From an astronomical point of view living in the Isle of Man can have some distinct advantages.

Away from intrusive light pollution, our dark skies are the envy of many residents of the adjacent islands.

I have been lecturing on the subject for more than 30 years on and off the island, and quite often get surprised at the amount of casual internet there is about the subject.

In the last few years I have been hosting a monthly radio programme on Manx Radio as well as writing a monthly article for a local magazine.

Even so it should have not surprised me when I received a call from Sarah Hoile of Fromanteel, inviting me to join Dr John Taylor and a few others to see all six planets visible with the naked eye in the sky the following week.

Only this trip was to be subtly different.

Instead of us all assembling at some early morning location to study the inevitable incessant cloud cover that seems to be prevalent this winter, this invitation was to join John and his guests on his own private aircraft at 32,000 feet to see this celestial spectacular.

So it was with some reluctant enthusiasm that I dragged myself out of bed at 4.30am last Wednesday to travel down to Ronaldsway airport to join my fellow planet hunters.

After a short delay due to air traffic control, we were airborne at 6.30am, and we headed off towards Northern Ireland.

We quickly reached our cruising altitude and started to look for the six planets.

Jupiter shining brightly in Leo was easily seen low in the south western sky, with the moon close to Saturn and the distinctively red coloured Mars easily seen between the Jupiter and Saturn

We then tried to see the planets Venus and Mercury.

Venus rose quite spectacularly at our altitude just before 7am, and we then, with much anticipation, waited for the appearance of the elusive planet Mercury.

The sky was lightening all the time but after a few orbits at our cruising altitude above Northern Ireland, we eventually spotted this elusive planet to the left and below Venus.

This gave us all six, all visible in a distinct line all at once.

In order out from the eastern horizon, Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars and Jupiter – and as we looked down from our altitude we could see the frost and snow covered hills of Northern Ireland and of course our sixth planet, Earth.

After approximately five orbits in the area we then headed back for the island and were treated to a spectacular sunrise as we headed across the Northern Irish Sea.

It was certainly an unusual way to start a day, but it was well worth getting up for, and we all expressed our gratitude to John for the opportunity which will was quite special and most memorable.

Primary school children have taken part in a fair trade conference.

The event, which has previously won the best campaign award from the Fairtrade Foundation for its educational impact, saw groups of children from 17 schools gather at Legislative Buildings in Douglas.

Pupils learned about the movement, how fair trade improves prospects for farmers and producers in developing nations and the impact the Fairtrade premium has on local communities.

The day included lots of activities with four different workshop sessions, including one on Fairtrade chocolate, and a chance to debate the issue in the debating chamber used by Manx politicians.

The pupils were welcomed to the event by the President of Tynwald Clare Christian MLC.

One speaker was Robin Stewart, who as well as being a long-standing board member of the Manx Co-operative Society, is vice chair of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum.

He said: ‘It was a fantastic day and a pleasure to be part of such an innovative and inspirational event. The students were challenged to think about fairness, equality and the impact of our way of life on others around the world.

‘Despite their young age they really engaged with the principles of fair trade and part of the afternoon session included planning for what they could do in their own schools during Fairtrade Fortnight. It was really encouraging to hear their ideas and see such understanding and enthusiasm in the next generation.’

One World Centre Director Rosemary Clarke added: “We are extremely grateful to the Manx Co-operative for their support of the conference and to Robin for sharing his knowledge with the students. The Isle of Man has been a Fairtrade Island for a number of years now and it is important that we ensure that younger people appreciate the importance of Fairtrade in a global context; and that what we do on our own small Island can have a big impact on farmers and producers in other parts of the world.’

The event was run by the Isle of Man Fairtrade Group in association with the One World Centre and sponsored by the Manx Co-operative Society.

They have to hang their heads in ‘shame’ the internet pundits say speaking of the four MHKs who voted no at a reading of the same sex marriage bill.

Well whilst I don’t happen to agree with Messrs Teare, Robertshaw, Houghton and Hall, I can live with their decision to vote with their conscience without joining some ad hoc social media lynch mob that wants to drag them off to the village stocks or ducking stool.

I mean, for goodness sake – surely we have moved on from the days when we rolled witches down Slieau Whallian or we towed ‘loose women’ back and forth across Peel bay behind a boat.

