December 2020 | the WINTER issue

Isle of Man Premier Magazine | no. 96 | December 2020 | the [WINTER] issue

ÂŁ priceless

All the best tech wrapped up this Christmas

Apple AirPods Pro

MacB ook A ir

£44

There’s more Tech in store

FitBit Versa 3

from only per mont h*

Galaxy Buds Live

Get the latest MacBook Air, FitBit Versa 3 smart watch, Galaxy Buds Live or Apple AirPods Pro from as little as £7.75 extra per month. And now we can deliver to your door, just like Santa. Find out more in store, call our Sales Hotline 01624 692230 or visit sure.com.

*Offer available on 24 month Pay Monthly mobile contracts, while stocks last. Prices include VAT. †Source: Systemics Group - tests undertaken September 2017.

(The Isle of Man has an area of 221 Sq miles)

Gallery is published eleven times a year as a fresh yet discerning guide to all that happens on the Island and beyond.

Not too arty farty superior or too serious, written by you and enjoyed by people everywhere.

WHO WE ARE PUBLISHER

Steve Redford T: 07624 249249 steve@gallery.co.im ADVERTISING SALES

Bev Lawley T: 07624 415096 T: 01624 619540 sales@gallery.co.im ACCOUNTS

laura@gallery.co.im T: 01624 619540 GALLERY MAGAZINE

PO Box 52, Douglas, Isle of Man

CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL

Clare Bowie Suzy Holland Les Able DESIGN STUDIO

Russ Atkinson Alex Preist

PHOTOGRAPHY

Peter Kwiecinski Jewell Photography Just Lee Photograhpy Steve Babb Photography

Isle Photo Julia Simmonds Ingenium.im

EDITO

Farewell 2020, it’s been emotional.

So here we are, reaching the end of another year, a year that happened to be, probably one of the most unpredictable years of your life. Yip, did not see that one coming, did we? Anyway, it’s nearly done now and it’s certainly taught us not to take things for granted ever again, not to forget what a truly small world we live in and of course, the importance of good stretchy, not too tight at the waist band, tracksuit bottoms.

M

aybe its denial or just plain hope but even when things are not so rosy we still can’t help looking ahead, imagining better days when the news is not always about Trump, coronavirus, Brexit or racial injustice, when all of society’s ills have been treated or ousted. In a time when the world feels shaken up like a snow globe it’s good to remind ourselves that a break from the mundane can often clear a mental space for evaluation or gratitude, a chance to reflect on what matters or just an opportunity to kick ourselves for not having shares in Amazon.

Even when things don’t run smoothly we still get excited by Christmas, still enjoy sharing gifts with our family and ritualistically complaining about it endlessly. We can’t help convincing ourselves that next year will be better. Our crisp new 2021 diaries will be opened enthusiastically, ready for the fresh start as our 2020 diaries are tucked away quietly and we can put all the unpleasantness behind us when the world stopped for a while and Gallery reduced its output. We have all weathered our own personal storms, Gallery has bounced back in a truly inspirational way, in fact, it was probably our unwavering commitment to the greater good that inspired Biden to talk of rejoining the Paris Agreement and it was most likely our desire to re-connect with you, our audience, that prompted the discussions to hold the Olympics next year.

As 2020 draws to a close we must remember to thank our lucky stars that it’s not December 2019, breathe a sigh of relief that Trump has himself been fired and that somehow, Gallery is still churning out entertaining content.

Happy Farewell 2020 Carpe Diem SR

Disclaimer.

All rights reserved. Any form of reproduction of Gallery Magazine, in part or whole is strictly prohibited without the written consent of the publisher.

Any views expressed by advertisers or contributors may not be those of the publisher. Unsolicited artwork, manuscripts and copy are accepted

by Gallery Magazine, but the publisher cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage. All material, copy and artwork supplied is assumed to be copyright free unless otherwise advised. Contributions for Gallery should be emailed to editorial@gallery.co.im. Names have been changed to protect the innocent and no penguins were harmed in the manufacture of this magazine, you can’t prove nuffing. Why are you still reading the small print? How about researching what really makes the best paper aeroplane?

Test them with your friends or colleagues, add a picture to our Facebook and we’ll send you some doughnuts.

Recycle.

Gallery recycles all its storage and packing materials, boxes and any old magazines that are returned. We don’t get that many fortunately. We love to know our readers hang on to previous copies but when they take up too much space, drop them down to the recycling bins. If you want to find out more about recycling - call: 01624 686540.

CONTENTS

CONTENTS PICKS

THE REST UPFRONT

3 Edito 4 Contents 6 What’s On 10 Winter Wasteland 12 Ramsey Fireworks Display 16 New Talent Portal 20 News in Numbers

APPETITIE

68-74 Christmas Recipes 76 Gin tasting IoM business Network 78 Cake Decorating School 82 Cocktail Culture 83 Panettone Recipe 84 Time to Wine Down!

HARDWEAR

86 Jurby Drag Racing 88 Homage to the Humble Mini

EVENTS

22 Parent2Parent Ladies Night 24 UCM Higher Education Graduates 2020 28 Katie & Sion Roberts Wedding Day 30 The Wine Cellar Wine tasting Evening 34 MBCSG Black Tie Ball CULTURE

38 Story from Stone Book Review 40 IoM Historical Sites 42 Artist Ian Coulson Review 46 Upload

PAPARAZZI

98-110

AGENDA Lite

48 In The News 50 Is now a good time to invest?

52 Movers & Shakers HOME

54-75 Feature Properties & Recipes 4

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

COVER CREDIT

Make up Artist: Yasmin Whitelaw, Lime Studio Eyelash Services: Alexandra Danilova, lashnoodles.com Photographer: Julia Simmonds, Ingenium.im Model: Christie Curphey Location: 1 Derby Square, Douglas (see page 54)

UPFRONT

WHAT’S ON now – 06.01.2021

THIS IS CHRISTMAS

//MANX MUSEUM, DOUGLAS// Following the popular This is Summer and This is Winter exhibitions, This is Christmas is a nostalgic look back through the photographs taken by Bill Peters and his team at Manx Press Pictures, exploring Island life during the festive season from the 1950s through to the 1970s. www.manxnationalheritage.im

Now — 13.03.2021

SELF

//HOUSE OF MANANNAN, PEEL// A striking and thought-provoking collection of one hundred self-portraits of 20th Century British and Irish artists.

Collected between 1958 and 1971 by Ruth Borchard, an ex-internee in Rushen Camp during WW2.

With generous support from Piano Nobile Gallery. www.manxnationalheritage.im

02.12.2020

RETRO SOUL AND MOTOWN PARTY NIGHT

//VILLA MARINA, DOUGLAS// It’s party time at the Villa as RS Promotions bring a retro night featuring 11 piece band Retrospect and a DJ set from Peter Dunn guaranteed to get you up and dancing.

Tickets £17.50 with special Blue Light Cardholder discount available. www.villagaiety.com (Not suitable for under 16s).

03.12.2020 – end December

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION AND POSTCARD LOTTERY

//ISLE CONTEMPORARY, TYNWALD MILLS// The Island’s artists come together for the annual Christmas exhibition at Isle Contemporary in Tynwald Mills, with an opportunity to buy original art as presents, or for yourself. In addition the annual postcard lottery, which raises money to keep the gallery running, is now in its 6th year when for just £25 you buy a numbered postcard, unseen – you’ll only find out what you’ve got once the exhibition is over. But that’s part of the fun – could it be a work by one of the Island’s best known artists, or a piece by a virtual unknown? It really is a lottery! But you’ll need to get to the Gallery quickly – last year most numbers had been sold by the end of the Christmas exhibition preview on 3rd December. www.facebook.com/islecontemporary www.facebook.com/artreachstudioim

04.12 – 06.12.2020

ALPHABET ART EXHBITION 2020

//CASTLETOWN CIVIC HALL// The Alphabet Art Challenge began on Facebook at the start of the Manx lockdown in March, originally for children stuck at home, with the challenge to produce a piece of art beginning with A the first week, and all the way to Z. Gradually more and more adults joined in and this resulting exhibition shows off not the extraordinarily high standard of art from many people who’d never picked up pen or paintbrush before, but also the way the challenge resonated with even the Island’s recognised

artists such as Kate Somerville, Julia Ashby Smythe and Colleen Corlett who realised that the discipline of creating in this way helped them get something positive out of the Covid-19 lockdown. Most of the art is for sale so this is a great opportunity to pick up local art for presents.

Supported by IOM Arts Council, IOM Art Society, Castletown Commissioners, Trend, Ballahane Plumbing and K5 Accounting. www.facebook.com/ groups/1613038772179630

04.12 and 05.12.2020

A NIGHT (or two) OF MUSIC

//FALCON’S NEST HOTEL, PORT ERIN// Two full nights of music from the JACTOR Project raising funds for Parkinson’s Disease Society IOM. Friday line up includes Bird &The Beards, Broken Rooster, Biskee Brisht and DJ Gyp Buggane. On Saturday headliners are Han-FX and Jor-DMC Feat. The Innuendo Orchestra, supported by Mark E Moon, Matt Kelly and Mike Catlow.

Tickets from the venue, the PSM Examiner Shop and Ray on 404147.

The Jactor Project raises awareness of the dangers of drug use, and the need for reform. £5 for one night, £8 for both.

04.12.2020

DEEP SOUTH FESTIVAL CHRISTMAS PARTY

//TOWER HOUSE, DOUGLAS// The Christmas party to beat all parties with legendary Manx band Buncha Skankers, brilliant new band A Third Above. Music, dancing, laughter, joy and spot prizes throughout the night with special hotel deals and (subject to demand) coach travel home.

More information from www.facebook. com/deepsouth.im Tickets from www.ticketor.com/towerhouse In aid of mental health charities Bridge The Gap and Quing

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

UPFRONT

DECEMBER 05.12.2020

THE SNOW QUEEN’S WINTER PALACE

//CASTLE RUSHEN// During the Snow Queen’s Royal visit families can join her in her private chambers from 10am. Craft activities and storytelling, the Queen’s festival friends will entertain visits as you walk around the mystical castle for a day of winter wonderland magic. With all sorts of festive treats laid on for children up to 12, Tickets £10 www.manxnationalheritage.co.im/shop

05.12.2020

CHRISTMAS CRAFT MARKET

//ERIN ARTS CENTRE, PORT ERIN// As part of Port Erin’s Countdown to Christmas, the Erin Arts Centre is hosting a festive craft market with stalls, food and drink and a massive raffle.

From 11am. Free entry. www.erinartscentre.com

05.12 – 20.12.2020

05.12 – 12.12.2020

//TYNWALD MILLS, ST JOHNS// Over the three weekends leading up to Christmas, Tynwald Mills is hosting a magical Christmas market full of local artists, crafters and food producers. Buy and support your local artisans.

//CENTENARY CENTRE, PEEL// Traditional panto for all the family celebrating 30 years of Peel Pantaloons.

CHRISTMAS ARTISAN MARKETS

For the children, Father Christmas will be in his cabin each day, with an artistic face painter on hand and an adventure playground to enjoy.

GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS

Dame Gertie Dollop runs the show with her son Silly Billy but they have fallen on hard times. Particularly with the dastardly Ringmaster Heinkel, owner of the rival circus, up to his old tricks. Gertie needs a miracle after their honeypot of pennies is accidentally stolen by three porridge hungry, talking bears.

Could they be the new star attraction Gertie has been searching for?

Find out in the big top pantomime that’s just right!

Tickets from: www.centenarycentre.com

UPFRONT

WHAT’S ON

DECEMBER 16.12.2020

A CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS

//VILLA MARINA ARCADE// Christine Collister and friends are returning to the Villa Marina Arcade for an intimate show which will include a selection of Christmas songs and carols and Christine’s original songs from her 37 year career.

Tickets (£16) include a complimentary glass of prosecco or orange juice and mince pie. Doors open 7.15pm for an 8pm start. www.villagaiety.com

16.12.2020 06.12.2020

SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE VILLA

//VILLA MARINA, DOUGLAS// Taylorian Productions presents an evening of musical performances from its talented stable of local artists.

CHARITY FOOTBALL MATCH

//THE BOWL, DOUGLAS// Isle of Man vs Isle of Man FC – the best of the Island’s footballing talent kick off at 7pm to raise funds for Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation. Tickets £5 (adults) just £1 for children. www.craigsheartstrongfoundation.co.uk

19.12 – 30.12.2020

SLEEPING BEAUTY

//GAIETY THEATRE, DOUGLAS// Shone Productions is delighted to present this panto classic, telling the story of Princess Beauty being cursed to die on her 21stbirthday by the evil Carabosse. Thanks to Beauty’s fairy, she only falls into a deep sleep that can be broken with a kiss from her true love. Will her handsome prince come to her rescue and save the day? This promises to be a spectacular pantomime featuring a superb cast, brilliant scenery and costumes, amazing special effects and lots and lots of laughs!

Tickets from £23 (seniors/u16s), £25 (adults) and £80 Family.

17.12.2020

www.villagaiety.com

//PROMENADE SUITE, VILLA MARINA// Rock and roll punk band Mad Daddy is the latest local band to perform in the Made In Mann series. A four-piece of mifits, this popular band have been rocking the Island’s airwaves since 2015 and can guarantee a good night out.

Multiple ticket options and times, including a relaxed performance on 28th December.

Free to attend, doors open at 7.30pm but capacity limited to 250.

JUAN AND THE BEANSTALK

11.12.2020

MANANNAN’S WINTERFEST

//GAIETY THEATRE, DOUGLAS// The mighty sea-God Manannan hosts a unique concert celebrating Manx Christmas traditions through a collaboration of the Island’s finest exponents of classical, folk, brass and choral music with a sprinkle of local humour and drama added to the mix.

Tickets from www.villagaiety.com

11.12.2020

LESH SHEE AS GRAIH

//ST NINIAN’S CHURCH, DOUGLAS// The annual Christmas fundraising concert for local homelessness charity Graih, this year including performances from The Jeff Jepson Band, Truman Falls, the Ballacottier School Choir and many many more.

Ticket £10 from www.jeffjepson.co.uk All proceeds to www.graih.org.im

12.12 – 26.02.2021

STARGAZING LECTURES

MADE IN MANN

www.villagaiety.com

www.villagaiety.com

21.12 – 28.12.2020 //THE NUNNERY MARQUEE// The Island’s alternative Christmas panto from those bringers of fun and frolics Hello Little People. A traditional story with a madcap Manx twist – interactive fun for all the family. www.hellolittlepeople.com

01.01.2021

NEW YEAR’S DAY DIPS

//ISLAND WIDE// The Island’s obsession with jumping into the Irish Sea to raise thousands of pounds for charity continues at a beach near you.

If you don’t want to get wet, those dippers at Peel, Port St Mary, Port Erin, Douglas and Ramsey will appreciate your support on the day. Start times vary, but around midday.

//MANX MUSEUM, DOUGLAS// Join Howard L.G. Parkin BSc.Bed.FRAS for a series of unforgettable lectures focused on Astronomy, the Isle of Man and more.

More information and tickets (£10) from www.manxnationalheritage.im/shop

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

Islanders, this is for you.

Finally, credit cards no matter who you bank with.

Now you can apply for an HSBC credit card even if you don’t have a current account with us1.

With a choice of cards to suit your needs.

Purchase Plus card

0% interest on purchases for 18 months

from account opening

18 months interest free on Balance Transfers2 (fee 2.9%)

Representative 22.9% APR (variable)3

32 Month Balance Transfer card

0% interest for 32 months on balance

transfers in the first 60 days of account opening

0% interest on purchases for 3 months from account opening (fee 1.5%)

Representative 19.9% APR (variable)3

Ask in-branch about ‘credit cards’ Call us on 03456 006161 ciiom.hsbc.com/credit-cards

1

Must have at least 1 year address history on the islands.

