Isle of Man Premier Magazine | vol 03 : no 23 | September 2013 | the [ART] issue
Because Quality Matters
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Tanya Hanson Hannah Goodby Michelle Tonnesen Linda Huxley Anne Berry Jennifer Parkes Lauren Clarke Grant Runyon Grace Ryan Suzy Holland Rebecca Lawrence Rachel Green Theo Leworthy Liz Corlett Anne Moorhouse Leon Flemming Bonzo Slater Ella Pritchard Phil Taylor Bill Carden
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[ART] Isle of Man Premier Magazine | vol 03 : no 23 | September 2013 | the [ART] issue
£ priceless
BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS
edito
WWW.GALLERY.CO.IM
Contribute contribute@gallery.co.im Rip it, scrap it, comment, critique, research, report. Opinions wanted on politics, business, news, home, property, music, gadgets, sports and culture. Something annoyed you and you want to tell the island? We’re here for you. If you’d like to see your name in... er... print, get in touch.
Advertise ad@gallery.co.im We understand that the medium is the message. The quality of a magazine reflects on the businesses that advertise within it. Gallery is the Isle of Man highest quality magazine and premium print media option for stylish and progressive brands. If you have a business or strategy to promote get in touch. We don’t have pushy sales people and won’t try and badger, coerce, harass or try to sell you something you don’t want. Call us on 07624 249249 or drop us an email...
Feature features@gallery.co.im If you are an artist with work to exhibit, an event or entertainment organiser with an event coming up or a business with some exciting news or a new product to feature, get in touch. We’re keen to feature anything of interest that will entertain our readers.
Gallery Magazine, Quay House, South Quay, Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 5AR T: 07624 249249 E: info@gallery.co.im www.gallery.co.im
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rt maybe a small word, yet it represents a big subject. As a human race, before we could even talk we could draw. Before we could write we were painting pictures on the walls of caves. The wish and need to express our thoughts and ideas visually is at the very heart of the human condition. Art is like a mirror, looking deep into our soul and telling us something about who we are and what we believe in. But for some, art is seen as an ‘extra’ , the icing on the cake; and not really needed. This attitude is particularly prevalent in difficult economic times. It’s often the first area to be cut. But this is short term thinking. Art is not a product that can be bought when times are good, and then shoved to the back of the shelf when the going gets tough. Art is the very fabric of our society. It is a visual language and like with any language, needs to be studied, to be understand. The more you look at art, the better informed you become. Well that is the theory. The trouble is that trying to understand art is a bit like trying to nail jelly to the wall - but this for me, is the beauty of the subject; it operates on so many levels and has such infinite depth. It becomes all consuming. Art and the month of September on the Island go together nicely. We have a host of events happening, like the Isle of Man Film Festival on the 11-15. A full guide to what’s on and where can be found on p(41) . We also host The Celtic Kingdom Festival of Silk 2013 between the 19-22 with a silk art exhibition on at the Sayle Gallery and a fashion show of hand painted silk gowns at the Sefton Hotel p(42 ). With this being the art issue, we got in touch with three locals artist; the interview is on p(34). Literature lovers are gearing up for the second annual Manx Litfest, which takes place between the 26-29, with a host of visiting authors and poets lining up alongside a number of Isle of Man-based writers, p(37). Elsewhere in this issue, we have an interview with Jason Manford, appearing at the Villa Marina on the 2-3 October. We also have the bi-monhtly business supplement ‘Agenda’ starting on p (89) featuring the Distribution Review - The Islands approach, the Art of Effective Meetings, To Give Or Not To Go, The Business Lunch is Alive, and much more. We have something for everyone as always. Enjoy. SR
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Published with gusto in the Isle of Man by
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HIGHLIGHTS FEATURE
FEATURE
2,000 BC PICTIONARY INVENTED IN CHINA
40,000 BC EARLIEST CAVE PAINTINGS
Hiding from sabre-toothed tigers, early man discovers that a stick burned by lightning can be used to etch crude images of buffalo and antelope as well as unflattering renditions of people’s mothers
39,999 BC FIRST GRAFFITI
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ART, BY GRANT RUNYON
Drawings of nude ladies predate written language and rapidly spread to all neighbouring human toilet places. Native Americans and the Australian Aborigine separately perfect the art of drawing realistic wangs with powdered charcoal and whalebone.
1888 VAN GOGH CUTS OFF EAR
Totally baked, bro
Famed master of the Japanese woodbloack records pre-GoPro gnarly wave and predicts the future impossibility of finding a parking space in St Ouen’s bay
Painting by Edvard Munch depicts a horrified student who had forgotten that his dissertation deadline is tomorrow
The pivotal moment in the history of visual art
1960 PICTURE OF CHE GUEVARA MADE INTO A T SHIRT
Photographer Alberto Korda takes iconic shot for the cover of Cuban student newspaper. Little does he know that he has indirectly inspired Rage Against The Machine and a thousand men selling “special flapjacks” at the Reading festival
Europe celebrates as Hitler is vanquished and a lost Dutch masterpiece is recovered by philandering cafe owner and resistance double agent René Artois
1977 COVER OF MEATLOAF’S BAT OUT OF HELL
The only thing that could possibly improve this modern masterpiece is a lady in a chain mail bikini and a space monster
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1989 ROLF’S CARTOON CLUB INTRODUCES BRITAIN TO ART
Can you tell what it is yet? Two Little Boys
ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE
1535 MICHELANGELO COMPLETES SISTINE CHAPEL
“Cowboy painter” excommunicated by pope after his eventual invoice for “quick ceiling job” comes in several hundred florins above the quote and two years too late. Donatello, Leonardo and Master Splinter are forced to join him in exile in the sewers beneath the city. Renaissance art scene dominated by Shredder and Krang for immediate future
1506 MONA LISA SMILES AFTER CUTTING ONE
SBD - Silent But Deadly
100 AD EARLY CHRISTIANS DEVISE BUMPER STICKER
1350 THE RENAISSANCE HAPPENS
After over 1000 years when European art was mostly stained glass and earthenware jugs, patronage from the wealthy city-states of mediaeval Italy leads to a proliferation of sumptuous oil paintings created by camp men in velvet berets. Artistic boobs reach hitherto unknown levels of sauciness. Silvio Berlusconi is born.
A piece of art so sublime that it caused the East Coast / West Coast beef, but also gave Nate Dogg to the world
Unsurprisingly for an Island drenched in creative artistic talent, there is also a blossoming indigenous filmmaking community here. Following tentatively in the footsteps of the visiting major productions, there are Writers and Actors and DPs and Directors, producing their own homegrown movies on shoestring budgets and with the support and encouragement of their Island community.
2008 OBAMA HOPE POSTER
Symbolic of both the potent iconography of political art, and the only alternative to a government featuring cretinous moose hunter Sarah Palin, this image came to symbolise a new dawn of integrity for world politics. This icon of the unlikely leader of the free world truly symbolises rebirth and hope, unless of course you’re Osama Bin Laden or an innocent shopkeeper from Bradford chained up in Guantanamo Bay for the last decade
BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS
“We think it’s important to connect our local filmmakers with the international world of filmmaking and to show what we’ve all achieved over the past 12 months.” said Dave. “There is so much creative talent here, and indigenous filmmaking is something that has really taken off over the past couple of years.”
THURS 12TH SEPTEMBER EVENT: ‘The Future Shorts Fringe’. VENUE: Patchwork Cafe Port St Mary, Northern Lights Ramsey and Bath and Bottle Douglas. Short Description: A specially selected reel of internationally acclaimed short films from FutureShorts.com - the world’s largest short film network, founded by Manxman Fabian Riggall. Tickets: £5 from the venues. Start Time: 7pm.
FRI 13TH SEPTEMBER EVENT: Isle of Man Film Presents...The
Disappearance of Alice Creed.
VENUE: Broadway Cinema Douglas SHORT DESCRIPTION: Q&A Screening
of this critically acclaimed film which stars Eddie Marsan and Gemma Arterton and was made on the Island in 2009. Writer Director J Blakeson will be in attendance and the night will be hosted by London Screenwriters Festival Director Chris Jones. Tickets: £8 (or £20 full weekend pass). Start Time: 7.30pm.
Manx made movies and The Island has doubled REMOVED FROM THE screening some of the for London, the GLITZ AND GLAMOUR best from the rest of Caribbean, the Scottish OF HOLLYWOOD, YET the world. With events Highlands - even outer ITS SHORES HAVE ranging from the Future space. But our history in PLAYED HOST TO SOME Shorts Fringe Festival to film goes much further OF THE BIGGEST NAMES the Guerilla Filmmakers than just visiting film IN THE BUSINESS. Workshop and, of course, stars. Did you know, for the MannIN Shorts ‘Homegrown Mini instance, that in 1929 Alfred Hitchcock Movies’ night, there is something for made a movie of ‘The Manxman’, a everyone, from the passionate filmmaker novel by Hall Caine? Or that the ‘Secret to those who simply like Watching Films. Cinema’ phenomena sweeping the globe was created by Fabian Wriggall of Great Dave clearly has ideas to expand the Meadow? And today, of course, we have festival, which is supported by the Isle of our own homegrown Hollywood starlet in Man Arts Council: “With Island of Culture the gorgeous Sam Barks. next year, we couldn’t have a more fitting
2007 I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER?
1993 COVER OF SNOOP DOGGY DOGG’S DOGGYSTYLE
EVENT: “Local Hero” - An evening with Andy Blackburn VENUE: Peel Centenary Centre in association with Films in Peel. SHORT DESCRIPTION: A Q&A style event catching up with Manx born filmmaker Andy Blackburn. Showcasing his work from Manx Multimedia Centre trainee, to Directing prime time advertising shorts, to behind the scenes discussion and an exclusive first look at his latest exciting project - his debut feature film. Tickets £5 from usual Films in Peel outlets. Start Time: 7.30pm
The brain child of MannIN Shorts founders Dave Armstrong and Christy DeHaven, the initial idea behind the festival was to create a platform and screening opportunity for the increasing number of Manx productions. At the same time invited industry guests from off Island will offer networking opportunities & discover our local film-making talent for themselves.
This seemingly quaint and quirky little Island may seem far removed from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, yet “It’s much easier now” added Christy its shores have played host to some of “especially in the world of short films. the biggest names in the business. If With the advent of DSLR and even high you were in the Colby area in 1997, you quality phone cameras, you can make probably bumped into Batman himself a mini movie for very little money. And as a young Christian Bale took up the resources on the Isle of Man, along temporary residence to film ‘All the Little with the incredible support of the local Animals’. They’ve all been here - from community, make it a breeze to get things the Baldwin boys to Kenneth Branagh, made. But once a film is made, it has to be Kathleen Turner to Julie Andrews, Jason screened somewhere or there’s not much Statham to Christian Slater. In fact, last point in making it!” year Isle of Man Film announced it’s 100th production since its And so, over five days in inception in 1995, with September, the Island will THIS SEEMINGLY QUAINT Dom Hemingway starring become a film festival AND QUIRKY LITTLE Jude Law. Island, showcasing ISLAND MAY SEEM FAR
By this point, most other forms of symbolic expression and indeed intellectual activity have become obsolete next to captioned depictions of cats and a walrus with a bucket. Future historians will see this as the point when western culture first snoozed the doomsday clock of irreversible stupidity
feature-2.indd 18-19
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There are few things more satisfying to the soul than a walk around our bracing coastline with the whiff of the Irish Sea cleansing your nostrils, past green hills dotted with four horned sheep and - hang on a cotton pickin’ minute - isn’t that Johnny Depp? Wait - there’s Penelope Cruz! And if I could just wade through that teaming mass of hysterical teenage girls yes! It’s (a slightly terrified) Zac Effron!
In the face of terrible persecution at the hands of the Roman authorities, christians draw a fish on the back of their chariots to signal to others that they will drive far too slowly on the way to the circus and complain if anybody plays their tympanum after 9pm.
The blockbuster movie of its day, the Bayeux tapestry depicts an incredibly long battle in which some bloke gets shot in the eye. Now believed to be the historic precursor to Game of Thrones and/or Jackass
1903 DOGS PLAYING POKER
1908 THE SCREAM
1945 RECOVERY OF THE FALLEN MADONNA WITH THE BIG BOOBIES
1070 BAYEUX TAPESTRY
FASHION
Since its inception in 2010, training scheme MannIN Shorts has gone a long way to help further this trend, holding workshops in everything from screenwriting to sound recording and - last year - hosting its first “Isle of Man Film Festival”.
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SAT 14TH & SUN 15TH SEPTEMBER (9AM - 4PM)
EVENT: PokerStars MannIN Shorts workshop
“The Guerilla Filmmakers Masterclass”
VENUE: Villa Marina Colonnade Suite SHORT DESCRIPTION: Learn everything
there is to know about film! Chris Jones brings his internationally acclaimed workshop to
Patron than film critic Mark Kermode! He is actually heading up the judging panel for our Short Film Competition this year and will be heavily involved next year as a special guest and contributor, when we will be opening out to international entries to increase awareness of the Isle of Man’s potential as a filmmaking centre.” Christy added “We’re extremely lucky to be able to call on some of the friends we’ve made in the industry over the past few years to come and share their knowledge and experience with us - and their movies of course! Last year, some of the events were completely sold out” warned Christy “so we’d recommend getting tickets in advance”.
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SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER EVENT: Isle of Man Arts Council Young
Filmmaker of Mann.
VENUE: Broadway Cinema Douglas.
anniversary of the popular competition comes to a head with this Awards ceremony and screening, which is always entertaining and is free and open to the public. Tickets: Free Entry. Start Time: 2pm.
APPETITE
SHORT DESCRIPTION: Chris Jones and
David Wilkinson, co-founders of Guerilla Films, are joined by Danny Lacey onstage for a night of filmic fun, industry anecdotes and a sneak preview of where this all began - with an exclusive first look at Danny and David’s latest project: the extra-ordinary, highly anticipated documentary ‘The First Film’. Tickets: £8 (or £20 full weekend pass)
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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE
NIGHTLIFE
NIGHTLIFE
‘FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS’
IOM TOUR - ROYAL HALL, VILLA MARINA
2ND & 3RD OCTOBER 2013
J
ason jokes that, “Some of you might think I’ve had a career change, what with all the opera and musical theatre I’ve been doing lately. Not a chance. I’m excited to be getting back to what I really love the most – stand-up!” A comedian with a marvelously charismatic style, Jason strikes up a natural rapport with his audiences. He also possesses an irresistible amiability and generates a rare warmth on stage. All these talents have combined to make Jason one of the best loved and most in demand comics in the country. The critics agree. The Guardian praises, “What Manford does best: classic, chirpychappie stand-up”. The Evening Standard calls him, “Effortlessly entertaining”. The Daily Telegraph says that he is, “Blessed with the sort of laid-back charm and sharp turn of phrase you can’t manufacture”. Meanwhile, Chortle declares that, “Manford retains an affably jovial demeanour that makes him warmly enjoyable company.”
If that’s not cemented your desire to get started, I don’t know what will! Naturally, the key to getting the most out of your riding is to have a solid understanding of the basics. Building a good foundation now, will set you up for the future, providing you with skill and confidence later on.
travel_art-trip.indd 42-43
ISLE OF MAN STYLE MAGAZINE
BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS
68 Nine Stop Euro Art Trip
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You’ll find many of the schools online, some with their own page and some with a facebook or other social media page. Of course, if you like the old ways, then you can always use the phone book. Remember, whilst horsing riding can be exciting, you and your child’s safety is paramount, so ideally look for:
• British Horse Society approved riding schools. BHS* Approved means the highest standards of safety, welfare and tuition. • A friendly atmosphere, with patient, experienced and knowledgeable instructors offering a good standard of tuition. Ask about the qualifications of the instructors and if they teach beginner riders. • A school that will allow you to watch a lesson and decide if it is suitable for you and or you child. You may wish to observe more than once before making a final decision. * The British Horse Society is the UK’s largest and most influential equestrian charity, they protect and promote the interests of all horses and those who care about them. Source: http://www.bhs.org.uk/
ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE
WHAT TO WEAR
There is no shortage of equestrian wear available, but for beginners, focus on the following:
FOR YOUR HEAD
It is best to have your own hat, but for first lessons, most schools have hats they loan out. It is essential this is fitted to you properly. All hats must be CE marked, but ideally they will also be Kite marked. The Kite mark is a British standard and a registered trademark of the British Standards Institute (BSI). Many insurers will recommend a Kite marked hat.
FOR YOUR FEET
A pair of long riding boots or jodhpur boots should be worn, these cover your ankle and have a smooth sole and heel. Trainers or wellies are not advisable as they can become stuck in the stirrup and offer little protection for your heel, which can easily rub. For more about equipment standards please see: http://www.bhs.org.uk/enjoy-riding/ learning-to-ride/basic-equipment
Chatting to me in a TV dressing room – he is about to appear on Jonathan Ross’s ITV1 chat show – in person Jason manifests the same likeable magnetism that draws thousands of fans to his live shows. His winning friendliness is no act. With this particular comic, what you see is what you get.
I love my life with horses, rewarding and exhilarating no day is ever the same! My horse Monty is my best friend, we never argue or fight and he’s always guaranteed to put a smile on my face! So, what are you waiting for, start today
Jason, who has also performed stand-up on BBC1’s Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and multiple Royal Variety Performances, cannot contain his excitement about returning to live comedy. The performer; a first-rate observational comic who describes his show as “essentially moaning about everyday life, but with punchlines” says the buzz you get from live comedy is unrivalled. “You can’t give it up!” he beams.
Now Tally Ho and enjoy!
FOR YOUR HANDS
A pair of gloves to prevent blisters, as you get used to handling the reins.
FOR YOUR LEGS
Jodhpurs are useful, but for beginners, a pair of strong comfortable trousers is fine.
Tynwald Mills have bundled together a Kids Starter Kit for £95.00 to include, Leather Boots, Childs Jods, (variety of colours), Skull Cap (fitted) and a pair of stretchy Magic Gloves for little hands. The normal retail price for these items would be over £107.00.
BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS
“People who haven’t done stand-up focus on the negatives – ‘what’s it like to die on stage?’ I always say, ‘It’s horrendous, the worst feeling in the world’. But the lows are so low because the highs are so high.” The stand-up, who was also hosted Show Me the Funny and Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford for ITV1, carries on “It’s a huge risk, but when it goes right, there is nothing better. It creates a communal feeling that you just can’t beat. You get all these people laughing and you think, ‘I did that!’ If you make one person laugh in a day, that’s great. Imagine multiplying that by 10,000!”
Sometimes I say to them, ‘I don’t remember that one. I must put it back in the act – it’s a good gag! The stand-up, who was a team captain on 6 series of 8 Out of 10 Cats as well as appearing on QI, Big Fat Quiz of the Year, League of Their Own and Would I Lie to You, adds that, “It’s also really interesting to see the demographic of my audience. I get grannies, their kids and their kids. It’s great to see.” Jason goes on to explain the title of his new show, First World Problems. “I’d seen the phrase online and liked it; it just sums up so much I think the phrase emphasises those times when we moan about the most trivial things. It’s as if we invent problems so we have
to moan about. I On stage, you’re everything, you’re something imagine someone in the third the boss. You’re the performer, writer, world just thinking that we were all complete idiots!” editor, director. You’re even Ofcom. Jason reveals that his You decide what to say. It’s brilliant.” material is constantly
In fact, you will be delighted to hear, the wonderfully gifted comedian has now returned to his first love and embarking on a huge nationwide live tour with a major new show entitled, “First World Problems”.
WHERE TO LEARN
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BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS
48 Fashion
Learning to ride...
Horse riding has been around for generations and it is open to pretty much everyone.
Campbell’s Soup Cans: Andy Warhol, 1962
Louis Vuitton, Spring/Summer 2013
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BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS
WORDS | James Rampton
Finding somewhere to ride, especially for the first time, can be a bit daunting. But don’t worry, the Isle of Man has an active equestrian community, with riding schools available across the Island. You might be surprised to learn that one is closer than you think.
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words | Jorja Helmot
Jason Manford has not run away to join the opera. Despite winning ITV1’s charity based talent competition, Born To Shine, putting his new-found talent into practice by joining Alfie Boe on tour and then starring in the critically acclaimed West End production of Sweeney Todd alongside Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, Jason has not forgotten his standup roots.
So here’s how to get set and go
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This optic, checkboard trend is a must, whether it be a full skirt and top set, or an old plaid shirt to work it minimalist style.