Robertshaw came in for some special criticism because, by distancing himself from religious opposition and advocating a position he said he took from a ‘secular’ perspective, his argument just didn’t seem to stack up.

You may recall that I said in an earlier column that after being elected Chris Robertshaw did the rounds of various organisations expounding his views and reform agenda. When he called at the union office one of my colleagues, after we had listened to him, rather unkindly christened him ‘Prince Charles’ because some of his views were – well, a bit different.

My main memory of the meeting is him expounding his views on the public and private sector rental area and thinking ‘he won’t get far with this’. He didn’t and nor do I think his views – or that of his colleagues ‘in the stocks’ on the same sex marriage issue – will get much traction.

It’s not that I believe that the island has become more liberal. Indeed, possibly a fair few people share Robertshaw’s views on same sex marriage and indeed public sector rent reform. It is just that the island and the agenda have moved on. Opposition to rights for gay people may have been ‘a horse you could have got out of the stable’ three decades ago but you are not going to get it to run now.

That’s why I’m fairly laid back by their opposition as I don’t see it as a threat that will block the reform and it also shows that politically we are not all some amorphous mass that has to sign up for this or that because the majority are singing from that song sheet.

When, in the late 1980s, the group involved in the Manx Council for Civil Liberties, of which I was a member, decided to campaign for a series of reforms including decriminalisation of homosexuality, removal of the death penalty and corporal punishment from the statutes and restoration of the right of individual petition, there was quite a wave of opposition. We weren’t particularly bothered because we knew we were on that right side of history then, just as today this reform will inevitably succeed.

I seem to remember at the time though that some of the most ardent political critics of the reforms that were sought said we should be ‘ashamed’. I wasn’t impressed by that because in a democratic society you should be able to express a view without fear of being pilloried.

There is far too much intolerance in the Isle of Man still and my own view is that no matter how much I disagree with the politicos like Teare, Robertshaw, etc, and the religious brigade best personified by Peter Murcott, they have a right to their point of view.

Taking a leaf out of Chris Robertshaw’s book – I would hope that ‘in a secular sense’ the Isle of Man is a broad church where a divergence of views is allowed and where people don’t have to be publicly pilloried for taking a stand on issues they feel strongly about.

I mean I can’t stand people running around in fatigues playing soldiers especially if one of them is the Minister for Home Affairs.

Additionally, I absolutely loath the fact that we still have a Lieutenant Governor and all the unnecessary expense associated with that.

Shame on me – take me to the village stocks. Where are they kept these days?

Rally Isle of Man will return to full FIA International status for the first time in almost 20 years this September.

The island’s crown jewel four-wheeled motorsport event has been invited to form part of the new FIA European Rally Trophy series and, as a part of that, the FIA Celtic Trophy.

The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is the world governing body of motorsport, responsible for major series, including Formula One, Le Mans, the World Rally Championship and European Rally Championship.

The move is a significant new step in the re-birth of an event that just five years ago was fighting for its very survival after being cancelled and facing the challenge of re-establishing itself domestically.

Since then a new organising team has done precisely that, taking the event through its 50th anniversary in 2013 and welcoming back each of the major championships in the British Isles, including the MSA British Rally Championship, Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, MSA British Historic Rally Championship and HRCR Historic Championship.

The sport’s leading publication, Motorsport News, last month named the rally one of its ‘must-see’ events for 2016, signifying how far the event has come.

To now add a new prestigious level to the top of that tree thrills event chairman John Gill.

‘To be able to confirm we would be the deciding round of a resurgent MSA British Rally Championship just two months ago seemed incredible. To now be making this exciting announcement it feels like it’s Christmas again.’

Throughout much of the 1980s and 1990s the event (then the Manx International Rally) was a top-tier co-efficient 20 round of the European Rally Championship (ERC), with many of the sport’s brightest stars lighting up the famous Manx stages, including Henri Toivonen, Patrick Snijers and Armin Schwarz.

The new series forms the support level for the ERC, with 25 events in 16 countries across the continent. These will then be split into sub-series, with Ireland’s West Cork Rally, International Rally of the Lakes, Donegal International Rally and Ulster Rally joining Rally Isle of Man to make up the Celtic Rally Trophy.

‘There’s a lot to do,’ continued John Gill, ‘not least running to FIA regulations rather than those of the UK sport’s governing body, the Motor Sports Association, as we have in recent years.

