A campaign has started to save Douglas’s horse trams.

As {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/historic-horse-tram-service-to-be-axed-1-7690244|we reported earlier today} Douglas Council has announced it is to axe the service because it makes such big losses.

Manx National Heritage has said it is ‘extremely disappointed’ to hear of the closure of the historic service.

Now, a group of railway enthusiasts, who are members of the Manx Electric Railway Society, has stepped in.

In a press statement it says: ‘The time has come for the government to provide a lasting solution to an unhappy state of affairs whereby the horse line alone has fallen as a responsibility of Douglas Corporation when in fact it is a key component of the national economy.’

It warns that MHKs who back Douglas Corporation’s move could lose their seats in September’s general election.

The society says: ‘The public may rest assured that our society will not stand idly by in the face of this threat to another piece of unique Manx Heritage.’

It has launched an online petition, details of which are below.

The Manx Electric Railway Society’s statement in full.

With interruption only in time of war, the Douglas Horse Tramway has run along the promenade in Douglas since 1876.

Many generations of Manx men and women grew up and died alongside it and it is a unique icon of the Isle of Man, as much of a symbol of Manxness as the Laxey Wheel, the Manx Electric Railway and the Isle of Man Railway.

This coming August 7 the line will be 140 years old.

In any other civilised country the heritage contained in that short line would be seen as being of world heritage status.

Nothing like it exists anywhere else on Earth. It is unique. When it has gone future generations will ask who were the people who took it away?

The horse line is a vital link in the summer which gives tourist access between the Manx Electric Railway and the Sea Terminal.

At a recent meeting the Minister for Infrastructure was told by one of his officers that at a cost to the taxpayer of about £2,500,000 the steam and electric railways bring in (official figures), £11,000,000 (aside from the contribution of Manx National Heritage) to our economy.

There do not appear to be figures which cover the effect of the horse line, but it appears to be a common sense proposition that the horse line makes a similar massive contribution to the economy over and above its cost to the Douglas ratepayer.

In a decision last night, apparently based on principles of bean counting on the narrow basis of the cost of the line to Douglas Corporation without taking into account the massive hidden benefit of the attraction of the line to the tourist economy or the immense harm that the removal of so unique an institution would bring to the reputation of the island amongst those interested in heritage, Douglas Corporation has decided to be rid of it and to dispose of its unique collection of ancient tramcars.

Not so very long ago the Manx Electric Railway Society was formed to defend the Manx Electric Railway when it faced a similar threat and the public may rest assured that our society will not stand idly by in the face of this threat to another piece of unique Manx Heritage.

Today, the day of this miserable announcement we have commenced a campaign to save the Douglas Horse Tramway and to ensure that those who oppose its retention are exposed for who they are and that they suffer all of the consequences of their decisions which can be brought to bear within our Democracy.

The time has come for the government to provide a lasting solution to an unhappy state of affairs whereby the horse line alone has fallen as a responsibility of Douglas Corporation when in fact it is a key component of the national economy.

Our members of the Keys are shortly due for re-election and a number of members are vulnerable to losing their seats. Our campaign is directed at that vulnerability and at ensuring that a majority will act in favour of retention of the line.

To this end we have commenced a petition aimed at reminding our politicians of the immense groundswell of opinion in favour of our heritage and reminding them of how vulnerable they will be to rejection at the hustings if they do not act now.

The online petition can be viewed at {http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/douglas-horse-tramway-to-be-scrapped|this site}

We call on all right thinking Manx voters to sign our petition and to save the Douglas Horse Tramway.

There is a distinct JCK Division Two flavour to the latest Isle of Man Newspapers’ Team of the Week which returns with an FA Cup special.

The Paddy Power-sponsored competition saw a host of preliminary round matches finally take place at the weekend, with several second-tier sides impressing against top-flight opposition.

Douglas Athletic booked their place in the first round proper thanks to a 3-1 victory at home to Premier League strugglers Ramsey and two of their side subsequently earn their places in the latest hypothetical XI.

Matthew Quirk was in fine form between the sticks for the Pinks as the goalkeeper produced several impressive save to help his team come from behind to win.

Also shining in that game was Drew Ward who excelled in the heart of defence for the Springfield Road outfit, blunting the Ramsey attack and impressing Eric Clague’s ratings panel to claim a TotW call-up.

Slotting in alongside Ward in a four-man defence are two more second division players as well as one of the island’s most promising young prospects.

Douglas and District nearly produced one of the biggest upsets in Manx FA Cup history when they pushed Premier League heavyweights DHSOB all the way in their clash at Noble’s Park.

Twice they pegged their more illustrious opponents back to force extra-time but they were eventually undone in the additional 30 minutes, going down 6-2.

Nevertheless, it is no surprise to see one of their defensive stalwarts land a coveted Team of the Week spot, namely Paul Gavin who produced a stoic performance at the back for D&D.

Also flying the Division Two flag high was Michael United who thumped fellow second division side Onchan 7-0 at Balleira, defender Andrew Berry setting them on the way with the first goal and thus earning a TotW place.