VILLA MARINA 2&3 OCTOBER
F
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1. River Island - £35, 2. River Island - £25, 3. River Island £28, 4. River Island - £35, 5. New Look - £22.99, 6. River Island - £35, 7. The Whitepepper @ Asos - £55, 8. The Whitepepper @ Asos - £55, 9. Asos - both £6, 10. New Look - £12.99, 11. Asos - £10.
ACTIVE
un and exciting I’ve lived and breathed horses all my life and even managed to carve a career out of it too. Horse riding has been around for generations and it is open to pretty much everyone, whether you want to fulfil that dream of galloping along the beach on a black horse, get fit, learn something new, or socialise and enjoy the countryside, riding is an experience that will live long in your memory.
1. Burton - £12, 2. River Island - £10, 3. Lazy Oaf - £115, 4. River Island - £20, 5. River Island - 3. Asos - £49, 4. Burton - £12, 5. River Island - £8, 6. Asos - £49, 7. Chunk Amazon - £30, 8. Lazy Oaf - £75, 9. New Look - £8.99, 10. Burton - £10, 11. Burton - £14, 12. River Island - 7 £8, 13. Amazon - £7
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Large and small check patterns taken from optical illusion artworks by the likes of Bridget Riley inspired designers, both this season and into the next. Black, white, and red tartan are the popular choices on the high street, with some hints of yellow too.
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If this is not the look for you then don’t shy away from bright colours. The louder the better before the cooler months come.
ISLEOFMANFILMFESTIVAL.COM
ALL THINGS EQUESTRIAN Are you or your children looking to ride?
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SUN 15TH SEPTEMBER
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Donned with everything from burgers to batman motifs this is not everyones go-to look but for the more trepid fashionistas out there, you’ll definitely stand out.
WOMEN
5PM-7PM EVENT: (title tbc)
ACTIVE
Do you know where, what and how to get started? If not, then read on...
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Actor, Producer and Chairman of Distrify David Wilkinson takes to the stage with his Guerilla Films co-Founder and London Screenwriters Festival Director Chris Jones to talk about their lives in the industry. Leeds based filmmaker, long time MannIN Shorts supporter and former Radio Aire Presenter Danny Lacey will join them onstage to host the night. The night promises to be packed with gobsmacking tales of some of the biggest names on and off screen, unbridled access and insight in to the industry and a sneak preview of where it all really began, as Danny and David give an exclusive first look at their latest project together - the extra-ordinary, highly anticipated documentary ‘The First Film’.
ISLE OF MAN STYLE MAGAZINE
LEARNING TO RIDE - HOW TO GET STARTED
MEN
Pop art was the other movement of choice for designers this summer, with bright, comic strip style prints strongly influenced by artist Andy Warhol.
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SAT 14TH SEPTEMBER
5PM-7PM EVENT: MannIN Shorts HomeGrown MiniMovies! SHORT DESCRIPTION: The IOM film training initiative, now it’s in 3rd year, showcases a selection of films made within it’s scheme. “Solace in Wicca”, “Closet” and recently completed “Barry Brown” will be previewed in full for the first time. Also, IOMFF2013 Short Film Competition winners will be screened and awards presented, with cash prizes from Skandia and Dandara and a money-can’t-buy tour of Pinewood Studios up for grabs. Tickets: £8 (or £20 full weekend pass). Start Time: 5pm
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Gallery
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SHORT DESCRIPTION: The tenth
The festival closes on Sunday 15th September with what should prove to be a fascinating, enlightening and hugely entertaining evening.
WORDS | Hannah Goodby – H.G. Equestrian
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the Island. A not-to-be-missed opportunity for anyone with an interest in film and filmmaking. Cost: £70 for both days. Email rosie@ isleofmanfilmfestival.com to book.
16/08/2013 16:55
APPETITE
FASHION
Limited edition Campbell’s Soup Cans, 2012
The Responsive Eye: Bridget Riley, 1965
WEDS 11TH SEPTEMBER hhh the tiny Isle. Small, but perfectly formed. It’s a place of incredible natural beauty, with an impossibly ancient history steeped in folklore and fairytale.
1,000 BC ANCIENT GREECE, FIRST ATTEMPT AT FILMING CLASH OF THE TITANS
City state of Thessalonia soon gives up when it realises that the Sunday Afternoon ITV movie will not be invented for another 2980 years, and instead concentrates its artistic prowess on fragile pots and mosaic friezes of Medusa in the nuddy
1830 HOKUSAI’S GREAT WAVE
After a three day binge on absinthe and mushrooms, Van Gogh looks into the future and sees that his art will one day be used to decorate biscuit tins and the toilet areas of reasonably priced European-style bistros. Depressed, he tries to cut off his own head but only gets as far as the ear
1932 DALI MELTS SOME CLOCKS
Bored of wangs, the highlyadvanced Egyptian society of the Nile delta develops the comic strip. Modern scientists believe that rampaging mummies perform much the same role in Egyptian art as will be played in 1970s Britain by Benny Hill.
CULTURE
WHAT’S ON & WHERE
Romans were lazy, apart from the gladiators and eunuchs. Nobody needs arms on statues when they’ve got orgies and rule everywhere except the village Asterix lives in
Wangs back in style
4,000 BC EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS
CULTURE
200 BC ROMANS CAN’T BE BOTHERED TO SCULPT ARMS, REALISE IT LOOKS PRETTY COOL ANYWAY
Lu Zheng of the Qi dynasty realises that nobody actually enjoys playing charades at parties and invents a means of representing words with simple pictograms, the foundation for the written language of his nation. Chinese culture venerates Pictionary to this day, despite Chairman Mao’s attempt to destroy the game in favour of Twister and Boggle.
3,000 BC ANCIENT BABYLON
Jason underlines that stand-up remains his overwhelming passion. “TV is simpler. You can do re-takes. But you’re not getting an immediate response. You don’t know if something is funny till weeks later. “Overall TV is much, much easier. A lot of the time it’s just professional reading. It’s reading while trying to make it look like you’re not reading.” Stand-up, on the other hand, is much more demanding. “On stage, you’re everything,” Jason continues. “You’re the boss. You’re the performer, writer, editor, director. You’re even Ofcom. You decide what to say. It’s brilliant.” Jason now has a very wide fan base. He observes that, “By now, people know that we share a sense of humour. They are aware of what they’re getting, and I’m aware of what makes them laugh. The weirdest thing is fans who remember jokes that I’ve forgotten.
evolving. “I only tour every couple of years, and the good thing is that over that time your life and the people who surround you are constantly changing. Also, as you get older, you get more opinionated.”
Sadly, Jason has to leave now - he must to go into make-up in preparation for the chat show. Before he departs, though, I return to the subject of his sheer likability. Jason smiles that, “I’m the same on stage as I am in real life – which can be incredibly annoying at home! Jimmy Carr says that because he is quite rude on stage, if he says ‘hello’ to a fan in the street, that will make their day. “By contrast, because I’m nice on stage, unless I ask a fan if they fancy a brew, they’ll say, ‘He’s a bit rude’. I’m a victim of my own niceness. Sometimes I wish I’d gone down the Jack Dee misery route!” Don’t go changing, Jason. We love you just the way you are.
Tickets £22.95. Available from the Villa Marina at: www.villagaiety.com or tel: 01624 600555
www.jasonmanford.com
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BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS
122 All Things Equestrian
134 Jason Manford Live
Fashion & Beauty.....................................................................45 Art Fashion.......................................................................................................46 Male Grooming......................................................................................48 Windsor & Wales................................................................................50 A Fashion Union.................................................................................56
Tahiko...................................................................................................................139 Amanda’s 40th Birthday Party..............................140
CONTENTS Edito.....................................................................................................................................2 Wilkins Watch of the Month..................................................4 Listings...............................................................................................................................6 Gallery Gallery...................................................................................................8 Upfront.....................................................................................................................10 Relative Values................................................................................................10 Events................................................................................................................................12 Our Community...........................................................................................14 The Art of Parenting............................................................................16 News in Numbers.......................................................................18 Me & My Pet........................................................................................19 Current Affairs................................................................................................20 Oak Guitars..........................................................................................................22 Events...........................................................................................................................23 Manx Miracles Charity Golf Day........................24 Fawlty Towers Dinner Show.........................................................25 The Mayor of Douglas Charity Nighty.........26 Hayley & Leon Dawson Wedding Day...........28 Culture........................................................................................................................29 My Name Is.......................................................................................................30 Culture Vulture...........................................................................................31 Upload...........................................................................................................................32 Artist - Local Interviews.........................................................34 The Joy of Books....................................................................................38 Film Review........................................................................................................39 Manx Litfest......................................................................................................39 Big Art Installations.......................................................................40 Film Festival 2013................................................................................40 Festival of Silk 2013..........................................................................42 The Importance of Reading...........................................44 6
Boardom.....................................................................................142
Appetite.............................................................................................................57 IoM Food Festival 2013.........................................................60 Recipes.......................................................................................................................62 Art & Wines.......................................................................................................64 Travel..........................................................................................................................65 The Nine Stop Euro Art Trip..........................................66 Falcon Drives..................................................................................................68 Rococo Venice & Imperial Rome......................70 Active......................................................................................................................119 All Things Equestrian...............................................................120 Tough Mann 2013.........................................................................122 Sports News..................................................................................................123 IoM Football Sunday League...............................124
Isle of Man | Home & Interiors | September 2013
The best place to find a new place in the Isle of Man
ORTG GROUP
THE BEST PLACE TO FIND A NEW PLACE IN THE ISLE OF MAN 71
Hardware......................................................................................................125 Art For Art Sake.....................................................................................126 Brushes Are So Last Century.....................................128 Phone Home.............................................................................................129 Motors.....................................................................................................................130 Paparazzi......................................................................................................131 Jason Manford Interview.............................................132 The Crescents..........................................................................................134 Jabberwocky................................................................................135 Nexus........................................................................................................................136 The Outback...............................................................................................137 The Courthouse...................................................................................138
OFFSHORE BUSINESS
NEWS
EVENTS
COMMENTS
Issue 2
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Protecting Your Cloud & Your Data What’s On The Agenda? FEATURES: TECH - GETTING AHEAD IN THE CLOUD, MANAGEMENT - PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE, LEGAL - DATA & DIGITAL BUSINESS, LAW - OFFSHORE JURISDICTIONS, ICT - BUZZ KILL OUTSOURCING, DIRECTORS - FINANCIAL AFFAIRS PLUS: IOM/JSY/GSY NEWS, EVENTS, JOURNALIST TO PR, EGAMING, BUSINESS MARKETING, 4G, LUXURY LIVING, PROPERTY
89 isle of man premier magazine
We all love a helping hand! And we have two great options to help you with your new mortgage. You can make an up front saving of £999 on the mortgage product fee or choose to pay the fee and get a lower rate. Pop into any branch and let us help you enjoy the benefits.
Call in to any branch iombank.com Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter @iombank YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.
Isle of Man Bank Limited (IOMB). Registered Company Number: 1 Isle of Man. Registered Office: 2 Athol Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM99 1AN. Licensed by the Financial Supervision Commission of the Isle of Man and registered with the Insurance and Pensions Authority in respect of general business. Over 18’s only. Security required. Calls may be recorded. Internet e-mails are not necessarily secure as information might be intercepted, lost or destroyed. Please do not e-mail any account or other confidential information.
feature
40,000 BC EARLIEST CAVE PAINTINGS
Hiding from sabre-toothed tigers, early man discovers that a stick burned by lightning can be used to etch crude images of buffalo and antelope as well as unflattering renditions of people’s mothers
39,999 BC FIRST GRAFFITI
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ART, BY GRANT RUNYON
Drawings of nude ladies predate written language and rapidly spread to all neighbouring human toilet places. Native Americans and the Australian Aborigine separately perfect the art of drawing realistic wangs with powdered charcoal and whalebone.
1888 VAN GOGH CUTS OFF EAR
1830 HOKUSAI’S GREAT WAVE
After a three day binge on absinthe and mushrooms, Van Gogh looks into the future and sees that his art will one day be used to decorate biscuit tins and the toilet areas of reasonably priced European-style bistros. Depressed, he tries to cut off his own head but only gets as far as the ear
1932 DALI MELTS SOME CLOCKS
Totally baked, bro
1908 THE SCREAM
Famed master of the Japanese woodbloack records pre-GoPro gnarly wave and predicts the future impossibility of finding a
parking space in Douglas
1903 DOGS PLAYING POKER
Painting by Edvard Munch depicts a horrified student who had forgotten that his dissertation deadline is tomorrow
The pivotal moment in the history of visual art
1960 PICTURE OF CHE GUEVARA MADE INTO A T SHIRT
Photographer Alberto Korda takes iconic shot for the cover of Cuban student newspaper. Little does he know that he has indirectly inspired Rage Against The Machine and a thousand men selling “special flapjacks” at the Reading festival
1945 RECOVERY OF THE FALLEN MADONNA WITH THE BIG BOOBIES
Europe celebrates as Hitler is vanquished and a lost Dutch masterpiece is recovered by philandering cafe owner and resistance double agent René Artois
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1977 COVER OF MEATLOAF’S BAT OUT OF HELL
The only thing that could possibly improve this modern masterpiece is a lady in a chain mail bikini and a space monster
1989 ROLF’S CARTOON CLUB INTRODUCES BRITAIN TO ART
Can you tell what it is yet? Two Little Boys
Isle of Man Premier magazine
feature
2,000 BC PICTIONARY INVENTED IN CHINA
200 BC ROMANS CAN’T BE BOTHERED TO SCULPT ARMS, REALISE IT LOOKS PRETTY COOL ANYWAY
Lu Zheng of the Qi dynasty realises that nobody actually enjoys playing charades at parties and invents a means of representing words with simple pictograms, the foundation for the written language of his nation. Chinese culture venerates Pictionary to this day, despite Chairman Mao’s attempt to destroy the game in favour of Twister and Boggle.
Romans were lazy, apart from the gladiators and eunuchs. Nobody needs arms on statues when they’ve got orgies and rule everywhere except the village Asterix lives in
3,000 BC ANCIENT BABYLON Wangs back in style
4,000 BC EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS
Bored of wangs, the highlyadvanced Egyptian society of the Nile delta develops the comic strip. Modern scientists believe that rampaging mummies perform much the same role in Egyptian art as will be played in 1970s Britain by Benny Hill.
1,000 BC ANCIENT GREECE, FIRST ATTEMPT AT FILMING CLASH OF THE TITANS
City state of Thessalonia soon gives up when it realises that the Sunday Afternoon ITV movie will not be invented for another 2980 years, and instead concentrates its artistic prowess on fragile pots and mosaic friezes of Medusa in the nuddy
1070 BAYEUX TAPESTRY
The blockbuster movie of its day, the Bayeux tapestry depicts an incredibly long battle in which some bloke gets shot in the eye. Now believed to be the historic precursor to Game of Thrones and/or Jackass
1535 MICHELANGELO COMPLETES SISTINE CHAPEL
“Cowboy painter” excommunicated by pope after his eventual invoice for “quick ceiling job” comes in several hundred florins above the quote and two years too late. Donatello, Leonardo and Master Splinter are forced to join him in exile in the sewers beneath the city. Renaissance art scene dominated by Shredder and Krang for immediate future
1506 MONA LISA SMILES AFTER CUTTING ONE
SBD - Silent But Deadly
100 AD EARLY CHRISTIANS DEVISE BUMPER STICKER
In the face of terrible persecution at the hands of the Roman authorities, christians draw a fish on the back of their chariots to signal to others that they will drive far too slowly on the way to the circus and complain if anybody plays their tympanum after 9pm.
1350 THE RENAISSANCE HAPPENS
After over 1000 years when European art was mostly stained glass and earthenware jugs, patronage from the wealthy city-states of mediaeval Italy leads to a proliferation of sumptuous oil paintings created by camp men in velvet berets. Artistic boobs reach hitherto unknown levels of sauciness. Silvio Berlusconi is born.
2007 I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER?
By this point, most other forms of symbolic expression and indeed intellectual activity have become obsolete next to captioned depictions of cats and a walrus with a bucket. Future historians will see this as the point when western culture first snoozed the doomsday clock of irreversible stupidity
1993 COVER OF SNOOP DOGGY DOGG’S DOGGYSTYLE
A piece of art so sublime that it caused the East Coast / West Coast beef, but also gave Nate Dogg to the world
because quality matters
2008 OBAMA HOPE POSTER
Symbolic of both the potent iconography of political art, and the only alternative to a government featuring cretinous moose hunter Sarah Palin, this image came to symbolise a new dawn of integrity for world politics. This icon of the unlikely leader of the free world truly symbolises rebirth and hope, unless of course you’re Osama Bin Laden or an innocent shopkeeper from Bradford chained up in Guantanamo Bay for the last decade
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Relative Values
10
LYNDA REISS (Daughter)
JEAN BUCK (mother)
Lynda Reiss works as a Property Master on films in the US, owns Lynda’s Prop Shop, a boutique Prop House in Manchester specialising in Americana, and when home on the Island, she is involved in the production design side of films being made by MannIn Shorts. One of the films she production designed, ‘Closet’, will be shown at this year’s Isle of Man Film Festival on the Saturday 13th September.
Although retired, Jean Buck MBE is busier than ever on many Island-bassed projects, including preparing for the Celtic Kingdom Festival of Silk to be held on Island in September. The Guild of Silk Painters which Jean set up on the Island will be hosting the event. A highlight of the festival will be the exhibition to be held at the Sayle Gallery from September 6th, showing works from top designers and artists from the UK and IoM.
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LYNDA REISS
JEAN BUCK
Favourite possessions? My art and props
Watch that my husband gave to me
Favourite place in the world? Denali National Park, Alaska
Galapagos Islands
Favourite colour? Green
Blue
Favourite animal? Big cats
Spaniel dog
Favourite smell? Fresh mown grass
Lavender
Favourite way to spend a weekend? With friends
Coastal walking, Isle of Man
Favourite food? Big fresh salads
Marmite on toast
Favourite ice cream flavour? Coffee chocolate chip
Pistachio
Favourite restaurant? ?
The Hungry Monk, Sussex
Favourite pastime? Reading
Silk painting
Favourite film? Anything by Capra or the Coens
Out of Africa
Favourite song? “Have I told you lately that I love you”, Van Morrison
“I Believe”, Nat King Cole
Favourite person? My BFF
My husband
Favourite celebrity? Morgan Freeman
Michael Caine
Favourite things to splurge on? Props and shoes
Silk paints and dyes
Favourite memory? Giving birth to my daughter
Giving birth to my children
Favourite thing about Christmas? The tree
The family together
Something you hate? Bad smells
because quality matters
Cruelty to children
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upfront
Events September 2013
08.09.13 End to End Mountain Bike Challenge POINT OF AYRE - CREGNEASH A mountain bike challenge from one end of a country to the other, taking in a variety of terrains and requiring different skills to complete the event. 75km in total. From the Point of Ayre to Cregneash and the Sound. www.manxe2e.org
12-14.09.13 Rally IOM 2013 Island - wide In its 50th Golden Anniversary year, Rally Isle of Man incorporating Duke Stages, joins forces again with Druidale Motor Club for 2013. Widely known simply as the ‘Manx’ due to it formerly being called the Manx International Rally. It is one of the most highly acclaimed rallies in the British Isles. The fast flowing tarmac stages have played host to some of the British Rally Championships’ most competitive showdowns between the cream of the worlds rallying stars. Previous winners include Roger Clark, Ari Vatanen, Tony Pond, Jimmy McRae, Russell Brooks, Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Armin Scwartz - to name but a few. Not forgetting local legend Mark Higgins, Patron of Rally Isle of Man.
15.09.13 Cycle for Life douglas promenade A charity cycle event for the whole family and corporate teams. For entry forms contact Kim Makin.
Celtic Kingdom Festival of Silk villa marina arcade/sefton hotel Workshops for Silk Painting - parasols and kites for children. Display and talks, silk craft demonstration, fashion show. See pages 42 -43 for full listings. Tel: 882401
www.silkguildiom.org
21-22.09.13 Adventure Race The amateur adventure race held on Sunday 22nd September involves teams of four, each completing two of the five activities; swim-kayak-bike-run-climb. New for 2013 is the Elite Adventure Race, held on the Saturday, where teams of two complete all five activities; kayak-bike-mystery challenge-run-assault course. Tel: 843034 www.adventurousexperiences.com
21.09.13 Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival VILLA MARINA GARDENS Celebrate the best in Manx food and drink at the Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival on Saturday 21. 10am until 5pm.