Credit is subject to status, affordability and applicable terms and conditions.

2

Made within 60 days of account opening.

3

Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200.

Issued by HSBC Bank plc, registered in England and Wales number 14259. Registered office 8 Canada Square, London, E14 5HQ. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. HSBC Bank plc, Jersey Branch is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission for Banking, General Insurance Mediation, Fund Services and Investment Business and abides by the Jersey Codes of Practice for Consumer Lending. HSBC Bank plc, Guernsey Branch is licensed by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission for Banking, Insurance and Investment Business. In the Isle of Man HSBC Bank plc is licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority. Principal address in the Isle of Man: HSBC Bank plc, P O Box 20, HSBC House, Ridgeway Street, Douglas Isle of Man, IM99 1AU. 201013/MA/409

UPFRONT

MAY CONTAIN SATIRE

WORDS Grant Scrooge McRunyon ILLUSTRATION Luke Moss

Isn’t Christmas the most magical time of the year? For Britain’s least scrupulous businessmen the answer is “yes, with bells on”, because the holiday season sends spending into overdrive whilst burying our ripoff radar under a drift of magical snowflakes. The outcome is a whole herd of unusually gullible consumers, wallets wide open, surging across the arctic tundra of commerce like caribou running away from Brian Cox. Everywhere are devious hunters, trying to bring them down with overpackaged chocolate, itchy seasonal clothing and unnecessary DVD boxsets of Mrs Brown’s Boys.

Nowhere is crappy Christmas capitalism more extortionate than in the market for “Christmas experiences”, pitched at hardworking families who just want their children to live through a little bit of magic before they grow up to have their spirits crushed on the cruel wheel of paid employment. Trip To Eurodisney? Expect hours of queueing and thanks to Brexit exchange rate fever you can easily spend £40 on a burger. You can also fly the kids to Lapland to look at some grubby reindeer at the cost of two week’s finance wages.

If you can’t afford to waste your money on those there’s still one option left for xmas kiddie magic - the aerosol snow horror house known as the winter wonderland.

The winter wonderland is as unsatisfying as the other “experiences” I’ve mentioned but despite being cheaper is even worse, because it sets up in your home town or in a dingy event centre ten minutes walk from the train station. At least if you’re in Lapland and can’t take it any more you can wander into the snow to freeze the pain away; get tired of tattooed penguins at the local Santa’s Ghetto and you’ll only veer off the yellow snow ice rink to land face first in a portaloo. Still, who cares when there’s money to be made? This is why I’ve already put in the permits to run my own elf laser tag (and massage parlour) at the reclamation site, starting in September 2021. Here’s some of the things you can expect.

Santa’s snowhole: the arctic ambiance of a Siberian work camp

The true winter wonderland will be neither wintry nor wondrous, unless the winter is the kind that chills your heart and the wonder is how soon you can escape. The real vibe is precisely located in the middle of a Venn diagram made up of “grim fairground”, “meat fridge at the prison” and “Frozen-themed hen party.” If you’re lucky there will be fake snow, (as opposed to expanding insulating foam or shredded photocopier paper) although I’d caution against getting any moisture on your face unless you want to spend Christmas with e coli. There will also be ice, both the black kind and the dry kind, one to threaten your ankles and the other to fool your kids into believing they’re in an elven paradise and not a marquee

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

UPFRONT

also used for beer festivals and weddings.

It’s funny how an elven paradise resembles the second-best nightclub in a condemned cruise ship.

Santatainment: travelling circus of health & safety violations

After paying a fiver per kiddie to get in, expect to be bled further with the cost of ice skating and various other “entertainments.”

These comprise food, whatever stuffed toy scams the funfair people could cover with spray snow, and maybe the opportunity to harass a goat/horse/pitbull with stuck-on antlers. Ice skating on the village pond is magical if you are a small, fictional Victorian boy, but in modern Britain expect a rollerdisco with worse music and increased chances of tetanus from your rusty footwear. At an average price of £15 for twenty minutes, it is nonetheless cheaper than trying to win sweatshop bootleg Minion toys under the watchful eye of a man with football tattoos on his face.

There will also be a a Winter Waltzer, which is the same as a normal waltzer except the “scream if you want to go faster” guy is wearing a santa hat and smoking an e-cig that smells like mince pies.

Santa’s snackbar: festive burgers and slush

Nothing says Christmas more than that warming, comforting smell of … burned onions. The sign outside promises a “winter food village”, which is technically true to the extent that chips and candyfloss can be eaten year round, and a £5 cup of slush will make you feel cold all the way to your heart. There will be mince pies, but they’re just the Iceland ones with an 800% markup.

If you were expecting one of those German Christmas markets with spiced wine and delicious gingerbread cookies you’re in for disappointment, although covering your face in a protective layer of sausage grease will offer some protection if you get in a shoving match in the queue to meet Santa.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

Santa’s workshop: a wondrous market of things that will be broken before January

With the exception of actual food, every Christmas-themed product is over-priced garbage destined for the landfill. Christmas music, stupid house lights, ironic sweaters and Elf On A Shelf should all be loaded into a skip and pushed into a volcano. Tinsel has been scientifically proven to shorten your life; mistletoe is a form of sexual harassment. Most of this rubbish is bad

of yuletide when they don’t think to ask how Santa manages the logistical challenge of running an iPhone factory at the North Pole whilst also taking the day out to sit on a plywood throne in your hometown, smelling of Super Kestrel. Although Santa’s beer belly can be explained via the effects of diabetes brought on by all those gingerbread cookies, it’s harder to explain who let the elves get facial piercings and why Santa can’t remember anybody’s name.

Perhaps he banged his head climbing down a chimney, that explains the slurring and

“Christmas music, stupid house lights, ironic sweaters and Elf On A Shelf should all be loaded into a skip and pushed into a volcano. Tinsel has been scientifically proven to shorten your life; mistletoe is a form of sexual harassment.” enough if you buy it at a real shop, but any shop at a winter wonderland type attraction will be stocked with products that are either shockingly overpriced or so budget they got rejected from the pound shops in cities that you only know about from Channel 5.

A tube of reindeer-shaped marshmallows? £12. A glowing plastic penguin? £25. A range of toys depicting “Paw Patrollers” “Pokeymonster Goes” or “ Leggo Ninja”? £2 each but don’t lick or expose to open flames.

the ankle tag. Finally it will all be worth it, because as well as £3 worth of plastic tat Santa will also give his one true magical gift: the opportunity for adults to escape the winter wonderland before they get a parking ticket. Ho ho ho!

Santa’s grotty: where ASBO elves do their community service The main event, the big ticket, the star of the show: no visit to the winter wonderland is complete without the chance to meet Santa.

You know that kids are under the magical spell

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UPFRONT

RAMSEY FIREWORKS DISPLAY

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Photographer: Isle Photo

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

GIVE

UPFRONT

“While there is a growing awareness of the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing on the Island, there are still many issues in identifying those who require support and, even when this is recognised, there can be long waiting lists for therapy and treatment.

ISLE LISTEN AND Z ZURICH FOUNDATION ANNOUNCE UNPRECEDENTED FUNDING COLLABORATION Isle Listen is thrilled to announce an unprecedented 3-year funding collaboration with the Z Zurich Foundation and Zurich International in a joint drive to provide mental wellbeing education, prevention and transformative early intervention on the Isle of Man.

It will also facilitate the expansion of its one-to-one listening service within schools, provision of a mobile art therapy vehicle to provide outreach therapeutic services to those who might not be able to access them and expand the service further to support potential waiting lists in statutory services.

The Z Zurich Foundation (the Foundation) is a charitable foundation funded by various members of the Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich). They aim to create transformative change in the lives of more than 1 million vulnerable people and positively impact the lives of 10 million others by the year 2024.

Zurich has a long association with promoting good mental health, most recently launching an online Wellbeing Toolkit2 to provide support to the community during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Locally, Zurich International was already working with Isle Listen to offer mental health awareness sessions.

The grant is in recognition of the Foundation and Isle Listen’s shared vision to promote positive mental health for the whole Island, help remove the stigma surrounding mental health and improve access to psychological support services.

The funding will enable the Isle Listen team to reach out to the entire school and college population of the Isle of Man over the next three years – approximately 15,000 students and over 1,000 people working within the education sector – as well as supporting employers and delivering community-wide campaigns and resources.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

Andrea Chambers, Isle Listen Chief Executive said, “We can’t thank the Z Zurich Foundation enough for their support and confidence in us to help put the key building blocks in place for our future plans and operation.”

“By providing education, prevention and early intervention we aim to alleviate pressure on the statutory health services and to avoid the unnecessary escalation of mental health problems which can make recovery more difficult the longer they are undiagnosed. The Foundation’s support means that we can accelerate our programmes and make a difference much more quickly.”

Gary Shaughnessy, Chair of the Z Zurich Foundation said, “With Isle Listen, we aim to change behaviours and attitudes around mental wellbeing. Together, we want this programme to drive positive mental health across schools, workplaces and community groups, and give young people the tools and motivation to take care of themselves.”

Nigel Simpson, Head of International Markets at Zurich International in the Isle of Man said, “As an organisation and employer, we understand that wellbeing and mental health is just as important as physical health. We look forward to helping Isle Listen accomplish their ambitious aims of equipping young people with the self-management skills to navigate the psychological challenges of 21st century life. We firmly believe that Isle Listen has the potential to create a unique and innovative blueprint for mental health therapeutic services that will benefit other small islands or communities.”

Since the start of this school year in September, Isle Listen has already delivered 26 student educational sessions in schools with another 26 booked and workplace training to more than 400 teachers and employees via webinars or classroom-based learning.

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UPFRONT

PLAN.COM ANNOUNCES SANTA’S ON A BIKE 2020 The Isle of Man’s most exciting festive fundraiser in back for its third year!

Taking place on Saturday 12 December, and hosted by leading telecommunications and platform provider, plan.com, Santa’s on a Bike will see hundreds of motorbikes gather for a mass ride-out and festive celebration all in aid of Rebecca House Children’s Hospice.

With a brand-new route for this year, the 2020 event will begin at the Sea Terminal and head through Douglas town centre to Castletown, before returning to cross the finish line at Rebecca House, Hospice in the Strang.

Nicola Patterson, event organiser and Director of People Experience at plan.com explained: “Last year we welcomed over 200 Santa’s and their bikes and we hope to see even more people get involved in the celebrations as we spread some festive cheer after what has been a difficult year for everyone.”

She continued: “We’re extremely fortunate on the Isle of Man that events like this can go ahead, however that does not mean that the impact of the pandemic has not been felt. Charities like Rebecca House need our support more than ever, and we are determined to make Santa’s on a Bike 2020 the biggest and best yet, to help raise as much as we possibly can!”

Mel Kermeen, Director of Funds Development and Marketing for Hospice Isle of Man added: “ “Santa’s on a Bike is such an exciting event and has become a real favourite in the Hospice calendar. With so many fundraising events being postponed or

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cancelled this year, we feel extremely fortunate that Santa’s on a Bike can go ahead, and we are grateful to plan.com for their help and support in making that happen. Finishing at our newly refurbished Hospice Care building will make the 2020 event even more special.”

Riders should meet at the Sea Terminal from 10am, for a prompt start at 11am heading for Castletown Square and returning to Rebecca House, Hospice for a 1pm finish for food, drink, and festive entertainment for all the family! Head to soab.im for more information and follow the excitement on Facebook or Instagram!

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

As you fill your diary for 2021, be sure to book your routine dental appointments.

Due to popular demand Abbey Dental have opened extra treatment days. To be sure of securing a place, please give us a ring on 82 30 40.

At Abbey Dental we have 3 lovely dentists and a dental therapist on hand to keep you smiling.

Dental Treatments available on Island include:

Tooth whitening, implants, Invisalign and root canal therapy.

Abbey Dental, 4 Silverburn Drive, Ballasalla, Isle of Man IM9 2DR T: 823040 | E: abbeydental@manx.net | : abbeydentalisleofman

UPFRONT

Reconnect with your Island through a new online

TALENT PORTAL A NEW NETWORKING SITE HAS BEEN SET UP BY LOCATE ISLE OF MAN TO HELP PEOPLE CONSIDERING RELOCATION TO THE ISLAND FIND THE RIGHT JOB BY MATCHING THEIR SKILLS. The initial phase of the launch of the online Talent Portal will focus on encouraging people with Manx connections to return to the Isle of Man. Locate Isle of Man’s Talent Portal is a free service for individuals, recruitment agencies and organisations, designed to help people source on-Island job opportunities as easily as possible, and to support businesses with skills gaps to recruit and relocate new employees.

Following the initial impact of Coronavirus, Locate Isle of Man, part of the Department for Enterprise, has been aware of a rise in the number of former Isle of Man residents expressing an interest in returning home to live and work.

The Talent Portal has been developed to encourage and support those who are considering the move, from Manx graduates starting on their career path to professionals looking for a change of environment and better work-life balance.

The Talent Portal is also reaching out to potential first-time residents who are drawn, now more than ever, to the Isle of Man for its safety, high quality of life and strong community spirit.

While borders remain closed at the present time, new residents are able to travel to the Island if they have a contractual obligation, including a formal job offer. Covid-19 has caused local business to review their operational needs and identify areas where skills are required to aid recovery and ensure stability; the Talent Portal has been designed to facilitate the process of building resilience through resources.

As an employer, you can browse registered candidates whose skills fit your vacancies and set up alerts to bring the right candidates to your attention. The portal’s instant messaging feature allows quick and direct engagement, with both parties empowered to get the conversation started. Recruitment agencies can register on the site and access the list of skilled professionals seeking work in the Isle of Man. The many benefits of living and working in the Isle of Man have been thrown into stark relief by the turmoil and uncertainty currently gripping the globe. But of course, the Isle of Man has not been unscathed by the pandemic: it is facing the same economic challenges, albeit scaled down, as the rest of the world. A workforce with the right skills and strengths is essential to maintaining stability and ensuring long-term recovery.

The Island’s diversified economy, in which traditional sectors sit shoulder to shoulder with emerging ones, has helped it to remain steady in a changing world. However, industry feedback indicates that certain sectors – particularly healthcare, digital industry and finance specialisms – remain difficult to recruit to.

The new Talent Portal responds to this issue, providing a central hub where job-hunters and employers can connect with a single registration process, saving time and focusing resources.

It is hoped that the Talent Portal will increase the amount of promising conversations taking place between potential employees and employers, and give people who are already familiar to the Island or warming to the idea of relocation, a clearer picture and a greater sense of incentive.

From the individual’s perspective, the aim of the Talent Portal is to make it as easy as possible for job hunters to discover and connect with the opportunities available to them. On creating a profile featuring your skills, abilities and interests, you will automatically be matched with organisations and agencies searching for someone fitting your professional description. You can bookmark companies to create a shortlist, and tailor your profile privacy to suit your personal requirements.

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The TALENT PORTAL at a glance Free and simple registration Instant matching between skills and opportunities Alerts that keep you right up to date Create shortlists tailored to your career goals Instant messaging allows quick and direct engagement

The Locate TALENT PORTAL is an online networking site dedicated to matching your skills

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UPFRONT

THE STEAM PACKET COMPANY REFLECTS

ON AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR

AS WE NEAR THE END OF THE ISLE OF MAN STEAM PACKET COMPANY’S 190TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR AND LOOK AHEAD TO 2021, WE ARE REFLECTING ON A TRULY EXTRAORDINARY YEAR IN THE COMPANY’S HISTORY. When we approached the start of a new decade just 12 months ago, there was a real sense of excitement and new beginnings that could be felt around us. No one could have predicted what lay ahead and how our lives would change in 2020, but thankfully there is still lots to be grateful for and many positives to take away from this unusual period.

