey Mines railways to operate their engines on Douglas Steam Railway Station tracks.

On Sunday, July 31, there will be a vintage bus extravaganza in the north for transport enthusiasts.

Island at War

Aug 19 to 21

Snaefell will be the location of a ‘crashed’ Spitfire and the Summit Restaurant will host wartime evenings (1August 19 to 20) during the Island at War event. Next year will be the sixth annual event that is mainly centred on the island’s 15½ mile long steam railway.

Another first will be Laxey Station becoming a military outpost manned by the Blackpool Military Vehicle Trust.

Planned highlights include:

All-new event at Laxey MER station with military vehicles and paratroopers from the Blackpool Military Vehicle Trust – Friday 19 August

Ride the Snaefell Mountain Railway to see the ‘crashed’ Spitfire site – all weekend.

Ride the Steam Railway to see a guarded artillery vehicle.

Re-enactments, period vehicles, Combined Cadet Forces, Scouts and wartime singers on stations.

Snaefell Mountain Railway

• Sunset dinners will continue on Wednesdays, Fridays and some Saturdays from 15 June to 16 September.

• Various Indian themed nights are scheduled plus the all new Table Mountain African themed night (14 May 2016 + 21 May + 22 Oct).

• We join forces with the Vikings of Mann for a Solstice celebration at the Summit on Saturday 25 June.

• All new ‘Sundown’ Dinner Country and Western sing-a-long evening on Saturday, October 1.

Steam Railway

Extensive programme of Dining Car services from Sunday March 6 (Mothering Sunday lunches and afternoon teas); Saturday March 25 and Thursday March 31 will see the first Pie n Mash trains. Murder Mystery and Dining Cars of the World throughout the season.

A fine wine and canape reception is being held to raise funds for a school in Sri Lanka established in the wake of the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004.

Lina and Pritesh Desai, from Castletown, missed the tsunami by just 10 minutes when they arrived for a holiday in Sri Lanka. They remained there for two weeks and witnessed the massive devastation it caused. The tsunami killed over 40,000 people in Sri Lanka and many small, coastal villages in the south and east were completely destroyed. Over a million people were left homeless.

Compelled to help they joined the charity Rebuilding Sri Lanka which was formed by Clare Crook, another guest at the hotel. Initially, the charity supplied emergency essentials such as food, water and medicine.

Its focus shifted in the long term and RSL has built over 300 transitional homes, installed clean water supplies and built toilets in 50 different locations, funded a special needs school, restored the livelihoods of over 1,000 families, established a children’s resource centre, built a village, two schools, five libraries and an English language centre.

The beneficiary of the reception will be the Hansa pre-school, which was established eight years ago and is now recognised as the best pre-school in the region.

A total of 95 per cent of funds go directly to the projects, which Lina and Prit visit each year and Clare oversees every two months to ensure that no funds are misspent.

Lina said: ‘Please help us to give this generation the hope and start in life that they deserve and would otherwise not benefit from, You will change lives.’

The reception is at Ballavartyn Equestrian Centre, Santon from 5pm to 8pm on Saturday, December 5. For tickets, at £20, contact Lina, 451616.

See www.rebuildingsrilanka.org.uk.

Steve Allen, well-known for his work with creator of the Muppets, Jim Henson, has been working with island schoolchildren.

The designer, who also worked with Star Wars director George Lucas, was here to create a life-size reproduction of the giant deer at the Manx Museum with Manx National Heritage Education Services.

Mr Allen was here from November 17 to 20 and a mixture of pupils from all over the island attended the event.

The giant deer skeleton is one of the most memorable items at the Manx Museum.

It was moved to MNH’s conservation unit in October for a detailed study amd cleaning and conservation.

The skeleton has not been conserved since it was put on display over 100 years ago.

Steve Allen has worked in the creative industry for over 30 years, starting out as a soft toy designer.

He was spotted by The Jim Henson Company while working on toy versions of ‘Fraggle Rock’ characters and was employed at the Jim Henson Creature Shop in London making prototype puppets for the film ‘Labyrinth’ as well as designing new characters and Muppet merchandise for them.

He started his own freelance business producing puppets, effect models, props and toys for a wide choice of companies such as The BBC, Hornby, 20th Century Fox and The Magic Circle.

A controversial plan in Port St Mary has been refused by planners.

The plan (15/01077/B by Andrew and Colette Gerrard) was to demolish the current dormer bungalow called ‘Geay Varrey’ and replace it with a two-storey flat-roofed structure.

It provoked objections from several residents, concerned principally about over massing in proportion to other dwellings in the area which are principally single storey, except for Gull Cottage which is adjacent to the proposed plan.