Free car parking on Saturday. Leave your car at Nobles Park car park and ride in and out on the sightseeing Bus. See page 60 for more details.
Tel: 683334 www.manxshoprite.com
£5,00 per Adult . Children under 16 free.
19.09.13
NOW-26.10.13
www.gov.im/daff/food_festival
Crime Night GAIETY THEATRE
ARTISAN MARKET DOUGLAS MARKET HALL
Spend an evening with two men who between them have served over fifty years in prison for serious violent crime and meet one man who’s seeking answers.
Every Friday and Saturday throughout September and October. A market showcasing up to 20 stalls of the best quality locally sourced foods, produce, designed and hand-crafted goods. These include jewellery, wood crafts, gift items and tasty treats.
Tel: 600555 www.villagaiety.com
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21-22.09.13
Open from 10am until 5.30pm.
isle of man premier magazine
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in NUMBERS NEWS
3
500 The limited edition collection to celebrate the arrival of the future Lord of Mann has sold out already, with a print run of only 500, it has become among the most sought-after in the world.
The rate of inflation in the Isle of Man has risen again. During the last month, the annual cost of living, measured by the Retail Prices Index, rose by 3.2%.
because quality matters
Rubbish bins in Douglas are getting a digital upgrade as the town’s council re-focuses its services. Microchips are being installed in the 12,000 litterbins as well as bin wagons. Council leader David Christian says this will help provide better management information and help to target manpower in certain areas. The scheme will cost Douglas Borough Council around £40,000. There will also be 25 new solarpowered ‘big belly bins’ installed, which have up to eight times more capacity than ordinary bins.
Douglas Borough Council has become the Island’s first local authority to have received approval to hold civil ceremonies on its premises. The chief registrar has granted a three-year Approved Place status to the council chamber of Douglas town hall to serve as a licensed venue for the solemnisation of civil marriages and formation of civil partnerships with effect from August 1st, 2013.
The Isle of Man Post Office says it has been blown away with the global media attention following the release of its stamps featuring Prince George.
3.2
12,000
97.1
The 2013 A level results in the Department of Education and Children’s five secondary schools show a record proportion of passes at higher grades. The overall pass rate, at 97.1%, was in line with recent years, but the A*-B pass rate was the highest on record.
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1,000
The efforts of more than 1,000 ‘threelegged’ racers back in May have now been recognised with official word from Guinness World Records. The Isle of Man is now the holder of the mass three-legged race record, with the eagerly awaited certificate confirming the achievement having finally arrived. The record is the islands once again.
Energy giant DONG has applied for planning consent to build an extension to its Walney wind farm, which will be located 31km south east of the Isle of Man. Copies of its application form to the UK planning inspectorate, together with maps and plans of the project, have gone on display at the Henry Bloom Library in Victoria Street, Douglas, until September 20.
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Our community
GIVE GIVING BACK, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
DOUGLAS BOROUGH COUNCIL: STEAM PACKET COMPANY RAISING STANDARDS, RAISING SUPPORTS MANX BASKING SHARK WATCH FLAGS Flags have been raised over the sunken gardens on Loch Promenade and in Noble’s Park after Douglas Borough Council was awarded Green Flag accreditation for both sites by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.
GREAT NORTH RUN FOR HOSPICE Hospice is delighted that 3 local runners will be taking part in this year’s Great North Run in Newcastle on Sunday 15th September for their charity. Pictured left to right are: Micky Swindale, Mary Doyle of Hospice and Ian Stuart. Missing from the photograph is Rebecca Nightingale. Mary wished all 3 runners the best of luck and thanked them for raising funds for the local charity. To support Rebecca who is running for Hospice visit: www.justgiving.com/ rnightingale or www.hospice.org.im for Ian following the links to donate. Micky is running for our children’s hospice, Rebecca House. To support her go to: www.justgiving com/ Micky-Swindale
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Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is proud to announce its sponsorship of a satellite tag to help Manx Basking Shark Watch in its conservation work. The Manx Basking Shark Watch, a Manx Wildlife Trust charity project, has been studying local basking sharks since 2005. Satellite tagging is a significant area of its research, with the findings gained from the programme having led to the discovery of a real possibility of a very local school of these sharks. Basking sharks are the second largest fish in the world and are exceedingly rare. It is estimated that only 6,000-8,000 breeding females remain, having been all but wiped out after being hunted for their liver oil and fins, and the fact that they are very slow breeders. Satellite tagging and tracking information is crucial in the preservation of this species, as local and international governments and conservation bodies can analyse findings and learn how best to conserve this remnant population for future generations.
ANNIVERSARY ABSEIL To celebrate the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s 60th anniversary in 2013, the local branch has decided to mark this with a unique Isle of Man event – a sponsored abseil down the iconic TT Tower on Saturday 21st September. And, with the 60th birthday theme very much in mind, they are looking for 60 – or more willing volunteers to raise at least £60 each to help continue their work supporting people with MS, and their families. Anyone interested in taking in the MS Society’s 60th Anniversary Abseil, should email mssocietyiom@manx.net or phone 07624 452207. Registration costs £10 to cover costs and the abseil, which is being overseen by experts from the Venture Centre, will take place on Saturday 21 September from midday to 4pm.
CALL FOR NEW COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS A call has gone out for new volunteers to swell the ranks of the Community First Responders (CFRs) in the north of the Island. CFRs are trained in life-saving by St John Ambulance, the Island’s leading first aid charity. They are despatched by the Isle of Man Ambulance and Paramedic Service to tend to those awaiting ambulances in rural areas. CFRs use CPR and defibrillation in the case of cardiac arrest, supply oxygen to those with breathing difficulties, offer reassurance to all patients and gather information from them that will be of assistance to paramedics when they arrive, saving time and, potentially, lives. The 49 current CFRs respond to 6,000 calls a year in their local area, from either their home or workplace, using their own vehicles. Volunteers, who must be 18 or over, undertake two weekends’ classroom-based training. No medical experience is necessary. The next course takes place at St Olave’s Church hall in Cumberland Road, Ramsey (opposite Ramsey Cottage Hospital) on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd and Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September. There’s an opportunity to have an informal chat with Gerry Jones, Island Co-ordinator for CFRs, on either Monday 2nd September, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, at St Olave’s Church hall, or Monday 9th September, from 7pm to 8pm, at St John Ambulance headquarters in Glencrutchery Road, Douglas. Anyone interested in training as a CFR should contact Gerry, via 07624 371296 or gj88@hotmail.com or Steve Crowe, Ambulance Clinical Manager with the Isle of Man Ambulance and Paramedic Service, via steve.crowe@gov.im, or attend one of the information sessions.
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GREAT NORTH RUN FOR HOSPICE MANX CANCER HELP RECIEVES DONATION FROM KNOX HOUSE TRUST The corporate service provider has handed over £10,000 to the Isle of Man charity, who are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. Established in 1983, Manx Cancer Help provides essential emotional support and expert counselling for cancer patients, their families, carers and friends. It offers a series of free, confidential sessions, face-toface and over the phone, to anyone affected by a cancer diagnosis. For more information tel: 01624 679544 or email: ally@manxcancerhelp.org
The President of Tynwald Clare Christian has welcomed the Rt Hon Lord Bates to Tynwald. The Conservative peer and former MP for Langbaurgh was in the Island en route to Ireland, as part of a 430-mile walk he is undertaking from Downing Street to Enniskillen in Northern Ireland to raise £50,000 to help Save the Children’s work in supporting children fleeing the fighting in Syria. Lord Bates set off from Downing Street on Saturday July 27th, the first anniversary of the London 2012 Olympic Games, and hopes to arrive at Loch Erne, Enniskillen, the location of the June 2013 G8 Summit that pledged funds to assist with humanitarian relief in Syria, on September 9th, the anniversary of the closing day of the Paralympic Games. To follow Lord Bates’s progress, visit www. walkforsyriaschildren.org, or on Twitter, @ bateslord. To make a donation, visit www. justgiving.com/LordBates.
18th birthday party for the Steventon family raising funds for children’s hospice The Mason family held a party to celebrate what would have been Connor Steventon’s 18th birthday. Connor sadly died in 2008 aged 13 in the children’s hospice, Rebecca House.
MANX CANCER HELP LAUNCHES MAKE A WILL MONTH WITH LAW FIRM GELLING JOHNSON FARRANT
His mum Tracy organised a party and held a fabulous raffle and raised the amazing amount of £2,124.13 for Rebecca House. The team at Rebecca House would like to thank Tracy and her family for all their hard work for the children’s hospice.
It is essential to ensure those you care about are well provided for by leaving a properly prepared Will, but some people simply never get around to it, put off by thinking it will be too complicated or too expensive. Throughout September help is at hand thanks to an initiative launched by charity Manx Cancer Help and Island law firm Gelling Johnson Farrant. You can arrange to visit the firm’s offices at 24 Athol Street, Douglas, during the month and have a
Pictured left to right is Corey (aged 15), David 22, Kyle 13, Jasmine 7, Zach 4, Tracy (mum) and Kaci 10. because quality matters
Four peaks team scale the heights for children’s charity A total of £4,819.65 was raised for The Children’s Centre by a team that walked to the top of the four highest points in Britain and the Isle of Man - and cycled hundreds of miles in between. The funds raised will go to help fund The Children’s Centre’s charitable projects for families and children across the Island. The team set off from the Sea Terminal on May 2 and cycled to the tram stop on the mountain and then walked to the top of Snaefell. This was followed by a bike ride back to the Sea Terminal before jumping on board the ferry. The same day they drove to North Wales and then walked to the top of Mount Snowdon reaching the summit at 10.20pm. Day two saw them cycle 175 miles to Langdale in the Lake District before taking a well-earned night’s rest. The next morning the team tackled Scafell Pike - the highest point in England - before moving immediately on to cycle 100 miles to get to Abington in Southern Scotland. On day three it was back in the saddle for a 145 mile ride to Fort William leaving the final challenge for the following day – walking to the top of Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak. In the photo are: Sarah Reade, Marketing Manager at Isle of Man Post Office, and John Knight, Chief Executive of The Children’s Centre. Standing left to right are four peaks challenge team members Paul Warburton, Bill Collister, Dave Isherwood, Rob Parker, Matthew McSevney, John Swindlehurst, Phil Drowley, and Juan Owens. straightforward Will written in exchange for a minimum donation to Manx Cancer Help of £75. You can contact Gelling Johnson Farrant by calling 675367 or emailing gjf@manxlaw.com
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THE
art of MEN:
TO PREPARE FOR CHILDREN
1. Go to a local chemist, tip the contents of your wallet onto the counter and tell the pharmacist to help himself 2. Go to the supermarket, arrange to have your salary paid 3. Go home. Pick up the newspaper and read it for the last time.
TEST 3:
NIGHTS
WOMEN:
TO PREPARE FOR PREGNANCY
1. Put on a dressing gown and stick a beanbag down the front. 2. Leave it there. 3. After 9 months remove 5% of the beans.
To discover how the nights will feel: 1. Walk around the living room from 5pm to 10pm carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 4 - 6kg, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. At 10pm, put the bag down, set the alarm for midnight and go to sleep. 3. Get up at 11pm and walk the bag around the living room until 1am. 4. Set the alarm for 3am. 5. As you can’t get back to sleep, get up at 2am and make a cup of tea. 6. Go to bed at 2.45am. 7. Get
TEST 5:
CARS
1. Forget the BMW. Buy a practical 5-door wagon. 2. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there. 3. Get a coin. Insert it into the CD player. 4. Take a box of chocolate biscuits; mash them into the back seat. 5. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.
8. Sing songs in the dark until 4am. 9. Put the alarm on for 5am. Get up when it goes 10. Make breakfast. Keep this up for 5 years. LOOK CHEERFUL.
TEST 6:
GOING FOR A WALK
TEST 2:
KNOWLEDGE
Find a couple who are already parents and berate them about their methods of discipline, lack of patience, appallingly low tolerance levels and how they have allowed their children to run wild. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child’s sleeping habits, toilet training, table manners and overall behaviour. Enjoy it. It will be the last time in your life that you will have all the answers.
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TEST 4:
DRESSING SMALL CHILDREN
1. Buy a live octopus and a string bag. 2. Attempt to put the octopus into the string bag so that no arms hangout. Time Allowed: 5 minutes.
a. Wait. b. Go out the front door. c. Come back in again. d. Go out. e. Come back in again. f. Go out again. g. Walk down the front path. h. Walk back up it. i. Walk down it again. j. Walk very slowly down the road for five minutes. k. Stop, inspect minutely and ask at least 6 questions about every piece of used chewing gum, dirty tissue and dead insect along the way. l. Retrace your steps. m. Scream that you have had as much as you can stand until the neighbours come out and stare at you. n. Give up and go back into the house. You are now just about ready to try taking a small child for a walk.
isle of man premier magazine
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TEST 10:
TEST 7:
CONVERSATIONS WITH CHILDREN
Repeat everything you say at least 5 times.
FEEDING A 1 YEAR-OLD
1. Hollow out a melon 2. Make a small hole in the side 3. Suspend the melon from the ceiling and swing it side to side 4. Now get a bowl of soggy cornflakes and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon while pretending to be an aeroplane. 5. Continue until half the cornflakes are gone. 6. Tip the rest into your lap, making sure that a lot of it falls on the floor.
TEST 12:
LONG TRIPS WITH TODDLERS
1. Make a recording of someone shouting ‘Mummy’ repeatedly. Important Notes: No more than a 4 second delay between each Mummy. Include occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet. 2. Play this tape in your car, everywhere you go for the next 4 years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.
TEST 8:
FOOD SHOPPING
1. Go to the local supermarket. Take with you the nearest thing you can find to a pre-school child - a fully grown goat is excellent. If you intend to have more than one child, take more than one goat. 2. Buy your weekly groceries without letting the goat(s) out of your sight. 3. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.
MESS
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains 2. Hide a fish behind the stereo and leave it there all summer. 3. Stick your fingers in the flowerbeds and then rub them on clean walls. Cover the stains with crayon. How does that look? 4. Empty every drawer/ cupboard/storage box in your house onto the floor and proceed with step 5. 5. Drag random items from one room to another room and leave them there.
TEST 13:
CONVERSATIONS
1. Start talking to an adult of your choice. 2. Have someone else continually tug on your shirt hem or shirt sleeve while playing the Mummy tape listed above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.
TEST 14:
GETTING READY FOR WORK
TEST 9:
TV
1. Learn the names of every character from Peppa Pig, Barney, Teletubbies and Disney. 2. Watch nothing else on television for at least 5 years.
because quality matters
1. Pick a day on which you have an important meeting. 2. Put on your finest work attire. 3. Take a cup of cream and put 1 cup of lemon juice in it 4. Stir 5. Dump half of it on your nice silk shirt 6. Saturate a towel with the other half of the mixture 7. Attempt to clean your shirt with the same saturated towel 8. Do not change (you have no time). 9. Go directly to work
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upfront
MISC
TOUJOURS TINGO
MISCELLANEOUS THE PAGE WHERE WE SHARE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE’VE FOUND THIS MONTH THAT JUST DON’T HAVE A HOME ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE MAGAZINE
LOST AND FOUND
A Spanish town has found a novel way to keep its streets clean from dog mess. Spotting a dog owner who failed to pick up their dog’s mess, one of the campaign’s 20 volunteers would strike up a casual conversation to discover the dog’s name. “With the name of the dog and the breed it was possible to identify the owner from the registered pet database held in the town hall,” explained a council spokesman. The volunteers then scooped up the poop, packaged it in a box branded with town hall insignia - marked ‘Lost Property’ and delivered it by courier to the pet owner. During the course of a week, there was exactly 147 ‘Lost Property’ boxes sent out and thanks to those rather unpleasant deliveries, a 70% drop in abandoned dog mess!
HOW SMART IS YOUR RIGHT FOOT?
Mas limpio que sobaco de rana
(Venezualan Spanish) Broke - literally cleaner than a frog’s armpit
N’avoir plus un radis
(French) To be stone broke - literally to be without a single radish
Auf den Hund kommen
(German) To be broke - literally to get to the dog; in medieval times, a dog was painted on the bottom of money chests - if you could see the dog, you were broke!
You have to try this please, it takes 2 seconds. I could not believe this!!!
1. Without anyone watching you (they will think you are GOOFY....) and while sitting at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.
It is from an orthopedic surgeon................This will boggle your mind and it will keep you trying over and over again to see if you can outsmart your foot, but, you can't. It's pre-programmed in your brain!
2. Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand.
DESPERATION
Police in Birmingham have issued a warning to a man who rang 999 to complain about an “ugly” prostitute. The man wanted action taken against the girl for breaching the Sale of Goods Act for “making herself out to be better looking than she was”. Informing the man that public solicitation of sex was illegal, officers have now sent him a warning letter. Sgt Jerome Moran, of Solihull Police, who investigated the matter, revealed details of the bizarre case saying“It was unbelievable; he genuinely believed he had done nothing wrong and that the woman should have been investigated by police for misrepresentation.“I told him that she’d not committed any offences and that it was his actions, in soliciting for sex, that were in fact illegal. “Unhappy with the response, he then insisted on coming down to the police station to debate the matter. “Although he refused to give me his details following our conversation, I was able to identify him and have since sent him a letter warning him about his actions.”
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE
A Mexican grandmother has proved it’s never too late to improve yourself; graduating from primary school at the ripe old age of 100. Manuela Hernandez, who was born in the state of Oaxaca in June 1913, left primary school after just a year to help her poor family with the household chores. However, at the recommendation of her grandchildren, she resumed her studies last October and has now been handed her diploma at a celebration held in the southern Mexican state. “I liked school very much, but I could not continue studying,” she told Uno TV. But no, that’s not the end of her education - Ms Hernandez says she will continue her studies in secondary school!
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We’ve whipped out our delightfully funny book again, this time so you have another way of saying ‘I’m broke’
TIGHT LIPPED
Imagine it’s the middle of the night, pitch black, and you grab what you assume to be a lip cream. Well, that’s exactly what happened to a 64 year-old for Dunedin, New Zealand, however instead of cream, she reached for a tube of super glue! Rather tight-lipped and slightly worried, the woman called the emergency service workers who feared she had been gagged and was worried for her safety. Luckily, after arriving at the property, the true situation was discovered and quickly diffused with the woman rushed to A&E and discharged with a great story to tell.
DID YOU KNOW? Anatidaephobia is the fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you.
isle of man premier magazine
upfront
me& mypet
names Pet:
Human:
Chester other names for short are: Chez, Chezzo, Chezbo Jo
species CHESTER: Standard size Yorkshire Terrier JO: English/Manx Tell us about yourself… Jo: I have two children, Joseph, 20 and Samantha, 18. I came to the Isle of Man in December 1988, just six months after leaving school, to work as a waitress and have been here ever since! I live life to the full and always have a positive outlook on life. Age: Jo: 41 Chester: 19 months
because quality matters
Where do you live on the Island?
If human/animal what would you be:
Jo: Currently living in Peel, although looking to move house.
Jo: Cat.
Where are you originally from? Jo: Warrington, Cheshire. Where do you work? Jo: I work for Sure International as an account director and have been working in telecommunications for seven years and account management 10 years. Do you have any more pets? Jo: I have a Manx cat called April, Apes for short, age six.
Chester: Kangaroo; he is always bouncing around. Likes: Jo: Talking, listening, meeting new people, love being a Mum, and this includes being a Mum to Chester. I enjoy cooking, cycling, walking and skiing. Chester: Long walks, morning cuddles, playing and fetching his ball, chewing rawhide, (the secret to no chewed furniture at home). Dislikes:
Would you have any more pets?
Jo: Snakes.
Jo: Yes, I’d like a little girlfriend for Chester; another Yorkie so they can have puppies and then live together to keep each other company.
Interesting Fact:
The best and worst thing about having a pet is…?
Chester: I’ve had Chester since he was nine weeks old. By 15 weeks old, I had him fully house-trained and using the cat flat for the toilet outside. Treats and praise are the key to quick and efficient house-training.
Jo: Worst; having to pick up their ‘doggie poops’. Best: When you come home from work and they greet you with that unconditional love; they truly are the bestest friend you will ever have!
Chester: A football or raised voices. Jo: I love plane spotting - despite being a nervous flyer - and my wish is to fly on a 747.
Oh... and the most cutest thing ever about Chester is that when he is relaxed his tongue pops out! He’s so adorable.