Completing the backline is Laxey’s Tom Smith, tipped by many to be an island regular in the future.

The talented youngster delivered another assured performance at the back for the Miners as the Glen Road side recorded a 4-0 victory over St Mary’s.

Berry’s Balleira Road team-mate Kevin Pulman also excelled during the Aces’ game against Onchan, grabbing a goal and therefore earning his place in the latest Team of the Week midfield.

The rest of the midfield is made up of Premier League stars who regularly earn their places in the XI, namely St George’s duo Joey Morling and Chris Bass Jr, as well as Old Boys attacker Callum Stewart.

The latter produced a touch of class when his side needed it most, netting two goals in extra-time as the Blackberry Lane side finally saw off the spirited challenge of D&D.

Morling was named man of the match as Grand Slam-chasing Geordies put Rushen United to the sword at Croit Lowey, grabbing the first goal for the Saints and setting them on their way to an emphatic 5-1 win.

Also impressing was Bass Jr who produced a lively performance on the opposite wing, having a hand in several goals and very nearly scoring himself, only being denied by a goalline clearance from Alex Maitland.

Leading the line in the latest Team of the Week are two players who, between them, fired in five goals during the weekend’s preliminary round matches.

Star of the show was Sean Gavin who helped himself to a hat-trick for Laxey in their aforementioned 4-0 win at home to St Mary’s, while joining him up front is Colby’s Jim Collett who grabbed a decisive double during the Moonlighters’ 2-1 victory over Gymns.

Claiming the refereeing honours this week is Matty Shaw, the young official impressing with the whistle during the match between Douglas and District v DHSOB.

The special meeting of Douglas Council that sealed the fate of the Horse Tramway was heard in private.

Council leader David Christian defended the decision to hold that meeting behind closed doors, explaining this had to be the case as none of the tramway staff was aware of what was being proposed.

Councillor Christian said it was a ‘sad day for Douglas’ and the three-hour special meeting of the full council on Thursday morning had been very subdued.

He said 14 members were present and all spoke. The vote when it came was unanimous.

The three full-time members of tramway staff were informed yesterday afternoon.

Mr Christian said that with costs rising from £263,000 a year to £422,000, including capital repayments on a £2.9m scheme plan to amalgamate the Tramway Terrace stables site with the terminus at Strathallan, the operation was no longer sustainable.

He insisted the move had not been done to force government to take over the loss-making operation.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/historic-horse-tram-service-to-be-axed-1-7690244|Click here to read our first story about this issue.}

‘We didn’t do it to force their hands. We know government has got no money for it and they’ve made it quite clear that they have no money to take it off our hands,’ he said.

Mr Christian said with the just 60,000 passengers a year using the horse trams, the operation was not sustainable.

He said: ‘We haven’t got sufficient visitors coming to the island to use this vintage tourism facility.’

He said the response to the announcement had been mixed, and he had received some ‘darn right abusive’ emails but also others suggesting the decision was long overdue.

The Douglas Council leader said he is sceptical that a voluntary group could take on the tramway, given the size of its losses. But he insisted the ‘door was kept firmly open - it’s not been slammed shut’.

Chief Minister Allan Bell said he fully understood why Douglas Council had taken the decision for financial reasons.

But he added: ‘There is no question of government stepping in to take them on.’

Chairman of the Douglas regeneration scheme David Cretney MLC said: ‘I was a little taken aback that there was no discussion with Douglas members of Tynwald as we have had a number of discussions on this matter in recent years when I was Minister of Infrastructure and since.’

An online petition by Friends of Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, entitled ‘Support for the retention of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway’ has already got over 900 signatures.

It’s been picked up by horse tram loves as far afield as the United States and Australia.

Susan Wilkinson, of Port Talbot in Wales, said: ‘Please don’t lose an integral part of the island’s history and character.

‘Having lived in the Channel Islands and seen what removing history does to the charm of these places, have a think again, don’t turn Douglas and the IOM into just another “place”.’

Wim Beukenkamp of Haarlem in the Netherlands, said: ‘The Douglas Horse Tramway is a unique part of world heritage.

‘It is on a par with the famous Dutch windmills.’

See the petition at {http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/support-for-the-retention-of-the-douglas-bay-horse-tramway.html|this site.}

One of the island’s best known charities fears a hate campaign is being waged against it.

The volunteer organisation Beach Buddies, which will celebrate 10 years of tidying the island’s beaches this year, was hit by vandals recently when one of its bins at scenic Port Soderick, Braddan, was set on fire.

Now, in what appears to be a follow-up act of vandalism, the same bin has been wrenched from its mounting and launched down a bank into the river at Port Soderick glen.

Beach Buddies co-ordinator Bill Dale said the incident must have happened on Monday night and would have involved more than one person.

He said: ‘You couldn’t lift one of those bins on your own: it would take at least two people. People do go down there sometimes to eat take-away food and then get up to mischief.’

The bin at Port Soderick, is sponsored by Zero Waste Mann and is one of 15 around the island which have proved to be a massive success, according to Mr Dale.