One resident, Jason Roberts, who is clerk to Port Erin commissioners and was previously the clerk in Port St Mary, pointed out: ‘Gull Cottage breached the commissioners’ covenant (in the area) which was an oversight by the developer and Port St Mary commissioners some time ago [before Mr Roberts was clerk]. This was only picked up after the building had been constructed and PSMC accepted a fee rather than demand the building be demolished.’

He said the same should not happen with this plan.

Planners agreed the proposed building would be ‘strikingly different to the others in the streetscene due to the vertical nature of the finishes, the relatively flat roof and the overall mass of the building’. It would also introduce first-floor windows and the’perception of being overlooked’ for neighbouring properties. The gardens behind the development, at 3 and 5 Kallow Point Road, would be ‘dominated by a two-storey building of greater mass than the existing and with a flat rear elevation.’

The Isle of Man will host the opening round of British Cycling’s 2016 Women’s Road Race Series.

It was confirmed earlier this week that the series, won this year by Nicola Juniper, will begin in the island on April 10 with the Manx International GP Feminin. This will be a totally new addition to the calendar.

The nine-event series will then go on to the Tour of the Reservoir Two-Day the following weekend before making a return to the popular Cheshire Classic on a new course taking in Overton Hill and Delamere Forest at Weaverham on April 24.

Two new races in Lincoln and Newton Longville will feature for the first time, while the Essex Giro Two-Day, Curlew Cup, Otley GP and Ryedale GP all make a welcome return to the series.

l Isle of Man Cycling Association’s AGM takes place this evening (Thursday) at the Jimmie Crosby Band Room, on the corner of Park Road and Derby Road, Douglas starting 6pm.

l Round four of the Zurich-supported Youth Mountain Bike Winter Series takes place at Archallagan Plantation this Sunday. Sign on from 12.30 in the main car park for a 1pm start.

It is £2 to enter and will begin with balance bikes/under-fours.

l The Fellowship of Manx Veteran Cyclists’ annual Christmas lunch takes place at the Best Western Palace Hotel on Thursday, December 17.

It is a 12.30 for 1pm start for the carvery buffet (including a glass of wine) and the tickets are £20 each available from Peter Babb, Applegarth, Tromode Park, Douglas.

Annual membership fees for the Fellowship remain at £5, and members are welcome to bring friends or partners with them to the lunch. Numbers by December 5 please.

l The annual festive ride to the Baltic Hotel, Foxdale takes place on Wednesday, December 16 for carol singing and light supper.

A man was the victim of an ‘unprovoked’ assault and police are appealing for witnesses.

It happened at 10.50 pm on Thursday night close to the Anagh Coar shops, Douglas.

Police would like to hear from anyone who saw a man in his mid to late 20s wearing a light coloured hoodie in that area at that time.

Police Constable Gorry would like to hear from anyone who may have information on this crime and can be contacted at Lord Street Police Station on 631212.

Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555111.

Former pupils and staff of Willaston School helped to celebrate the school’s 60th anniversary.

The primary school first opened its doors to pupils in January 1955 with the official opening taking place later that year, on November 17.

Since then, the school has grown from 48 pupils and three staff to 190 pupils in seven classes.

The birthday party held last week took visitors through the decades, highlighting how aspects of life from fashion to music have changed.

There were some retro food choices on the menu too, with pupils serving spam and coronation chicken sandwiches.

Visitors to the open afternoon included Education Minister Tim Crookall, DEC chief executive Professor Ronald Barr and former head teacher Arthur Taggart.

The party followed on from a fashion show held the previous week, with each class learning about a decade.

Head teacher Rose Burton told the Courier: ‘As Willaston estate has grown over the years, so has the school.

‘Willaston is a real community school.

‘It predominately serves the children from Willaston estate but new houses on the other side of Johnny Watterson’s Lane has increased its catchment area.

‘The community aspect is a strength of the school, recently recognised through the Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence where Willaston School , along with the Youth and Community division won the team award for the inspirational FAST (Families and Schools Together) programme.

‘FAST is a programme that is aimed at engaging parents with the school, promoting good old fashioned family values.’

Some of Willaston School’s key milestones:

• March 7, 1955: The first telephone was installed

• 1965: It became a primary school, under the headship of Ron Cretney

• 1967-8: School enters the Manx Music Festival for the first time, and win the boys’ choir competition

• October 25, 1967: First school dinners

• 1969: School trip to Blackpool organised by head teacher Jack Gair to visit a fish factory, before having fish for tea and flying home

• 1979: School dancers and choir performed for the Queen at the opening of Queen Elizabeth II High School, in Peel

• 1981: Revival of the Willaston and District Fayre.

Manx employers have been waxing lyrical about the need for the island to grow its workforce, with 15,000 extra workers needed according to them.