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upfront
current affairs Welcome, dear reader, to Current Affairs, the latest Gallery feature which aims to bring you closer to business. Every month, we’ll give you the chance to pose any number of questions to a representative cross section of the Island’s business sector and on the issues that affect you the most. Ask anything from how to get the most from your tax status or which savings options would suit you best, where to start when setting up a business or how to get involved in contributing to the Island’s economy. This month, we’re pleased to introduce a new set of questions posed entirely by your fellow reader. Shall we begin?
1.
Kerry Smith,
Senior Manager, Projects Analyst, Boston Limited
2.
Steven Day,
General Insurance Consultant, Edgewater Associates Limited
Your chance to pose any number of questions to a representative cross section of the Island’s business sector and on the issues that affect you the most.
3.
Mark Wilson,
Managing Director, Sleepwell Hotels
4.
BOSTON
Q.
1.
Why do I keep hearing about FATCA and what does it mean?
A.
FATCA is like a thunder storm - a black turbulent cloud hovering over the financial services sector. At any given moment the expanding waves of compressed air could cause an acoustic effect to be heard for miles around, with the risk of lightning striking those unfortunate few who have not prepared. At the recent G8 Summit, David Cameron and other world leaders once again put tax at the top of the political agenda. FATCA, which will come into force imminently, has set the bar for global tax initiatives. Cameron’s closing remarks included a pledge to ‘rewrite the rules on tax and transparency’. Ironically, the Isle of Man, like other Crown Dependencies, is far from the tax haven it is depicted as and is actually better placed than most onshore centres. We have already taken substantial steps to sign up to 28 tax information exchange agreements - more than most onshore jurisdictions. So what does FATCA mean for the Isle of Man as an offshore financial centre? There are key issues to consider, including whether or not the Isle of Man will follow Jersey in publishing the beneficial owner details of all corporate and trust structures. There will be changes to almost all business practises. Focus is needed on client onboarding procedures, new business acceptance processes, evidencing a rationale for the valid use of offshore structures, the implementation of sophisticated technology to cope with the complex reporting systems, and qualified and experienced tax and compliance professionals to ensure the ever changing fog of regulations is de-mystified to enable businesses to understand what is required of them if they are to weather the storm.
Ali Ansari,
Risk & Compliance Advisor, KPMG
For next month’s Current Affairs, we invite you to ask our experts on the topics that matter most. Simply send your questions to editorial@gallery.co.im 20
isle of man premier magazine
upfront
The CurrenT Affairs Panel edgewater associates limited
What do the Government’s recent announcements on reciprocal treatment with the UK and hospitals waiting lists mean for me and my business?
Q.
Did you experience more visitors this year than last year?
3. Q.
A.
A.
A.
Q.
2.
The Claremont Hotel
You may have seen the recent reminder press release by the Government with regard to Travel Insurance. This explains that, whilst there is a reciprocal agreement between the Isle of Man and the UK with regards to treatment, there is no such agreement concerning repatriation costs back to the UK from the Isle of Man, and vice versa. The cost of repatriation could be as much as £20,000 by air ambulance. This of course applies to business travellers as well as holiday makers.
Looking back at TT 2013, I think I can be confident in saying that our world famous fortnight of racing was one of the liveliest, brightest and most widely reported the Island has enjoyed for quite a few years. Whether it was indeed as a result of the weather, the racing, the atmosphere, or a combination of all these factors I can’t be sure; but one thing I am certain of is that TT 2013 raised the bar in terms of exporting our Island’s prominence in international tourism, domestic infrastructure and cultural heritage.
With this in mind, it is vitally important that you consider the risk to your business and employees if something were to happen on a business trip.
The immediate benefits of such efforts are essential to the Island’s tourism and general economy. Speaking from the perspective of the hospitality sector in particular, I know that many businesses will take up to 40% of their annual revenue over those two vital weeks – a figure that is no doubt mirrored in many other local sectors. Such vast revenue percentages act as a spring board for other activities and also allow many local businesses to maintain their operations throughout the rest of the year, particularly during the ‘off’ season. Without the TT, many businesses, and some larger than you might expect, could be forced to downsize their offering to the detriment of their customer services, their ability to reinvest and, ultimately, to the Island’s future economic prosperity.
There have also been several articles in the press with regard to NHS hospital waiting lists, with some patients having to wait one or even two years for an appointment with a specialist! One solution to this would be to take out a Private Medical Insurance plan either on an individual or Company basis, which would allow you access to a whole range of specialists, both on and off the Island, for private treatment or cheaper alternatives such as medical cash plans This market can be complicated and it is essential to have an expert with specialist knowledge to dissect the cover offered to you and explain it in plain English to ensure you receive the treatment you need when required.
because quality matters
Building up this momentum has not come easy and all involved, from the residents and fans to organisers and race-crews, should be congratulated for their momentous efforts in helping the Island reach the global stage. What now remains is to protect and nurture this status overseas, and to focus global PR efforts to extol the virtues of the Isle of Man not only for the TT, but as a place to visit, to live, and to conduct international business.
KPMG
4.
With an increase in cyber-crime, are background checks becoming more complex?
Yes they are. A recent report suggested the UK’s small firms are incurring losses of around £800 million a year due to cybercrime, with deliberate comprise of confidential data, including privileged data, payroll or customer data, and inflated expenses claims all contributing significantly to cybercrime. With organisations increasingly using temporary or contractual staff and outsourcing business operations, the risk continues to grow. Hence, it is important that adequate background checks are carried out on employees and clients with whom firms intend to conduct business. This is to ensure any available adverse information is known beforehand, allowing the business to make an informed decision. The above has resulted in background checks having to become more complex in nature. Checks now can range from verification of employment history including references, credit reference agency checks and criminal records, to motoring offences and the right to work in a given position (if of a sensitive nature). Some of the above do require a person’s consent and it is best practice to both complete them at the outset and make an employment contract subject to the results. We have seen an increase in organisations using external providers like KPMG to provide market intelligence, particularly as it requires usage of specialist databases and resources as well as analysis of the resultant output to produce meaningful results.
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upfront
Interview with Ivor Moore
We first meet up with Ivor Moore from Oak Guitars back in October 2011. From his small workshop in the south of the Island, Ivor designs and builds guitars to order, recycling available parts and sustainable timbers where possible, including American oak, mahogany and maple. With each instrument, comes an explanation of its birth from design to completion. Importantly, each piece carries its own price.
Gallery: Hi Ivor! So what’s been happening since we last spoke with you? Ivor: Quite a lot really. We did the North West Guitar show at Haydock Park in May. An awesome event at which we received some very nice comments from the pro’s. Also caught up with a few of the old mates from various bands I played with in the sixties and seventies. Gallery: Remind us how and when you got started in music and then design? Ivor: “Back in the 50s, my father played saxophone and my mother played violin, I suppose you could say they provided an early influence. My grandfather was a carpenter and he influenced me a lot in furniture design. I went on to study it in Loughborough.” Gallery: Do you still play? Ivor: “Only at home and occasionally in the studio. I haven’t played live for over three years now, I prefer to design, make and repair these days.”
Ivor doesn’t just construct guitars that rival some of the finest industry products, he also believes that anyone should have the opportunity to play and seeks to build instruments that are both high quality and affordable.
22
Gallery: Tell us more about the guitars in the photo? Ivor: “Okay, starting on the left of the picture is the OAK lap steel; this is based on an art deco design, but the customer can design their own and I’ll build it. Next to it is the OAK Performer, it’s mahogany with a chambered body and two high output humbuckers. This model has two volume controls for infinite blend of the pickups and one tone control. It’s a bit of a beast. Next up, on the left, is the OAK Florentine, it is constructed from beech and like all this series and has a chambered body. This one has P90 pups and three-way switching for that “surf” vibe. Then we have the T-LUX with its mahogany body and quilted sycamore cap, which looks and feels like
leather. It’s a lovely piece of wood. The wiring is 50s style for authenticity. Below that, lying flat, are two of the OAK Acorn travel guitars and you can just about see how they compare in size to the others.” Gallery: You mentioned a “chambered body”, what’s that? Ivor: “The guitar body has pockets that help to give the instrument an acoustic quality and only when this has been achieved do I add the electrics. If it sounds good without amplification, it will sound great plugged in.” Gallery: Travel guitars? Ivor: “Yes. Full scale electric guitars with a shorter, lighter body. They are the two lying down in the picture. They are friendly for getting on and off the Island and as an affordable stage backup. It’s amazing how many musos pass through the airport. I also help guitarists design their own creations in order to achieve something special at an affordable price.” Gallery: We see that you displayed the Legs of Man on the stand. Ivor: “Proud to do it. We love the Island and hopefully have secured our future here.” Gallery: Any more shows coming up? Ivor: Yes, I have some new models to prepare for the next show at Aintree in November. A couple of T-LUX telecaster types, which are commissions, some new designs based on the feedback from the show and some more travel guitars; we were chuffed with the amount of interest in these and sold both prototypes on the day. Gallery: Nice to chat up with you Ivor, good luck at the Aintree show. oakguitars@manx.net Tel: 01624 306669
isle of man premier magazine
EVENTS
intro
KWC HALF PG -GALLERY_Layout 1 23/08/2013 15:05 Page 1
DID YOU KNOW?
46% of our GCSE students achieved grades A*/A this year.
That’s because of our one-to-one support, small class sizes and inspiring teaching.
We’re open to everyone.
College life is not just for the academically gifted. Students of all abilities flourish with our personal approach to teaching consistently achieving the Island’s best grades. We also offer bursaries and scholarships.
Find out more at our Open Days – the facts might surprise you. King William’s College – Saturday 5th October 10am to 1pm The Buchan School – Saturday 12th October 10am to 1pm call us on 820110 www.kwc.im
events
MANX MIRACLES GOLF CLASSIC CHARITY DAY Castletown Golf Links - Derbyhaven
paparazzi@gallery.co.im
‘On the 9th August Manx Miracles held their first annual charity golf day at Castletown Golf Links. The event was well supported and raised an amazing £4000 in total. £2,000 was raised prior to the day starting. The additional sponsorship helped provide 3 nearest the pins on the par 3’ and two additional spot prizes, longest drive on the 2nd and nearest
Photographer | Peter Kwiecinski
the pin in 2 on the 6th hole. In 2nd place with an excellent 79 points was JTB Plastering consisting of Guy Murray, John Newson, Mark Teare and Simon Murray. As they were Castletown members, the local knowledge obviously paid off. However, they couldn’t stop Royal Skandia who had an impressive 84 points who also collected 3 on course spot prizes. Royal
Skandia were a model of consistency and had 42 points out and back, the team led by Steven Boyd, Juan Costain, Peter Smith and Paul Gelling. Manx Miracles would like to thank all the teams who entered and especially the companies that were prepared to sponsor without sending a team in. The event will be back next year bigger and better.’
photographer - peter kwiecinski - www.dollsfactory.net
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Isle of Man premier magazine
FAWLTY TOWERS - THE DINNER SHOW Villa Marina - Douglas
paparazzi@gallery.co.im
events
Photographer | Peter Kwiecinski
photographer - peter kwiecinski - www.dollsfactory.net because quality matters
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events
THE MAYOR OF DOUGLAS - GREAT GATSBY FUNDRAISING NIGHT The Tickethall - Douglas
paparazzi@gallery.co.im
The Mayor of Douglas and guests enjoyed a Great Gatsby Gourmet Roaring 20s fundraising Night at the Ticket Hall to help raise funds for the Mayoral Appeal. Guests were treated to a Great Gatsby Cocktail and canapés on arrival whilst enjoying a rare site of a 1934 Riley Kestrel which was very kindly loaned by George Gelling.
Photographer | Peter Kwiecinski
Henrich and the Bootleggers provided fantastic Jazz/Blues mood music all night. Throughout the evening the Prohibition Police sounded a siren and any guests with a drink in their hand were fined on the spot with all monies going to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal.
Ticket Hall, Jerry Carter and the band and to David Talbot who conducted the charity Auction with prizes ranging from dinner in the steam train dining car and a fantastic pearl necklace and earring set from Charles Alexander, the evening raised in the region of £1,200.00
The food was amazing and thanks were given to Steve Quirk and his team at the
photographer - peter kwiecinski - www.dollsfactory.net
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Isle of Man premier magazine
official clogau stockists
Free piece of Clogau Gold Jewellery with every purchase in October over £250 Charles Alexander Ltd - 24 Strand Street - Douglas - Isle of Man Tel: 01624 621527 - enquiries@charlesalexanderltd.com
events
Hayley and Leon Dawson Wedding Day - 03.07.13
Ceremony - St Georges Church, Douglas | Reception - Mount Murray Golf Club
paparazzi@gallery.co.im
Photographer | Peter Kwiecinski
photographer - peter kwiecinski - www.dollsfactory.net
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Isle of Man PREMIER magazine
culture
culture
30
my name is
isle of man premier magazine
culture
CULTURE VULTURE What’s on... 6-8.09.13 MANANAN FESTIVAL OPERA // Erin Arts Centre - Port Erin// Tosca by Glacomo Puccine. Tel: 832662 www.erinartscentre.com
11.09.13
17.09.13
Les Miserables Film series
TURANDOT
// ERIN ART CENTRE//
// ballakermeen studio theatre//
Les Miserables film series at The Erin Arts Centre. 2.30pm and 7.30pm Tel: 832662 www.erinartscentre.com
06.09.13
13.09-06.10.13
The Manx Passion
Poetry Trail
// Empress hotel - Douglas//
// DOUGLAS TOWN CENTRE//
Wanted - actors, singers, musicians, performers, crowd members, costume makers, props makers, tea makers, builders and technicians. ‘The Manx Passion’ will be performed in April 2014 at various venues around the Island. Go along to the Information evening on 6th September at 7.30pm.
07.09.13 Douglas Festival of Cycling //North Quay - Douglas// This event will be featuring the 3sixty mountain bike team, weird & wonderful bike display, the road safety team, the icicle tricycle, watts up training, Manx record attempts and king of the sprint challenge. Free entry. 2pm until 6pm on North Quay.
07.09.13 120th Anniversary of the Manx Electric Railway // Laxey/Ramsey// IOM Railways present the 120th Anniversary of the MER Line. Events at Derby Castle, Laxey and Ramsey Stations. Tickets will not be available for purchase on the day. Buy in advance from the Welcome Centre. Tickets £5. Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) £10. Take your ticket or confirmation with you on the day and this will be exchanged for an Edmondson style rover ticket. Tel: 662525 www.iombusandrail.info because quality matters
The Royal Opera House live season, screened at the Studio Theatre, gets off to a dramatic start with the return of Puccini’s musically sublime final opera Turandot. Adults £15.30, concessions £12.76 Tel: 600555 www.villagaiety.com
Open competition for 20 poems to be placed at sites around Douglas as a Poetry Trail, in conjunction with Manx Litfest 2013. See website for entry details. £3.50 entry fee for competition.
21-22.09.13
The Trail is free.
Workshops for Silk Painting - parasols and kites for children. Display and talks, silk craft demonstration, fashion show.
www.iom-poetry.org
14.09.13 Last of the Summer Fairs // Ballacreggan - Stone field// Last chance for a family fun day from 1pm until 5pm. Adults £1, children 50p, under 5 free. Port St Mary
14.09.13-04.01.14 WILDLIFE - AN ARTIST’S VIEW // Manx museum - douglas// Much admired in the Isle of Man for his portrayals of local wildlife, professional artist Dr Jeremy Paul has also exhibited in the UK and North America, winning major awards including categories in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year. Open Monday to Saturday from 10am until 5pm, admission free. Tel: 648000 www.manxnationalheritage.im
14.09.13
CELTIC FESTIVAL OF SILK // villa marina arcade/sefton hotel//
See pages 42 -43 for full listings. Tel: 882401
www.silkguildiom.org
26.09.13 OTHELLO // The Studio theatre // The National Theatre presents a major new production of Shakespeare’s celebrated play about the destructive power of jealousy, and it is being screened live from the Studio Theatre. Tickets £15.20, concessions £12.76
Tel: 600555 www.villagaiety.com
26-29.09.13 MANX LITFEST // island-wide/ See website and page 37. www.manxlitfest.com
VIVA SANTANA // gaiety theatre// Recreating the moods, sounds and atmosphere of Santana’s music. Tel: 600555 www.villagaiety.com
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culture
photo upload
The Monthly Upload Want to win £50? All you have to do is email your entry with the subject ‘upload’ to: upload@gallery.co.im. Try to follow a time of the year theme, make the files nice and big though, about
2MB is a good size to aim for. We do try to print every photo following the guide but we can’t get them ALL on the page full size unfortunately - they just wouldn’t fit!
John Markillie
£50 r
winne
Andrew Jowett
Daniel Chan
Cara Wilkinson
Stuart Thornhill
Eve Aycock
Mathew Oates
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Daniel Chan Isle of Man premier magazine
Sean Gray
Brian Kneale
Graham Smith Andrew Brearley
Natalie Carter
Brendan Beeken
John Markillie
Graham Smith
John Markillie
Janette Phair
Nick Shimmin
Nick Shimmin because quality matters
Gerry
Pauline Guest
Michael Wallraf
Roy Purcell
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culture
THREE
Words | Jennifer Parkes
Local
Artists
For a small Island, the Isle of Man is home to an astounding number of hugely talented artists, and we’re not just talking Archibald Knox. The variety of modern artists working on the Island today, across an unimaginable spectrum of disciplines, is almost impossible to encapsulate in words. Still, Jennifer Parkes gave it a shot, and spoke with local artists James Duggan, Shelby SandyfordSykes and Bruno Cavellec to see just what it is that inspires their individual styles – each so wonderfully, extraordinarily different.
JAMES DUGGAN James’ distinctively, surreal style is one that is truly his own, but he credits a range of artists as influences, including Jenny Saville, Francis Bacon and Frida Kahlo, all of whom frequently used themselves as protagonists of their own artwork. He also admires local artists such as Eileen Schaer, Megan Hindley and Simon Buttimore; ‘The one thing they all have in common, apart from an abundance of talent, is that they all have a completely unique style. They make art for art’s sake.’ James recently created an exciting exhibition ‘Colouring In’, held at the Sayle Gallery, a collection of skilful and surreal paintings seeming to draw on popular culture and cartoon icons. These works were inspired by everyday life: ‘Each painting in the “Colouring in” exhibition has its own unique back story, but the main inspiration was to create a uniquely personal visual style in order to express myself.’ One of the most recognisable pieces is Jimbob Squarepants – ‘You’ve outed me, I am a massive Spongebob fan, and a massive cartoon fan in general! This painting is light hearted and humorous, and helped balance out the mood of “Colouring In”, as some of the other paintings are quite dark.’ Following the success of this exhibition, James is now working on a number of new projects, including a series of twelve large scale paintings of nudes. He aims for the series to include paintings of six men and six women of all ages, exploring how the human form changes with time. James is currently searching for life models – if you are interested in helping with this project, James can be contacted via his website jimmyduggan.com, where online galleries of his works can also be viewed.
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isle of man premier magazine
culture
Shelby SandyfordSykes
Following her completion of the Fine Art degree course at the Isle of Man College last year, Shelby has continued to develop her style, which focuses predominantly on printmaking and metal manipulation to create stunning 3D and 2D artwork: ‘Even the smoothest piece of stainless steel can be manipulated in new and exciting ways. All metals react differently to different processes. By burning or hammering them they each take on their own forms, and you inject life into them, turning them into truly moving 3D pieces of art.’ To create these pieces, which have included everything
from small prints to reworked car bonnets, Shelby finds serendipitous inspiration in shapes, movement, light and reflections; small but beautiful moments that are often captured by her camera that accompanies her everywhere. She is also keen to pursue an innovative concept that she began to explore whilst at College; applying the principles of string theory, from the world of physics, to art. Shelby is involved in an upcoming exhibition ‘Art Unlimited = Original and Limited’ at the Isle Gallery, Tynwald Mills, with fellow Island artists Kate Jerry and
Colette Gambell. She cites her tutor Ian Coulson, now retired, as one of her biggest inspirations. ‘My time at the College had a huge effect on the path my art has taken since. Ian and Bill guided me and my work in ways that I had never thought possible, taking me out of the box and encouraging me not to be afraid of experimenting or making a mess! Ian once said to me “Once you have studied art, you will never look at the world the same way again” – I realise now, as I’m continuing to discover my own art, just how true those words really are.’