First of all, we have been astounded by our Island community and how the Manx people have pulled together and remained strong throughout these challenging times.

With acts of compassion, selflessness and kindness apparent every day, our small community has truly stepped up and no doubt will come out of this year stronger than ever before.

As ever, there has been an important need for essential food and goods to be transported to the Island by ferry and it is with great pride that we have maintained these lifeline freight links safely and securely over the course of the pandemic.

We remain committed to this, and of course, to providing a safe environment for our passengers and crew to give

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people peace of mind when travelling with us.

This year marks a particularly special milestone for the Company: 190 years of serving the Manx community. It has been a great honour to mark this commemorative occasion and we have enjoyed sharing our anniversary celebrations with the public. Dressing our fleet and sounding the whistles on 30th June – the day Mona’s Isle, our very first vessel, was launched in 1830 was a particular highlight.

As we approach two centuries at sea, we look forward to commemorating more exciting milestones. Despite the ongoing impact of the pandemic, plans for the replacement vessel for the Ben-my-Chree, due for arrival in spring 2023, have been progressing extremely well.

In July, it was announced that the new vessel will be constructed at one of the world’s major shipbuilders, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) based in South Korea.

With a proven track record of delivering vessels on time, to budget and to the highest standards, we were delighted to announce the start of the partnership with HMD.

Undoubtedly, it has been a remarkable year and one which we have all felt the effects of – both positive and, sadly, negative. We are hopeful that the situation will greatly improve in 2021 and look forward to welcoming you on board when we return to normal service and you are ready to travel with us.

For those looking ahead to their travel plans for 2021, our sailings are open and available to book at www.steam-packet.com.

To give you greater flexibility and peace of mind when booking future travel, our Book with Confidence Commitment means amendment fees will be waived if you choose to amend your travel dates due to COVID-19 Government imposed travel restrictions, or a full refund can be made available if your booking needs to be cancelled for the same reason.

WE HOPE 2021 BRINGS A LITTLE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL AND YOU CAN TRAVEL FREELY AGAIN SOON. IN THE MEANTIME, WE WISH YOU A VERY MERRY FESTIVE PERIOD AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

The name of the new addition has also been high on the agenda, and in autumn we provided an opportunity for members of the public to share their views on what name they think the new vessel should take from the four shortlisted options: Manxman, Mona’s Isle, Manx Maid and King Orry.

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OUR COMMUNITY

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ROBINSONS COMPLETES MONTH-LONG FUNDRAISER FOR MANX BREAST CANCER The team at Robinsons had a pink October this year, raising £1,500 for the Manx Breast Cancer Support Group through a special month of fundraising activities.

The fundraiser included the donation of 2,000 masks for patients travelling to appointments in the UK. Roman Debnar, Andy Cowan and Stuart Bush.

Sweet treats were a common theme through the month, led by Courtney Walker from Robinsons’ Telesales team.

Courtney’s Staff Bake Sale on 16th October raised £229.20, with a number of colleagues joining in the baking effort.

Amber Filson and Carol Male.

During October, £1 from every sale of Pink Layer Cakes at Cooil Road went towards the charity. On Isle of Man Woman Pink Day (23rd October), Robinsons also teamed up with Noa Bakehouse and Shoprite to donate 50p from the sale of every product that was turned pink for the occasion.

Staff at Robinsons Cooil Road.

A further £705 was raised by a £5 donation from the sale of every Pink Sapphire Bouquet through all of Robinsons’ outlets.

Janna Horsthuis, Managing Director, says, “Robinsons supports many local charities and the Manx Breast Cancer Support Group, along with all of them, are absolutely vital to our Island.

Ramsey Shoprite Ladies.

Noa croissants.

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“Donating masks - with the help of Vannin Healthcare – and antibacterial sanitiser has been helped to make a difference not just for breast cancer patients but all cancer patients travelling to the UK for essential treatment, so we were very glad to help”.

Bake Sale.

Paul Brown.

Courtney Walker Bake sale.

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UPFRONT

2020

in NUMBERS NEWS

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£22,000

In January a rare sea snail was seen in Manx Waters for the first time since 1838.

Divers spotted the Groove Top Shell Snail in sea grass in the Langness Marine Nature Reserve.

£7,500

93 year old Bob Corkish walked 100 laps of the whole ground floor at Southlands where he lives to raise money for the Friends of Noble’s Hospital charity, raising over £22,000.

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Local boxer Danny Roberts completed 10 climbs up and down Snaefell in his ‘This is My Everest’ challenge. He raised over £7,500 for Huntingdon’s Disease Isle of Man and ReachIOM.

Distance runner Christian Varley ran 19 marathons in 19 days in May, aiming to raise £19,000 for the Manx Solidarity Fund. The total currently stands at more than £100,000.

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2 new foals born to horse tram workers Ginger and Mary were announced by Isle of Man Transport in May. Ginger’s foal was the first foal to be born to a horse working on the tramway since 1998.

4 pieces of Viking age jewellery, including oval brooches from around AD900-950, and which were discovered by local metal detectorists John Crowe and Craig Evans in 2018 were officially dubbed treasure this year.

£49million – the cost to the Manx economy of the cancelled TT, Festival of Motorcycling and MGP events.

The cost of Manx milk is to rise by 5p per pint in January 2021.

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Happy 2020 anniversaries to the Isle of Man Steam Packet – 190th, the Gaiety Theatre – 120th, Michael School – 125th.

Happy birthday to Hector Duff OBE, the Island’s only living Normandy landing veteran, who was 101 in October.

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But the number this year will always be remembered for is Covid-19. The Island went into lockdown on 23 March, with a gradual easing of restrictions from 30 April. The schools went back on 22 June but for now the borders remain closed.

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BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE COMMITMENT Douglas, Isle of Man

Follow us on

Book with Confidence Our Book with Confidence Commitment has been introduced to provide our customers with greater flexibility and peace of mind during these uncertain times. This means if your travel plans change due to COVID-19 Government imposed travel restrictions you will have: • No amendment fees - To give you greater flexibility, amendment fees will be waived if you choose to amend your travel dates. • Full refund available - If your booking needs to be cancelled we will refund your booking within 30 days.

STEAM-PACKET.COM Book with Confidence Commitment is valid for direct ferry bookings with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company that are affected by COVID-19 Government imposed travel restrictions. Excludes vehicles designed for commercial use. Date of travel must be amended before original travel dates occur. Isle of Man Steam Packet Company will waive the cost of our amendment fee to all applicable ticket types, however if customers change to a higher fare type they will need to pay the fare difference. If a booking needs to be cancelled due to COVID-19 Government imposed travel restrictions, which are in place 14 days prior to the booked travel date, a full refund will be arranged within 30 days of receiving the cancellation. This includes bookings of Special Offers which are generally non-refundable. Offer is nontransferable and is subject to restricted space and availability. The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company reserve the right to amend or withdraw all elements of the offer without prior notice.

EVENTS

PARENT2PARENT LADIES NIGHT

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Location: The Empress Hotel Photographer: Matt Mosur

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EVENTS

LOCAL AND UK GRADUATES CELEBRATED AT UCM 2020 HIGHER EDUCATION AWARDS CEREMONY

This year, it is believed that UCM was one of the only higher education institutions in the British Isles, to be holding a live, nonsocially distanced ceremony. In addition to that, Manx graduates from UK based universities, who had been unable to attend their own ceremonies, due to covid-19 restrictions, were also invited to take part in the event.

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Photos By: Steve Babb Location: Villa Marina

The event saw more than 80 higher education students from UCM and 30 Manx graduates from other universities, take to the stage to receive recognition for obtaining their qualifications.

This year, 45% of UCM students achieved a first-class degree, with 87% of all foundation and undergraduate degree students achieving either a first-class or upper second-class honours degree or equivalent.

Chief Minister, Hon Howard Quayle MHK, opened the ceremony, by expressing his congratulations for the hard work and achievements of so many students. The Chief Minister also acknowledged how at a critical time in their education, the world faced great uncertainty, he praised the graduates for their determination, persistence and drive to achieve their goals throughout these difficult times and wished them every success for their future.

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EVENTS

Every year, UCM select an individual to be awarded the title of Honorary Fellow, an award which provides visible recognition of individuals who actively contribute to the work and vision of UCM. This year, Dr Peter Edge, was chosen for his contribution to the history and heritage degree programme and his involvement with the #UCMtalks series. Dr Edge has also worked closely with members of Tynwald, and more recently, has partnered with UCM to submit a major research funding proposal to the Leverhulme Trust, exploring the Impact of the ‘European Project’ on the IOM, Channel Islands and Gibraltar.

To find out more information about UCM degree and postgraduate courses visit: www.ucm.ac.im

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Infinity Dental & Beauty Spa now offers Itero Dental Scans for every dental consultation.

See your teeth in 3D without the radiation of an x-ray.

GET YOUR FREE INFINIDENT SCAN BOOK AT WWW.INFINITY.IM

EVENTS

THE WEDDING DAY OF KATIE & SION ROBERTS | 2ND OCTOBER 2020

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EVENTS

Location: The Comis Hotel Photographer: Just Lee Photography

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EVENTS

THE WINE CELLAR WINE TASTING EVENING

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EVENTS

Location: Peel Road Photos By: Liam Gilman

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EVENTS

THE MANX BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 7TH ANNIVERSARY BLACK TIE BALL SPONSORED BY ZEDRA

The Manx Breast Cancer Support Group where thrilled to be able to hold their 7th Anniversary Black Tie Ball at the Palace Hotel and Casino on Saturday 10th October. Over 200 guests including Sir Richard Gozney and Lady Gozney, attended a fabulous evening which was sponsored again this year by ZEDRA. Who are massive supporters of the Charity.

Unfortunately due to Travel restrictions 'Rule the World' the no 1 Take that Tribute band was unable to attend. But guests had a fantastic night as 'Soultown' the local Manx band saved the day! The event raised over £30,000 towards our CTScanner Appeal. All money raised by the Manx Breast Cancer Support Group stays on the Island.

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Location: The Palace Hotel & Casino Photos By: Steve Babb Photograpy

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THE RUTH BORCHARD COLLECTION 17 OCTOBER 2020 - 14 MARCH 2021 HOUSE OF MANANNAN, PEEL FREE EXHIBITION

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In memory of Captain NATHANAEL IRELAND Who departed this life the 11th of November 1848 aged 45 years. “God is his own interpreter and he will make it plain”

“BREATHING LIFE INTO OLD BONES,

CREATING STORY FROM STONE” Words by: Suzy Holland Images by: Jo Davies and Nell Davies (for the photograph of Jo’s life-sized Jane Murray in The Snug window)

If you’ve ever wandered round old graveyards wondering about the lives of those buried there, then you’ll love Story from Stone, the new book from local short story writers Kim Kneen and Vicky LloydWest about the people interred at Ballure Chapel in Ramsey.

The stories of 40 of those in that graveyard have been brought to life with meticulously research and skilful storytelling, seamlessly meshing fact and fiction. Contemporaneous accounts and official records provide the detail whilst the stories are the nuggets which bring the characters to life. And characters they certainly are – the strangers who came to Ramsey from all over the world, and who lived and died there. In Story from Stone, Kim, Vicky and illustrator Jo Davies have created compelling legacies for them all.

To start at the beginning: if you don’t know Ballure Chapel – and I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t – it has been a site

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of religious significance for over 1,000 years. The original Christian Keeil was replaced by a Chapel before 1640 but then fell into a regular cycle of disrepair and renovation with the only constant being the grounds and the graveyard. The last burial there took place in 1941 and then as congregations dwindled, the chapel was deconsecrated and the building and land put up for sale. In the meantime, volunteers from Isle of Man Family History Society plotted the graveyard and recorded the inscriptions – work that without which, I think it is fair to say, this book would not exist.

The people buried at Ballure were ‘strangers’ – not from established Manx families, who were more often buried in family plots in Maughold or Lezayre – and came from around the globe, some intentionally, others by quirks of fate. In Story from Stone their lives begin with their deaths – from the often limited detail on the gravestones Kim and Vicky

scoured public records, ancestry websites, local newspaper archives, birth, marriage and death notices to learn more on which to base their stories. Jo’s intriguing illustrations manage to both flesh the stories out and at the same time provide a ghostly shadow of each character for readers to imagine their own details.

But it’s not just the strangers buried at Ballure Chapel who have backstories, Story from Stone has its own. Kim, Vicky and Jo all live in Ramsey and, as is often the case in the Isle of Man, their own stories overlap.

As story writers and story tellers, Kim and Vicky met though the Manx LitFest Short Story Slam – performing their own works before appreciative audiences, and going on to compete in short story competitions both local and international before collaborating on this book. Renowned illustrator Jo, whose list of achievements is far too long to ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

MARY RALPH, wife of the Rev. H. RALPH, L.L.D. late of Dalgetty, Fife

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In loving memory of JANE MURRAY, relict of John Murray, who died Nov 18th 1888 aged 82 years. “So he giveth his beloved sleep”

include here (but are included in the credits at the end of the book and on her website jodaviesilllustration.com) first met Kim whilst they were walking their dogs on the beach in Ramsey. She was the obvious firstchoice illustrator of the cover artwork for Story from Stone and then for the portraits which appear throughout the book and have been developed into life-sized silhouettes of the characters for the performance storytelling events and exhibitions, details of which can be found below.

Back to the book: each stranger’s story lives on its own, but as a reader you can’t help but succumb to that ‘oh ok, I’ll just read one more, dinner can wait’ delight of a book which grips your imagination and which you don’t want to put down.

Everyone will have their favourite story – I have several – but Jo can’t choose: “All the stories have equal validity. They honour each person, with stories both individual and universal,” she says. “Some made me cry, other stories shocked me with the struggles these people faced but no single telling stands out as more important than the others.”

Story from Stone is a book which refuses to be pigeon-holed. Vicky, who was once

a bookseller herself, says she wouldn’t know which shelf to put it on: “it’s Manx history, it’s social history, it’s fiction. Jo’s illustrations on their own would qualify it as an art book.”

But however you choose to categorise it, Story from Stone is, frankly, just glorious: a beautiful book which would, should, have pride of place on any bookshelf. You’ll find it in all the local bookshops and at the Manx Museum, or it’s available as a Kindle e-book. And enjoy delving into those strangers’ stories.

SAMUEL CATHCART, "our wee duckie” Died 21st Oct 1880 aged 16 months BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

Story from Stone was launched in October with special performances from local actors and story-tellers at Smeale Farm and Milntown. On 13 December these will be reprised at Quayles Hall in Ramsey, after Christmas the strangers’ silhouettes will be on show at the Manx Museum

form 10 January and then in the spring, at the Grove Museum. Details of all these events can be found on the Story from Stone Facebook group www.facebook.com/ groups/2941439345908273 where you’ll also find more about the strangers whose stories didn’t make it into the book. And if you go past The Snug on Parliament Street in Ramsey you’ll see some of Jo’s life-sized shadowy silhouettes of some of the book’s heroes and heroines in the windows.

Ballure Chapel is now a private home, and the original graveyard cleared, but the surviving gravestones make up a memorial garden along the western boundary which can be visited on Sundays between 11am and 3pm.

If you do decide to visit, please respect the home owners’ privacy.