Planning for the 2016 event is well underway, with a renewed enthusiasm to deliver to a very high standard one of the ultimate challenges in the sport.

‘We are fortunate to have so much support from competitors, officials and spectators alike, and I thank each of them for the part they play in allowing us to take the event forward.’

Laurence Skelly MHK, Minister for the Department of Economic Development, also welcomes the news: ‘May I congratulate Rally Isle of Man for being part of this new European Championship.

‘It is an excellent achievement and status for Isle of Man sport and I hope it will be a great success for competitors and teams, and in turn bring increased visitor numbers.’

Howard Shimmin is injecting some colour into the Manx countryside with his solo exhibition of vibrant landscapes.

Mann In Landscape continues at The Isle Gallery, at Tynwald Mills, St John’s, until Sunday, February 28.

Howard explained: ‘During a lifetime of tramping the Manx countryside, both as a MEA engineer and for my own pleasure, I became more than familiar with the ever changing colours and tones in the landscape.

‘This gave me a constant kaleidoscope of colour at different seasons and day and night .

‘Sheltering behind hedges from storms or under an overhanging tree to avoid the sun gave opportunities to catch rapidly changing glimpses of true and vivid colours often missed by the casual eye or glance.

‘It was not until retirement beckoned that I took to indulging in and enjoying painting.’

He said that he likes to exaggerate the colours in order to make an impact.

‘People get so bored and blasé about what they see in the countryside, particularly at this time of the year when it’s grey.’

Howard has been inspired by a number of island artists, including Archibald Knox, William Hoggatt and John H. Nicholson.

‘Soft and oil pastel, watercolour, charcoal, acrylic, oil stick, inks; I have tried them all with various degrees of success and satisfaction and try to match each medium to the subject in hand,’ he said.

‘The effect of paint on differing materials can be surprising at times. Painting the same scene with say pastel on paper, glass­paper, mountboard or racing paper will all give very different results from the same colour palette.

‘For this exhibition for example, I found that painting with acrylic on large gesso canvas, as opposed to smaller canvases or paper, required totally different working methods and gave very different finishes to that produced on say mountboard or paper.’

Douglas and District made history on Saturday when the first team reached the semi-finals of a cup competition for the first time.

The Noble’s Park outfit have booked their place in the last-four of the GH Corlett Woods Cup after claiming a 2-0 victory at home to Onchan in Saturday’s quarter-finals.

Richard Brant gave the hosts an early lead before Kevin Doyle doubled their advantage from the penalty spot to seal the win.

Elsewhere in the quarter-finals, Castletown also booked their place in the semis with a 2-0 victory when they saw off the brave challenge of Foxdale at The Stadium.

A close contest unfolded in the south of the island before Alex Crawley opened the scoring for the Mets right on the stroke of half-time.

The Billy Goat Park side’s resistance was ended late on when Ash Sansbury’s free-kick evaded everyone and nestled into the back of the net to ensure the hosts emerged 2-0 winners.

In the preliminary round of the same competition, Braddan overcame Michael United 3-1 in a game that was switched to the westerners’ Balleira Road ground, Connor Dempsey and Jamie Spicer amongst the scorers for the Swans.

There was an intriguing game at Springfield Road where St Mary’s held off the spirited challenge of bottom-of-the-table RYCOB by the odd goal in five despite the northerners giving the Saints a good scare.

The hosts looked to be cruising to victory when goals from Stephen Glover (2) and Steven Priestnal put them 3-0 up. However, Tom Hall and Damian Owen reduced the deficit for the northerners to ensure a nervy finale as the Saints hung on for the three points.

Elsewhere in the top flight, Calum Morrissey tormented Laxey with six goals as St George’s romped to a 12-0 victory over the Miners at Glencrutchery Road to increase their lead at the top of the table to nine points, although second-placed Peel do have three games in hand.

The only other Premier League game to go ahead saw Rushen United record a resounding 6-1 win at home to relegation-threatened Ayre United.

The games between Union Mills v DHSOB and Marown v Ramsey in the Premier League were postponed, as were Douglas Royal v Douglas Athletic in the Woods Cup, the Combi One games between St John’s v DHSOB, Laxey v St George’s, Ayre v Rushen and Ramsey v Marown.

Also succumbing to the weather were the Combi Two fixtures between Foxdale v Douglas and District and Onchan v Pulrose.