Bruno Cavellec
Using his favoured mediums of oil painting and printmaking, Bruno creates striking works of art: ‘It is a physical and spiritual representation of my identity, between tumult and harmony, lost and found. Those emotions and an on-going exploration of the human condition represent the essence of my work: a romantic echo to my life experiences.’ While his landscapes are typically ‘an amalgam of things seen, remembered and imagined’ Niarbyl provides him with a great deal of inspiration, reflecting his almost Celtic affiliation with the land, sea and sky. Displaying skills not dissimilar to Joseph Turner (namesake of the Turner Prize), Bruno has a knack for creating realistic depictions of light in paintings often
because quality matters
consisting of a muted, atmospheric colour palette. His past work has been influenced by the likes of Caspar David Freidrich, Edvard Munch and Käthe Kollwitz. More recently, he has found inspiration in the works of filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky, and musicians Ketil Bjørnstad, David Darling and Terje Rypdal. While undeniably aesthetically beautiful, his choices of colour and tone convey more than just an eye for the visually pleasing. Bruno explains, ‘I don’t shy away from my feelings and use my art to deal with them and explore their complexity. As with many Romantic artists, melancholy is an aesthetic emotion which I rely on to produce honest, atmospheric pieces of work. What you see on the canvas is what
I am, and this is exactly how I’d like the viewer to approach my work.’ Bruno has also worked with musicians to create album artwork; ‘I believe that the artwork must reflect, in some way, not only the content of the album but also the personality of its creator, which involves a good amount of collaboration, exchange and respect for each other’s craft.’ 2014 promises to bring even more success his way, as Bruno works towards a solo exhibition in October at the Sayle Gallery, alongside a number of other projects: ‘Some very exciting projects with Manx musicians, as well as some work for the First World War centenary, are being discussed at the moment, so next year looks like it could be my busiest so far!’
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Words | Suzy Holland
The Joy of BOOKS With September’s Manx Lit Fest becoming an annual event in the Island’s cultural calendar; I am clearly not alone in my joy of books.
P
utting off the evil moment when book cases had to be cleared to be able to do some decorating, it struck me that all those books are actually a tangible history of my life and the hours spent with my nose firmly fixed in another world. The first adult book I ever read was ‘The Great Gatsby’ – aged 12ish - borrowed from my parent’s bookshelf where it was almost hidden between the Agatha Christie’s and Reader’s Digest condensed versions of pretty much everything. Even then, I realised that it was something special; a description of a lifestyle I couldn’t even imagine with something much darker under the surface. I now have three copies of it; read as part of my degree, more recently as a book group choice and one which belongs to my husband (same degree – couldn’t bear to part with either one with its scribbled notes in the margins). Ah, those duplicates. Years after leaving university, married, several house moves, child on the way; never mind ‘til death us do part’, the real commitment was the book cull. Two lots of Hemingway, two Portraits of a Lady, Eugene O’Neill plays – did we really need two copies of ‘The Scarlett Letter’? It was a wrench. We argued at length about whose margin notes were better and therefore whose copies were more precious, but we bit the bullet. Both copies of Gatsby (plus the new one with a different cover!) remain as - for sentimental reasons, do two copies of ‘Moby Dick’. Neither has any margin notes, one is completely untouched and neither of us got beyond ‘My name is Ishmael’, if you’ve not read it, that’s the opening line. I also have a complete set of Jane Austen. My mother insists that Miss Austen is essential reading, so she bought them for me when I was 16, and before I just about tolerated ‘Northanger Abbey ‘ (O level set text), endured ‘Emma’ at A level and I’ve still not got round to finishing ‘Pride & Prejudice’. Can’t get rid of them though. But it’s not just ‘literary’ books. Every one of Rankin’s Rebus novels, Christopher Brookmyre (but only the ‘airport’ versions; I hate it when they aren’t the same size on the shelves). Val McDermaid, Stig Larsson, Kate Atkinson, Douglas Kennedy (don’t bother with the latest, it’s not up to scratch at all) the list goes on. But back to the bookcases. Since the book cull in around 1990, we haven’t got rid of a single one. We’ve run out of space (several boxes went to my in-laws for safe keeping and even now I find books there that I want to re-read and have repatriated them) and have built enough shelves to house a public library.
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After an on-Island move over three years ago to a house with eight wardrobes but, shock horror, no bookshelves at all, there are still unopened boxes of books in the basement (probably containing those WW1 poetry anthologies we told the children we definitely had, but couldn’t lay our hands on, so couldn’t prove that the O level/GCSE syllabus hadn’t actually changed much in 30 years). Despite also having a Kindle (how else could I read 50 Shades of Grey without the world knowing?) with a library of around 200 books on it, all read, I can’t stop myself lurking in bookshops, browsing that famous online retailer and compulsively clicking ‘buy now’ or heading to the (real) payment desk. Yes, electronic books are good for holidays, (who wants to pay to check in a bag laden with books) but the year every sun lounger had a copy of the ‘Da Vinci Code’ - all open at different pages - will forever be the holiday when my young son suggested we swap them all round whilst their owners swam. I couldn’t encourage it (tempting though!) but I’ve read it, and they probably wouldn’t have noticed anyway. And if you’ve not read the latest Dan Brown, ‘Inferno’, I can highly recommend you don’t bother. Thank goodness I read it on my Kindle, as I’m even more ashamed to admit that than the 50 Shades trilogy. But when I read an electronic book I love, I just have to buy the ‘real’ version – a bookseller’s dream – and I’m a sucker for the ‘If you liked this, then ...’ suggestions. My books are all well read, spines bent, pages turned down and definitely NOT in alphabetical order. Which is probably why we’ve now got three unread versions of Vanity Fair, although as I’ve definitely read it, I have absolutely no idea where the original, battered copy is. I also dimly remember not actually enjoying it, so I have no idea when or why I bought these other three copies. Did you know that primary school children are - in the guise of some numeracy lesson - asked how many books they have in their houses? I think the options are none, 1-10, 1050 or ‘more’. No prizes for guessing the box my children ticked. I might love books, but I’m not a complete luddite. I know there are so many alternative sources of entertainment around, and I’ve certainly never banned TV or computer games (except when I lose; which is all the time) but even the suggestion that the family library might have to close made me see red. I know my own joy of books is bordering on an obsession, but the worlds opened up by books are unparalleled. You can travel the physical world, but only a book can take you back in time, to the future, or into someone else’s life. It fuels your imagination. And that’s the real joy of books.
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ART
FILM REVIEW words | Nathanial Eker
Pan's Labyrinth
A twisted and visually pleasing journey into the disturbing, Mr. Del Toro shows a world not unlike the more famous Alice in Wonderland but with much more horror elements that are certainly not for kids. A fantastic and wonderful journey into the darkness of social satire and fables of old, covering itself as a child's tale, "Pan's Labyrinth" is truly one of the finest artistic films of the modern day. A very simple premise of a girl trying to block out the horrors of civil war, this film is not one to miss.
Drive
2011's Drive is a fantastic blend of an art film and an action film. It is as dark and brutal as it is fascinating. Ryan Gosling is perfect casting as the unnamed "driver" who has one rule for his profession: In and out in five minutes, or he's gone. With an action packed start, the middle of the film may drag for some, but if you envelop yourself in this corrupted world of hideously brutal violence (and fantastic music) you won't be disappointed.
Memento
Though Christopher Nolan is known more for creating a brilliant and more throaty Batman, his earlier, more artistic work, is still fantastic. The premise of Memento is really it's selling point and is what makes it unique. I daren't ruin it, but would suggest that any fan of crime thrillers with an artistic and unique style look into it. While personally, this begins to grate on me as somewhat gimmicky, it's hard to ignore this film and it's place in the genre.
Metropolis
Going all the way back to the year of 1927, Fritz Lang's cult film "Metropolis" seems way ahead of it's time. Quite possibly the first sci fi film ever made, the star of the show and "C-3PO's grandmother" Maria is still a striking image, embodying all things sci fi, artistic and most importantly, satirical of the way people think and act. Relevant to both the time and perhaps more so to the world today, this is truly a wonder to look and, erm, listen to. Yes, it's silent, but it's still a fascinating piece of theatre that is a must see for any up and coming director. because quality matters because quality matters
AN ARTSY READ
A FINE LINE-UP FOR THE SECOND MANX LITFEST
Katie and the British Artists by James Mayhew Katie and the British Artists is part of a series of books about a girl called Katie who goes to the gallery and has great adventures in the paintings while her gran is asleep. In this particular story Katie encounters a young shepherd (from the painting The Cornfield by John Constable) who does not like his job. So he and Katie go to find a job. They walk into all sorts of paintings around the gallery and have loads of fun. However, in the end he realises that the best job for him is the one he has. This book is a great way to get young children interested in art. Overall it is a brilliant book and a lovely way to imagine what happens in a gallery when no one is around.
Ten Storey Love Song by Richard Milward In a Middlesborough tower block, loveable waster Bobby the Artist and his friends spend their days splattered in paint, sweets, sweat, sex, violence, naivety and bad drugs as applied with psychaedelic abandon by young author Richard Milward, whose writing is all a bit stream of consciousness with no chapters or paragraphs just scenes which bleed into one another, and if you don’t fling the book across the room in frustration early on you’ll probably persevere to the end and discover a relentless tale painted in primary colours, a tale whose moral compass might seem bust but for its infectious innocence and a conviction that everything will be alright in the end.
The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier The renowned 17th century Baroque artist Johannes Vermeer painted Girl with a Pearl Earring, which has been called the Dutch Mona Lisa. This novel tells the story behind the painting whilst bringing the small city of Delft to life. When 16-year-old Griet becomes a maid in Vermeer’s household she thinks her role is to look after the house and his six children, but she becomes increasingly intimate with her master. With the painter’s jealous, eternally pregnant wife and aloof mother-in-law involved, turmoil ensues. There’s a lovely twist and this is an engaging story of an artist’s desire for beauty and the ultimate corruption of innocence.
Elen Caldecott
Victoria Lamb
Adele Parks
Literature lovers are gearing up for the second annual Manx Litfest, which takes place September 26-29, with a host of visiting authors and poets lining up alongside a number of Isle of Man-based writers. Spurred on by the success of Litfest 2012, the organisers are following a similar set-up, with one or two changes to the schedule. There will be no festival ‘hub’ this year in the Villa Marina gardens, with events taking place in several venues around the Island. Festival Director John Quirk explained: ‘Organising a festival of this size, it’s important that you develop year-on-year. The ticketed events last year sold really well, whereas the free “hub” didn’t generate the footfall we’d anticipated. ‘This year we’re hiring the Villa Marina Promenade Suite for three days, along with a range of venues for specific events. ‘We’re holding another schools’ day on the Friday, kindly being supported by Isle of Man Bank, with a team of authors and poets delivering a series of talks and workshops at schools. ‘Our family day takes place on Saturday, September 28 at the Arboretum in St John’s and will be a celebration of Winnie the Pooh (and friends!), which is being sponsored by Sure. ‘We’re humbled once again to have attracted some fantastic names for the line-up this year, including Adele Parks, Andrew Taylor, Barbara Erskine, Matt Haig, Victoria Lamb, Curtis Jobling, Holly Webb and Craig Bradley. ‘It’s a completely different line-up to 2012 - with one exception. Performance storyteller Ben Haggarty, founder of the Crick Crack Club, was such a hit at last year’s event, with both adults and children, that we had to invite him back. He’ll be based at The Studio Theatre, Ballakermeen this year, and will be performing Gilgamesh for adults - well, anyone over 12+ - on the Saturday night, and Maria Morevna, or How Prince Ivan got a Horse for a 6+ audience on the Sunday afternoon.’ The schedule for Litfest 2013 can be viewed at: www.manxlitfest.com
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WORDS | TAMARIN WILKINSON
FORGET ONE DIMENSIONAL ART, HERE YOU’LL FIND AN INSIGHT INTO SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC THREE DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURES KNOWN TO MAN, MANY OF WHICH STAND TALLER THAN 80 FEET! ARTISTS ARE NO LONGER CONFINED TO THE BOUNDARIES OF A CANVAS, CHOOSING TO TRANSFORM THE PERCEPTION OF SPACE INSTEAD. FROM DISPARATE ITEMS THAT EVOKE COMPLEX MOODS, LONGINGS AND THOUGHTS TO A BEWILDERING VARIETY OF MATERIALS, INTERACTIVE ART IS CONTINUING TO BLUR THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN THE SURREAL AND THE REAL.
LONDON THE RAIN ROOM AT THE BARBICAN
Ever wondered how it might feel to control the rain? Created by the contemporary art group Random International, the Rain Room, which ran until March 2013, was an installation like no other. The best part? The cleverly installed sensors that allowed spectators to sidestep hundreds upon thousands of falling droplets.
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PARIS
VERSAILLES
The Foundation Cartier pour l’art contemporain is currently showcasing Ron Mueck’s first major exhibition in seven years. Said to feature a number of seminal works as well as various new pieces, his most striking sculpture takes pride of place in the maple glass foyer of the Jean Nouvel-designed building. Its sheer scale is astounding in itself, whilst the detail applied to his work is fascinating and unbelievably realistic. Even close up, each figure boasts a series of painstaking details including body hair, facial blemishes and handmade clothes. Displaying until September 29th.
Jeff Koons, an artist you either love or hate. To the horror, delight and uproar of the surrounding community, he instated a larger than life, reflective porcelain dog in Chateau de Versailles. Decidedly avoiding the ‘cool’ status, Koon still boasts some of the most influential installations to date. You may be wondering why two larger-than-life ‘balloon dog’ sculptures feature on the list? Over his three-decade career, Koons has been sued for copyright violation a total of four times. The tables have now turned and the pop-culture phenomenon is threatening all who dare to use his work as inspiration – we wonder if he’ll be going after the party clowns too!
VENICE
DUSSELDORF
RON MUECK’S EXTRAORDINARY HYPERREALIST SCULPTURES
CHURCH OF SAN STAE FALLING GARDEN BY GERDA STEINER & JORG LENZLINGER Imagine staring up at a beautiful church ceiling that also happens to have a scenic garden hanging from its realms? Well now you can – this astounding installation created by Swiss artists Gerda Steiner and Jorg Lenzlinger drapes from the ceiling of the Church of San Stae, and was originally created for the 50th Venice Biennial.
BALLOON DOG
THE HANGING GARDENS OF DUSSELDORF
Three long years and three-tonnes of netting later – Argentine artist Tomas Saraceno has finally completed the much-anticipated Hanging Gardens of Dusseldorf. Aptly named ‘in orbit’ this 2500-square metre installation boasts various gigantic air-filled PVC balls that can hold up to ten people at one time.
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WUHAN
VENICE
HONG KONG
Fashion can be adventurous at the best of times, with many designers choosing to create statement clobber in hot hues, outrageous materials and OTT styles. One week we’ll spot models cartwheeling down the catwalk and the next, donning outlandish masks. Louis Vuitton, a brand to watch – when other designers are walking, they’re running! In response to a store opening at the Wuhan International Plaza in Central China’s Hubei province, an entire animal zoo was erected, with many of the sculptures comprising of almost 100 Louis Vuitton handbags each!
Standing at 333 centimetres high, this epic bronze sculpture is one of Marc Quinn’s greatest and most significant pieces to date. Notorious for his controversial work, including the famous gold statue of supermodel Kate Moss and a replica of his head created from his very own blood, this bronze shell may seem a little on the tame side. However, it marks the return of Quinn to Venice and highlights his ever-growing passion for contemporary art.
This non-profit art space comprises of hundreds of 4-metre-high, pin-thin filaments, which interact with spectators by bending towards them. These aluminium strands take centre stage on a raised highway terrace in the Wong Chuk Hang district of Hong Kong. Created as a resonance of the yellow bamboo that once thrived in the area, this interactive forest is set to evolve even more so in the future, comprising of sound components, herbal gardens, sensors and artificial grass.
HOUSTON
SINGAPORE
NEW YORK
This glistening abstract installation was laborious to install, yet well worth the wait. The end result – a total of 37 individual units created out of a luminous chain linking. This sculptural masterpiece by the artist Soo Sunny Park focuses predominantly on light. As you walk from one end to the other, the iridescent Plexiglas releases a rainbow of colours.
Singapore regularly ranks as one of Asia’s more habitable cities, yet individual, high-rise and isolated towers progressively dominate it. Such constructions tend to favour exclusion over societal connectivity. This was the case until the Singapore Tower Complex was erected. Consisting of half hanging garden, half glass block, it currently stands as an exemplary model for urban architecture in the 21st century.
AN ANIMAL ZOO MADE OUT OF LOUIS VUITTON HANDBAGS
CHAIN LINK FENCING AS ART
because quality matters
SPIRAL OF GALAXY AT THE CINE FOUNDATION
SINGAPORE TOWER COMPLEX
INDUSTRIAL FOREST BY ESKYIU
BALLOON DOG FRIEZE NEW YORK SCULPTURE PARK Every dog has its day and this is certainly the case for Paul McCarthy’s 80-foot Balloon sculpture. McCarthy, who appears to have jumped on the anti-koons bandwagon, is renowned for blurring the lines between desire and reality, and anyone to stumble upon this whimsical sculpture would see why. The whacky installation has reportedly sold for an amount not far from one million pounds.
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A
hhh the tiny Isle. Small, but perfectly formed. It’s a place of incredible natural beauty, with an impossibly ancient history steeped in folklore and fairytale. There are few things more satisfying to the soul than a walk around our bracing coastline with the whiff of the Irish Sea cleansing your nostrils, past green hills dotted with four horned sheep and - hang on a cotton pickin’ minute - isn’t that Johnny Depp? Wait - there’s Penelope Cruz! And if I could just wade through that teaming mass of hysterical teenage girls yes! It’s (a slightly terrified) Zac Effron!
The brain child of MannIN Shorts founders Dave Armstrong and Christy DeHaven, the initial idea behind the festival was to create a platform and screening opportunity for the increasing number of Manx productions. At the same time invited guests from off Island would offer networking opportunities & discover our local film-making talent for themselves. “We think it’s important to connect our local filmmakers with the international world of filmmaking and to show what we’ve all achieved over the past 12 months.” said Dave. “There is so much creative talent here, and indigenous filmmaking is something that has really taken off over the past couple of years.”
This seemingly quaint and quirky little Island may seem far removed from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, yet “It’s much easier now” added Christy its shores have played host to some of “especially in the world of short films. the biggest names in the business. If With the advent of DSLR and even high you were in the Colby area in 1997, you quality phone cameras, you can make probably bumped into Batman himself as a mini movie for very little money. And a young Christian Bale took up temporary the resources on the Isle of Man, along residence to film ‘All the Little Animals’. with the incredible support of the local They’ve all been here - from the Baldwin community, make it a breeze to get things boys to Kenneth Branagh, Kathleen made. But once a film is made, it has to be Turner to Julie Andrews, Jason Statham screened somewhere or there’s not much to Christian Slater. In fact, last year point in making it!” Isle of Man Film announced it’s 100th production since its And so, over five days in inception in 1995, with September, the Island will This seemingly quaint Dom Hemingway starring become a film festival and quirky little Jude Law. Island, showcasing Island may seem far Manx made movies and The Island has doubled removed from the screening some of the for London, the glitz and glamour best from the rest of Caribbean, the Scottish of Hollywood, yet the world. With events Highlands - even outer its shores have ranging from the Future space. But our history in played host to some Shorts Fringe Festival to film goes much further of the biggest names the Guerilla Filmmakers than just visiting film in the business. Workshop and, of course, stars. Did you know, for the MannIN Shorts ‘Homegrown Mini instance, that in 1929 Alfred Hitchcock Movies’ night, there is something for made a movie of ‘The Manxman’, a everyone, from the passionate filmmaker novel by Hall Caine? Or that the ‘Secret to those who simply like Watching Films. Cinema’ phenomena sweeping the globe was created by Fabian Rriggall of Great Dave clearly has ideas to expand the Meadow? And today, of course, we have festival, which is supported by the Isle of our own homegrown Hollywood starlet in Man Arts Council: “With Island of Culture the gorgeous Samantha Barks. next year, we couldn’t have a more fitting Unsurprisingly for an Island drenched in creative artistic talent, there is also a blossoming indigenous filmmaking community here. Following tentatively in the footsteps of the visiting major productions, there are Writers and Actors and DPs and Directors, producing their own homegrown movies on shoestring budgets and with the support and encouragement of their Island community.