However, unlike the Manx trade union movement, two of whose unions employ full-time staff, the Chamber doesn’t like to practise what it preaches. Its staff are ‘part-time’!

When you hear statements like the most recent from the Chamber of Commerce, you can bet your bottom dollar they will not be insisting this plethora of new workers should have the right to organise themselves in trade unions.

In the Isle of Man some employers have always intimidated workers and discouraged them from joining unions.

Worst offenders were retail, hospitality trade (bar staff and catering), and construction. Some of the most bitter disputes were over recognition. Bizarrely, some employers would assert their employees did not want unions, that they were happy with the status quo. But when you got down to some serious organising, the opposite was always the case!

Both the government and employers, when they find themselves ‘in a bind’, seldom claim that it’s grasping businesses or inane government policies that got us there. Instead, they focus on the need for unions to be ‘realistic’.

Professions are not expected to be realistic over their charges, fancy restaurants to ameliorate their prices or construction firms to be realistic over the prices they charge for houses. But union members and workers generally must be ‘sensible’!

Successive Manx governments have also assisted Manx employers’ ‘union-bashing’ agenda by refusing to introduce statutory rights to recognition even though most of the rest of Western Europe has it on the statute books.

As a proportion of the economically active population of the Isle of Man, they probably constitute about 20 per cent of the workforce. Two of the largest unions, Prospect and Unite, account for 6,000 members alone.

In most other EU States the figure is much lower and in some countries (e.g. France) unions do not even achieve single figure percentages.

Given so many Manx workers opt to join unions, one would think they should have a stronger voice with government.

Under the Bell government the role of trade unions has been steadily diminished. The unions probably had a stronger voice in relative terms during the Walker administration 25 years ago when at least there was the MNEDC tripartite grouping which ensured some of the more bizarre statements from the Chamber of Commerce were balanced.

Additionally, unions constantly have to ‘explain’ themselves in the media and they are often the subject of unbalanced reporting. In addition the media on occasions try to turn sections of workers into pariahs.

Two years ago it was busmen. Latterly it’s been civil servants, airport and hospital workers, etc, and their pay and pensions. The media/press sensationalise a story – after all that’s their game, selling papers or attracting listeners.

They think unions are fair game but other groups do not attract the same opprobrium. For example, when was the last time you heard excessive profits being targeted by the media or the fees of professions brought under the spotlight?

Unions both at a public and private sector level keep the nation ‘ticking’ (they must do – remember they are one in five of the population) and yet they seem shut out of the decision-making process of civil society.

Although Manx workers are more likely to join unions than colleagues in other countries, the government and business work against them, not with them, attempting to reduce or eliminate their influence, but it’s not working.

Union membership continues to grow!

Manx music lovers have come out in force to support homegrown blues star Davy Knowles.

Tickets sold out overnight for a concert at Port St Mary Town Hall on Boxing Day without the need for much publicity.

With a waiting list of 115, it was decided to put on a second show, this time on Monday, December 28.

And that too sold out within a matter of hours.

Lenny Conroy of Triskel Promotions said: ‘It shows Davy’s enduring respect from Manx music lovers and whilst he has enjoyed sold out shows at the Gaiety Theatre and Peel Centenary Centre,the Port St Mary shows will be incredibly intimate and high-energy rhythm and blues.’

The former Back Door Slam front man has been hard at work this summer writing and performing at popular festivals and residencies at famous venues across the United States, including the Iridium in New York and in Chicago, where he now lives with fiancée Amber Freuh.

He is currently recording his latest work to good old fashioned tape and those who have been lucky enough to secure tickets for the Port St Mary Town Hall concerts will be treated to at least a few of these songs making their debut live for the first time.

Audiences may also be able to get their hands on the much-anticipated DVD Island Bound, which is available to pre-order now.

The locally filmed and produced DVD traces Davy’s own musical journey meeting many contemporaries who have also shaped and influenced his own writings and playing, including the likes of Richard Thompson, Peter Frampton and Martin Simpson.

Lenny admitted that when the idea for the concert was first raised a couple of weeks ago, they weren’t confident they would get sufficient support for it – although that soon changed.

‘With it falling on Boxing Day, as being the only weekend his local backing band of Lindsay and Steve Rowe and John Cleator could do, it wasn’t clear if there would be enough interest for a St Stephen’s Day show, what with a lot of people committed to family gatherings etc,’ he said.

Using Facebook to publicise the gig, the event sold out overnight.

‘A press release had been prepped for an early morning reading, however as soon as the event went live on social media it sold out,’ Lenny said.

‘Incredible support for Davy who himself has been mad busy in the studio laying down tracks for his second solo album.’

Doors for both shows open at 6pm.