‘We find that members of the public do a bit of their own beach cleaning as they are out walking, often collecting items and depositing them in the bins,’ he said.

Fortunately the bin, which is made of metal, was not too badly damaged but volunteers will now have to haul it back into place where it will be made extra secure to avoid any repeat of the incident.

It’s the first time any of the Beach Buddies’ bins have been targeted in the two years they have been in place so Mr Dale thinks the two incidents so close together may be connected.

‘I think I referred to the people who set fire to it as ‘‘idiots’’ so I wonder if the second attack was vengeance for that,’ he said.

But he added they did not really see the attack as personal and their work would continue.

‘There are far, far more decent people out there who care about our island and make very kind comments about what Beach Buddies and our brilliant volunteers are doing,’ he said.

The police have been informed about the attacks but no arrests have so far been made.

Beach Buddies will be meeting on Sunday (January 24) for their first clean up of 2016 at Ballaugh Cronk.

Anyone willing to help out should be there for 10.30am. All equipment will be provided.

For more information about Beach Buddies visit the group’s page on Facebook.

Conor Cummins and the rest of the UK team are defending their AMCN Island Classic title at the Phillip Island GP circuit in Australia this weekend.

The largest classic bike meeting in the Southern Hemisphere attracts riders from across the globe to what is one of the most scenic Grand Prix circuits on the calendar, on the southernmost tip of Victoria, close to Melbourne.

The Manxman will be joined in the UK squad by John McGuinness, Ryan Farquhar, and former GP star Jeremy McWilliams who were all in the UK team that successfully ended Australia’s run of 10 wins in the event 12 months ago. Farquhar and Cummins were the top points’ scorers for the victorious team.

Cummins and McGuinness will again be astride 1150cc Harris F1 Hondas, while McWilliams, Farquhar and James Hillier will ride 1300cc Harris F1 Yamahas from the same Steve Wheatman stable.

Also in the GB team is UK-based Kiwi Glenn Richards, former Senior MGP winner Michael Russell (1300cc P&M Kawasaki) and the lesser-known Keith Higgs (Harris Magnum Kawasaki).

To balance the books, Yorkshireman Chris Swallow is in the New Zealand team, which is again captained by former GP and TT ace Graeme Crosby.

Dave Crussell, who rode the 2013 Classic TT for Team Russell and Collins, will lead the American squad and two-time Australian Superbike Champion Marty Craggill will head-up the home squad on a TZ750 Yamaha, alongside Cameron Donald and the McIntosh Suzuki.

Ireland is included in the challenge for the first time, with leading short circuit rider Hilton Hincks heading up the squad.

Peel-based Chris McGahan is riding in the New Era support races on an 888 Ducati and TZR Yamaha 250 road bike owned by Chris Pickett.

The pair met when Pickett made his Classic TT debut a couple of years ago (on the 888) and McGahan was showing the newcomers round the course on a coach at the start of practice week.

Chris Pickett’s son Alex made his debut the same week on a Ducati 916 when he led the Newcomers’ from a standing start but then had to pit each lap for petrol as the big Ducati’s tank only held enough fuel for a single lap at a time. He ultimately finished eighth.

Alex Pickett returned to ride the TT last year for Paul Shoesmith’s Ice Valley team but suffered ill-fortune with minor issues that hindered his progress. Pickett Sr is editor of Australia’s Cycle Torque magazine and the recently-launched Australian Classic Racer.

OAP racer McGahan flew to Sydney earlier this month and rode a road bike south to Melbourne in time for the start of the four-day meeting at Phillip Island tomorrow, Friday.

Chris appreciates the support he receives from Sarah Jarvis of Sure Telecommunications, and Mark and Kathy Irving of Greeba Mushroom Farm.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned on an island artist who died after a road accident at the Everlasting Bend north of Laxey.

Simon Nicholas Buttimore, late of Kerromoar, Sulby, died in intensive care at Noble’s Hospital on January 18, three days after crashing a Honda C90 motorcycle during the evening of January 15.

Coroner John Needham said proceedings would be limited to evidence of date, place and cause of death and a formal identification of Mr Buttimore.

The court heard Mr Buttimore, who was 56 and born in Wales, died from head injuries sustained in the accident.

Mr Needham offered his condolences to the family and adjourned the proceedings to a date when all enquiries into the accident are completed.

Plans to redevelop Douglas’s Promenade will continue unchanged, despite Douglas Council’s decision today to axe the horse trams.

The Department of Infrastructure says it will progress its {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/bold-vision-unveiled-for-promenades-1-7245511|proposals for the redevelopment of the seafront}.

Douglas Council today announced it was going to {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/historic-horse-tram-service-to-be-axed-1-7690244|scrap the horse trams} to save money.

Subject to planning approval and support from Tynwald, work will start later this year to reconstruct the failing highway and carry out improvements to the footways, drainage, junctions and pedestrian crossings.

In a press statement, the department says would not seek to lay the horse tram tacks at this time in light of the council’s decision.

It adds: ‘The proposed refurbishment would still include space for a single track on the walkway if the horse trams were to return in the future.’