Since its inception in 2010, training scheme MannIN Shorts has gone a long way to help further this trend, holding workshops in everything from screenwriting to sound recording and - last year - hosting its first “Isle of Man Film Festival”.
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Patron than film critic Mark Kermode! He is actually heading up the judging panel for our Short Film Competition this year and will be heavily involved next year as a special guest and contributor, when we will be opening out to international entries to increase awareness of the Isle of Man’s potential as a filmmaking centre.” Christy added “We’re extremely lucky to be able to call on some of the friends we’ve made in the industry over the past few years to come and share their knowledge and experience with us - and their movies of course! Last year, some of the events were completely sold out” warned Christy “so we’d recommend getting tickets in advance”. isle of man premier magazine
What’s on & where Weds 11th September Event: “Just showing Off” - An
evening with Andy Blackburn
Venue: Peel Centenary Centre in association
with Films in Peel.
Short Description: A Q&A style event
catching up with Manx born filmmaker Andy Blackburn. Showcasing his work from Manx Multimedia Centre trainee, to Directing prime time advertising shorts, to behind the scenes discussion and an exclusive first look at his latest exciting project - his debut feature film. Tickets £5 from usual Films in Peel outlets. Start Time: 7.30pm
Thurs 12th September Event: ‘The Future Shorts Fringe’. Venue: Patchwork Cafe Port St Mary, Northern Lights Ramsey and Bath and Bottle Douglas. Short Description: A specially selected reel of internationally acclaimed short films from FutureShorts.com - the world’s largest short film network, founded by Manxman Fabian Riggall. Tickets: £5 from the venues. Start Time: 7.30pm.
Fri 13th September Event: Isle of Man Film Presents...The
Disappearance of Alice Creed.
Venue: Broadway Cinema Douglas Short Description: Q&A Screening
of this critically acclaimed film which stars Eddie Marsan and Gemma Arterton and was made on the Island in 2009. Writer Director J Blakeson will be in attendance and the night will be hosted by London Screenwriters Festival Director Chris Jones. Tickets: £8 (or £20 full weekend pass). Start Time: 7.30pm.
Sat 14th & Sun 15th September Event: PokerStars MannIN Shorts workshop
“The Guerilla Filmmakers Masterclass”
Venue: Villa Marina Colonnade Suite
for anyone with an interest in film and filmmaking. Cost: £70 for both days. Email rosie@ isleofmanfilmfestival.com to book. 9 - 4pm.
Saturday 14th September Event: Isle of Man Arts Council Young
Filmmaker of Mann.
Venue: Broadway Cinema Douglas. Short Description: The tenth
anniversary of the popular competition comes to a head with this Awards ceremony and screening, which is always entertaining and is free and open to the public. Tickets: Free Entry. Start Time: 2pm.
Sat 14th September Event: MannIN Shorts HomeGrown
MiniMovies! (Venue - see website)
Short Description: The IOM film
training initiative, now it’s in 3rd year, showcases a selection of films made within it’s scheme. “Solace in Wicca”, “Closet” and recently completed “Barry Brown” will be previewed in full for the first time. Also, IOMFF2013 Short Film Competition winners will be screened and awards presented, with cash prizes and a money-can’t-buy tour of Pinewood Studios up for grabs. Tickets: £8 (or £20 full weekend pass). Start Time: 5-7pm.
Sun 15th September Event: (Title/Venue tbc - see website) Short Description: Chris Jones and
David Wilkinson, co-founders of Guerilla Films, are joined by Danny Lacey onstage for a night of filmic fun, industry anecdotes and a sneak preview of where this all began - with an exclusive first look at Danny and David’s latest project: the extra-ordinary, highly anticipated documentary ‘The First Film’. Tickets: £8 (or £20 full weekend pass) 5-7pm.
Short Description: Learn everything
there is to know about film! Chris Jones brings his internationally acclaimed workshop to the Island. A not-to-be-missed opportunity
The festival closes on Sunday 15th September with what should prove to be a fascinating, enlightening and hugely entertaining evening. Actor, Producer and Chairman of Distrify David Wilkinson takes to the stage with his Guerilla Films co-Founder and London Screenwriters Festival Director Chris Jones to talk about their lives in the industry. Leeds based filmmaker, long time MannIN Shorts supporter and former Radio Aire Presenter Danny Lacey will join them onstage to host the night. The night promises to be packed with gobsmacking tales of some of the biggest names on and off screen, unbridled access and insight in to the industry and a sneak preview of where it all really began, as Danny and David give an exclusive first look at their latest project together - the extra-ordinary, highly anticipated documentary ‘The First Film’. Isleofmanfilmfestival.com because quality matters
culture
The Celtic Kingdom
Festival of Silk 2013 September 19th – 22nd
The Isle of Man Guild of Silk Painters are hosting the Bi - Annual UK Festival in September. The main highlights will be the SILK ART EXHIBITION at the prestigious SAYLE GALLERY and the FASHION SHOW of hand painted silk gowns and accessories at The Sefton Hotel. The exhibition will open two weeks prior to the festival.
Anne Selby: Fibonacci Boa with silk tuille
Workshops will be on all weekend and top names in silk painting will be tutoring and inspiring would be enthusiasts. Mandy Southan, whose work is much admired and whose books are constantly referred to will be demonstrating the Japanese art of ‘ShIbori Designs and Techniques’ and ‘Flowers on Silk’. Melinda Berkovitz has three workshops on her exciting design work and surface embellishment. Ruth Brown will introduce ‘Digital Imagery and Cyanotypes on silk’. The Celtic Kingdom Festival of Silk programme commences with an exclusive private viewing at the Manx Museum Theatre, exhibiting the works of Island born Archibald Knox. Local Manx diver and photographer, Maura Mitchell, will present a stunning presentation of the Islands underwater sea world - which we know will inspire all those planning to take part in the workshop: “Creating an Underwater World” on silk.
Anne Selby: Fibonacci Wrap
Anne Selby: Concertina Ruffle
The Garden Room at The Sefton Hotel will be taken over on the morning of Saturday 21st September by Anne Selby, textile artist with an interest in the Japanese technique of Shibori pleating. Her luxurious stoles, boas and scarves in silk create dramatic effects. This will be an opportunity to view the special work of this talented lady and her invention of a pleating machine, which has won her awards and international acclaim. Saturday morning will also see UK Vestment Designer, Yvonne Bell, of the Milton Keynes branch of the Guild at St. Thomas’s Church, Douglas, with a display of her hand painted vestments for St. Germain’s Cathedral.
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What’s on & Where Admission Free (unless otherwise stated)
Thursday 19th September 13.30 – 14.30 The Manx Museum Art Gallery A private viewing of the works of Archibald Knox with Curator, Yvonne Cresswell 15.30 – 16.30 The Manx Museum Lecture Theatre ‘The Deer’s Cry’ An exclusive presentation on the Celtic works of Archibald Knox by Curator, Yvonne Cresswell 19.30 – 21.00 The Garden Room, Sefton Hotel ‘The Celtic Kingdom Underwater World’ A presentation by Manx diver: Maura Mitchell. Book online/Tickets on door : £5
Friday 20th September 10.30 – 11.30 The Manx Museum Art Gallery A private viewing of the works of Archibald Knox with Curator, Yvonne Cresswell Jan Billings & Rachel Reilly: Peacock Feathers
Jan Billings & Rachel Reilly: Phoenix
18.00 – 19.00 The Sayle Gallery The Official Festival Opening - Exhibitors and Invitations only
Saturday 21st September THE FASHION SHOW & DINNER – on Saturday 21st at The Sefton Hotel will be a big festival highlight. Guests will be welcomed in the Atrium to the music of the Mannin Folk Trio. The Fashion Show follows the Dinner, with hand painted gowns from Jan Billings of Facets of Avalon will be paraded along with works from Ann Selby and creations from home and abroad to include the work of Sayle Gallery artist Cas Powles. All the events are in the same vicinity on the promenade and within easy walking distance of each other. On Saturday and Sunday, there will also be activities on the go from 10.30am - 5pm in the Villa Marina Promenade Arcade, painting parasols; kite painting for children; demonstrations and workshops. Yvonne Bell will also have a display and presentation, ‘SILK ON SUNDAY’, which promises to draw a crowd to see her spiritual works.
10.00 – 17.00 The Sayle Gallery SILK ART EXHIBITION 10.30 – 12.30 The Garden Room, Sefton Hotel Arashi Shibori Silk A presentation by Designer, Anne Selby Book online/tickets on door £8 10.30 -12.30
St Thomas’s Church, Douglas Vestment Designer, Yvonne Bell displays her Silk painted cathedral vestments
FESTIVAL DINNER and FASHION SHOW 18.30 Drinks Reception in The Atrium, The Sefton Hotel Music by The MANNIN FOLK TRIO 19.00 Dinner in The Harris Restaurant followed by exclusive designer FASHION SHOW Book online/tickets £28
Sunday 22nd September 10.00 – 17.00 The Sayle Gallery SILK ART EXHIBITION 14.30 – 16.00 The Villa Marina Arcade, SILK ON SUNDAY A display and talk by Designer, Yvonne Bell Book on line/tickets on door £8
Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd September 10:30 – 1700 Jan Billings & Rachel Reilly: First place winner in the Bead and Button competition, wirework section 2010
The Villa Marina Arcade displaying unique hand painted silk creations with demonstrations; paint a silk parasol and kite painting for children.
Jan Billings & Rachel Reilly: Collars
because quality matters
To obtain booking forms and additional information for all the events and workshops visit: www.silkguildiom.org or phone: 01624 882401
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culture
The Importance of Reading Words | Barbara van Rhyn - Head of English at King William’s College Despite its being increasingly pertinent in the modern age, in many ways a systematic exposition on the benefits of reading during the developmental stages must be considered axiomatic. It is self evident that giving children access to all forms of literature is central to their growth as both academics and individuals. Reading gives children the opportunity to respond to the world that surrounds them, helps them to develop emotional and creative intelligence, teaches an anticipation of encountering divergent points of view and, through analysis and comprehension, helps them to contract the sense of confidence and tolerance that is essential when writing in later life.
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ost important from the perspective of an educator, are the innumerable cognitive benefits to be gained from fostering a healthy relationship with literature. One need only attempt to rekindle a regular reading habit after a six-month hiatus, say, to appreciate that the brain is a muscle that must be disciplined, and that one of the most effective ways of doing so is through extended periods of reading. Those who read regularly more readily develop extended neural networks and an enhanced cognitive function; those who read analytically develop a heightened sensitivity to the subtleties of our language and, conversely, that of others. Crucially, reading helps to prepare the individual for a multidisciplinary education. Whether in terms of developing an enhanced semantic, syntagmatic and paradigmatic relationship with words in different academic environments or as a means of refining one’s technical abilities in writing, reading is a skill that must, in all cases, be encouraged in our pupils and treasured by teachers. As René Descartes wrote: “The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of past centuries”. Sadly, however, a portion of today’s school generation is losing the desire to read what might be termed, although incorrectly so in my opinion, ‘serious literature’. In terms of our ability to ingest and process information we are, of course, as adept as we always were, and our skills when it comes to lateral thought, research and speed reading are becoming more highly attuned. Yet our notion of superficiality in the written word is becoming a problem, and this is largely because we are so constantly bombarded with information. Many young readers now have become remarkably capable of extrapolating what they need from a text and discarding the rest, but this is an efficiency which does not
so often translate to the individual’s powers of written expression. As such, it is essential that we extol the benefits of a dedicated reading environment, one which is testament to the simple, rewarding and, in many ways, cathartic joy of spending hours absorbed in a novel, comic, collection of poems; anything. Thankfully, at King William’s College, we have always been lucky enough to have a lovely library here, and our excellent librarian is very receptive to buying any literature that we deem to be of benefit to our students. Our library, as any library should be, is used extensively and is the hub of the school. Whether as a member of an extracurricular club, or with a group of friends, our pupils are surrounded by books and in an environment which neatly overlaps with the social, entertainment and technology-driven worlds. This, perhaps, is the most accurate reflection of the world in which our pupils live today. One can only hope that it will always be contextualised against a backdrop of our accumulated thoughts and their expression. On a closing note, it is necessary to remark that we - as consumers of information - are evolving in response to the abundance of hyper-stimulating forms of entertainment available to us through various media. While one might submit that this has a detrimental impact upon our ability to engage with literature in the traditional way, however, it is important to remember that many platforms such as the Kindle or iPad also offer precisely the immersive and interactive reading experience that we - as teachers - strive continuously to provide for our pupils. Perhaps then, it is this participative environment that will secure the written word for the future and, with any luck, transform many a blossoming view of the world in the process.
isle of man premier magazine
fashion
culture
fashion
The Responsive Eye: Bridget Riley, 1965
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10 WOMEN
Large and small check patterns taken from optical illusion artworks by the likes of Bridget Riley inspired designers, both this season and into the next. Black, white, and red tartan are the popular choices on the high street, with some hints of yellow too.
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This optic, checkboard trend is a must, whether it be a full skirt and top set, or an old plaid shirt to work it minimalist style.
1. River Island - £35, 2. River Island - £25, 3. River Island £28, 4. River Island - £35, 5. New Look - £22.99, 6. River Island - £35, 7. The Whitepepper @ Asos - £55, 8. The Whitepepper @ Asos - £55, 9. Asos - both £6, 10. New Look - £12.99, 11. Asos - £10. words | Jorja Helmot
Louis Vuitton, Spring/Summer 2013 46
isle of man premier magazine
fashion
Limited edition Campbell’s Soup Cans, 2012
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Pop art was the other movement of choice for designers this summer, with bright, comic strip style prints strongly influenced by artist Andy Warhol.
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Donned with everything from burgers to batman motifs this is not everyones go-to look but for the more trepid fashionistas out there, you’ll definitely stand out. If this is not the look for you then don’t shy away from bright colours. The louder the better before the cooler months come.
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1. Burton - £12, 2. River Island - £10, 3. Lazy Oaf - £115, 4. River Island - £20, 5. River Island - 3. Asos - £49, 4. Burton - £12, 5. River Island - £8, 6. Asos - £49, 7. Chunk Amazon - £30, 8. Lazy Oaf - £75, 9. New Look - £8.99, 10. Burton - £10, 11. Burton - £14, 12. River Island - 7 £8, 13. Amazon - £7
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Campbell’s Soup Cans: Andy Warhol, 1962 because quality matters
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beauty
Words | Lisa Haynes
Male grooming is on the up, with sales of hair styling products currently booming, thanks to Baz Luhrmann’s ‘The Great Gatsby’.
male grooming Inspired by the dapper 20s look and Leonardo DiCaprio’s slickedback hair, Superdrug has seen sales of men’s hair pomade, wax and gel almost double for some products since the film’s release.
If you think your man isn’t prone to a preen in the mirror, think again. Almost two thirds of men (62%) admit to moisturising behind the bathroom door, according to a recent survey by UKBathrooms.com. Keep your man looking in tip-top condition with these grooming products.
Mr Metrosexual David Beckham may have retired from football, but his legacy lives on in the grooming world. From ever-changing snazzy haircuts to facial hair topiary, if your man fancies himself as a Beckham babe, kit him out with Ted Baker’s Mean Clean Groom Machine set, £15 (Boots).
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Mr Low Maintenance For men who like to wash and go, opt for practical, multi-tasking products that save valuable minutes in the bathroom, allowing them more time for football/rugby/golf/cars. Get his engines revving in the morning with special edition Suremen’s Lotus F1 Team range. These products have a pong that’s anything but the pits, and he can pretend he’s Jensen Button in the fast lane, from £1.99 (Boots). If he’s a keen gym bunny, Molton Brown’s Sport range will score him a winning routine, especially the 4-in-1 Sportswash for body, face, hair and shave, £16, or Sport for Men Grooming Set, £50 (www.moltonbrown.co.uk).
Mr Can’t-Be-Bothered If your man’s the type who sees soap and water as a punishment, you might need to be a little more inventive with your grooming options. White Stuff has disguised their soap in sports-friendly packaging to lure him into the tub. Try the Football soap on a rope, £6.95, or Golf Ball soaps, £9.95 (www.whitestuff.com). If he’s a total stranger to grooming products, spell it out with Scaramouche & Fandango’s Body Pack, which features shampoo, conditioner and body wash, alphabetised in bold letters, £30 (scaramoucheandfandango.com). If all else fails, makeover his motor with Rituals’ range of Life is a Journey car perfumes. Choose from clary sage, eucalyptus, sandalwood or cherry blossom, £7.50 each (www.rituals.com).
isle of man premier magazine
GANT MEN’S NOW AVAILABLE AT THE MILL SHOP, TYNWALD MILLS
Opening hours: Monday - Saturday 10am to 5.30pm Sunday 1pm - 5.30pm 49
Isle of Man style magazine
fashion
Windsor & Wales is a new British clothing line created by Peter Adamson and Nathan Cafearo, owners of the BEST Group of companies here on the Island. The name and crest come from Peter’s great grandfather on his mother’s side, Sir Francis Tress Barry, 1st Baronet, an effervescent English businessman. Late in his life, Sir Frances became a Conservative Party politician to England, a Deputy Lieutenant of Caithness and sat in the House of Commons from 1890 to 1906, when he purchased St Leonard’s Place near Windsor, Berkshire; a country estate that he would lend to the Prince of Wales during Royal Ascot, which is where the name Windsor & Wales came from. Peter and Nathan want the brand to become meaningful around the world, resulting in the decision to use quality traditional products branded with a history that holds to that old and beloved cognition of ‘Great Britishness’. Mixing their core business strategy of ‘digital, digital, digital’ with some other more traditional aspects of Isle of Man clothing and manufacture, they have made collaborations with some of the Island’s rising stars of online business through their IoM Entrepreneurs Club. A variety of successful young Manx entrepreneurs are now heavily involved with the project, including model, Beckii Cruel, who has immersed herself in career development since she graced the cover of Gallery’s Glutton issue in May 2012.
We recently caught up with Peter, who told us about this exciting new business venture: Gallery: Where did the idea for Windsor & Wales come from? Peter: “I had a conversation with our tailor last year about the possibility of making some tweed jackets using Harris Tweed. Nathan and myself were told that it would not be possible to have tweed jackets made up in the UK, as there were no factories left but that everything was manufactured in Germany, Europe or China. That wasn’t the answer that we were looking for, so we set about doing some research. It was then that we discovered that there are no clothes of this type made entirely in the UK. The important thing for us was to work with local designers and source all materials from within the Isle of Man and the UK. Every single item in the range will be hand cut, designed and made in Great Britain and sold all over the world. We are working with some local celebrities like Beckii Cruel to promote the range in Japan, Russia and Europe. This really will be a true Great British venture. We will be sourcing materials - where possible - from the Isle of Man. Two local designers, Gina Tyler and Natalie Hodgson have already designed our first range of jackets, which are made from genuine Manx tweed, hand-made by John at Laxey Woollen Mill. The range will consist of eight men’s and eight women’s tweed jackets, designed with a really contemporary feel.” “The Isle of Man entrepreneurs coming together to make this project a success are; Calum Harvey, Beckii Cruel, and James Dedman.”
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Isle of Man premier magazine
fashion
The important thing for us was to work with local designers, and source all materials from within the Isle of Man and the UK.
because quality matters
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Beckii Cruel
Calum Harvey
Peter: “Beckii is an Internet sensation, singer and model. More than that, she is an exceptionally ambitious young businesswoman with some really exciting ideas for the future of online music.
Peter: “Calum is a key entrepreneur at Windsor & Wales. We’re really lucky to have him on board. He is the guy who makes everything happen on the design and manufacturing side of the business. Born on the Island and having worked for big industry names like Burberry, Calum has been putting together his own fashion brand over the past couple of years.