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TOP 10 HISTORICAL SITES ON THE ISLE OF MAN RL360 is proud to be based in the Isle of Man - a small island in the middle of the Irish Sea with a big history. For over 10,000 years, the Isle of Man has served as safe haven and stronghold for its inhabitants. This captivating story is just as evident today as it was then, and is documented in its wealth of ancient monuments, castles and historic buildings.

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Here is our own pick of the top 10 must see sites.

1 Tynwald Hill Tynwald Hill is one of the most distinctive landmarks on the Isle of Man: a 4-tiered hill that is the open air meeting place of the Island’s parliament, Tynwald. The tradition is thought to date back over 1000 years to when Norse Vikings settled on the Isle of Man and established this as a place to settle disputes peacefully. The hill itself is thought to have been built in the 13th century – made from stones bonded together with soil from each of the Island’s 17 parishes.

2 Cregneash Located in the far south of the Isle of Man, Cregneash is one of the last remaining traditional Manx villages. As a working museum, Cregneash helps preserve the Manx language and its customs – both of which characterised the Manx way of life for centuries. The village is quite simply teeming with Manx curiosities; including cats with no tails, 4 horned Loaghtan sheep and traditional farming practices.

3 Castle Rushen Castle Rushen is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe. Its origins date back to the Viking Age, when Norse Kings fortified the site as a strategic defence post.

The foundations of the current structure date back to the 13th century, and within its towering limestone walls lies the story of a long and chequered past. The castle weathered the turbulent medieval period as a seat for the Kings and Lords of Mann, it was then subsequently turned into a gaol, and finally became the power base for the Tynwald Courts. Today it’s one of the Island’s most popular tourist attractions.

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4 Rushen Abbey In 1134, the King of Mann gifted Rushen Abbey to the people of the Island for use as a monastery. It was home to Medieval Monks until 1540 when it was dissolved as part of Henry VIII’s campaign to disband religious houses. The Abbey fell into disrepair, and yet the site has continued to draw people in over the years. In the early 1900s it was the place for popular tea dances and in the 1980s it was transformed into a popular disco venue. Today, the Abbey ruins have been restored and visitors can glimpse what was, for a time, the Island’s most important religious site.

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5 Peel Castle This imposing sandstone fortress is situated impressively on the Sunset City’s coastline. It was constructed by the Vikings in the 11th century, and over a thousand years later the structure remains incredibly well-preserved. A walk along the castle walls provides an intriguing glimpse into the past; when the castle was a military stronghold and a centre of government, as well as home to Christian missionaries and Viking warriors, and also a royal residence for kings.

6 Balladoole Balladoole is one of the Island’s most impressive ancient monuments.

Excavations have unearthed evidence that the site was used ritualistically for over a millennium, and finds have included prehistoric flints, a Bronze Age burial mound, an Iron Age hill fort and an early Christian Chapel. The most impressive of all however, dates back to around 850AD: a 36ft Viking longboat, buried alongside the bodies of a man and woman.

7 The Great Laxey Wheel The Great Laxey Wheel, or Lady Isabella as she is also called, was built in 1854 to pump water from the Laxey mineshafts. The Laxey mines were extensive and at its peak the Great Laxey Mining Company employed over 600 miners. The company was largely responsible for building the village that still exists today. At 22.1 metres high, the wheel itself is a masterpiece of Victorian engineering and the largest working waterwheel in the world.

8 Old Grammar School The structure of the Old Grammar School was originally built in approximately 1200AD, and it served as a chapel for the settlement that had sprung up around Castle Rushen. In 1701 it was converted into a school for boys and continued to be used as such until the 1930s. Throughout the 18th Century, most of the Island’s prominent men began their education at this school. Today the Old Grammar School is a museum and the oldest roofed structure in the Isle of Man. 9 The Old House of Keys In the 19th Century, the Old House of Keys was the former seat of the Manx Parliament and the Island’s centre of politics. The building has been restored to resemble its form in 1866 – the year when members were popularly elected for the first time.

It marks the start of the Island’s transition into a modern democracy, and it’s not the first time the Isle of Man was a forerunner in politics. In fact the Island’s parliament has sat for over one thousand years and is therefore thought to be the oldest continuous parliament in the world.

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10 Cashtal yn Ard Ancient Tomb Also known as ‘Castle of the Heights’, this stone burial site was constructed in around 2000BC. It was originally a chambered cairn – a monument constructed by placing large pre-historic stones in a heap - and historians speculate the site was likely used as a communal burial place for chieftains. It is the largest Neolithic tomb of its kind in the British Isles.

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“WHAT DID YOU DO IN LOCKDOWN, COULSON?” The list of IOM artists who used the lockdown period to contemplate and develop their practice is almost neverending. But artist Ian Coulson tucked himself away with what he describes as a worrying book about the plight of migratory seabirds and a copy of his own grandfather’s naval records from his service in the Great War.

Words: Suzy Holland Images: Ian Coulson (photograph of Ian at UCM, Helen Fox)

“I’d always known my grandfather was a trawlerman in Hull then my Dad was evacuated from there to escape the bombing and made his life in Peel. I’d used these memories and my research into that topic as a basis for my work in the Gone to the Fishing exhibition at the Sayle Gallery some years ago. But now, during lockdown, reading about the Admiralty’s wholesale requisitioning of trawlers as minesweepers, and their crews volunteering en masse to go into this dangerous business, became compulsively fascinating,” says Ian. “Research which began at home, in Peel and about Peel, developed, thanks to the internet and having too much time on my hands during what I found to be quite a claustrophobic few weeks, into a rather obsessive deep dive into stories which

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“There is something poignant about discussing these men, and their fates, with students who are of a similar age to those depicted in the drawings. It’s very easy to mythologise history, to forget the personal stories at the heart of these conflicts, and although the subject is historical, and I’m obviously old,” he smiles wryly, “many of the people in these drawings will never grow old. That made a real connection with these young people and I’d like to thank Helen Fox at UCM for the opportunity not just to show my very detailed drawings to students interested in the artistic process but also to subtly, I hope, drive home the message, ‘lest we forget’.

proved to be remarkably similar to those of our Manx trawlermen. The written histories and the photographs I’ve unearthed are fascinating, “ he continues, “but my instinct as an artist was to take out my pens and just draw and draw.”

And he certainly did. The answer to the question ‘what did you do in lockdown Coulson?’ has now been comprehensively answered - a series of large drawings based on his extensive research into the histories of the men, the trawlers, their lives and, sadly, their untimely deaths as part of what was disparagingly known as Harry Tate’s Navy. The finished drawings were exhibited during the Remembrance Day commemorations at Peel Cathedral, and we’ve reproduced four, those of the Manx trawlermen, here.

Ian saw and - in his drawings – was able to document, the connections between the seamen and the birds which followed them across the oceans, so I asked him which story most resonated: “After I’d finished the drawing of Billy Windsor, and thought I’d completed this series,” he said, “I read the story of the HMT Cotillion, which endured days of near hurricane conditions with the weather and the sea conditions progressive destroying the boat. In the words of one seaman serving on the Cotillion, ‘We suddenly came out into brilliant sunshine with a very, very confused sea running, a frightening sea. Visibility was about three miles all around and spiralling helplessly were millions of seabirds, all in a very exhausted

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state; they had been trapped inside the centre of the storm and couldn’t get out - they poured on board the ship in their thousands. After ten minutes, however, we were almost from a flat calm straight back into the full force of the wind, hove-to in a completely different direction, having cut across into another sector of the storm.’

And there it was,” Ian continued, “the metaphysical connection of seamen and seabirds that I hope my drawings convey.

Each always at sea, each enduring and surviving the best that they can.”

Before the Peel Cathedral exhibition Ian, who was an art teacher at what’s now UCM, was able to take his drawings back there to talk to current students about his work, and about the subject matter.

“As always where the sea is concerned you’ll find Manxmen, and four of these drawings relate to men whose names are on our war memorials: Seaman William Pegg, Seaman Billy Windsor, Seaman John Robert Clucas and Seaman George Greggor,” continues Ian. “I have made these drawings in their names and to memorialise their youth, their ships and the lives that were taken from them, far too soon.”

Although there are no plans to exhibit the drawings elsewhere on the Island at the moment – Gallery will let you know when there are - Ian and Peel Cathedral’s administrator are currently discussing plans to tour the drawings around the cathedrals and churches of the coastal towns of the UK, where the trawlers were based. Which is great news for off-Island readers – once their local lockdowns are lifted.

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UPLOAD

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Business news

Ravenscroft and team independently recognised

T

he expertise and growth of Ravenscroft and its team have been independently recognised by three separate industry bodies.

In Citywire Wealth Manager’s Investment Performance Awards, Ravenscroft was shortlisted for the Best Medium Firm award and its Huntress Blue Chip Fund was shortlisted in the individual performance award for Aggressive portfolios. Citywire Wealth Manager has also listed Ravenscroft’s Isle of Man director David Bushe in its top 100 list of the leading fund selectors across the UK and Channel Islands. Ravenscroft’s cash management team is a finalist in two categories at the European Captive Review Awards 2020 and fund analyst Shannon Lancaster has been shortlisted by Investment Week.

‘Independent endorsement of Ravenscroft’s growth and success, as well as recognition of the talent we have within our team, is not something we have actively looked for. However, we have seen significant changes in the business over the past few years with new services being added and more importantly expansion into other jurisdictions and we now have more than 120 people across five offices in Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man and the

UK. Reputable and genuinely independent industry awards demonstrate our expertise and capabilities to existing and prospective clients and I am delighted that our team has been shortlisted in these highly regarded awards,’ said group managing director Mark Bousfield.

Citywire Wealth Manager’s Investment Performance Awards recognise those wealth companies that have delivered the best risk-adjusted returns for their clients over the past three years. This year, 45 companies entered 131 portfolios across the seven categories. Ravenscroft was shortlisted for the Best Medium Firm award alongside Davy, McInroy & Wood and Veritas and in the Aggressive category it was one of five finalists, together with Arcrate, GDIM, Stonehenge Fleming and Veritas.

The cash management team, who joined Ravenscroft in 2018, is one of

three companies to be shortlisted in the Investment Specialist of the Year category alongside Allianz Global Investors and London & Capital. In the Collateral Specialist of the Year category, Ravenscroft is shortlisted together with Barclays and Wilmington Trust. The winners will be announced on 26th November.

This is the third year Miss Lancaster has been shortlisted by Investment Week for its Women in Investment Awards. She was named Fund Analyst of the Year in 2019 having been shortlisted in 2018. This year she is one of eight to be shortlisted for the Fund Selector of the Year category.

The winners of the awards, which recognise the achievements of women in the investment industry and those companies and individuals who have helped improve diversity, will be announced on 8th December.

Hat-trick for Zurich International at International Investment Awards

Z

urich International won three categories at the 2020 International Investments Awards which are widely regarded as the most prestigious recognition of excellence in the financial services industry.

Now in its 21st year, the awards were once again judged by an independent panel of industry experts and practitioners. Zurich International won the ‘Best International Pension Plan’ category for their International Pension Plan which is supported by the company’s nearly 300 strong Isle of Manbased team. The ‘Best Protection Plan’ category was awarded for the company’s Futura lifetime insurance policy, and the Middle East regional team won the ‘Excellence in Client Service’ prize.

Commenting on the Best Protection Plan award, the judges described Zurich International as a ‘long-standing player with the experience and know-how to really perform’.

Peter Huber, CEO, Zurich International, said: “I’m delighted that we have added to our many years of success at the International Investments

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Awards. Every year, our achievements are a testament to our strong customer focus, respected brand, and the continuous expertise that we offer. It was particularly pleasing to see that we were shortlisted in all five of the categories we entered, so winning three out of the five is a remarkable result, especially when you consider the high standard of the competition in the markets we operate in.

These awards are a deserved recognition for all of the hard work that everyone in the company has contributed.”

ON THE AGENDA

Iod-iom member message It has been eight months since we Stephen Savage for their work on company LinkedIn group “IoD Isle of Man NED published the IoD magazine, and for most formation and banking facilities.

Register” based on popular demand. of us this period has been an emotional Please contact Rachel if you would like journey that embraced significant changes One of the first decisions was to offer a to register. The only requirement is that to how we go about our daily lives. We have reduced annual membership fee using a you are a member of the IoD. The group is been impacted not only by how we now Chair waiver until the IoD International meant to be self-regulating and other than run many of our businesses Recognising remotely, but thatFranchise Agreement hasmeeti been ratified checking current membership be ng paint retail was not ng customers’ needs,onMichael embarked will on not creati also how government has made decisions across all branches. We are now seeing the monitored, or quality controlled by the IoD. a network of warehouses specialising in paint retailing, allowing customers to shop in the store, to protect our families, in particular those results of this change and are delighted click andnew collect to across thenew network and delivered tototheir doorand within vulnerable to Covid-19 caused by the welcome faces to or ourshop strongvia IoDthe website I feel extremely fortunate be living coronavirus. community on Island.that For members who andworking on the are Isle of Man during these 24 hours. Michael acknowledges his managers their teams the bedrock of the due to renew, we would ask you reach unprecedented times of change, challenge, business, so theyareare rewarded from a profit share bonus system, encouraging teamwork.

Throughout this journey, which has meant out to our EO Rachel McKenna to find out and hope; and www.thepaintshed.com | new@thepaintshed not leaving the Island for longer than any more about the membership option.

I look forward of us could have imagined in February, I We will of course continue to work closely to making have been humbled again and again by the with Pall Mall as “One IoD” under the new a difference community and business spirit that exists in International Franchise Agreement which together with you this small paradise in the middle of the Irish supports the principles of Development, in the coming Sea. We have the luxury of a natural border, Connectivity and Influence. months. which was quickly closed on 27th March to save lives. This border will eventually These milestone achievements will be Tannee-shiu be opened as we progress through the five celebrated at an evening event early next sauchey as gowlevels of the Borders Framework (as I am year so please check our website and other shiu kiarail - Stay writing this, we are on Level 4). social media channels for the details. safe and stay well.

During the summer months our local IoD It has been fantastic to see so many of you branch was busy moving forward with at our recent events. From the Summer Jennifer establishing IoD Isle of Man Limited, Dining Club with Minister Ashford in Houghton allowing us to move away from our UK August, to our annual wine tasting in early Chairman IoD branch status for the first in time 32 years, September, all have been hugely popular Isle of Man and giving us the opportunity to serve with great opportunities to connect. members directly on Island. Special thanks to our IoD Ambassadors Phaedra Bird and On a final note, we recently set up a closed

Michael Rolland Managing Director, The Paint Shed

Sara Speirs Managing Director, Spectrum Service Solutions Ltd

Sara set up Spectrum with a vision to be a recognised brand in the industry. In 2019, turnover was £8.2m and Spectrum employed almost 700 staff. Cleaning services traditionally involve a low-skilled workforce in a competitive market, but Spectrum invests in training so staff can take on new roles to meet and exceed customer expectations. Fixed-term contracts and event cleaning have helped sustainable growth and Sara is looking for further UK-wide expansion. www.spectrumservicesolutions.com | @spectrum_ss

Join the IoD

We all want to succeed in our organisations and learning to be more effective leaders, promoting good governance, transparency and trust is at the heart of what IoD Isle of Man represents.

By engaging across our communities, and helping to influence policy and practice, we can ensure the Isle of Man is a great place to work, live and thrive.

If you would like to know more about IoD Isle of Man and how we Connect, Develop and Influence please don’t hesitate to contact rachel.mckenna@iod.com

investment news

Is now a good time to invest?

David Bushe Director of Ravenscroft in the Isle of Man

A

s I write we remain in unprecedented times and there will be winners and losers in what could easily be a scenario from a science fiction novel.

Nevertheless, we tend to emerge better following setbacks, therefore I’m not going down the road of a history lesson and instead I’d like to look at whether now is a good time to invest.