The Paddy Power FA Cup first round clash between Peel v St John’s was a late kick-off after being switched to Bemahague.

Manx football results from Saturday, February 20:

Paddy Power FA Cup first round

Peel L-L St John’s

GH Corlett Woods Cup preliminary round

Douglas Royal P-P Douglas Athletic

Braddan 3-1 Michael

GH Corlett Woods Cup quarter-finals

Castletown 2-0 Foxdale

Douglas and District 2-0 Onchan

Canada Life Premier League

St Mary’s 3-2 RYCOB

St George’s 12-0 Laxey

Rushen 6-1 Ayre

Marown P-P Ramsey

Union Mills P-P DHSOB

JCK Division Two

Governor’s Athletic 1-6 Gymns

Malew P-P Pulrose

Canada Life Combination One

RYCOB 2-1 St Mary’s

Union Mills 2-5 Peel

St John’s P-P DHSOB

Laxey P-P St George’s

Ayre P-P Rushen

Ramsey P-P Marown

JCK Combination Two

Foxdale P-P Douglas and District

Onchan P-P Pulrose

Gymns 2-1 Governor’s Athletic

Colby 8-0 Michael

Douglas Athletic P-P Malew

A Port Erin runner will be taking on the Greater Manchester Marathon this April in aid of Hospice Isle of Man and Rebecca House.

Caroline Kneen will run the 26.2-mile course on April 10 to raise funds for the Isle of Man charities.

Caroline visited Rebecca House during one of its open days and was touched by the work of the children’s hospice.

She also has a history of supporting the charities and in 2014 shaved her head to raise money.

Mary Doyle, head of income generation at Hospice Isle of Man, thanked Caroline and her family for their support.

To donate visit www.hospice.org.im/fundraising/donate/ and quote Caroline’s Manchester marathon.

Caroline Kneen is pictured with her children Callie and camera-shy Milo and Mary Doyle from Hospice Isle of Man

Ramsey Grammar School and Ramsey Heritage Centre is appealing to the public to lend items for an exhibition that will mark the 70th anniversary of comprehensive education in the island.

The public and former staff and pupils of the school are being encouraged to lend items such as school uniforms, trophies and memorabilia for the exhibition in September.

Ramsey Grammar has joined together with the centre on Albert Street to put on the display and items can by dropped off at the school. The centre will be open from March 21 and from that date items can be dropped there.

Ballakermeen High School and Ramsey Grammar both opened on October 25 1946. In England, comprehensive education was not widely introduced until 1965.

Headteacher Annette Baker said: ‘The island was a leader in introducing schools that welcomed everyone in the community as opposed to schooling children separately according to ability and charging fees, as was usually the case in the 1940s.

‘Although our school retains its title of a grammar school, it is a legacy of the past. We hope to borrow school uniforms, reports, prizes, trophies, photos, newspaper cuttings and other memorabilia of 70 years’ comprehensive education in Ramsey.’

John Cannan, curator of Ramsey Heritage Centre, said: ‘Ramsey Grammar School is a key part of Ramsey’s heritage and many residents of the town and the surrounding area will have passed through its doors in the past 70 years.

‘Many former scholars will have left the island and some have no doubt travelled to far flung corners of the world. All will have memories of their time at Ramsey Grammar and the heritage centre welcomes the opportunity to work with the school to commemorate this significant anniversary.’

All items should be labelled with names and contact details so they can be returned.

Budding poets are being asked to write a travel or country-themed poem for World Poetry Day.

The Isle of Man Poetry Society wants to fill the newly-opened Henry Bloom Noble Library, in Douglas, with poems on Monday, March 21.

Poems must be under 30 lines in length and describe your experience (real or virtual) in a country of your choice.

Email entries (including your name and age) to poetry@manxcat.org.uk

Include your name and age with the poem. The deadline for submissions is March 14.

Capture an impression of your favourite place in Rushen parish – in a drawing, painting, photograph or words – and you could win £100 plus have your entry featured on the front of Rushen Heritage Trust’s 2017 calendar.

The competition is open to all age groups. All entries will go on display at the Erin Arts Centre in Port Erin during August as well as on the trust’s website and the winning entry will be decided by public vote (one per person; voting online or by post).

Entries must be submitted by Friday, July 22, online at www.rushenheritage.org/calendar-competition or by post to RHT Calendar Competition, 45 Fuchsia Grove, Ballasalla IM9 2DT. Entries must include full name, contact details, the title of their entry and why it is their favourite place.