Model / Musician
Beckii’s vision really does fit exceptionally well with ours. She has agreed to work with us, becoming the face of Windsor & Wales as we promote in Japan and the wider Asian continent and will be creating a number of ‘signature’ pieces for us. Beckii Commented: “It’s been just over a year since I appeared on the front cover of Gallery IoM and I don’t seem to have stopped since then. I’m very excited to be involved with Windsor & Wales. The clothes are just exceptional. I’m learning lots of new things on the fashion side as well, which is an added bonus. It’s great to be involved with the actual process of making the jackets. This has been my final year of A-levels, and I’ve finally finished my exams. I redesigned my website, had the opportunity to make some great music with some new artists and my latest venture has been into rock music with a fantastic band called Area 11. I do guest vocals on their “All the Lights in the Sky” Album on a track called “Shi No Barado” – which is Japanese for “Ballad of Death”, based on the Japanese Manga ‘Death Note’. We recorded some of it here at Factory Lane Studios in Peel, and filmed most of the video on the Isle of Man. I’ve also done a little bit of TV work too; online and for BBC Alba. I’ve set up my own company here on the Island, Pretty Liberty, which is going to be the vehicle for my future plans. The main thrust will be towards publishing and some new ideas I have for the teenage market.” www.prettyliberti.es
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Designer
Calum will be involved in making all of the samples for our ranges and working with the manufacturers both on the Isle of Man and the UK to ensure quality and price. He also has a great network of people in the fashion business, who will work with us to create future fashion shows.” Calum commented: “Towards the end of 2012, I set up my own design studio in Laxey. I presented both collections at Ronaldsway Airport and selected pieces from ‘Subtract’ (Spring/ Summer 2013) to go into production. With ‘Natives’ (Autumn/ Winter 2013), I was keen to work with local materials, focusing on Laxey Woollen Mills’ quality tweeds and Manx Loaghtan for accessories. I have been fortunate enough to work on a variety of projects with companies based internationally, from the Isle of Man to London to Cape Town. These projects have helped me to further understand my goals as a designer. Above all, I aim to produce desirable, quality products. I’m thrilled to be working with Windsor & Wales on this exciting new label, promoting local sourcing and manufacture and share their views on contemporary design.”
www.calumharvey.com
Isle of Man premier magazine
fashion
Laura Faulds Internet Fashion
James Dedman
Photographer
Entrepreneur Peter: “Laura is one of the hardest working young female entrepreneurs on the Isle of Man. She is hugely ambitious and has recently launched her “Love my Figure, Love my Fashion” Internet business. We’re really excited about it and will be more than happy to assist in any way that we can. We look forward to working with Laura to develop her and our ideas and create great retail businesses on the Isle of Man with a view to selling worldwide.” Laura Commented: “Part of the Small Business Start Up Scheme, our goal is to create an online shop that customers feel a part of. We will be having lots of guest fashion bloggers writing articles that will be published on the site. We want as many people involved as possible; it’s a community, not just a website. Their feedback is crucial. We are working with BEAT, which is an eating disorder charity in the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom. This is an illness that touches a lot of women and men, often going untreated. We recently put a team of seven people together to do the 2013 Parish Walk, and raised £1241.19 to raise awareness for the charity. All of our models are ‘real’ women from the Isle of Man, representing all shapes and sizes. There’s a growing backlash in the world of fashion. Not everyone is a size six super model. In fact the majority of people are not! So why are we not catering for the majority?
Peter: “James has been working with us for a year or so now. He takes all of the photography that we require for marketing our entire group of companies. A young Manxman, James is a real up and coming star of the photography world. He has created a role for himself within Windsor & Wales as our Artistic Director and is also one of our models as well as our photographer.” James commented: “I am a young, aspiring photojournalist. Born and raised on this little Island and inspired by it’s beauty. Over the last year I’ve travelled to Australia and South Africa and I fell in love with both places giving me the motivation to want to travel more and discover India and the US, but for now I’m setting up camp in Douglas! I’m delighted to have the opportunity to work with Windsor & Wales on this exciting new project. During the last 12-months Peter and Nathan have given me the opportunity to work on various projects within the Best Group of companies from modelling shoots, model castings, marketing/branding photography, to taking photos of staff on a company day out at Millwall FC, who the Best Group sponsor. I have also just started my own business, Dedman Photography, which is now open to bookings for parties, weddings, portraiture and other commissions.”
We have also received support from Windsor & Wales; it’s also great to be able to collaborate with other Island-based entrepreneurs!”
www.lmflmf.co.uk
because quality matters
www.dedmanphotography.co.uk
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Best Group IoM Entrepreneurs Club If you would like to attend the BEST Group entrepreneur events where everyone gets together over dinner to explore business ideas - or simply want to make contact with Nathan or Peter to pitch a business idea - get in touch directly by emailing them at: peter@bestpay.co.uk or nathan@bestpay.co.uk.
STAFF DAY OUT 54
Isle of Man premier magazine
fashion
Work and Play
Entreprenuers club
because quality matters
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beauty
Words | Jennifer Parkes
A Fashion Union Alber Elbaz and Lancôme
The crossover between fashion and cosmetics is long-established; take a look at the perfume shelves of any pharmacy and you will find the majority of fragrances boasting names such as Jimmy Choo, Vivienne Westwood, DKNY, Stella McCartney and Thierry Mugler. A number of fashion houses, including Dior and Chanel, have also branched into make-up, launching innovative must-have products that seem to have acquired almost the same ‘status symbol’ power as the clothes for which such designers are first and foremost; known.
But, sometimes, the union of fashion and beauty is presented slightly differently – like the recent collaboration between Alber Elbaz and Lancôme Cosmetics, which utilises Elbaz’s artistic talents and Lancôme’s standing within the industry to create limited edition products that are at once cosmetically and aesthetically covetable.
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The Hypnôse Show collection focuses on eyes, with Elbaz explaining: ‘‘ spend my time backstage at the Lanvin shows, and when I come out at the end, all I see are people’s eyes… It all stems from the curvaceous mascara bottles. The moment I saw them, I thought of women’s bodies,. In Elbaz’s eyes, then, ‘Eyes are the new fashion accessory… The eye is there to last. It’s also a symbol of authenticity. People say the mirror of the soul is the eyes. I think eyes are really deep”.
to create ‘a wide eye’, while the Star products will help achieve ‘a sophisticated eye’. While many consider the world of comestics and beauty products to be frivolous or superficial, Elbaz considers that, for women, “It’s never just a piece of makeup. It’s something a bit deeper than that”.
The collaboration, Hypnôse Show, sees the various tubes and tubs that house Lancôme’s best-sellers fittingly given a face-lift with Elbaz’s illustrations. Elbaz is the creative director of Lanvin, one of the world’s most revered fashion houses thanks to Elbaz and his fusion of the brand’s rich heritage with his own unique style. While no stranger to teaming up with other brands – Elbaz designed the hugely popular H&M for Lanvin line in November 2010, which fans queued through the night to buy – this is his first foray into the world of make-up alongside Lancôme president Youcef S. Nabi.
The collection consists of four main themes based on Lancôme’s best-selling mascaras, Dèfinicilis, Doll, Drama and Star, each draped in decorative ‘dresses’ and intended to create a different effect. For example, the Dolly Eyes mascara and eyeshadow palette are designed
At the same time, the collection is intended to be fun and deliberately frivolous; ‘I think that we’re in a time today that we’re turning into an industry of power. Power creates fear. I feel it—the time and stress… [Youcef] wanted to go back to something that is totally happy and cheerful and colourful.’ Ultimately, this sums up the function of almost all art, be it a painting, a catwalk collection, or the drawings on a mascara tube; art is there to be admired, to be beautiful and aesthetically appealing, but will always have an inspiration or message within it that may or may not be immediately visible. Yes, Elbaz and Lancôme have created a fun collection of make-up pieces dotted with hearts, eyes and stars, but no matter how playful and light-hearted the end design, the meaning is inarguably still there if you are willing to look for it, behind the doodled eyes.
Hypnôse Star Eyes Palette by Alber Elbaz - £38.00
Hypnôse Doll Eyes by Alber Elbaz - £23.00
Ombre Hypnôse Drama Eyes by Alber Elbaz - £18.50
“Eyes are the new fashion accessory… The eye is there to last. It’s also a symbol of authenticity”.
isle of man premier magazine
appetite
Your Dream Cuisine Specialising in Mediterranean and International Cuisine
Set Menu’s
Lunch served Monday to Saturday 12pm - 2.15pm
Dinner served 6.30pm -10pm
2 Course - £15.50 | 3 Course - £20.00 2 Course - £23.50 | 3 Course - £27.50 We look forward to welcoming you soon Email portofino@qualityservice.com or call 01624 617755 to make a reservation
Buon Appetito www.portofino.im
appetite
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Celebri
Round off your day with a tasty Manx hog roast, organic egg omelette, Manx beef burger or delicious cakes or cream tea in the Harbour Lights café. Volunteers from CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) will be serving a selection of beers from the Isle of Man’s four breweries, plus elderflower keshal from the Apple Orphanage. Time:
10am to 5pm daily (last admissions at 4pm)
Cost:
Adults £5 children up to 16-years old: free
Free car parking on Saturday Leave your car at Nobles Park car park and ride in and out on the Mann Sightseeing Bus. Visit: www.gov.im/daff/food_festival for more information.
If you’re passionate about quality local food, the Isle of Man Food & Drink Festival is the place to be on 21st and 22nd September! Sponsored by Manx Gas, this year’s Festival has a great mix of local produce, cookery demonstrations and family activities. The Villa Marina Gardens, Douglas, will be packed with local producers selling everything from Manx biltong to bread, meat, shellfish, cakes, vegetables and sweet treats. Enjoy tastings, chat to producers and take home some delicious produce to enjoy. TV chefs - The Fabulous Baker Brothers - will be giving two lively and entertaining demonstrations each day in the Manx Gas Cookery Theatre and signing their latest cookery book (on sale at the Festival). The Theatre will also host demonstrations (and tastings) from local restaurants including the Patchwork Café and the Boat Yard. On Saturday, chefs from Tanroagan and the Glen Helen Inn will compete for the title of the I Love Manx ‘Chef of the Year’ and on Sunday, Dot Tilbury will challenge Conor Cummins to produce a Perfect Manx Pancake. For families, there’s storytelling, scone making, a treasure hunt, farm animals to meet and the Manx Mushroom Experience to explore.
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Douglas dished up a taste sensation Gourmets went global without having to leave the Island when Douglas hosted a continental food and craft fair last month. From Saturday 24 August, through to Sunday 1 September, ostrich, impala, wild boar, paella, specialist coffees and teas, a host of other food products from around the world, along with handicrafts from Peru, plants, shrubs and bulbs from Holland, fairtrade furniture and beautiful decorative items were made available from stores stretching along the length of Castle Street and Marina Road. Town centre manager, Michelle O’Malley, said: “Experience of previous events similar to this in the town has shown that they increase footfall and serve as a prompt for visitors to explore all the shopping opportunities in the town centre.” Clearly, more and more specialist traders are recognising the appeal of Douglas as a shopping and leisure destination. The benefits of regeneration are beginning to have a tangible impact, with Douglas town centre being seen increasingly as a vibrant retail and social space.
Photographs | Andrew Barton because quality matters
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Great taste on a plate
Slow-cooked Shoulder of lamb Serves 6
1 whole shoulder of lamb (1.75kg) Salt and pepper 2tsp olive oil 20g butter 250g mushrooms 1 onion (chopped) 4 cloves of garlic (sliced) 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 6 sprigs fresh or dried lavender 5 tomatoes (cut into wedges) 125ml white wine 250ml chicken or beef stock
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Allow the meat to come to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 140°C/285°F/Gas 1. Season the lamb shoulder with salt and pepper. Preheat a large, flame-proof braising pan. Add oil and butter and brown the meat on all sides until nicely caramelized. Remove the meat from the pan and leave to the side. Add mushrooms, onions and garlic and braise for 5-8 minutes. Return the meat to the pan. Add all the remaining ingredients to the pan and bring to the boil. Cover with the lid and place into the oven and cook for 2½ - 3 hours. After 2½ hours test the meat. It should be tender and sticky. When the meat is tender remove the pan from oven. Place the lamb on a warm serving platter and allow to rest for up to 20 minutes. Remove the remaining pan ingredients and arrange around the meat for a nice presentation. Use the delicious juices to make a gravy. To serve carve the meat straight from the bone and arrange on preheated plates. Serve with green beans and potato gratin.
isle of man premier magazine
appetite
Serves 8-10
1 x 2.7kg lean boneless rib of beef, sirloin or traditional rump roast
Cooking time: Rare: 20 minutes per 450g/1lb plus 20 minutes Medium: 25 minutes per 450g/1lb plus 25 minutes Well done: 30 minutes per 450g/1lb plus 30 minutes
Salt and freshly milled black pepper 2tsp ground allspice 2tsp ground mace 1tsp ground nutmeg 40g light soft brown sugar 3tbsp port For the red wine gravy: 1tbsp plain flour 300ml good, hot beef stock 300ml good red wine
Preheat the oven to 180-190°C. In a small bowl mix the spices and sugar together. Place the joint on a chopping board; make several slashes over the surface of the joint, taking care not to cut the butcher’s string or elasticated meat bands and season. Coat on both sides with the spice mixture. Place the joint on a rack in a roasting tin and open roast for the preferred, calculated cooking time. Cover with foil if browning too quickly. Ten minutes before the end of the cooking time, remove the joint from the oven and brush with the port. Return to the oven for the remainder of the cooking time. Remove the beef from the oven, cover and leave to rest for 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, to make the gravy; spoon off any excess fat from the roasting tin and discard. Place the tin over a medium heat and sprinkle with the flour. Stir well with a small whisk or spoon, add a little stock and stir again, scraping the base of the pan to release any rich, beefy sediment. Add the remaining stock, wine and any meat juices from the platter. Adjust the seasoning, if required and simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally or until reduced to a wellflavoured gravy. Strain before serving.
Spiced rib of beef with red wine gravy
Garnish the beef with fresh rosemary leaves and serve with seasonal vegetables and the gravy.
Serves 4
2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped 2tbsp organic Greek yogurt 3tbsp pomegranate seeds Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 4 x 200g grass-fed rib-eye steaks 35ml sesame oil 1 large broccoli, broken into florets 1 small red chilli, finely chopped
Place the sweet potato in a medium saucepan and just cover with water. Bring to the boil and cook, uncovered, for about 8 minutes or until very soft. Drain and transfer to a large bowl and mash with the yogurt. Stir in the pomegranate seeds and season to taste. Meanwhile, heat a grill pan until very hot. Rub the steaks with 2 tablespoons of the sesame oil and season. Cook for about 3 minutes on each side for medium rare. Rest for 5-10 minutes. Steam the broccoli, then transfer to a bowl. Drizzle with the remaining sesame oil and sprinkle with the chilli.
Grilled rib-eye steak with sweet potato mash and chilli broccoli because quality matters
Serve the steak with the mash and broccoli on the side.
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ART
Words | Anne Berry | The Wine Cellar
B
uying bottles of wine because ‘I like the label’ happens frequently and is the reason that so much time and effort is invested in label design. Winemakers all want their wine to stand out on the shelf and say ‘buy me’ more than the bottle next to it. They also want the wine to be remembered and, if you have enjoyed it, a distinctive and memorable label is an excellent way to remember it. The opposite can also be true, so, if the wine has a label that stands out, it is vital that the wine matches up to it.
Crash is a wine that was created by a group of wine enthusiasts in the region of Ribera del Guadiana in the west of Spain. The
winery, Pago los Balancines, was founded in 2006 and the aim of Project Crash was to create something daring, optimistic and new in difficult economic times. The labels were inspired by pop artist, Roy Lichtenstein and each box contains six different labels, designed to give a sense of fun. Eye-catching? Certainly. But what about the wine? The company has succeeded in producing a great value wine and comparable in quality with wine from any other region in Spain. They work to the highest levels of quality, not only at the winery, but also in the vineyard. All the grapes are estate grown and hand harvested before vinification takes place in glass lined concrete vats. Each grape variety is vinified separately and the wines are tasted regularly before the final blend is selected.
The wine has no oak ageing and it intensely fruity and almost chewy. A blend of Tempranillo, Syrah, Garnacha and Garnacha Tintorera, it has aromas of ripe and dried fruits and on the palate is rich, velvety and full flavoured with a long silky smooth finish. Enjoy it with stuffed aubergines, grilled lamb, roasts, cheese or just with friends!! Crash was the wine selected to be served at the private viewing of Roy Lichtenstein’s exhibition at the Tate Modern in London earlier this year. At just £10.45 a bottle, this really is a wine worth trying. The labels may well divide opinion, but there is no doubt that they are innovative and eye catching. Inside the bottle is a modern feel-good wine for enjoying at any time.
The Wine Cellar Autumn Tastings are just around the corner. Please send your up-to-date email address or call in to the shop in Tennis Road to collect your invitation. See www.thewinecellar.im for dates
The Wine Cellar • Tennis Road • Douglas • IM2 3QW Telephone: 01624 611793 • Email: anne@thewinecellar.im
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travel
No. 52607/No.E2390
Travel
some awesome Manx sheep, the Isle of man is also home to a massive
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travel
because quality matters
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travel
Falcon Drives Ltd recently launched on the Isle of Man - will seamlessly organise and escort you throughout your luxury European driving experience. You, your treasured vehicle and friends will enjoy and soak up Europe’s very best hotels, gastronomy, driving roads and scenery. With our unique portfolio of drives including the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, Isle of Man, Ireland, London to Portugal, and London to Portofino on the Italian Riviera. We aspire to fulfil your every driving desire. Fabulous dinners and predinner drinks are included with breakfasts, served on the best terraces in Europe. Your travel itinerary has been thoughtfully compiled so that your every need is met, including a bespoke luggage service; should you require it. Working alongside Martin Chisholm and his experienced team at www.martinchisholm. com, we have the facility to provide trasportation of your treasured vehicle back to the UK from any of our European destinations. Assisted and hosted by Pamela Burns and Kim Sellers, you are invited to join us on our forthcoming ”drive of a lifetime”, on what promises to be the most scenic and fun adventure of the season. You will experience five exhilarating days of European driving starting at one of Berkshire’s greatest houses, Cliveden, and finishing in the exclusive bay of Portofino, Italy, where you will enjoy finish line cocktails on board MY Falcon. An optional start to this amazing trip could include a sumptuous dinner and night’s stay at Cliveden for a private audience with the Jette Parker Young Artists of the Royal Opera House. All of this whilst listening to world-class opera, performed in solos and duets by soprano Dusisa Bijelic, tenor David Butt Philip and baritone Michel de Souza, accompanied by Paul Wingfield on the piano in Cliveden’s Great Hall. What better way to celebrate the start and meet your fellow hosts and travelling companions.
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London to Italy
a journey like no other... London to Portofino October 2013 Total kilometres over 5 Days: 1572 km / Total Time Driving: 18hrs 30 minutes Day 1
Monday 7th October 2013 Cliveden Manor, Berkshire, UK
Commencing at 10am from Cliveden, you will meet your hosts and travelling companions for the ensuing week ahead. After light refreshments and welcome introductions, the flag goes down at 11.30am sharp! There will be a 35 minute crossing on the Folkestone Eurotunnel before driving onto Epernay, Northern France’ ‘the “entrepôt” for Champagne wines’. Here you will spend your first night at the distinguished Relais & Chateaux Le Royal Champagne, a hotel, set amidst lush vineyards, and home to no fewer than 280 exceptional brut and rose vintages. Moët et Chandon, L’Orangerie will be your hosts this evening, where you will enjoy an exquisite champagne dinner. Day 2
Tuesday 8th October Bad Ragaz Hotel, Switzerland
From the graceful tranquillity of Epernay, your journey continues through the ‘soaring’ heights of the Swiss Alps before reaching your second night’s destination, where a wonderful evening meal awaits you at the palatial Grand Resort Bad Ragaz – and home to a 12,800 square-metre spa - one of Europe’s largest. Day 3
Wednesday 9th October Villa De Este, Lake Como, Italy
Today’s drive through the Stelvio Pass – one of the highest at 2,757M is one of the world’s most breath taking and dramatic mountain passes in the European Alps. Top Gear voted this the best driving road in the world.
Your journey transports you to the majestic splendour of Lake Como where you will spend the night and indulge in yet another fabulous dinner at Villa d’Este; hailed one of the best hotels in the world. Day 4
Thursday 10th October Portofino Bay, Italy
Departing Lake Como, you travel south – via Milano and Piacenza, to Bobbio - a charming village in the heart of the Trebbia river valley. From here, you travel onto Portofino Bay, where for the next two nights, you will be guests at the fabulous Hotel Splendido, on the Italian Riviera. Private “Finish Line” canapé & cocktails will be served on MY Falcon in the bay of Portofino to mark the end of a wonderful driving experience. You are then free to enjoy any of the fabulous restaurants and pizzeria’s in the bay at your leisure this evening. Day 5
Friday 11th October Portofino Bay, Italy
The fifth and final day is yours to relax and enjoy the panoramic splendour of Portofino Bay. The day will conclude with a stylish, fun last night dinner and farewell to new found driving companions on the terraces of Hotel Splendido. isle of man premier magazine
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The price per team of two double or sharing includes: • 5 night’s accommodation in 5* hotels, twin or double share. • Private cocktail party on board the Falcon yacht. • Gastronomic dinners on four nights. • Pre-dinner drinks each night. • Welcome refreshments at Cliveden. • Finale dinner on the terraces of Hotel Splendido. • Eurotunnel outbound and flexi-return tickets. • Personal daily luggage service. • Photographer thoughtout the trip capturing your adventures. • Drivers packs including quality road maps and directions.