10,000,000

UK indexed performance

Above all, it is critical to have an investment strategy that is planned, monitored and regularly reviewed in order to deliver your objective. If you’d like to discuss investments, then please contact the team at Ravenscroft on 01624 60 20 20.

Firstly, what is investing? According to Investopedia; investing is the act of allocating resources, usually money, with the expectation of generating an income or profit. Investing is accessible to anyone with surplus funds or savings after all living expenditure. Who wouldn’t want to invest if it could generate an income or profit?

Any decision to invest should take into account investment variables such as interest rates, inflation, valuations, economic cycles, business models and currency. Market timing is difficult, very few buy at the bottom and sell at the top, even those with years of experience!

If you want to invest you need to have a clear risk reward objective. I may require a return of 5% per annum, with the Bank of England base rate at 0.1% that’s a rather large figure above what could be deemed the risk free rate. In order to achieve anywhere near 5%, I would be required to take risk over a period of time. If on the other hand I was looking for an annual return of 2% per annum, I would be able to take substantially less risk. The general investment rule is the lower the risk profile the lower the return and visa a versa. It could also be said that the lower the time horizon the lower the risk profile and visa a versa.

When considering what to invest in it is important to understand the main asset classes available. A portfolio typically invests in equities (shares in a company), bonds (loans to companies or governments), property, alternatives (i.e. gold and commodities) and cash. Each of these asset classes has its own risk reward characteristics and their selection and percentage held will depend on investment objectives. In a positive environment it would be potentially rewarding to invest in growth assets such as equities, however in less prosperous times it may be best to invest defensive assets such as government bonds and gold. As investment managers our aim is to diversify these assets to deliver the correct risk and reward profile for our clients. Within the asset classes, equites in particular, we concentrate on core themes which we believe will grow over the long term. Presently these themes include environmental, healthcare, technology and the emerging market consumer.

If an investor is seeking long term growth, then I would reason that now is a good time to invest and that times of short term market volatility are just part of the investment journey.

Under what is known as modern portfolio theory, the overall risk of a portfolio can be reduced, and the overall returns actually increased, by investing in asset combinations that are not correlated: that is to say that they don’t tend to move in the same way at the same time so that any volatility experienced in a particular asset class does not have an extraordinary impact on one’s savings. A phrase we use regularly at Ravenscroft is “know what you own and why you own it.”

Whatever your age, it is always a good time to start to invest or review existing investments in line with your risk tolerance and time horizon. Investors are generally more risk averse than they think when it comes to investing and are not always sure how long they can afford to be invested for.

We consider this important and will ask: “When will you need the money and how do you plan to use it?” If you can invest into a diversified portfolio and save regularly history shows us that over the longer term you would have enjoyed positive returns.

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ON THE AGENDA

Our Isle of Man office is now open.

Our Isle of Man office is now open.

Ravenscroft is an independently owned investment services group which has £7.45bn of assets under administration for both private clients and institutional clients from around the world.

We offer an array of investment solutions to help you achieve your objectives. Our experienced team provides discretionary investment management, advisory investment services and execution only trading.

For further information on how we can help, contact our team on 01624 602020 or email iom@ravenscroftgroup.com

Investments for everyone

www.ravenscroftgroup.com The value of investments and the income derived from them can fall as well as rise. Investors may get back less than invested.

Ravenscroft is a trading name of Ravenscroft Limited (“RL”), Ravenscroft Investment Management Limited (“RIML”), Ravenscroft Cash Management Limited (“RCML”), Ravenscroft Custody Services Limited (“RCSL”) and Ravenscroft Specialist Fund Management Limited (“RSFML”). RL, RIML, RCML, RCSL and RSFML are licensed and regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission to conduct investment business. RL is also regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission to conduct investment and funds services business. Ravenscroft is also a trading name of Ravenscroft (IOM) Limited, registered in the Isle of Man with company number 127781C, which has its registered address at St George’s Tower, Hope Street, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 1AR and is licensed and regulated by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority. All calls will be recorded and monitored for training and security purposes. For all Ravenscroft connected entities, please refer to www.ravenscroftgroup.com/disclaimer

movers & shakers

Manx Telecom appoints new Account Managers to Corporate team

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anx Telecom has announced the appointment of Lyle Krause and Sam Tipper to its Corporate Sales team.

Lyle joins from a similar role at Sure, having moved to the Isle of Man in 2018. He has previously worked as Account Manager and Account Executive for a number of South African marketing companies as well as co-founding two start-up businesses. A graduate in Business Administration from the University of South Africa in Pretoria, he is also co-creator of an innovative flat-pack collapsible school desk designed for use in rural South Africa and other communities where many students lack basic equipment.

Commenting on his new position Lyle said he was looking forward to supporting small businesses on the Isle of Man: “The Manx SME sector is full of hidden gems and success stories – every day I come across something that inspires me.

“Clearly it has been a challenging year for many businesses on the Island but the SME market thrives in the opportunities such times present and I am keen to contribute by helping businesses to operate efficiently and effectively.”

Sam Tipper has returned to Manx Telecom as a Senior Account Manager, after working in a business development role for

L-R Sam Tipper, Scott Bradley & Lyle Krause.

a local cryptocurrency firm. An Associate of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Sam also holds a diploma in accounting and business from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Building strong business relationships for the future will be a key focus for Sam, who said: “The past few months

have demonstrated how critical it is for companies of all sizes to be able to adapt quickly and communicate digitally. I’m delighted to be part of a Manx Telecom team that is leading the way in assisting Island-based businesses to embrace new technologies.”

LOCAL STAR STUDENT ACHIEVES QUALIFCATION SUCCESS

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Dandara employee & Manx Professional & Educational Services (MPES) student has gained an Island first.

David Ford is the first in the Isle of Man to achieve the Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) qualification via The Manx Accountancy Apprenticeship Scheme.

David, who joined Dandara in 2018 as an Assistant Financial Accountant, has been studying for the qualification in the evenings and at weekends. After two years of hard work, his efforts have paid off and he has successfully passed the accountancy qualification, which is designed by the Association of Chartered Accountants (ACCA) to support the work of professional accountants.

Senior Financial Accountant Kate Greaves said: ‘We were delighted to hear of David’s success and would like to offer our sincere congratulations to him. He has demonstrated a fantastic work ethic since the moment he joined us at Dandara and has already proved himself to be a real asset to the team. He is very deserving of this impressive achievement and we wish him every success as he progresses to chartered accountant status.’

The Manx Accountancy Apprenticeship scheme may be available to local businesses, with an accounting function. Contact training@gov.im for more information.

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ON THE AGENDA

Sure hires experienced IT and telecommunications specialist

S

ure has appointed Gary Shilling, an IT and telecommunications specialist with more than 20 years’ experience, as account director in its business team.

Gary joins Sure with expertise in cloud technology, voice systems and unified network and security services. His experience has concentrated on advising businesses on the most effective solutions to their IT or communications needs.

Sure provides communications solutions to Isle of Man businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to multinational corporations, and has a dedicated team of locally based professional services experts.

Joseph Walls, Head of Sales at Sure Business in the Isle of Man, said: “We’re proud to continue expanding our team and it’s great to be able to add local experts, like Gary, with years of experience delivering bespoke solutions to Manx businesses.

“The needs of local organisations are constantly changing, especially during the dramatic year we have experienced which has changed the business landscape immensely. Our team aims to provide local organisations with the best solutions for their needs and we are glad to have Gary on board to advise our customers.”

New face for manx language development at culture vanninc

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ulture Vannin is delighted to announce Ruth Keggin Gell as their new Manx Language Development Officer.

In Manx, the role is known as Yn Greinneyder, ‘the encourager or motivator’, and Ruth’s focus will be to promote, support and facilitate the Manx language within the community, as well as to help deliver the Manx Language Strategy.

Yn Greinneyder also works to develop and lead adult language courses, classes, conversation groups and projects, and promotes Manx through social and traditional media.

Director of Culture Vannin, Dr Breesha Maddrell, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Ruth to the team – she brings great strengths relating to all aspects of what is a demanding role, especially in terms of teaching experience, community engagement and advocacy for the language. Our work is about partnerships with the community, and Ruth’s engaging personality make her ideally placed to connect with new audiences.”

Ruth holds a BA in Music from the University of York and a PGCE from the University of Cambridge. She has a wide breadth of teaching experience from one-

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

to-one tutoring, classes and workshops, through to large-scale lectures, and has taught music and Manx to a wide range of age groups. An active performer, she has released two solo albums of Manx Gaelic songs to critical acclaim, and has brought Manx language and music to worldwide audiences through tours, festivals, and appearances in national and international media. Ruth is also part of an inter-Gaelic vocal project ‘Aon Teanga:Un Chengey’,

which celebrates the linguistic and musical links between the Isle of Man, Scotland and Ireland.

On-island, Ruth is an active part of Manx language and music communities.

She sings with the Manx Gaelic choir Caarjyn Cooidjagh and vocal ensemble Tallis Consort, and helps to support Yn Chruinnaght Inter-Celtic festival and the DESC Manx Folk Awards.

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NO.1 DERBY SQUARE

5

5

4

7,000 SQ FT of unparalleled Luxury in the heart of the Island’s capital It’s difficult to imagine a 7,000 sq ft house with breathtaking views, exquisite finishes and luxurious layout could exist in the centre of Douglas. But it does.

A truly unique property, and the only home in the heart of the capital to offer this level of unprecedented quality, set over five floors.

Comfort, style and contemporary design blend flawlessly with the traditional Georgian features of this beautifully finished town house.

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Features & Specification External Features n Imposing 5 storey Georgian front elevation with modern glazing n Superb, extensively glazed terraced rear elevation including patio areas to 2 floors, with stunning views over Douglas Bay from den balcony Windows/Doors n Low maintenance uPVC doors & windows with energy efficient glass units n Sliding doors & windows opening onto patio areas Doors n Front entrance doors – large imposing door with matching glazed side screens and overhead glazed arch fitted with high security locks & architectural ironmongery n Internal doors - large bespoke doors with chrome ironmongery n Remote controlled double garage doors

Redefine Elegance & Quality n Built to the very highest standards, a 5 bedroom Georgian fronted town house n Lift access to all floors, secure underground parking for 4 cars n Set over 5 floors for expansive family living plus gym, wine cellar, huge storage areas, high ceilings, oversized doors, integrated communications and AV system and terraced patios to the rear enjoying the stunning sea and coastal views n The finest Villeroy & Boch and Hansgrohe fittings to all luxury bathrooms and en-suites n Bespoke kitchen design by acclaimed Tom Howley with the finest Miele appliances including hob, double oven, steam oven and large American fridge freezer n 4 Receptions, Study, Large Dining Kitchen with Open Plan Family Room, Utility/Servery n Laundry Room, 3 Cloakrooms, 5

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Floor Finishes n Floor finishes include porcelain tiles & carpets n Under-floor heating will be fitted to all bathrooms, basement and ground floor n Tiled garage floor n Imitation walnut flooring to certain area Bathrooms n Bespoke joinery features n Fittings by Villeroy & Boch and Hansgrohe. Exceptions may occur on certain baths or components from time to time n Porcelain floor tiling with under-floor heating n Large walk-in showers with Hansgrohe shower system n Large mirrors & Towel radiators Kitchen n Fitted kitchen and island units by Tom Howley with artificial stone worktops and Miele appliances n Energy efficient appliances including, hob, double oven, Miele steam oven, extractor hood, microwave and large full height American fridge freezer n Pantry Energy Efficiency/Sustainable Design n The properties are extremely well insulated, exceeding Building Regulation Insulation requirements by almost 100% n Luxury Hansgrohe chrome shower and tap fittings are highly water efficient and will be used throughout, coupled with luxury Villeroy & Boch sanitary ware n All toilets are dual flush to conserve water n Materials are selected from sustainable sources where practical n Waste produced during the construction process is minimised and recycled where practical n Hartford Homes plants, on average, 10 trees for every house built n Fossil fuel costs are predicted to rise year-on-year and the above efficiency measures will assist to mitigate some of the increased costs

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General n High ceilings, AV system, lift to all floors, oversized doors, feature coving, huge storage areas and custom boot room area n Fitted furniture including extensive master walk in wardrobe extra high 10 ft ceilings with bespoke extra high doors n Fitted cinema screen, projector and audio system

ÂŁ2,650,000

1 Derby Square, Douglas, IM1 3LN Visit: www.garforthgray.im for full property description To arrange a viewing call

Garforth Gray Estate Agents T: 01624 667788

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

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NEW ISLAND HOME ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE Absolute Abode has opened its new home entertainment showroom on the Isle of Man. Its beautifully designed living room space features premium products from a carefully selected portfolio of awardwinning performance audio and home automation manufacturers. With calming views across the Irish Sea, the friendly and knowledgeable team aims to relax and inspire its customers, allowing them to create their own zone in which they can escape to enjoy the emotions of music and movies.

Having established its London store, O’Brien Hi-Fi, in 1966, the Absolute Abode team brings over 50 years of experience to the Isle of Man. Its aim is to bring music and movies to stunning life and to integrate this with simple to use technology

by Crestron including audio visual, lighting and blind control. Everything is designed, supplied and installed with a focus on energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact.

guarantees a unique home entertainment purchasing experience.

Mark O’Brien, company director, said, ‘We are delighted to be able to open Absolute Abode on the Isle of Man. Our first living room space was created in our London store, O’Brien Hi-Fi, over 10 years ago - this created a fresh experience for enjoying hi-fi and was one of the first of its type. We felt this space was required to broaden the appeal of listening to music at home, previously a concept that suggested large boxes and lots of cables! We wanted

to show a living room could also be a beautiful place to enjoy music (and movies) without resembling a laboratory! Through hi-fi, home cinema and smart home technology we can help our customers build their Absolute Abode!’

John Carroll, managing director of distributor, Renaissance Audio, commented, ‘I am proud to be able to supply Absolute Abode with some of the world’s finest audio products. The beautiful experience centre provides the perfect showcase for listeners to enjoy a stunning performance.’

‘The Absolute Abode team brings over 50 years of experience to the Isle of Man’

Amplifiers, streamers, turntables, DACs, cables and loudspeakers from renowned manufacturers such as MOON, Sonus Faber, VPI, Naim and Nordost will delight any listener. This combination of products, knowledge and a beautiful coastal location

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ÂŁ399,000

39, York Road, Douglas

4

3

2

This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a period style family home retaining many original features. The property is offered for sale with no onward chain and is situated in a central and convenient location within walking distance to the local schools, shops and town centre - ideal for a growing family!

The extensive accommodation is arranged over three floors with the ground floor comprising of an elegant reception hall, living room with open fire for those cosy nights in, family/dining room, dining

kitchen, utility room, bathroom and access to the basement which has potential for conversion into living accommodation subject to relevant regulations. On the first floor is a large bedroom stretching across the whole width of the property which is currently being used as a drawing room taking full advantage of the pleasant open aspects. There are an additional two bedrooms, newly installed family bathroom with separate shower and a cloakroom (WC). To the second floor is the master bedroom, dressing room and shower room.

At the front of the property is an established and landscaped wrap around garden which leads to the walled courtyard

Continued page 62 ďƒ¨

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THE ISLAND'S LARGEST SUPPLIER OF HIGH QUALITY BLINDS & SHUTTERS 5* RATED "From initial contact, to measuring up, explaining their product range and returning to complete the fitting ... The guys at Apollo Blinds were fantastic to deal with. ighly recommend "- Paul unn

"Love our shutters from the guys at Apollo Blinds. Fantastic service from start to finish. Top uality shutters which totally change the appearance of a room We got our living room shutters last year, and it was a no brainer to return to Apollo to get the rest of the house done." - ellyann "haw

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Continued from page 60

ďƒ¨

also providing access to the double garage.