A public inquiry was held in November into the department’s planning application for Douglas Promenade and an independent inspector is expected to present his report to the Council of Ministers in February.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/hundreds-objected-to-original-promenade-revamp-plans-1-7641078|Click here to read a recent story about the inspector’s report}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/business/lines-painted-on-douglas-promenade-to-show-proposed-location-of-horse-tram-tracks-1-7319391|Click here to see a story with an artist’s impression of how the walkway would look}

Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK said: ‘The department has a close and positive relationship with Douglas Borough Council and we have been working together on the promenade plans to deliver the best option for the capital and for the Isle of Man in general.

‘Government and local authorities are experiencing severe financial pressures and the council has obviously decided that it cannot ask ratepayers to continue funding the loss-making horse tram service.

‘There are no plans at this stage for the government to take over the running of the horse trams, although I have called a meeting of relevant government departments and agencies to consider the implications of this loss and what, if any, response Government should make.’

He added: ‘The council’s announcement will not affect the department’s aspirations for the promenade and we intend to progress our current proposals, subject to the necessary approvals being granted.

‘We would not lay the tram track, but the rest of the scheme would go ahead, with the focus on much-needed improvements to the highway and the creation of a cultural quarter. It has always been our desire to progress a design that will attract people, support the economy and act as a catalyst for future regeneration.’

Earlier today, the Chief Minister {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/horse-tram-decision-was-taken-behind-closed-doors-1-7691249|ruled out the government taking over the historic tramway}.

Manx National Heritage {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/horse-tram-decision-is-contrary-to-reassurances-from-douglas-corporation-says-manx-national-heritage-1-7691069|expressed its concern} at the loss of the attraction.

Meanwhile, vintage railway enthusiasts said they’d {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/call-to-government-to-save-the-horse-trams-1-7691151|fight the decision.}

Last year we asked people in Douglas what they thought of the idea of moving the horse trams to the walkway.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/voxpop-horse-trams-what-do-you-think-1-7362330|Click here to read what they said.}

Weddings website couple Laura and John Faragher, pictured on their big day, claim to have launched the Isle of Man’s first chat group for those tying the knot.

Laura said it’s another step in bringing the Manx wedding community together.

The website Your Big Day, has been going from strength to strength.

The leading weddings website has launched the Isle of Man’s first Weddings Chat Group.

The free to join group is for anyone getting married in the Isle of Man or helping someone they know with their wedding planning process – from the brides themselves, to grooms, bridesmaids, and other friends and family.

Commenting on the launch, John from Your Big Day said: ‘We were inspired to set up the group to complement our handy weddings website (www.yourbigday.im), so brides and other members of the bridal party can help each other, ask their burning weddings questions, swap stories and DIY tips, and everything else in between’.

Feedback from a recent member of the group commented: ‘I honestly don’t know where I’d be without you, I’ve only been on it a few days and already had so much help’.

The group, which is closed to the public, provides a ‘private haven’ where members can connect and chat, bringing the local weddings community together.

Business News in sister paper, the Examiner featured the enterprising couple last year after the launch of the website.

Then, Laura said: ‘We’ve had an amazing response to the website from couples asking to share their wedding experiences and it’s wonderful to read every love story and wedding planning adventure.

‘We’ve spoken to so many couples and newlyweds and they think that having a dedicated weddings website for the Isle of Man is a marvellous idea and something that’s been missing from the Manx wedding scene.’

To request to join the new group, visit Your Big Day’s Isle of Man Wedding Chat on Facebook to find the group.

Most of the people who contacted the government about the idea of same sex marriage backed the idea.

The Cabinet Office has today published the outcome of the public consultation on the draft Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.

A total of 176 responses were received, of which 90 were supportive of the principle of allowing same sex couples to get married and 76 were opposed. There were ten other responses.

The Bill will now be introduced to the House of Keys for consideration.

The full consultation response can be found on the Government website {https://www.gov.im/ConsultationDetail.gov?id=536|here}

Ideally the public consultation on Laxey bridge would have been longer, but the time scale for getting things finished dictated against this.

That’s the view of Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne who has strongly refuted allegations that the consultation was a sham and the chosen bridge design a foregone conclusion.

‘I accept we did not handle it as well as we should have done, but we did alter our plans in response to the consultation,’ he said, adding no planning application was made until the consultation had ended.

Villagers had the chance to view architects’ designs over two days earlier this month before a planning application was made on January 12.

Mr Gawne said the overwhelmingly popular option, in terms of appearance, was the traditional stone arch. But he said the single span, pepper pot design chosen was less likely to result in flooding, which was a prime consideration for those attending the consultation. Aesthetically it was also the second most popular design, he said.

‘The design people favoured was more likely to result in flooding, so we then decided on the second most popular design. To say we did not listen is just not fair.’

Details such as paving on the chosen design had also been varied as a result of the consultation, he said.

Questions were raised over the validity of the consultation after minutes of a meeting between the DoI and Laxey Commissioners, prior to the consultation, were revealed, stating it was agreed to pursue a planning application for the pepper pot design.