Sponsored by Mannin Media, who will help to produce the calendars, the winner receives £100 and will feature on the front of the calendar; there will be 11 runners up.

The competition marks the start of an exciting year. April sees the launch of the world’s first outdoor heritage walk using iBeacons.

For more info contact Laura Cuthbertson on 321847 or email rushenht@gmail.com.

An area of Tholt-y-Will has been dubbed ‘Chickenopolis’ by residents after approximately 40 cockerels have been dumped in the area over the past year.

However due to severe weather conditions, traffic collisions, an increase in vermin and the fact only male birds are being abandoned, the population has decreased to around 20.

Adrian Cannell, welfare co-ordinator at the MSPCA, said: ‘The main cause for the surplus of cockerels is widely suspected to be they are simply a bi-product of small holdings or home hen set-ups.

‘Owners are keeping hens for their own needs and failing to collect eggs or monitor them on regular basis. This then results in some females having a hatch of unplanned chicks.

‘A number of months have to elapse before cockerels are identified and separated and it appears they are left in areas with a misguided belief they are doing the “right thing” by giving them a chance, and passing the burden to others, largely the local authorities and general public.’

Adrian said there is an increasing number of vermin in the area due to concerned members of the public feeding the birds. ‘The vermin feed on leftovers and from the weaker birds, thus creating a serious health and safety for the local environment.’

Lezayre Commissioners has put a sign in the area stating that it too has ‘serious concerns’ about the growing number of abandoned cockerels in the area attracting vermin and posing a health and safety risk to the public.

‘Sadly, the cockerels on the Tholt-y-Will Road are not an isolated case,’ Adrian said. ‘Various public areas around the island have large groups of cockerel dumped and left to survive in an unfamiliar area and without any form of feed, which they are undoubtedly used to before being cast out to fend for themselves.’

The society is currently dealing with more than 200 cockerels in several sites across the island in areas such as Cringle Plantation, Garey Ford and the Switchback. The MSPCA relocate unwanted birds to safe areas and encourage the public to get in touch with them to help find a suitable location for the animals.

‘Cats, goats and even domestic rabbits have been subject of many reports in the last 12 months and we reiterate our message to call the society and seek help without prejudice to your situation where we will help in any way to ensure a happy outcome for all animals.’

Abandoning cockerels and any animal is an offence under Section 1 of the Cruelty to Animal Act 1997. Anyone with information on the dumping of the birds should contact Lezayre Commissioners on 809183.

If anyone would like help or more information about rehoming unwanted animals contact the MSPCA welfare team on 851672.

A month-long trial of the technology to help people with hearing loss with phone calls has ended with positive initial results.

The results will be used as a basis for additional testing to further prove the benefits which in the longer term could be life-changing for people with hearing loss worldwide.

The trial, which took place in the Isle of Man, was led by the Department of Health and Social Care’s audiology service in collaboration with Manx Telecom and UK-based Goshawk Communications.

Goshawk Communications’ new technology was deployed in Manx Telecom’s mobile network which enabled participants in the trial to receive personalised, digitally enhanced voice calls. Goshawk Communications received pilot funding through the Wellcome Trust Pathfinder Scheme to carry out the trial.

Before taking part in the trial, hearing tests were carried out with all the participants to determine the specific nature of their impairment.

For example, some hearing impairments result in those with hearing difficulties not being able to hear high frequency sounds, while others struggle with lower frequencies.

Using the Goshawk Communications technology and Manx Telecom mobile SIMs it is possible to fine tune the audio dynamics of incoming calls to suit each individual’s hearing impairment.

In order to evaluate the benefits of the technology, participants were asked to compare the enhanced sound with that of the mobile phone they usually use. Feedback was then collated by independent researchers.

Tom Meageen, head of Manx Telecom’s Global Solutions business, said: ‘We believe that this is the first demonstration of this type of technology anywhere in the world.

‘Manx Telecom is proud to be part of this ground-breaking work to help people with impaired hearing, some of whom will be our loyal customers.

‘We are delighted to be working with Goshawk Communications and believe that the results of this research will represent a significant step forward in using technology to help hearing impaired people to maximise their experience with their personal mobile devices.

‘This project is the latest example of our investment in research and development – we have a strong record over many years of pioneering new technology, especially mobile.