The gardens enjoy privacy with mature hedging and trees to the borders.

Even the most discerning purchaser will find an inspection of this property is absolutely essential in order for it to be fully appreciated!

Features n Period style town house enjoying distant countryside views n Central and convenient location n Walking distance to the local schools, shops and town centre n No onward chain n Previously held permission for the creation of a roof terrace on existing garage roof with access stairs and balustrading n Spacious and adaptable family living arranged over three floors n Welcoming elegant reception hall, 2 reception rooms and a dining kitchen n Utility room and a ground floor bathroom n 4 Double bedrooms, recently installed family bathroom with separate shower, first floor cloakroom (WC) and a second floor shower room n Attached double garage and wrap around landscaped garden with rear courtyard enjoying privacy n Planning permission was previously held for the creation of a roof terrace on existing garage roof with access stairs and balustrading.

Visit www.garforthgray.im for full property description To arrange a viewing call

Garforth Gray Estate Agents T: 01624 667788

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FEATURED PROPERTY

LUCERNE COURT, DOUGLAS

FAIR HAVEN

4 BEDROOMED DETACHED EXECUTIVE FAMILY HOME THIS STYLISH HOME OCCUPIES A PRIVATE POSITION IN THIS HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER LOCATION ONLY A FEW MINUTES’ DRIVE FROM THE CENTRE OF DOUGLAS.

Offering an excellent standard of contemporary accommodation throughout, Fairhaven has a generous number of reception rooms perfect for family entertaining and relaxing. n n n n n n n n

Executive family home Located in a desirable development 4 double bedrooms Spacious entrance hall with gallery landing Luxury modern fitted dining kitchen Cinema room Conservatory Landscaped front and rear gardens

PRICE £1,165,000 VIEWING HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

For more details call 615000 or visit dandara.com 66

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Recipes PREPARE THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS FEAST Serving up the ultimate roast on December 25 can be a bit of a slog.

Getting the turkey, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, Brussels sprouts and all the other essentials to the table on time often feels like a logistical nightmare. But don’t despair, it is possible to enjoy cooking on Christmas Day without turning to the sherry early - it just takes organisation.

Many of the recipes we’ve picked out for you can be prepared before the big day rolls around. So if the prospect of catering for the extended family is already setting your pulse racing, take a deep breath and have a read. You’ll soon see that a little preparation can guarantee a successful, stress-free Christmas dinner.

CRISPY BACONBASTED TURKEY

(Serves 6-8) n 5kg-6kg oven-ready turkey (neck and giblets removed) n 2 thyme sprigs n 1 onion, halved n 1 lemon, halved n 2 bay leaves n 1 garlic bulb, halved For the salt mix: n 85g flaky sea salt n 2tbsp fresh thyme leaves n 1tsp crushed black pepper For the crispy bacon butter: n 6 rashers smoked streaky bacon or pancetta, chopped into small pieces n 140g butter, softened n 1tbsp maple syrup

minutes, stirring occasionally, until the fat has seeped into the pan and is sizzling gently, and the bacon is crisp.

Take off the heat and leave to cool slightly.

Scrape the bacon and the fat into a food processor with the butter and maple syrup.

Blitz to combine, scraping down the sides of the processor from time to time.

Roll up the butter in cling film to form a log and place in the fridge. (Can be made a few days ahead or frozen for one month.)

Remove the turkey from the fridge an hour or so before you want to cook it.

Remove the bacon butter from the fridge to soften up.

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/Gas mark 4.

Calculate your cooking time based on 40 minutes per kg for the first four kg of the turkey, plus 45 minutes for every kg after that.

Gently push your fingers under the skin of the turkey, starting from the neck, until you can push your whole hand in and down the length of the breast.

Take care not to tear the skin. Use your hands to spread the bacon butter under the skin so that it covers the entire breast area, and there is butter in the crevice between the thigh and the main body.

Pop a sprig of thyme under the skin of each breast, then smooth the skin over with your buttery hands.

Place the onion, lemon, bay leaves and garlic in the cavity.

Cover the tin loosely with foil and roast for the calculated cooking time. 30 minutes before the end of cooking, increase the oven temperature to 200C/180C fan/Gas mark 6, remove the foil, baste the turkey and return to the oven.

When the turkey is beautifully brown and cooked through, remove from the oven and leave to rest on a warm platter covered in foil for up to one hour.

Pour the fat away from the roasting tin, leaving just the juices.

Serve the remaining salt mix as a seasoning alongside the rest of the meal.

Continued...

If you have time the day before, salt the turkey.

Make the salt mix by grinding the salt with the thyme leaves and pepper in a spice grinder, or with a pestle and mortar.

Sit the turkey in a roasting tin and season all over, inside and out, using about twothirds of the salt.

Leave the turkey in the tin, breast-side up, cover with cling film and put in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

If you don’t have time, or there is no room in the fridge, simply prepare the salt and season the turkey generously before roasting.

To make the bacon butter, gently cook the bacon in a dry frying pan for about 10

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Recipes PREPARE THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS FEAST BEST-EVER ROAST POTATOES (Serves 8) n 3kg Maris Piper potatoes n Sunflower oil n Sea salt A day or two before roasting, prepare the potatoes. You need chunks or whole potatoes roughly the size of a clementine, so peel and leave whole, halve or quarter accordingly.

Place the potatoes in a large pan of cold, salted water - salting is important, so don’t skip it.

Bring the water to the boil and simmer gently for about 15 minutes, until the potatoes are cooked all the way through but not on the brink of collapse.

Gently drain the potatoes in a colander, but do not shake them or ruffle them up - just leave them to drain and cool.

Once there is no more steam coming off them, place on a tray in a single layer and put them in the fridge, uncovered, until ready to roast.

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/Gas mark 6 (or put them in when you turn it up for the turkey).

Pour oil into a deep roasting tin to give an even layer of about 0.5cm.

Place the tin in the oven for five minutes to heat the oil, then take out again.

One at a time and working methodically (starting at one corner of the roasting tin and lining them up as you go) place each potato in the oil and use a spoon to turn it so it’s completely coated.

Don’t worry about the oil cooling down too much. Once all the potatoes are in the tin in a single layer, not touching, place the tin in the oven and cook for 40 minutes, undisturbed.

Remove from the oven and - again, meticulously - turn each potato.

Return to the oven for 20 minutes, then repeat the potato-turning process again.

If, at this stage, your other side dishes allow you to, turn the oven up to 220C/200C fan/ Gas mark 7 and give the potatoes a final 20 minutes.

By now, you should have potatoes that are everything a roast potato should be: deep, golden and crunchy on the outside, with an extra-fluffy middle - just sprinkle with a little sea salt to serve.

PIGS IN PUFF PASTRY BLANKETS (Serves 6-8) n 1/2tbsp vegetable oil, for greasing n 1/2 sheet ready-rolled puff pastry n 16 pork chipolatas n 1 egg yolk, beaten, to glaze n 2tbsp sesame seeds Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/Gas mark 7 and grease a large baking tray.

Unroll the puff pastry into an A4 sheet and cut 16x1cm-long strips.

Wrap each chipolata in a strip of pastry, winding it round like a corkscrew.

Place on the baking sheet and chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.

Can be chilled overnight or frozen for up to two weeks.

Mix the egg yolk with one teaspoon of water and use to glaze the top of each pastry spiral.

Sprinkle with the sesame seeds, then bake for 25-30 minutes until the pastry is puffed up and golden, and the sausages are cooked. ...Continued...

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN 2020 WE WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES

A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

Isle of Man Business Park, Douglas T: 01624 624466 Riverside Industrial Estate, Ramsey T: 01624 815441

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Recipes

PREPARE THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS FEAST GINGER AND ORANGE-GLAZED BABY CARROTS

(Serves 6-8) n 900g baby carrots, washed and scrubbed n 50g butter n 25g piece ginger, peeled and finely grated n 2tbsp clear honey n Zest 1 orange n Salt and pepper Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and add the carrots. Simmer for five minutes until slightly tender, then drain.

In a wide pan, heat the butter until melting, then add the carrots, ginger, honey and orange zest. Cook over a medium heat for 25-30 minutes, turning them gently every now and then, until the carrots start to go golden and sticky.

Keep turning every now and again until all sides are browning.

Season well before serving.

FESTIVE RED CABBAGE

(Serves 6-8) n 1tbsp vegetable oil n 2 large onions, finely chopped n 1 star anise n 1 cinnamon stick n 150ml red wine n 1 red cabbage (about 900g) shredded n 2tbsp dark brown soft sugar n 2 Bramley apples, peeled and chopped n Salt and pepper Heat the oil in a large, flameproof casserole

72

dish, add the onions and cook on a medium heat for eight to 10 minutes, then add the star anise and cinnamon stick.

Pour in the wine and let it simmer until slightly reduced.

Add the cabbage, sugar and apples, and stir well.

Season well, cover and simmer on a low heat for three hours, stirring every now and again.

Once the cabbage is tender, check the seasoning.

Serve in a bowl with the star anise and cinnamon stick on top.

Can be made one to two days in advance, or frozen for up to four months - simply reheat on the hob before serving.

TRIPLE NUT AND APPLE STUFFING BALLS

(Makes 16) n 2tbsp linseeds n 1 red onion, halved n 1tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing n 200g mixed nuts of your choice (we used a combination of pecans, hazelnuts and pistachios) n 400g can cooked green lentils in water, drained n 50g breadcrumbs n Small bunch sage, chopped n 1 small apple, grated n Salt and pepper Put the linseeds in a small bowl and mix with two tablespoons water, then set aside for five to 10 minutes, until the water

thickens to a gluey consistency.

Meanwhile, place the onion in a food processor and whizz until finely chopped.

Heat the oil in a frying pan, tip in the onion and cook for five minutes, until softened.

Tip the nuts into the food processor and whizz until coarsely chopped.

Sprinkle three tablespoons of the nuts over a plate and set aside.

Add the lentils, breadcrumbs, sage, apple, linseeds (and any liquid in the bowl), onion and plenty of seasoning to the processor.

Pulse to blend the mixture until just combined - don’t chop too finely or the stuffing will lose its nice nutty texture.

Line a baking tray with foil and grease with a little oil.

Remove the blade from the processor and oil your hands.

Scoop out walnut-sized chunks of stuffing, roll into balls, then roll on the plate of chopped nuts to coat.

Place on the prepared baking tray. Can be covered with cling film and chilled for up to two days, or frozen for two months.

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/Gas mark 6.

Unwrap (if chilled) and bake for 25-30 minutes until the nuts are a little darker and the balls have firmed up slightly - they will be softer than traditional stuffing balls, but will firm up after a few minutes cooling.

If you’re cooking from frozen, bake for 3540 minutes. ...Continued...

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Recipes PREPARE THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS FEAST CREAMED SPROUTS WITH CHESTNUTS

(Serves 6-8) n 900g Brussels sprouts, trimmed n 2 onions, finely chopped n 2tsp vegetable oil n 50g butter n 2 garlic cloves, crushed n 1/2 vegetable stock cube, crumbled n 250ml double cream n 1tsp freshly grated nutmeg, plus extra to serve n 200g vacuum-packed chestnuts, roughly chopped n Salt and pepper Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, add the sprouts and cook for three to four minutes until slightly tender.

Drain and rinse under cold water.

Meanwhile, very gently fry the onions in the oil and half the butter for about 10 minutes until soft.

Add the garlic and stock cube and cook for two minutes, stirring, until everything is combined.

Remove from the heat.

Roughly chop the sprouts by hand or in a food processor, then stir them in with the onions and the rest of the butter, along with the double cream and nutmeg.

Put back on the heat and cook until the cream is bubbling. Season to taste.

Toss in the chestnuts and sprinkle over a little extra nutmeg to serve.

SALTED MAPLEROASTED PARSNIPS (Serves 6-8) n 600g parsnips, peeled and quartered n 2tbsp vegetable oil n 3tbsp maple syrup n 3 thyme sprigs, leaves picked n Sea salt

Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/Gas mark 7.

Put the parsnips in a large roasting tin with the oil, maple syrup, thyme leaves and some sea salt flakes.

Roast for 35-40 minutes until soft and sticky.

Scatter over a few more sea salt flakes before serving.

Recipes and images are courtesy of BBC Good Food Magazine.

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...Continued...

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BALUSTRADE SOLUTIONS LIMITED

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Brand new displays with a wide range of doors and handles If you are looking for a bespoke glass and steel balustrade on the Isle of Man, you should give Balustrade Solutions a call today. We design and install made-to-measure stainless steel balustrades and handrails, as Isle ofwell Manas Business Park, Douglas glass walls and doors and frameless structural glass work.

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For a FREE BROCHURE please call

816182 or 481124

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.woodlandinteriors.org.uk

APPETITE

ISLE OF MAN BUSINESS NETWORK GIN TASTING EVENT - 1ST OCTOBER 2020

Location: Hosted by The Wine Cellar at The Ticket Hall Sponsors: Paragon Recruitment & Workology.im

During the event guests were be able to sample ‘The Wine Cellar’s’ international gin offering and explore tasting notes, a variety of mixers, garnishes and test their taste buds in a fun-for-all quiz led by the off licenses gin connoisseur and served alongside The Ticket Hall’s new bistro menu.

Chair of the Isle of Man Business Network, Alex Wilson, said: “We have naturally seen a high level of demand for networking events from our members since lockdown was lifted in the Isle of Man as businesses and individuals look to utilise the in person networking opportunities that the Island is fortunate to be able to offer. We are pleased to be able to support our members and wider community by hosting this additional networking event this year. www.iombn.im

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

£36

£36

6 Bottles

6 Bottles

Piattini Pinot Grigio Fantastic value.

Benjamin Malbec Outstanding value Argentinian Malbec.

£36

£38

6 Bottles Sierra Grande Classic Chilean Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.

£48

£50

Per Bottle

6 Bottles

Bollinger Champagne Great price for this luxury Grande Marque.

Laurent Perrier Rosé Champagne Amazing rosé at an incredible price.

Le Sentier Classic Southern French wines.

£48

6 Bottles

Villa del Camino Rioja Lopez Rioja Blanco Lopez Rioja Rosé Rioja favourites direct from Spain.

£66

6 Bottles

6 Bottles

NZ Sauvignon Blanc French Viognier Australian Verdelho Quality whites at great prices.

Romanian Pinot Noir Chilean Cab Sauvignon Spanish Garnacha

£66

6 Bottles

6 Bottles

Louis Latour Pinot Noir & Duet Muscadet Sur Lie Great French wines from top wineries.

Quality reds at great prices.

£66

£66

6 Bottles

£48

£48

6 Bottles

Gavi Barbera d’Asti Montepulciano An Italian trio not to be missed.

£38

Per Bottle

Ribera del Duero Rioja Reserva Albarino Excellent Spanish trio worth treating yourself.

6 Bottles

Esk Valley Pinot Gris & Sauvignon Blanc Argentinian Bonarda Big Wine Cellar favourites.

£66

£40

Vergelegen Chardonnay & Cabernet Merlot Jordan Chenin Blanc Great wines from South Africa.

£40

3 Bottles

6 Bottles

3 Bottles

Michel Chavet et Fils St Veran Chateau Roudier St Emilion Haute Cotes de Beaune Premium French wines not to be missed this Christmas.

Sergio Mionetto & Rosé Perfect fizz to get you in the festive spirit.

Errazuriz Chardonnay Pinot Noir & Max VIII Top wines from this great Chilean winery.