However Mr Gawne said no such decision was made at that stage.

Musician Andy Fairweather Low and his band the Low Riders are returning to the Isle of Man.

Andy, who enjoyed chart success with hits like If Paradise Is (Half as Nice) and Wide Eyed and Legless, played to a packed Centenary Centre in Peel in 2013.

Organiser David McLean said: ‘Rarely in the 12 years that the centre has been running has there been a band that garnered so much praise and requests for a return performance.

‘With a mixture of exquisite musicianship, great songs and vocal performances, and Andy’s warm, friendly persona, the evening sped by last time and the Centre volunteers are delighted that he has agreed to bring his band back for a rematch, this time coming the day before so they can experience a bit of island hospitality and scenery.

‘If you want an evening guaranteed to bring you the best in blues, R&B and pop don’t miss this gig.’

The concert takes place on July 2 at the Centenary Centre, and the Steam Packet Company is helping with the cost of travel.

David added: ‘Artists of this calibre are expensive both in terms of their fees and the necessity for them to bring large amounts of equipment so they can do their full show, and to have help with transport makes it possible for the Centenary Centre to keep music live.’

Andy first found success as lead singer and guitarist of Amen Corner, including securing a Number 1 single in the UK charts. He went on to tour and record alongside George Harrison, Roger Waters, Bill Wyman, Tom Jones, Van Morrison, Joe Satriani, Pete Townsend and Eric Clapton, who he has worked with for more than 15 years.

Low Riders’ bass player Dave Bronze is no stranger to the island having visited in the 1970s as part of Dr Feelgood and more recently alongside Eric Bibb at the Centenary Centre.

Tickets and more info: www.centenarycentre.com

The island’s top business leaders’ organisation will be facing questions at the next Positive Action Group meeting.

The Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive, Jane Dellar, aided by elected council member, Bill Mummery, will explain the structure of the organisation, its philosophy and strategy.

The PAG says they will talk about the relationship with government departments and the call for increasing the number of jobs in the island.

A spokesperson for PAG said: ‘The political influence exerted by the Chamber of Commerce seems to have increased in the last four years. It is an high profile business network of members representing all key sectors of the economy.

After the presentation there will be an opportunity for the audience to question the guests.

It will take place at 7.30pm on Monday (January 25) at the Manx Legion Club, Market Hill, Douglas. Admission is free.

A health worker who returned to work after a cancer operation has been sacked.

Michelle Inglis, 49, a biomedical scientist in the chemical pathology lab at Noble’s Hospital for almost 13 years, was dismissed following a two-day hearing which ended on Monday.

Her son Karl said his mother would now take legal action and she had been advised not to comment.

He said: ‘She’s devastated.

‘My mum was dismissed from her job and now has to look to the future. She might still have cancer, she has two young kids, single mum, mortgage to pay, no job and no future of a job in her field on the Isle of Man as we only have one lab that does what she does.’

He claimed it was indicated during the hearing papers that his mother’s partner and work colleague may face similar charges and dismissal. ‘He also has three children who rely on him and they were going to set up a family home together,’ he said.

Miss Inglis was suspended on December 12 last year, pending the hearing held to consider whether there had been an irretrievable breakdown in the working relationship between herself and her colleagues.

She claimed, however, that she was being sacked for not being 100 per cent fit following cancer treatment.

Miss Inglis told iomtoday before the hearing: ‘My future is looking bleak. I may still have cancer cells that can progress and my employer is trying to sack me due to my having cancer.’

Her son said her employer had described the hearing at The Lodge in Strang as neither a disciplinary or grievance proceeding although she had been warned it could result in her dismissal,

He said his mother was taking legal action on the basis that this ‘other’ type of hearing does not arguably exist in employment law.

He said a witness claimed at the hearing that three members of staff who worked alongside his mother in the path lab had refused to work with her and had threatened to resign if she had been reinstated.

Twelve months ago Miss Inglis was diagnosed with cervical cancer and underwent treatment to remove the cancerous cells.

In October she had a hysterectomy and was signed off work for six weeks.

A return to work plan was appaently agreed with her manager in December which included phased hours, light duties and, she claims, some on-call sessions.

But on December 11 she was informed she would no longer be doing the Saturday on-call session the following day.

She nevertheless went into work on that Saturday only for a hospital manager to tell her to leave and hand over her access card.

When she refused, the manager, who had been contacted by director of operations Barbara Scott, warned she would have no choice but to suspend her.

Her story also made headlines in a tabloid newspaper in the UK.

Miss Inglis has lodged a series of complaints against a number of her colleagues, alleging bullying, harassment and victimisation. None of those complaints, which were made between 2012 and 2015, have been upheld.

Her son said: ‘In my opinion, it is clear that due to a serious lack of management issues have been allowed to manifest within the department making an environment that is almost impossible to work in and with the other staff members. This has caused a direct breakdown with management and staff in my opinion.’

He said it was hospital managers who should tender their resignations while the chief executive should face questions about encouraging whistleblowers to come forward with serious issues but allowing them to be sacked.