Up and coming singer songwriter Hamish Hamish aka Hamish Faragher, will play an acoustic solo set of original songs from 7pm.

And then Tender Rage, consisting of more Rowes, namely Fraser (bass, vocals) and Callum (guitar) will be playing their classic rock from 7.45pm.

Meanwhile, Davy will also be playing a very intimate gig at his local The Bay Hotel, in Port Erin, on Friday, December 18, from 8pm. He will be supported by Hamish Hamish. It’s free entry.

To help conjure up the festive spirit there is a special Christmas celebration in Port Erin from 3pm to 7pm next Saturday (December 5).

The event, organised by Port Erin Traders’ Association, involves lots of seasonal activities such as roasted chestnuts and mulled wine, a Christmas market, Santa in his grotto and a ‘12 days of Christmas’ trail taking visitors around the shops with prizes. There are also giant puppets performing short Nativity plays around the village.

Entertainment is in the Falcon’s Nest (not Franklin’s showrooms, as originally advertised), and includes the judging of the fancy dress, with prizes for the best Christmas outfit. There are also performances by Southern Belles, Scoill Phurt le Moirrey dancers, Rushen Twirlers and Perree Bane. A vintage bus, with storytelling, is in the car park of the Haven Hotel. There is also a grand parade at 4pm.

A steam train leaves Douglas at 2.45pm and Port Erin at 6.30pm.

Isle of Man Athletics Association’s AGM on Monday evening could well prove influential in shaping the future of the sport domestically.

Retiring chairman David Pryke admits that athletics is on the crest of a wave number-wise, but he has concerns over the shortage of volunteers required to man its dramatic increase in popularity.

‘It is clear that athletics is progressing at an alarming rate,’ he said in an online post on the Association’s website.

‘Such a boom means everyone in the sport is having to do more, and I am very worried that this is not sustainable.

‘To put it bluntly, I am very worried that athletics in the island is going bust.

‘We desperately need helpers; meaning former athletes to step forward and put something back into the sport, parents of young athletes to help organise, and as many people as we can to get involved and lighten the load of those currently doing too much.

‘From top to bottom, we need help. After five years in office I am stepping down as chairman; after more than 12 years as treasurer and secretary my wife is stepping down.

‘We need a development officer, a Youth Development League manager, a website and Facebook administrator, kit manager, someone to help maintain island athletics records and ensure athletes’ welfare. Help with cross-country registrations, at presentation evenings and act as sponsor liaisons. More coaches and general officials are needed, as are helpers with teams competing off-island, cross-country course set-up and car-park arranging.

‘We need people to show commitment. All these roles are unpaid, but are vital if we want athletics to continue to flourish.

‘If we cannot fill these positions, athletics events will not happen.

‘If we do not recruit more helpers, athletics, now booming, will go bust.’

If you can help, email: mail@iomaa.info to find out more, or go along to Monday’s AGM at the IoM Sports Institute on the NSC perimeter road, starting at 7.30pm.

A public meeting is to be held on Monday about the generation of power in Manx waters.

It is being held by the Postive Action Group at the Manx Legion Club in Market Hill, Douglas, at 7.30pm.

The managing director of Manx Tidal Energy, Steve Malley, will give a presentation ‘Our Generation: Offshore power for the Isle of Man’.

The government recently announced the granting of a survey licence enabling his company to carry out preliminary work to determine the practicality and commercial viability of offshore electricity production.

Manx Tidal Energy will investigate the possibility of a tidal array on an area of the seabed off the Point of Ayre.

The government has identified the development of an offshore energy hub as one of the key strategies of its long-term proposals to boost the economy: leasing parts of the island’s seabed for renewable energy generation is expected to make a major contribution to public funds and local job creation.

A spokesperson for the PAG said: ‘We are delighted to stage this public meeting about carbon free energy generation on the very day the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris starts.

‘The eyes and ears of the world will be again be focussed on the French capital.

‘Here in the Isle of Man we have the ability to contribute to reducing infrastructure carbon emissions.

‘he Manx Tidal Energy initiative is an exciting prospect for the economy in the next few years and we anticipate the public will want to hear more detail from Steve Malley.

‘In his presentation, Steve will describe the project, explaining how such a development would operate, generate and transmit power.

‘He will also talk about the benefits to the island and the obstacles to be overcome: in particular a environmental impact assessment, planning and UK subsidies which are currently under threat.

‘Anyone who wants to find out more should pop along to the Manx Legion. As usual there will be an opportunity to question the speaker.’

In 2010, Tynwald voted to generate 15 per cent of our electricity using renewable resources by 2015. That target has not been hit.

Wind farms elsewhere have proliferated and many can be seen in UK waters with the naked eye from the Isle of Man.