£48

3 Bottles

Magnums from

£10.75

£13.75

£18.75

Jean Durup Petit Chablis Chateau Greysac Medoc Langlois Sancerre Everything you need for your special day.

£20

Great selection of Magnums for all of your festive needs.

Complete your Christmas with a great bottle of Port.

ISLAND WIDE DELIVERY / MONTHLY CASES / SALE & RETURN / GLASS LOAN / PARTY & December, WEDDING SERVICES Tel: 01624 611793 / Email: sales@thewinecellar.im The Milestone, Peel Road, Douglas, IM1 5ED Offers running until 23rd subject to availability.

APPETITE

CAKE DECORATING The Cake Decorating school is situated in the charming Maughold countryside with spectacular views. Bespoke classes of up to 10 people are designed to suit all skill levels from beginners through to advanced. Lessons will be delivered by Elli Warren and from renowned guest tutors from around the world. The class room is purpose built and fully equipped so all you need to is arrive.

Cake decorating has been Elli's hobby for many years and she has been so lucky to have been invited many times to participate in international cake decorating collaborations which were published in UK and international magazines.

‘Elli said: Having travelled to the mainland and beyond to attend classes myself I know how expensive and time consuming this can be, which is why I decided to open my school so I could teach and bring incredibly talented guest tutors to the island. I have already posted classes on my facebook page and instagram ( Elli Warren Cake Design) and I feel so lucky that the response has been amazing and I am having to add extra dates for the christmas class! ‘ ‘Additionally people can contact me and I am very happy to design a class around their needs. As well as lessons I will be supplying Cerart, Saracino and Finecut products which will help people on the island save on expensive postal costs! I am enjoying teaching and have met some wonderful cake decorators on the Island so far and can't wait to meet many more!’

Call Elli Warren T: 07624 451951 W: www.facebook.com/elliwarrencakedesign/

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Merry Christmas from everyone at Leonardo’s, we wish you all a wonderful happy new year Tel: 827365 Leonardo’s Restaurant Stanley House Castletown St, Castletown IM9 1LF

Mrs Yang’s Restaurant is a fully licensed Chinese restaurant with great views over North Quay in Douglas.

Serving authentic Chinese cuisine (5-10pm) 7 days a week.

Whether an express visit or a celebratory meal with friends and family, Mrs Yang’s always provide the warmest welcome.

Visit soon – First Floor, Clinch’s Complex, North Quay, Douglas

T: 886886 Takeaway service also available

£19

£20

£21

£7 each

£10 each

£18

£25

3 FOR

3 FOR

Taste the Difference Demi Sec Non Vintage Champagne 75cl

Taste the Difference Brut Non Vintage Champagne 75cl

Taste the Difference Blanc De Noirs Champagne 75cl

Sainsbury’s Cava Brut 75cl

Taste the Difference Conegliano Prosecco 75cl

A rounded and fruity Champagne semisweet in style, offering ripe stone fruit flavours and a rich honeyed sweetness.

Supremely elegant with a fresh finish.

Aged 3 years to add finesse and impart the characteristic toasty biscuit notes.

Elegantly fresh and fruity with delicate hints of toasty biscuit and appealing richness and balanced acidity.

Aged in the bottle for a minimum of 9 months to give zestry citrus aromas and flavours of crisp green apple.

Delicate and fresh with ripe apricot and lemon flavours. It makes a fantastic aperitif served with olives and antipasti.

£14

£7 each

3 FOR

£18

£7 each

3 FOR

£18

£8 each

3 FOR

£20

£8 each

3 FOR

£20

Taste the Difference Chablis 75cl

Taste the Difference Pecorino 75cl

Taste the Difference Verdicchio Dei Castelli di Jesi 75cl

Taste the Difference Casablanca Chilean Sauvignon Blanc 75cl

Taste the Difference Coolwater Bay Sauvignon Blanc 75cl

Elegant and dry, with fresh fruit flavours and a flinty minerality. Serve lightly chilled with white fish and goats’ cheese.

Soft and fruity with hints of yellow apple and peach. The perfect match for salads, seafood and cold meats.

A refreshing white wine with citrus notes and a mineral finish. Perfect with seafood and shellfish pasta dishes.

Refreshing with delicate herbaceous notes and tropical fruit flavours. A great match for salads, pasta and poultry.

Elegant with delicate aromas of fresh herbs, stone fruits and citrus flavours.

Great on its own or with seafood.

£20

£9 each

3 FOR

£23

£9 each

3 FOR

£23

£9 each

3 FOR

£23

£8 each

3 FOR

£20

Taste the Difference Châteauneuf-du-Pape 75cl

Taste the Difference Morador Malbec 75cl

Taste the Difference Côtes du Rhône Villages 75cl

Taste the Difference Cepa Alegro Rioja Reserva 75cl

Taste the Difference Pinot Grigio Dolomiti Blush 75cl

Robust with aromas of plums, truffles and spice balanced by silky tannins.

Enjoy with meat, game or cheese.

Rich and complex with black fruit flavours. This Fairtrade Malbec is the perfect match for beef.

Rich and complex with a rounded taste of red fruit and spicy oak.

A great match for roast lamb or pork.

Smooth and mellow, full of black fruit flavours with vanilla from oak ageing.

Match with lamb, cured meats and cheese.

Dry and crisp with floral and peach flavours.

Perfect with light pasta dishes.

AS A MEMBER OF OFFWATCH, WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE RESPONSIBLE SALE OF ALCOHOL. IF YOU LOOK UNDER 25 PLEASE DO NOT BE OFFENDED IF ASKED FOR PROOF OF AGE WHEN PURCHASING ALCOHOL. PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. SOME LINES MAY ONLY BE AVAILABLE IN LARGER STORES. ALL PRODUCTS OFFERED SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES. PHOTOGRAPHS FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. E&OE.

APPETITE

COCKTAIL CULTURE THROUGH THE YEARS: THE TRENDIEST TIPPLES FROM THE PAST SEVEN DECADES

1

Learn how modern cocktailing has evolved, and the past drinks that have tickled our tastebuds...

1. 1950s... Vesper Martini

The scene was Montengro, the character was Bond, the drink? Gin, vodka, and Kina Lillet. Such a classic serve should never be changed, especially one that was created in the 1950s by literary genius Ian Fleming, in his first Bond novel, Casino Royale.

2. 1960s... Pina Colada

In an era of peace and free love, this creamy tipple was consumed in spades. Indeed, if yoga isn’t your thing and you like getting caught in the rain, this Puerto Rican export is the answer.

3. 1970s... Sloe Comfortable Screw Against The Wall

It’s a long name, sure, but certainly a worthy cocktail. What it comes down to is: Sloe - for the Sloe Gin, Comfortable - for the Southern Comfort, Screw - for the Screwdriver ingredients of orange juice and vodka, and Up Against The Wall - references a Harvey “Wall” banger cocktail, which is basically a Screwdriver with [herbal liquer] Galliano. Put it all together and marvel at the taste - it’s simply delicious, and the colours are very Seventies to boot.

4. 1980s... Long Island Iced Tea

2

5. 1990s... Watermelon Martini

As the end of the Nineties soared into the millennium, we witnessed a world spun around by the UK’s favourite Aussie singer, Kylie. To accompany this shoe-tapping hit was the honeydew Watermelon Martini, created at famed London hotspot, the Met Bar.

6. 2000s... Cosmopolitan

As seen in much-loved Sex And The City, where it was merrily sipped by the brilliant Samantha, the Cosmopolitan has become a favourite tipple throughout cityscapes across the globe, from the mid-Nineties onwards, and was created by cocktail mastermind Toby Cecchini.

3

7. Now... Old Fashioned

An American cocktail of old created in the 1700s, this whisky serve is now the drink of choice for trendy hipsters wanting a bourbon hit. After all, if it’s good enough for Don Draper... Feel instantly transported back to the high-pressure world of Madison Avenue, advertising firms and pin-stripe suits.

4

5

Synonymous with cult film Cocktail, the Long Island Iced Tea is a worldwide favourite, encouraging hedonism amongst the most unlikely of culprits, including that of a baby-faced Tom Cruise.

Dating back to the Eighties, this cocktail is named after the USA’s largest island, Long Island, in New York. Although it doesn’t contain tea, its taste is similar. Its cocktail cameos also include The Simpsons, Sex and the City and Cruel Intentions impressed yet?

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APPETITE

A recipe from Ocean Restaurant to try at home

What Is Panettone?

The Italian version of fruitcake is Panettone, and although it does contain the candied fruits that can make fruitcake something to avoid, its airy texture and light sweet flavour make it more appealing than other fruitcakes.

Traditional panettone, (yellow in color because it has butter and egg yolks in it) is studded with raisins and the candied peels of lemons and oranges.

It’s cooked in a cylindrical paper and, when it rises, it puffs out of the top of the paper so that the end product looks like a muffin.

While some fruitcake varieties incorporate alcohol into the recipe, panettone does not – but it goes quite well with a glass of sweet wine!

Panettone is more than just a Christmas bread. It is also a good story – or two – depending on whom you’re talking to.

The legends behind the origin of this cake differ slightly, but all agree as to where it comes from – Milan. While the Ancient Romans were known to make sweetened bread, the origins of this particular recipe don’t go back quite that far.

The most commonly quoted legend behind Panettone says that in the 15th. century, a man fell in love with the daughter of a baker called Toni. In order to win her heart and prove his love to her father, he came up with a bread recipe that included dried and candied fruits and called his creation “pane de Toni,” or Toni’s bread. Another story says the Christmas banquet given by the Sforza family had no dessert until a young kitchen hand baked up a sweet bread, thereby saving the meal – and yes, the kitchen hand’s name was Toni. Whether there is any truth to these legends is immaterial – the bread remains a part of the Christmas season in many Italian households.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

Panettone

Here’s a recipe we use at Ocean that you can try at home.

The dough ● 600g flour ● 20g yeast ● 175 ml water ● 5 LG eggs ● Zest of 1 Orange ● 68g sugar ● 2 tsp vanilla compound (msk) ● 1.5 tsp sea salt ● 170g room temperature button ● 14g cold butter ● Veg oil for bowl ● Fruit mix ● 150g raisins ● 150g mixed peel ● 60g masala wine ● 60g dark spiced rum ● 150g sliced Armands Method ●S oak fruit mix with masala wine and room for 24 hours prior to starting. ● 1 /2

flour, yeast & water mix to a starter dough.

●M ove

to low speed slowly, add flour and salt mix1 tablespoon at a time.

●O nce

toe is fully Inc swap paddle for dough hook. dough on low speed for 10 minutes.

●A dd

room temperature butter 170g 1 tablespoon at a time, until butter is fully Inc and Dough is shiny and elastic.

●T ransfer

Dough to oiled bowl, cover with clingfilm, refrigerate overnight / Eight hours.

Day 2 ●R emove dough from fridge. ●P ut

onto well-floured tabletop.

●R oll

the dough into a rectangle (1 cm thickness).

●D rain

●M ix

●M ix

●P ut

●S prinkle

second half of flour in a bowl with 1 1/2 sea salt. the starter dough mix into bowl of the stand mixer use paddle attachment.

●M ix

on medium speed, add eggs one by one until all In.

●O nce

eggs are fully Inc add zest vanilla sugar.

roll the square into a double taking care not to rip the dough.

●P lace

Panettone into panettone case, leave to rise for two hours.

●K nead

●C over

for 45 minutes until doubled in size.

●T hen

the fruit mix and keep the alcohol liquid. fruit and almonds together. over (Joe) we mean the dough.

●L ightly

roll into dough using a rolling pin, be careful not to pierce the dough.

●L etter

fold the dough into a rectangle, then fold into a square.

●A fter

Panettone has risen slightly score the top.

●P lace

14g of cold butter on top.

●P re-heat

oven to 190°C.

●P ut

Panettone in oven dropped temperature to 160°.

●B ake ●

for 30 minutes.

Cover with tinfoil.

●P laced

back in oven and dropped temperature to 150°, bake for 40 minutes.

●T ake

Panettone out of the oven and place on a wire cooling rack.

●T hen

your work is done, indulge with some butter and marmalade, or share with friends this Christmas.

We

would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New. We look forward to welcoming you in our restaurant to try our delicious festive food.

T: 01624 622000 | www.oceanrestaurant.im Ocean Restaurant | North Quay | Douglas

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APPETITE

In the restaurant, our main menu consists of dishes that are perfect for sharing with family and friends, along with larger main meals such as our delicious fish pie or steak Diane. Our specials board changes frequently, depending on availability of fresh fish and meat. We regularly offer tasting menus, which include four or five food courses with taster-size glasses of wine to match each course.

S

ince opening as a wine bar and restaurant with a wall of wine in August 2018, Wine Down has added another strand to the business by opening a wine shop. Work commenced during lockdown and the doors opened on 29th June, with a range of over 300 different wines from all around the world, as well as spirits, liqueurs and beers. If you’ve been in already, you’ll know the comforting sight of rows of beautifully presented bottles on our wooden shelves. You can expect classics such as New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Argentine Malbec, Italian Pinot Grigio and Chilean Merlot, to more adventurous and exotic wines from Lebanon, Greece and Canada, to mention but a few. We are proud to stock an array of vegan and organic wines, as well as a selection with no added preservatives or sulphites. The range is constantly changing to keep you (and us!) interested and to help you discover more wines that we are confident you will enjoy.

In addition, we encourage our customers to come in and try something new, with the help of our staff who are extremely knowledgeable and happy to advise on different wines depending on your taste.

Our wine-by-the-glass list changes on a weekly basis so that every time you come in, there will be something different and exciting for you to try.

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The lockdown did not prevent us from providing our customers with the excellent quality food and wine experience that we like to offer at 24 Duke Street. We organised deliveries of food and wine Island-wide and, due to its popularity, are continuing to offer this service.

In September, we launched ‘Wine Down Wednesday’, a wine tasting masterclass on the second Wednesday of every month.

Customers have already been fascinated to learn about wines from Bordeaux, Rioja and the Ancient World and we look forward to entertaining and informing you at our Australia masterclass in January.

We also thoroughly enjoy taking part in global wine and spirit-related events. In October, we participated in Shop Rioja month, offering a tasting menu with six 75ml glasses of Rioja wine for lunch and dinner whilst also putting on free taster sessions of our large range of Rioja wines in-store on Saturdays. Carrying on the Spanish theme throughout November, we are promoting Sherry for ‘Sherry Week’ and putting together a menú español so that you can enjoy eating and drinking your way around Spain for ‘Eat Spain Drink Spain’. Let’s not forget about ‘French Week’ in the middle of November and looking further ahead, our Christmas menu will be available from 1st December. We are launching our Christmas shop on Wednesday November 25th and it will be open daily (and on Sundays 6th and 20th

December for our Christmas Fairs), with excellent gift ideas and offers on wine and spirits. Roy’s homemade mince pies and famous Scottish fudge will be on sale to keep you in the festive mood, along with warming mulled wine. In early 2021, we will be organising events for Burns Night, Australia Day and Valentine’s Day. We are also thrilled to announce that we are the only APP (approved programme provider) for WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust), and look forward to running courses in wine for anyone who is keen to pursue an interest in wine or thinking about embarking on a career in the wine industry.

We hope you have already enjoyed one of the many events that we offer on a weekly basis or that you will be interested in taking part in one in the near future. If you enjoy trying different wines, or simply don’t like running out of wine, why not sign up to our ‘Wine Plan’, having a monthly or bi-monthly delivery of wine to your door?

This is completely flexible with cases tailored to what you enjoy or are willing to try. We cannot tell you how much we love introducing people to new wines and helping them to expand their tastes.