A team of walking footballers representing the Isle of Man FA will be taking part in the FA Peoples’ Cup this weekend.

This is the second year of the competition which has been run in partnership with the English FA and the BBC Get Inspired programme.

The Isle of Man team are playing at Bury College this weekend in round one. Regional semi-finals take place on February 27-28 with the finals at Wembley in March.

IoMFA chief executive Frank Stennett explains: ‘This tournament was very successful last year for small-sided competitions such as disability and walking football, which is strictly for players over 50 years of age.

‘The IoMFA have organised walking football sessions for two years now with the kind support and sponsorship of Specsavers Isle of Man.

‘Every session has been well attended with a number of players referred to us from the Isle of Man Health Authority.

‘The games give the opportunity for players to get some regular exercise in increasingly competitive games of football - we are all looking forward to the weekend immensely.

‘Finally we cannot thank Adrian Higgins from Specsavers Isle of Man enough for his kind support. He plays every week and is travelling with the party as our manager for the weekend.’

IoMFA development officer Lewis Qualtrough further commented: ‘It is fantastic that the walking football initiative in the island has developed to the stage of entering a team into the FA People’s Cup.

‘I’m sure the players will enjoy the occasion and we hope our attendance at the tournament will help even further grow our weekly sessions.

‘If you are over 50 and interested in joining the sport to help develop and maintain an active lifestyle, please contact the IoMFA office on 613750’.

Higgins added: ‘Lack of exercise contributes significantly to several eye conditions, particularly among people aged 60 and over.

‘There is some evidence that suggests that regular exercise can help preserve vision and protects against cataract and age-related macular degeneration.

‘Walking football is a great way to exercise, have fun and socialise all at the same time.’

Chief Minister Allan Bell used his State of the Nation address to condemn island-based tax haven critics who he said were potentially damaging our international reputation.

He made his remarks following last week’s BBC2 documentary ‘The Town that took on the Taxman’ that followed business owners from the Welsh town of Crickhowell as they tried to follow the lead of multinationals like Starbucks and Amazon and move their profits offshore.

Douglas councillor Cat Turner, a Lib Van green campaigner who previously worked in the island’s financial services industry. is shown in the documentary welcoming the Crickhowell residents to the Isle of Man which she describes as a ‘tax haven’.

She shows them to Athol Street which she explains once had a reputation for being ‘shady on both sides’.

In his State of the Nation address to the Alliance of Isle of Man Compliance Professionals’ conference at the Villa Marina, Mr Bell said the island has led the way in tax transparency and information exchange, gaining international recognition as a ‘reputable and responsible centre for quality international business’.

This had led UK Prime Minister David Cameron to confirm in the House of Commons that the Isle of Man should not be regarded as a ‘tax haven’ - which Mr Bell described as a ‘landmark statement’.

He said that ‘unfortunately’ this message had not ‘permeated to some people in the island’. ‘I’m very disappointed with some of the comments made on the BBC programme,’ he said.

Mr Bell told the Examiner this could have potentially serious implications for the island’s international reputation which ‘we have spent years building up’.

He said it was ‘unacceptable’ that the BBC had not given the Manx government the opportunity to comment and provide a ‘balanced point of view’.

The Town that took on the Taxman showed how apparently easy it was for the Crickhowell business owners to set up a company in the Isle of Man to avoid paying UK corporation tax, into which their profits could potentially be sheltered via an Amsterdam-based outfit to avoid paying withholding tax - a arrangement known as a Dutch sandwich.

In the event, the Crickhowell team never used the arrangement and there was a question mark over whether it would be acceptable to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. Instead the Welsh retailers used the experiment to highlight the issue of tax fairness.

Mr Bell told the conference that the public debate on beneficial ownership may have subsided but the issue has not gone away.

He told delegates: ‘The outcome of our public consultation demonstrated strong opposition to a public register, a position I strongly agree with and made clear to the UK government that this is a red line for the Isle of Man.’

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/welsh-town-to-copy-isle-of-man-model-in-tv-tax-haven-documentary-1-7574869|The Isle of Man Examiner revealed that the programme was being made on the front page on November 14.

Mike Ashmole was the guest judge when the society met for its first ‘open’ competition of 2016.

He is an accomplished amateur photographer, a former vice-president of the committee of the Western Photographic Club and a committee member of that club.

He had adopted a thorough approach in assessing the 46 projected digital images as he demonstrated meticulous attention to detail with each one. After mentioning the usual elements that make up a successful image and assuring the audience of his desire to be completely objective, he admitted that ‘photography is a very personal topic’, so he could not guarantee that his final critique would be completely free of all subjectivity!

He then commented briefly on every image, offering a few tips as he gave clear, concise explanations and reasoning to justify the order of merit upon which he had eventually decided.

Results:

Standard Group – 1st ‘Rainbow Drops’, a stunning, colourful combination of technical and artistic skills by Sue Blythe; 2nd ‘Making Friends’ by Steve Meadows; 3rd ‘Red Arrow’ by Michael Howland; 4th ‘Mediterranean Chameleon’ by Barry Murphy; 5th ‘Frozen’ by Steve Meadows; 6th ‘Robin in my Garden’ by Michael Howland. The judge also commended ‘Watercolours’ by Sue Blythe.