‘In the last decade Manx Telecom has invested £110 million in telecoms infrastructure, but in parallel with this we also continue to invest in R&D projects to bring innovative new products and services to our customers.

‘Supporting partners such as Goshawk Communications also means that we are playing a part in advancing the level of scientific and technical knowledge within the telecoms industry, and pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved with the latest mobile technology.’

Sally Shaw, director of Ideas for Ears, said: ‘For most of the trial participants there was a marked improvement in the clarity with which they could hear and for some it entirely transformed the way they could use their mobile phone.

‘As well as improved clarity, participants reported benefits from not having to struggle to use their mobile phone with their hearing aid. This was because they didn’t need to use their hearing aid at all, as the modified sound was of sufficient clarity and volume to allow them to simply put the phone straight to their ear.

‘For some it meant that for the first time in a long time they no longer had to use the speaker phone function in order to take calls so they could enjoy taking calls in public places again.’

There has been good feedback from several of the trial participants, which included a number of Manx Telecom customers and suggests that the technology has the potential to change lives.

John Boyes, 82, said: ‘The Goshawk Speech Platform was brilliant. I was able to use my left ear which I sustained an industrial injury to some years ago and I could hold the phone to my ear without using my hearing aid. I have two sons and the younger son I find difficult to hear. I called him as soon as I got the phone set up and I could hear him so much clearer on the phone than in person.’

Catherine Hayhow, 54, said: ‘For me the pilot took me from concentrating on hearing and distinguishing words, to being able to focus on the content of the conversation – it fundamentally changed my relationship with my mobile phone.

‘I had previously relied almost exclusively on text as a means of communication with my phone, and allowed me to actually have a conversation. Conversations became easier and not so tiring.’

Matthew Turner from Goshawk Communications said: ‘This is the first time a combination of audiology software has been integrated with an advanced telecom network to improve the quality of life of hearing impaired people as they use their mobile phone. Potentially this technology could benefit anyone seeking general improvements in the quality and tone of traditional fixed line and mobile telecommunications audio. Manx Telecom has an impressive track record and a global reputation for innovation, so they are a natural choice as a technology partner for this project. Our partnership on this research also benefits from the fact that Manx Telecom has the flexibility, expertise and logistical requirements which are essential to carry out this and further trials.’

A man was rescued from the sea in Douglas on Saturday night.

Emergency services were called out at about 9pm to the beach opposite Greensils Corner.

Police said the area where he had entered the sea was difficult to reach due to the tide being in and it was not possible for officers to pull him in to safety with a life ring.

Coastgaurd and members of Douglas RNLI were called out.

Police sergeant Gary Heaton said: ‘They saved the day. They have the kit, they have the gear and the know how to rescue people in circumstances like this and whilst partnership work is important to everything we do these days. It’s these people, the volunteers who are called out on a Saturday night to save people and are the heroes of the hour.

‘The bright light you can see in the photo is the lifeboat approaching. What a welcome sight that must have been for the chap in the water on this bitterly cold night.’

I’ve just been listening to the news on BBC Radio 4 and one of the hot stories is that in the UK the numeracy and literacy rate of school leavers is one of the lowest in any of the so called ‘educated societies’ of the world.

Every year, there are hundreds of young men and women leaving school after 10 or 12 years barely able to read, write or manage simple arithmetic.

Why am I not surprised? I wouldn’t mind betting that there won’t be many immigrant children on the list.

Recently, I’ve been watching a short series of documentaries that had been built round the railway network in India.

Millions of people are living in absolute poverty.

They live from hand to mouth, and they save every penny possible to send their kids to school. They know, and their children know, the value of education.

When I was in my early 20s, I worked for a couple of years in the office of the Douglas Abattoir in Lake Road.

My job was to calculate the returns due to the farmers from the sale of their sheep, cattle and pigs. Each animal was graded according to its quality, and weighed. The value was simply the price per pound of the particular grade multiplied by the weight.

The education I received from the Sunshine School and in Demesne Road boys’ school was the ground work that had prepared me for that early job. The secondary education at Ballakermeen and the High School was the icing on the cake.

We learned our times tables by standing up in front of the class and reciting them.

We learned how to spell, and we learned how to string a few words together in the correct order. We were taught how to read and write, and no child was excluded, if you fell behind, you were helped.

In my book, you were what you were going to be, by the time you were 11.