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Vehicle Sales Vehicle Sourcing

Vehicle Servicing Car Valeting

WELCOME TO TD CAR CENTRE TD Car Centre is a locally owned independent car dealer which offers for sale a wide range of Family, Sports, SUV, Luxury high quality vehicles to suit all budgets. We also provide vehicle servicing and valeting as well as a minimum 3 month warranty for the peiod of 2 years on all vehicles which we sell.

In addition we specialise in vehicle sourcing; we can source any vehicle, provide perfectly tailored finance for the purchase of same, test and register the vehicle and of course include a warranty as part of the overall package. We have over 20 years experience in the motor trade.

Unit 1 Hills Meadow East Region Douglas IM1 5EA

www.tdcar.im Tel (sales) 01624 670590 / 07624 231040 Workshop 01624 625474 Email Chris Slipper (Sales Manager) 670590 chris@tdcar.im Tomasz Dziardziel (Managing Director) tomasz@tdcar.im Opening Hours Mon-Fri 9.15-17.15 Sat 10.00-16.00

HARDWARE

HOMAGE OF THE HUMBLE MINI

Words & Photos: Lucas Croydon

In 1959, the original Mini began to roll off the production line, and spanned across four decades. With over five million mini’s sold, it became the most popular British car ever produced.

To this day the Mini remains an Iconic part of British engineering, epitomised in the 1963 Movie The Italian Job starring Michael Caine and the sequel of the same name in 2003. The Mini has a large worldwide following, which was strengthened from it’s success in Motorsport, especially within rallying.

Taking victories during the World Rally Championship where they dominated the Monte Carlo round in 1964, 65 & 67 where the Mini claimed top spot. Although in 1966 a controversial decision was made where the three Mini’s, which took the top three places were disqualified due to their headlights not meeting FIA rules.

Rallying in the 60’s was a world away from the modified cars of today, in the sixties the cars were closely related to their road cousins. The long demanding stages were a great tool to advertise the performance, durability and handling of the car, so it wasn’t long until boffins in sheds, factories and garages started exploiting these little cars’ abilities to compete on and off the roads.

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INDEPENDENT FIAT, ABARTH, ALFA ROMEO & JEEP SPECIALIST, SERVICING ALL MAKES & MODELS VANS & MOTORHOMES

We have moved to Tromode

2010 Alfa Romeo Mito 2012 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Cloverleaf 68,000 miles Veloce 31,000 miles

2019 Jeep Compass Ltd 18,000 miles

£6,695

£19,695

2012 Alfa Romeo Mito Veloce 27,000 miles

2018 Abarth 595 TJet 8,000 miles

£6,995

2016 Fiat 500 Lounge Automatic 37,000 miles

£9,995

2018 Fiat 500 Lounge 6,000 miles

£13,295

2016 Fiat 500X 34,000 miles

£9,995

£10,195

2017 Fiat 500 Limited Edition 2019 Fiat 500 Lounge Anniversario 25,000 miles 8,000 miles

£10,295

£9,995

£10,295

2018 Fiat 500C Mirror 11,000 miles

£10,995

Paul Ridgway, the Isle of Man’s independent Fiat, Abarth, Alfa Romeo and Jeep specialist, invite you £9,995 £9,495 £9,995 £8,995 £10,695 to view our selection of cars and our new purposebuilt service facility at 15a Tromode Estate, Douglas.

2016 Fiat 500 Automatic Lounge 26,000 miles

2018 Fiat 500 Lounge 25,000 miles

2018 Fiat 500 Lounge 14,000 miles

2016 Fiat 500 Lounge 15,000 miles

2018 Fiat Collezione 6,000 miles

COURTESY CARS AVAILABLE 2017 Fiat 500 Lounge 19,000 miles

£9,295

2016 Fiat 500 Lounge 22,000 miles

2013 Fiat 500 S 20,000 miles

2015 Fiat 500 Lounge 16,000 miles

2016 Fiat 500 Lounge 7,000 miles

£8,795 | www.paulridgwayiom.com £6,495 £7,995 £8,995 T: 676999

Now in our new site at Tromode Estate, Douglas

T: 676999 | www.paulridgwayiom.com

HARDWARE

Abingdon in the sixties was no exception where a works factory built exceptionally well engineered Mini’s. The factory built over seventy giant killing Mini’s before it closed down in the early seventies, even though many of the cars built reached great success. When Abingdon closed there were three Mini’s yet to be sold. All three were eventually sold where two of them went on to be rallied whilst the remaining one ended up tucked away behind closed doors.

One of the parts which made the Abingdon built Mini’s so successful was that they changed the five port crossflow cylinder head to an eight port. Allowing them to have far greater airflow to the little 1275cc engine. These parts are now extremely rare and when one does crop up it fetches thousands.

So when you’ve grown up around the original Mini as a boy and rallied for numerous years of your adult life, and having owned numerous Mini’s yourself, you can’t pass up the opportunity of purchasing the cylinder head especially when you know of the one untouched Abingdon Mini to make an almost perfect replica of. After studying the mechanics and parts needed, the project of building the purest classic rally mini began. It truly was a love affair of the timeless classic and after tens of thousands of pounds spent, and three hundred man hours of piecing the puzzle together, the car was finished. The last piece was to enter it into a rally and unleash the sixties potential.

However, Covid as we all know has ruined most events this year, and that’s no different on the Isle of Man. No closed road stage rallying has taken place this year, so for now the closest the Mini was going to get was a run along arguably the most illustrious stage on the Isle of Man, Druidale.

Hopefully in 2021 this flashback to the sixties will get to take on some closed road stage rallying on a competitive level, for now though it’s back in the garage, under a cover it goes. Roll on 2021.

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SkillanNaylor Car Company

At SkillanNaylor Car Company we have been open for business for almost 2 years. Our main showroom located within Ballafletcher Business Park has been very busy during that time and we have helped lots of clients find their new dream car.

We have always planned to grow our business and have an additional space to retail cars that wouldn’t normally fit within our Douglas Showroom. We were recently offered our New forecourt in Laxey and jumped at the opportunity to take up the space located in the heart of Laxey village.

Laxey has a great community vibe and we are very pleased to add to this. We are proud to be a Manx company and look forward to providing a service to the people of Laxey.

SkillanNaylor Car Company can supply both pre-owned, new cars and commercial vehicles.

We will consider all vehicles as part exchange including motorbikes and we can offer finance and leasing for any purchase.

Istore Isle of Man

Computer Accessories Shop

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Please pop into see us at our Douglas showroom in Ballafletcher Business Park or visit our new forecourt in Laxey next-door to the petrol station.

A2 Great Laxey Mines Railway

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Laxey Woollen Mills

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SkillanNaylor Car Company Limited T: 626200 www.skillannaylor.im BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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MORRIS MINOR ISLE OFH EMAN ARSE COMPANY

‘if you’re going to leave us you might as well leave us in style’

MOTORCYCLE HEARSE

NOW AVAILABLE ON THE ISLE OF MAN

For further information please contact us, bookings are best made with your Funeral Director.

email: wades@manx.net Tel: 07624 495158 www.iommorrisminorhearsecompany.com

LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DOUGLAS ON DEMESNE ROAD

We are an independent family business with over 50 years experience in the motor trade, supplying quality mostly 1 owner vehicles from popular SUV family hatchbacks to motorhomes and commercial vehicles.

We pride ourselves in offering excellent customer services and after service for all your vehicle needs and are proud to be the number 1 customer reviewed car center on the Island.

In addition to vehicle sales we have our own dedicated workshop and tyre center and can offer competitive rates for all your vehicle needs. For your convenience we have a modern fleet of courtesy vehicles.

OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE: n AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE nL ATEST VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS EQUIPMENT n LASER 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT Our vehicles are carefully selected from trusted suppliers who over the years we have established long term relationships with.

Want a vehicle but don’t see it on our forecourt? We offer a UK vehicle collection and shipping service from just £500. You find it - we can arrange finance, consider part exchange, locally test and register it if required.

CALL IN TO FIND OUT MORE IM1 Car Centre Demesne Rd Douglas IM1 3DS E: sales@im1.co.im T: 01624 611040 : IM1-Car-Centre-Douglas www.im1.co.im

WHAT OUR CUSTOMER HAVE TO SAY… “The guys at IM1 Car Centre couldn’t have been more helpful. Collected my new car this afternoon.

Couldn’t have been better! Thanks again.”

“Really really great service - got exactly what I was looking for and really happy with everything - just seemed so easy - thank you!”

“Bought a car last week and the service we received from Ben was excellent. Very informative, no hard sales, listened to what we wanted, found the car that met our requirements at a very reasonable price.

Fantastic customer service.”

GADGETS

07624 247 247 35 Strand St, Douglas www.sure.com

Sure

1. Samsung S20 FE

Say hello to the Fan Edition of the Galaxy S20. Featuring a stunning Infinity-O Super AMOLED display, massive battery and triple cameras, all powered by a mighty Snapdragon processor. Available in a range of colours. From £26 per month

4. X-Box Series X

New generation console. New generation games. Embark on new adventures the way they’re meant to be experienced on X-Box Series X. From £21 per month

7. Acer 311 Chromebook C733U

The Acer Chromebook 311 is the ideal laptop for all ages. With its safety certification, state-of-the-art lowenergy consuming AMD processor, military standard specs and a long battery life, it stands up to the daily rigors. From £11.50 per month

2. Samsung A41

The Samsung Galaxy A41 is a compact and lightweight smartphone benefitting from the inclusion of a 6.1” Infinity-U display and triple rear cameras. It’s perfect for capturing awesome moments and sharing them.

From £11.50 per month

5. Nintendo Switch

Get the gaming system that lets you play the games you want, wherever you are, however you like. Includes Nintendo Switch console, Switch dock, and left and right Joy‑Con controllers.

From £13.50 per month

8. Google Home Hub

The Google Home Hub has a smart display designed to help you accomplish everyday tasks and is focused on making your life easier, from organising your schedule to making shopping lists. And you can use your voice to get things done with its built-in Google Assistant. From £5.75 per month

3. Sony Xperia 5 II

Introducing Xperia 5 II, the most compact Xperia that takes photography, gaming and entertainment to the next level.

From £34 per month including Sony headphones worth £250

6. Fitbit Versa 3

Fitbit Versa 3, the health & fitness smartwatch with built-in GPS, Active Zone Minutes, 20+ exercise modes and music experiences to keep you moving.

From £7.75 per month

9. iPhone 12

An edge-to-edge OLED display. Ceramic Shield with four times better drop performance. And Night mode on every camera. iPhone 12 has it all — in two perfect sizes. From £36.50 per month

Prices shown are based on 24 monthly payments. Pay Monthly mobile plan also required.

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EVENTS

What iWant from Apple this Christmas Apple 10.2” iPad 2020 32GB

iPhone S E + iPad b undle

£33

only

per month*

See more gift ideas in store Apple iPhone SE

Apple Watch

Apple Air Pods 2

Bundle the latest iPhone SE and iPad for just £33 per month. And now we can deliver to your door, just like Santa. Find out more in store, call our Sales Hotline 01624 692230 or visit sure.com.

QUALITY MATTERS *OfferBECAUSE available on 24 month Pay Monthly mobile contracts. While stocks last. Prices include VAT. †Source: Systemics Group - tests undertaken September 2017.

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GADGETS UPFRONT

THE NEW iQ APPLE STORE

iQ is home to all things Apple, including experts. Our brand-new store, which is designed by Apple, stocks the full Apple range from iPhone to iPad, Mac to Apple Watch. Our extensive range of accessories includes Beats, HomePod, Apple TV, Sonos and a variety of third party gadgets. We have plenty of demo products on display so you can get a feel for the products and our experts, who are trained by Apple, are on hand to answer any questions you may have.

We are also an Apple Authorised Service Provider, so you can get in-house support and repairs for your device from our Applecertified technicians should you ever need it.

All our Apple products come with an official Apple warranty and we do not sell second hand or refurbished products. Why not start your Christmas shopping at iQ, the home of extra special gifts.

Open Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm at Victory House, Prospect Hill, Douglas.

E: shop@iqisleofman.com T: 01624 620121

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GADGETS

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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NIGHTLIFE

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PAPARAZZI THE FRONT PORCH

ARE YOU IN? /GALLERYIOM

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

ARE YOU IN? /GALLERYIOM

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

THE FRONT PORCH PAPARAZZI

NIGHTLIFE

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Where to find us

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We’re located in the white brick warehouse next to the MER station in Ramsey. Our current access is a little tucked away at the rear of our premises on Tower Road until we can finish our shop frontage facing the town on Parsonage Road in early 2021.

­ € €

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NIGHTLIFE

PAPARAZZI TESCOS STAFF - PALACE CASINO

ARE YOU IN? /GALLERYIOM

Photos by: Dollsfactory.net

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Enjoy a Winter Warmer Staycation Enjoy a relaxing home away from home at The George, which offers the perfect Island getaway in the picturesque setting of Castletown. A stone’s throw from Castle Rushen, explore the Ancient Capital of Mann, or take in the most breath-taking countryside and coastal walks the Isle of Man has to offer.

TO BO O K YO U R S TAY V I S I T T H E GE O R GE .I M

THE GEORGE

PUB & ROOMS THE PARADE, CASTLETOWN, IM9 ILG

822533 | george@hb.im www.thegeorge.im

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PAPARAZZI MITRE HARBOUR BAR | COOIL VENUE

ARE YOU IN? /GALLERYIOM

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

ARE YOU IN? /GALLERYIOM

PAPARAZZI MITRE HARBOUR BAR | COOIL VENUE

NIGHTLIFE

Photos by: Isle Photo BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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PAPARAZZI 1886

New Toys

this Christmas!

ARE YOU IN? /GALLERYIOM

Samsung Bundle Samsung Galaxy S20 (128GB) Galaxy Watch 3 (Stainless Steel, 41mm) & Galaxy Buds Live

from £64 per month Save £72 when purchased together!

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ARE YOU IN? /GALLERYIOM

PAPARAZZI 1886

NIGHTLIFE

FREE Sony Headphones Get a pair of Sony WH-XB900N FREE when you purchase a Sony Xperia 5 II for £38 per month

mt.im/christmas Terms & conditions apply, see manxtelecom.com/christmas

Photos by: Dollsfactory.net BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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ARE YOU IN?

PAPARAZZI 1886

/GALLERYIOM

Our Vehicles are updated regularly on our fb page and recommendations include: “The service I have received from Vehicles.im has been first class from start to finish” Wanting to treat yourself after lockdown? We have a wide range of cars and commercial vehicles and can source a particular vehicle on request.

“If you need a new/second hand car/van then go to vehicles.im” “Outstanding customer service. Absolutely love my new car bought from vehicles.im no pushy salesman or gimmicks, wouldn’t hesitate to return for future purchases” 11C Snugborough Trading Estate Union Mills IM4 4LG T: Dan 07624 466229 | E: sales@vehicles.im facebook.com/vehicles.im

Photos by: Dollsfactory.net

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Gifts for those who were extra good this year.

We all deserve a treat this year, so why not start your Christmas shopping at iQ, the home of extra special gifts.

iQ Victory House | Prospect Hill | Douglas iQ.APR

iQApplePremiumReseller

iQiOM.com

Home Devices this Christmas!

Amazon Bundle Amazon Echo, Amazon Kindle (8GB) Ring Video Doorbell 3 & Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

from £17 per month

Save £48 when purchased together!

Nest Bundle Nest Protect, Nest Outdoor Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Generation) & Nest Hello Video Doorbell

from £32 per month Save £48 when purchased together!

Terms & conditions apply, see manxtelecom.com/christmas

Visit our Strand Street Shop or online at mt.im/christmas