Intermediate Group – 1st ‘Iris Flower with Pollen Grains’, a pleasing image of shapes and colours by Jenny Shanley; 2nd ‘Dill in Silhouette’ by Beryl Quayle; 3rd ‘Take Off’ by Annette Slater; 4th ‘Green Veined Whites Mating’ by Shirley Lotfy, who also came 5th with ‘Quayside View’; and 6th ‘Parrot Tulips’ by Annette Slater. ‘Red Riding Wolf’ by Hazel Walsh and ‘May the Force be with You’ by Nessie Gillen were both commended.

Advanced Group – 1 ‘Inventory’ by Mark Stringer, a human interest workplace image; 2nd ‘Vintage Brass’ by Sue Jones, who also came 3rd with ‘Ancient Stones’; 4th ‘Waiting for the Fly’ by Tony Curtis; 5th ‘Tuscany Land and Mists’ by Chris Nicholls; and 6th ‘Gunkanjima Island’ by Mark Stringer. ‘Model with Fan’ by Chris Nicholls and ‘Ballroom Twirl’ by Bob Servante were both commended.

Best Overall Image - ‘Rainbow Drops’ by Sue Blythe;

The society’s Spring Photographic Exhibition at the Hodgson Loom Gallery at Laxey Woollen Mills will be open for a month from February 13 and is not to be missed!

On Wednesday, January 27, at 7.30 pm at Thie Ellyn, off Withington Road, Douglas, the society has two special presentations on offer. The first wil be by Chris Sharpe on ornithology, Chris having been one of the leading lights in producing the excellent ‘Manx Bird Atlas’. The second presentation will be on the mystical island of ‘Santorini’, by Chris Nicholls.

Antony Hamilton

Joined up government is something apparently the current administration aspires to, but is it such a good thing?

Government certainly wasn’t joined up (either from a parliamentary of administrative perspective) when I first started dealing with it back in the late 1970s. I wasn’t active in the union then. My vehicles for ‘engaging the state’ were the Celtic League (CL), Mec Vannin and the Anti Militarist Alliance.

I was always fortunate in knowing what government was thinking because, despite attempts to retain confidentiality, people always had a motivation or grudge to release information. So around about the 1980s an item of correspondence from the Government Secretary’s office (copied by hand) came to my attention.

I can’t remember the exact text now but, if you have a month of two to spend, you will find all this stuff filed with the Celtic League papers at MNH.

Basically, it said: ‘We keep getting queries from a JB Moffatt in various guises [I like that word] i.e. Celtic League, Mec Vannin or the AMA – we could do with finding out more about them. The CL publishes a magazine CARN which is stocked by Frank Quayle’s in Peel. I suggest copies are procured. Note: purchase using petty cash to avoid attention.’

This is where I come to the ‘joined up government’ bit because at the time as secretary of the local branch of the League I was corresponding with the Tynwald Library asking it to subscribe to CARN. If they had taken a sub and been ‘joined up’ they could have strolled along the corridor to the library. Alternatively, they could have visited the museum library, which acquired copies as they were printed from about 1973.

Government got a bit more ‘joined up’ after the ministerial system came in.

However records in the mid-1980s and for the next decade were still for the most part paper and they generated loads! By this time I was the union official (‘that man’s worse than Scargill’).

I was enjoying, together with my colleagues, great success.

It was down to good old ‘paper intelligence’

The ministerial system and the Whitley Council employers and other bodies just spewed out paper – a rainforest of it. The Whitley (employers) had their own minutes; they sent briefing notes to the employers and received responses. They assessed our position and set out theirs.

Chief officers met separately. They had sub groups – cue another paper mountain. Finally, of course, the Council of Ministers, in the days before it published its minutes, was ‘a whirling dervish’ of paper flying between Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and executives.

There was just one problem with all that paperwork flying around: some (in fact loads) was bound to be leaked.

So we were not industrial relations geniuses. We were just well informed, indeed we knew some things before the employers knew it themselves. We also saw some things we were never supposed to see. This ‘happy time’ went on for over a decade.

I have to confess, going into pay talks with an employer when you not only know their bottom line but also their top line was a bit like shooting fish in a barrel.

Government were so perplexed about our insight that, ruling out clairvoyance, they seriously contemplated the possibility we were bugging them. It wasn’t that implausible because at that time they found a bug in a meeting room at the Department of Highways Ports, and Properties. But it was definitely, hand on heart, not us.

We eschewed such subterfuge to the extent that a union member, who procured a recording briefcase was told in no uncertain fashion not to use it!

Then disaster! Sometime around the mid/late 90s a decision was taken to cut down on paperwork, save money, store and transmit government files electronically.

The game was well and truly up for us!

But we had a good run! Anyway, with Freedom of Information, subterfuge within government should have become a thing of the past.