There are always going to be some children who are brighter and more receptive than others, and there are always going to be some who will find things difficult, but if any child goes into secondary school without learning the basics, something is wrong.

I was listening to a discussion on the wireless on education and teaching methods.

From what I was able to glean, it was considered the old ways, learning your tables and reciting poetry that you had to learn, was too restrictive. It stilted the mind, and prevented the pupil from thinking creatively.

Whereas if the child is freed from the routine of remembering long lists of facts it will improve their ability to consider problems and work things out. That idea obviously works well.

My childhood was secure, disciplined and structured. I was part of a family unit, and a social regime that worked together, with my well being in mind.

I’m sure none of the parties involved thought about what was going on, it was just the way things were done.

Not all kids today are yobs and layabouts, but some of them are children of parents whose outlook on life leaves a lot to be desired.

These parents are the product of a era when there was plenty of everything to go round. Why work when we’ve got the ‘social’ to fall back on? And you know the old saying, easy come, easy go. In real life, if you haven’t earned it, you don’t appreciate it.

From what I glean from the papers and the telly, it would seem staff morale and job satisfaction in some inner city schools are at rock bottom.

This is one weekly offering that does not end on a light note. No country can refuse to help the folk who are trying to find a better life for their families, but their integration into the western world will not be easy.

An ageing population, a stretched-to-the-limit NHS, and a fragmenting social structure, does not make me feel very relaxed. What about you?

Prisoners at Jurby have been volunteering as newsreaders to help create a recorded news update for blind and partially sighted people in the island.

A group of 10 prisoners successfully completed their first news update this month.

The news round-up is compiled from Isle of Man newspapers and is distributed free of charge to approximately 120 registered blind or partially sighted people.

Prisoners select newspaper articles and share out the news reading duties. They then operate digital recorders, introducing themselves by their first names before reading a selected article and describing any accompanying images.

The Isle of Man Prison teamed up with Ian Cooil and Derek Bridson from the Manx Blind Welfare Society, who taught inmates how to prepare news items and how to use digital recording equipment.

Debbie Thomson, volunteer co-ordinator at the society, said: ‘The prisoners have done a commendable job and we’ve had no hesitation in asking them to work with us again in the future.’

Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson MHK said: ‘It is always encouraging to see prisoners making a positive contribution to the local community.

‘The individuals involved have taken great pride in the planning and delivery of this project and have acquired some useful skills.’

Acclaimed Danish artist Susanne Thea’s prints inspired by sagas and early manuscripts detailing the famous Viking Battle of Clontarf in Ireland in AD 1014 are on display at the House of Manannan, in Peel.

‘They Came From The Deep Blue Sea’ features 14 artworks depicting the conspiracy between the former queen Gormlaith, King Brodir from the Isle of Man, Earl Sigurd from the Orkney Islands and the Viking Chief of Dublin Sitric Silkbeard, towards the High King of Ireland Brian Boru.

Susanne Thea, who lives by the old Viking area Great Belt, is well-known for her 72-metre print ‘Paraphrase of the Bayeux Tapestry’ and her uniquely personal figurative language has attracted interest from museums around the world.

She uses 400-year-old graphic and printing techniques, and describes her style as ‘symbolic, figurative and dramatic story-telling – hopefully, with a sense of humour’.

She was asked to create a pictorial piece of the Battle of Clontarf for the battle’s millennium, after ‘Paraphrase of the Bayeux Tapestry’ was shown at Dublin’s National Printing Museum in 2007.

‘Being a Dane, I consider myself an ancestor of the Vikings and was told the Vikings were thrown out of Ireland at the battle in 1014 by High King Brian Boru,’ she said.

‘I struggled for years finding motivation and inspiration. I did feel obliged to get on with the work though.

‘I decided to do four small copper etchings, and started the research and working on the first copper plate on April 23, 2013, only to find out it was the date for the battle 999 years ago.

‘And the only one surviving the battle, of all the leaders and kings involved, was Viking Chief Sietrick Silkbeard of Dublin. Believing in faith I knew I had to get into the artwork.’

She researched the Vikings in Ireland, ship building, houses, armour, invasion, settlement and the ambitious High King Brian Boru, Burnt Njal from the Icelandic Saga, King Brodir from the Isle of Man and Sigurd from the Orkney Islands.