A significant proportion of the cats that come to our cattery for rehoming either have no tail or have the vestige of a tail. Most of these are, of course, Manx cats.

The origin of the Manx cat’s lack of a tail is, as you might expect on an Island steeped with folk law, the source of much speculation and intrigue.

According to one story the Manx cat is a result of a cross between a cat and a rabbit.

Another imaginative tale narrates how Irish invaders stole the cat’s tail to make plumes for their helmets.

And yet another interesting story suggests that the cats were brought to Noah’s Ark but since time was short and as they were the last passengers to climb aboard, Noah slammed the door on their tails!

The most scientific explanation is that the Manx cat’s lack of a tail can be attributed to a spontaneous genetic mutation that occurred many centuries ago. Since the lack of a tail is governed by a dominant gene, along with modifying polygenes, this dominant gene easily passed from one generation to the next given the island’s closed environment and small gene pool.

The tail types are broken into four classifications: rumpy, rumpy-riser, stumpy and longy. Health issues can affect a proportion of Manx cats, most often the completely tailless rumpies, and they usually show up by the time a kitten is four months old – a good reason to wait until that age before bringing a kitten home.

All the animals re-homed by the ManxSPCA are given a thorough health check, and they are vaccinated, microchipped and, if they are old enough, neutered before they go to their new owners.

The staff teams are always happy to give advice and support to prospective or new owners, and they work hard to ensure that a suitable ‘match’ is made.

Returning to Manx cats, we would like to tell you about one in particular called Daisy.

She typifies the breed – she is intelligent, expressive, sociable and fun-loving, and a very active 13-year-old. Her owner was very ill and unable to keep her, and so she came to us in November. Since then, she has had dental surgery and has started to put on weight, although her rather sparse hair doesn’t seem to be growing back despite there being no underlying skin condition.

She could be the most rewarding and affectionate companion for someone – please come and meet her.

And still on the subject of animals with short tails, we had disappointing news this week about Sir Hopsalot, the white bunny who was with us for most of 2015 – the rabbit he was rehomed with didn’t like him and so he has returned to Ard Jerkyll. Poor Sir Hopsalot.

All the dogs in our kennels have lovely long tails, and they like to wag them both to communicate with each other and with us. It is a commonly held misconception, though, that a dog wagging its tail is a happy dog. While some wags are indeed associated with happiness, others can mean fear, insecurity, a social challenge or even a warning that you need to be careful with your approach. Even more specifically it is suggested by some researchers that a wag to the right indicates that the dog is happy; and a wag to left is an indication of fear or anxiety.

Dog behaviour is an intriguing and complex subject, and spending time and energy training your puppy or your dog will reap rewards. The ManxSPCA runs puppy and dog training on Saturday evenings, with hour long sessions costing just £5. Please call the society on 851672 for more details.

A dog’s tail is an important part of their anatomy, and there is some confusion over the law relating to tail docking in dogs.

It has been illegal in the UK since 2007 except for some working breeds and for medical reasons, but this law does not apply on the island, although there is much debate about the ethics and rational behind docking. We recommend that you speak to your veterinary surgeon if you are considering buying a puppy or a dog that has a docked tail to ensure that the procedure was carried out appropriately and that the paperwork is correct.

The Isle of Man’s TT course provides a familiar backdrop to a four-page feature in the latest edition of Car magazine.

Published last Wednesday, the magazine’s February issue contains an extended test on the latest Audi TT, carried out during a visit to the island last autumn.

Car magazine digital editor Tim Pollard, who spent two days here with a photographer last November, said: ‘We spent some time driving around the TT course and visiting some of the major landmarks such as the Joey Dunlop statue on the mountain. We certainly came away with maximum respect for what the bikes do around there. It’s an amazing phenomenon in these health and safety obsessed times.

‘It’s a beautiful island. It was an adventure to bring the Audi back to its roots and we’d love to come back again sometime.’

German motorcycle manufacturer DKW, which competed successfully at the TT between the wars, was a forerunner of the current Audi.

A Ramsey couple has become the first couple to marry on Christmas Day on the island, it is believed.

Ralph and Lisa Mooney, nee Kelly, married at Rushen Abbey on December 25 at midday.

Lisa said: ‘It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I had to get a venue and we chose Rushen Abbey which was easy enough.

‘Then came the drama. We sent our application to the registry and they said it would be difficult to get a registrar to agree to Christmas Day.

‘I contacted them three weeks later and the receptionist said they were struggling to arrange it.

‘A week later Jane Salter from the Civil Registry called to say the registrar, who was away at the time of the original email request, had agreed to do it.

‘We were made up.’

Ralph is 50 and Lisa is 34. The couple have five children between them, aged six, eight, nine, 23 and 25.

Ms Salter said: ‘I can confirm that since it became possible to marry in approved places on the Isle of Man, Mr and Mrs Mooney are the only couple to get married on Christmas Day.

‘I’m not sure if any churches have performed ceremonies on that date over the years.’

We print photos of weddings in our papers for free.

Simply email a large Jpeg photo and details (including a phone number) to newsdesk@newsiom.co.im