‘I got very inspired and filled with motivation,’ she said. ‘I experimented with printing on plexiglas, using techniques such as dry-point, carborundum, monotype and a la poupèe.’

By that summer she had made her storyboard and had decided to go for 11 images on 55cm by 150cm plexiplates and ‘Battle of Clontarf 1014’ went on show in Ireland and at the Viking Museum in Trelleborg, Denmark.

She has since added three more plates, and this exhibition is the first time they have all been on display.

Susanne said it’s important that even her small prints tell a story: ‘I was brought up by story-telling and whenever I sense a good and interesting story, my mind wanders off building images.

‘I find out lives and dreams are built and made by stories and so must my artwork be.

‘I wish to reach out to viewers of my artwork and hope they are inspired by my images.’

The exhibition continues until April 10.

Douglas Town Band have been busy practising in preparation to compete in the North West Regional Brass Band Championships at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

The island’s long-running brass band will perform ‘A Cambrian Suite’ by Michael Ball and will be led by musical director, Robert Mitchell at the competition on February 28.

The Douglas band, which was formed in 1887, will compete against 18 other brass bands in the third section of the contest to win a place at the national finals in Cheltenham in September.

Anybody who would like to hear a preview of the band’s progress can attend an open rehearsal at St Ninian’s Church in Douglas next Thursday (February 25).

All are welcome to the open session which will begin at 7.30pm.

Primary school pupils will leave their mark on the Manx countryside when they take part in Trees for Life 2016.

On March 9 and 10, pupils from seven schools will plant trees at the Children’s Wood at Conrhenny community woodland.

It’s the eighth year of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture initiative, which encourages pupils to learn about nature and complements DEFA’s aim of promoting enjoyment and appreciation of the countryside.

The Children’s Wood comprises 3,500 oak, downy birch, alder, rowan and ash saplings planted by pupils in previous years.

David Cretney MLC, the politician responsible for forestry, amenity and lands, said: ‘In class beforehand, pupils will learn how tall the trees will grow and how to measure the height and age of a tree.

They will learn about seeds, leaves, pests, diseases and planting.

‘When they get to Conrhenny they will each be given a sapling from the five types of native broadleaved tree that make up the wood. Under supervision from DEFA’s forestry staff, they will plant their trees and write their names on protective tubes – something they always enjoy.

‘It’s hoped they will return with their families in the years to come to see how their saplings have grown.’

Geoff Moorcroft, Director of Education, said: ‘Participating in Trees for Life teaches children skills that are applicable right across the curriculum. They gain awareness of the environment, learn about taking responsibility and experience involvement in a long-term project.’

Peel Heritage Trust is reviving an old idea, offering people the chance to talk to their politicians each month.

The first meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 16, at the Centenary Centre in Atholl Street.

A spokesman for the trust said: ‘We are reviving what was a popular event of some years back – your chance to air views, hear replies and reasons, find out what the commissioners can influence – and what the government overules.’

All meetings begin at 7.30pm and are free to members of Peel Heritage Trust.

There will be a charge to non-members of £1.50.

A UK-based company will be hosting the next eClub because it wants to connect with people involved in the island’s thriving eGaming sector.

It takes place on Thursday, February 25 at The Embassy Room at The British in North Quay, Douglas.

Foreign exchange specialist Moneycorp has been dealing in foreign exchange for over 35 years with 8.1 million customer transactions last year.

The company offers transfer services to both personal and business clients, facilitating transactions from international transfers and providing money for travel.

Christina Foxwell from Moneycorp said: ‘We pride ourselves on our product innovation and customer security. For this reason, Moneycorp has chosen the eClub as a way to connect with the fast-paced world of eGaming in a well-regulated environment.

‘Moneycorp is eager to meet the local eGaming community and we look forward to doing so in a fun, informal event.

‘We hope everyone will join us for drinks and canapes on the 25th!’

The eClub is a social meeting place for anyone involved in eGaming in the Isle of Man or those with an interest in the sector. Initiated by KPMG and Continent 8 Technologies, eClub brings the growing number of people working in the industry together to build contacts and discuss online gaming.

The January meeting was hosted by lottery services company Annexio whose boss Jennifer Houghton welcomed those who attended the successful event.

February’s event starts at 5.30pm.

For regular updates and to get involved in the eClub, visit www.facebook.com/IsleofManeClub or join the group ‘Isle of Man eClub’ on LinkedIn.