Kim Sellers will be one of your hosts throughout this adventure. If you would like to reserve a team place in this highly anticipated event or simply request more information, please do not hesitate to contact Kim anywhere on + 44 77721 48463 or by email kim@falcon-drives.com or Pamela on +44 7624 375111
A journey like no other
London to Italy in 5 days Come and join us on our scenic drive to Portofino Contact Kim Sellers • E: kim@falcon-drives.com • T: +44(0)7772 14 84 63 • www.falcon-drives.com
because quality matters
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ROCOCO VENICE IMPERIAL ROME
So, you’ve done the long-haul destination for this year, you don’t really fancy a beach and you’re in desperate need of visit are the Colosseum, Catacombs and Sistine Chapel. Holidays aren’t for some fun in the sun this autumn. Where to go on holiday? the queuing!
J
ust a two-hour flight away from the UK mainland, and perhaps one of the most culturally fascinating countries in Europe, is Italy. The home of art and culture, fashion, and food and wine you just won’t be able to get enough of, here are just a few good reasons why we think a city break to Venice or Rome should be on your ‘to do’ list… Good things are worth a little effort. This seems to be the mantra of Venice’s Airport and, to a lesser extent, its train station. So, whether you’re flying in or stepping off the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, you’ll be pleased to have an escorted arrival, with a car to the dock (at the airport only) and then a private boat to whisk you off to the pier of your luxury hotel. Once on terra firma – or as close as you can be on this floating city – you have over 100 islands, joined by over 400 bridges, to get out and explore. For first time visitors to the Queen of the Adriatic, it has to be iconic St Mark’s Square and, for a bird’s eye view of the city, head up the Bell Tower. Aim to go late on in the day when the queues have died down and you can fulfill your ‘David Bailey’ aspirations by capturing sunset over Venice.
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Better still, why not book a helicopter tour to get a unique, aerial perspective on the Islands of Venice? If you’re returning to the city having been previously, try heading further afield to the Islands of Murano and Burano – long famed for their glass and lace making respectively – and witness demonstrations of these art forms by highly skilled craftsmen. As night falls, probably one of the most well-known haunts in Venice is Harry’s Bar. Trust us, it’s still worth walking in the footsteps of Hemingway, Welles and Capote for one of its famed Bellinis – or two! For a more traditional trattoria, try ‘Alla Madonna’, just steps from the Rialto Bridge on Calle della Madonna. There, a warm old-fashion Venetian welcome awaits and you can try local specialties including Cuttlefish. Reservations are recommended. And if you can’t decide, relax! You can cross that bridge when you come to it, which in Venice will be very soon. So, from the North East to the West coast now, and where to begin with the Eternal City of Rome? Stepping out from your luxury hotel, there’s so much to see and do, much of it just a short stroll away. Being a tourist Mecca, it’s well worth pre-booking your private tours and entrance tickets to historical sites, with priority queue access. Definitely worth a
If you’ve ever dreamt of being Russell Crowe, why not learn how to be a Gladiator? We promise you, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in this stunning city! After all this excitement, you deserve to dine in splendour and so why not choose the three Michelin starred Ristorante de Pergola? However, for a more fun and perhaps epicurean adventure, why not head to Il Vero Alfredo on Piazza Augusto Imperatore and sample their justifiably famous ‘Fettuccine Alfredo’? Again, reservations are recommended. Rome is without doubt made for exploring, and the best time to do this is of an evening when the crowds have dispersed and you can reach one of the city’s most culturally historic landmarks, the beautiful Trevi Fountain. Why not follow tradition and throw in a coin to ensure you return? With easy flight access and high quality, high-speed rail links between them, Italy’s cities make perfect destinations in their own right, or can be combined for your very own Grand Tour. Holidays and short breaks to the Italian cities can be booked through Richmond Travel in Douglas, & Mann Link Travel in Ramsey.
isle of man premier magazine
Isle of Man | Home & Interiors | September 2013
The best place to find a new place in the Isle of Man
2
5
2
4
£449,000 BRADDA ROAD PORT ERIN
This stunning coastal residence is enviably located, enjoying some of the most magnificent panoramic sea/coastal views in the south of the Island. The fabulous sweep from the Calf of Man all the way through to Langness is enjoyed from the majority of rooms and most especially from the wonderfully situated terraces.
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Isle of Man Premier magazine
places
www.harmonyhomes.co.im
FEATURE PROPERTY
This semi-detached property sits above road level in carefully landscaped, easily maintained gardens, which allows for the views to be fully enjoyed in privacy. With five good sized bedrooms and two modern bathrooms, along with a 27’ lounge/dining room, study and 25’ breakfast kitchen, Felstead is decorated and modernised to a very high standard, offering ample room for the family along with plenty of entertaining space. The stunning modern breakfast kitchen boasts an excellent range of high quality contemporary wall and base units, along with stainless steel fitted appliances and a double sink set into the feature Corian topped island. At over 27’ the lounge/ dining room, which looks out over the breathtaking sea and rural views, is a very versatile space, perfect for family get-togethers as well as for entertaining on a much larger scale.
“This stunning coastal residence is enviably located, enjoying some of the most magnificent panoramic sea/coastal views in the south of the Island”
Upstairs, the master bedroom with its good range of builtin furniture, has a large bay window to make the most of the wonderful views over the bay area. Both good sized bathrooms are fitted with baths and showers to help meet modern family needs. Viewings are highly recommended on this well-appointed coastal residence, offering generous family living accommodation and magnificent views.
Viewings are highly recommended on this comprehensive and impressive family home. Call our PORT ERIN OFFICE 0n 835252
because quality matters
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The best place to find a new place in the Isle of Man ELEANORA DRIVE - DOUGLAS
2
3
2
£435,000
4
An attractive and well positioned end of terrace house offering appealing accommodation with character, situated in a desirable residential area. The property has a sitting room with a bay window overlooking the front garden and a feature fireplace with slate hearth incorporating a log burner. There is also a lounge/dining room which has a feature ‘Cast’ fire surround with an attractive tiled inset and grate hearth. The open plan breakfast kitchen is a light and spacious room with double French doors to the rear garden and also includes a feature inset contemporary electric fire. There are three double bedrooms, bedroom one has a feature fire surround and original ‘Grate’ cradle and an en-suite shower room. There is also a family bathroom. Outside there is a garage, along with an attractive front and rear garden. The rear garden has mature shrubs and a paved patio with a pergola area and also benefits from a productive vegetable garden with apple and plum trees and a large ornamental pond with fountain.
01624 616200
www.harmonyhomes.co.im
COLDEN ROAD - DOUGLAS
2
01624 616200
www.harmonyhomes.co.im
3
£369,500
1
4
This deceptively spacious detached house is situated in a quiet residential area within a short walking distance of the finance sector and town centre. The well presented accommodation has a generously sized sitting room and separate dining room. The modern kitchen is fitted with an excellent range of natural wood finish and shaker style matching cupboards. There are three bedrooms, bedroom one is a double room with twin velux double glazed roof/wall windows and generously sized wardrobes with sliding doors. There is also a recently refitted family bathroom with dual aspect windows. Outside there is an easily maintained front garden which is screened with mature hedging, coloured flowers and shrubs. To the rear there is a paved yard with gated access. A concrete vehicle hard standing provides access to an electrically controlled integral garage.
Supply & Installation of Ceramic, Natural Stone or Porcelain Wall/Floor Tiles and Wooden Flooring. Brand new tiles - Vanity units - Luxury bathroom supplier. Only mid-to-high-end range of tiles on offer at affordable prices. Spanish & Italian tile Adhesives and ranges in stock: grouts in stock: Argenta Ardex Baldocer Granfix Cifre Mapei Marazzi Sovereign Porcelanosa Ragno Venis, and many others Everything sold at trade price for all customers
Isle of Man Tile Company
Tel: 677754
iomtileco@manx.net Unit 14 | Hills Meadow | Peel Road | Douglas | IM1 5EB
QUAYLES PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
ATTENTION LANDLORDS Tenant enquiries continue to exceed expectation and we urgently require quality two, three & four bedroom rental properties in all areas and price ranges.
LANDLORDS contact Michelle on 333980 for an informal chat about your property, our first class service and competitive rates. TENANTS call us now on 622320 to discuss your requirements or check out our expanding range of properties online at
quayles.co.im View our full Island wide property selection at quayles.co.im
The French are known for their exquisite cuisine, so who understands kitchens better?
Indulge yourself in French luxury and meet your Mobapla specialist on your doorstep, here in the Isle of Man Tyne Ltd/U 11 Balthane-Park Ind Est Ballasalla | Isle of Man | IM9 2AX Tel: 07624 437818 | 01624 822 712 www.isle_of_man.mobalpa.co.uk
places
Tree Trunk - Photowall
Treasured photos and fabrics can easily and affordably be transformed into striking wall coverings, which tell a story about your life and style. With wallpaper enjoying a revival, the choice of classic or new designs is certainly vast, but there’s another option that could make your walls special; choosing your own images to create unique papers.
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It’s affordable and easy, because one of the most notable wallpaper trends right now is for bespoke designs, with companies using cutting-edge technology to create high-quality wallpaper based on a picture or item you’ve fallen in love with, a
compilation of beloved family photos, or just one striking holiday snap for a mural. What better use for those beautiful photos which in most cases never graduate to an album and instead spend an eternity stored on a computer or mobile?
isle of man premier magazine
places
Denim - Mr Perswall
‘Life On A Wall’ turns photo collections into collage-style wallpaper, offering a choice of three design formats classic, random and grid. You simply submit your hi-res photos via the website and you’re sent a proof of the design to approve before it’s printed. Swedish company ‘Photowall’ also produces unique wallpaper and wall murals. Customers can either upload their own image to the site, or choose from the website’s catalogue, which includes iconic skylines, tropical paradise scenes, maps and much more. Travel and holiday snaps are among the most popular photos customers choose
Penguin Classics vintage - Space Innovation
Grid style photo collage - Life On A Wall
to have transformed, as well as treasured photos of their children and family. Bespoke wallpaper ART isn’t all about the modern age of digital photography, though. In fact, for some it’s an opportunity to revisit bygone eras. UK design and print specialist ‘Space Innovation’ offers a range of bespoke print and wallpaper/murals services, which includes bringing vintage designs back to life. This could be a vintage wallpaper design no longer in production, or the cover of a book, or even the print on a fabric - the possibilities are endless. They also have access to a fabric archive from Warner
Kids Bathroom vintage - Space Innovation
Lunar Rocket from the Warner Textiles Archive Space Innovation
Fabrics, which it can use to create wall coverings ranging from space odysseys with rockets to classic toile de jouy. Another supplier, ‘Mr Perswall’, has a Nostalgia collection designed to trigger memories as well as a pop design range featuring 20th century style icons including Bridget Bardot, Sean Connery, Bob Dylan and Jackie Onassis. Alternatively, the company can transform old letters, beautiful lace, favourite record sleeves, photos, or children’s drawings into a memorable wall covering.
Favourite Frock - Space Innovation.
Creatively Different www.creativelydifferentblinds.com Life On A Wall www.lifeonawall.co.uk Mr Perswall www.mrperswall.co.uk Photowall www.photowall.co.uk Space Innovation www.spaceinnovation.co.uk Vintage Jigsaw - Space Innovation
because quality matters
Vintage Rugby memorabilia - Space Innovation
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The best place to find a new place in the Isle of Man DOUGLAS AVENUE - DOUGLAS
2
4
2
£319,500
4
A spacious and well presented semi detached house situated in a delightful and quiet location just five minutes drive to the town centre. The property is also close to local amenities, bus routes, shops and schools. There are two generously sized reception rooms, a modern fitted kitchen with appliances, as well as three well decorated double bedrooms. The family bathroom has recently been refitted and has a double shower. There is also a games room which could also be used as a fourth bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. The property has an integral garage, plus off street parking to the front and side and beautiful tendered gardens - Inspection “a must”.
01624 616200
www.harmonyhomes.co.im
TYNWALD ROAD - PEEL
2
01624 845252
www.harmonyhomes.co.im
6
£379,950
2
4
An impressive Victorian link detached residence which has been refurbished throughout to an exceptionally high standard. The property consists of a spacious lounge which has two timber framed original design bay windows which overlook the decorative front garden. The lounge also has a feature fireplace with quarry tiled inserts and incorporating a log burning stove. There is a dining/sitting room which has a large timber window which overlooks the rear courtyard; a contemporary dining kitchen with a door leading to a sun porch and onto the rear garden. There are also six bedrooms, a family bathroom and shower room. Outside you will find a garage to the rear with easy access parking and a mature, well maintained garden with views of Peel Hill, the sea, castle and south facing patio.
The B&B 35 Year
Anniversary Sale
Time for a change in the bedroom... ‘Attraction’ by Nolte
Tel 627692 | www.bbfurniture.co.uk
Find us on Twitter and Facebook Snugborough Trading Estate | Isle of Man | IM4 4LH Mon-Fri: 9am - 5:30pm | Saturday: 9am - 4:30pm | Sunday: 2pm - 4pm
The best place to find a new place in the Isle of Man WESLEY TERRACE - DOUGLAS
2
4
1
£214,995
4
A characterful mid terraced town house which has been priced competitively for a quick sale. The property consists of a sitting room, plus a lounge/diner which has a feature surround fireplace and French doors to the delightful rear yard and a spacious breakfast kitchen. There are three double bedrooms and a family bathroom with a corner shower and panelled bath on the first floor. There is a further bedroom (4)/attic room on the second floor which has attractive exposed beams, currently being used as an artist studio. Outside there is a front garden with plant and shrub beds and a rear garden with a polycarbonate panelled covered utility area and decorative pergola archway with shrub and plant beds.
01624 616200
www.harmonyhomes.co.im
Mill House -Glen Mooar, Ramsey
2
3
4
£575,000
4
A unique country residence situated in a secluded and idyllic glen setting with beautiful grounds including a stream and waterfalls. The main house boasts two bedrooms, two reception rooms and three bathrooms. There is also a large kitchen diner which has been extended into the conservatory, a utility room and store room. In addition to the house there is also a converted Mill which could be used as an ideal annexe. The Mill offers stunning living accommodation which includes a large bedroom and ensuite and is just a short walk away from the beach. There is also an option to rent the main house and grounds for £1250 PCM.
01624 818222
www.harmonyhomes.co.im
places
RUMANA SWINTON
RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL DESIGN
“ ”
I couldn’t have been happier with the finished result. Ideas need direction and know how and that’s what Rumana has in spades. James Toseland PRIVATE CLIENT
Rumana Swinton is the Residential & Commercial Designer responsible for creating some of the Islands most distinctive Interiors. She has a signature style which reflects her extensive background in Fine Art and Theatrical Set Design. Rumana grew up in an artistic family, with both of her grandparents being established Watercolour Artists and her father, David Swinton, a successful Sculpture and Painter. Rumana’s brother, Graeme, who also grew up on the Island, runs an award winning design studio based in Bristol, which has been responsible for website designs and campaigns for artist such as Kylie Minogue, David Bowie, The Kills, Nick Cave and Girls Aloud. www.palace.co Rumana said: “Being brought up within an artistic family encouraged me to explore many varied art forms, it has enabled me to gain exposure to different creative practices which influence my work today”.
“ ”
With an already established Private Client portfolio, Rumana’s Commercial works to date include:The Boatyard, Peel IMGold Private Bank, Douglas Downtown, Douglas Swiss House, Bar & Grill, Glen Helen Hexagon Private Offices, Douglas The Bradda Glen, Port Erin The Courthouse, Douglas (final decorations and dressing)
Rumana has successfully collaborated with Heron & Brearley, creating bespoke interiors for: The Horse & Plough, Douglas The Railway, Douglas The Embassy Function Room, Douglas The British, Douglas The Central, Ramsey The Bridge, Douglas
“Commercial Design gives me the freedom to push the boundaries of interior design and the opportunity to create imaginative environments which bring about the collaboration of materials, colour, functionality and form” said Rumana. Rumana Swinton Design offers a complete design solution, creating bespoke interiors which fully reflect all styles of interior architecture. Her experience enables her to oversee any level of project from conception through to completion. For further information hello@rumana.co.uk www.rumana.co.uk
Rumana is now working with us on our third restaurant design. She is able to grasp our ideas and turn them into fantastic Restaurant Concepts. Joan Mowat mD of tanroagan, Swiss house & the boatyard
because quality matters
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The best place to find a new place in the Isle of Man CARRICK BAY VIEW - COLBY
3
4
3
£750,000
4
A spacious and well appointed true bungalow enjoying far reaching Southern views. The property consists of two generously sized reception rooms - both of which have doors leading into the conservatory, a sitting room with dual aspect windows with views over the South of the island towards Port St Mary, a breakfast kitchen, utility room and a double glazed glass roof conservatory leading to a paved terrace and garden. The property also has four double bedrooms (two en-suite) and a family bathroom. Outside there is a tarmacadam driveway with parking and turning areas which provide access to the double garage and attached garden store. The grounds of the property extend to approximately 3/4 acres. There is also a large timber summer house, decked patio, greenhouse and timber implement shed. To the side of the property is a substantial, gated hard standing suitable for motor home or boat parking.
01624 835252
www.harmonyhomes.co.im
Ballamanaugh Road -Sulby
3
01624 818222
www.harmonyhomes.co.im
4
£499,950
2
4
Primrose Cottage is an immaculately presented detached country house situated within a sought after location in Sulby, adjacent to the Ballamanaugh Estate. The property is located within a short distance of the Sulby Glen Hotel, Post Office, convenience store and the highly regarded Sulby Primary School, with Ramsey still only a 5 minute drive away. The light and spacious property enjoys pleasant views over adjacent farmland and the beautifully manicured gardens. The property retains many features of a traditional Manx farmhouse, whilst complimented by a modern and spacious interior. The accommodation comprises of three reception rooms, a breakfast kitchen, utility room, four double bedrooms (master en-suite and dressing room), cloakroom and a newly fitted family bathroom. Outside there is parking for five vehicles (PP granted for a detached two car garage) and approximately ¼ acres of private landscaped gardens. Current asking price is a reduction of £100,000 from the original price.
You’ll know when it’s time to move on Need a bigger house? An Isle of Man Bank mortgage could be the key! Whether the family’s growing or you’re just moving up the ladder, our product options could give you an up front saving of at least £999 or help you enjoy a lower interest rate and you’ll have your own specialist mortgage adviser to help you every step of the way. Just call in to any branch for details.
Call in to any branch
iombank.com
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YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.
Isle of Man Bank Limited (IOMB). Registered Company Number: 1 Isle of Man. Registered Office: 2 Athol Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM99 1AN. Licensed by the Financial Supervision Commission of the Isle of Man and registered with the Insurance and Pensions Authority in respect of general business. Over 18’s only. Security required.
places
Heritage Homes receives two industry awards at UK Property Awards for its Ballanard Woods luxury homes Local property developer, Heritage Homes, is amongst the winning companies of the esteemed UK Property Awards in the 2013 regional competition. Heritage Homes competed against a number of developers in the North West region to receive two awards for Ballanard Woods on the outskirts of Douglas. The executive development received the overall award for ‘Architecture Multiple Residence’ along with ‘Architecture Single Residence’ for The Henley, a six bedroom home of more than 9,000 sq.ft. Heritage Homes’ managing director, Seamus Nugent, said: “Our ability to secure exclusive locations and create homes which will meet the lifestyle requirements of all of our customers for years to come is central to our approach. To come away with not one, but two awards in the North West category at this prestigious industry event is a resounding endorsement of the attention to detail and commitment to quality we pride ourselves on across the company.” Representatives of Heritage Homes have been invited to attend a high-profile gala and presentation dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on October 18th, where the winning companies will learn which honours they have secured. The top scoring winners who will go on to compete
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in the International Property Awards global competition will be announced at the close of the evening. The UK Property Awards are part of the long-established International Property Awards and rank amongst the most prestigious commendations in the residential and commercial property sectors. A high-calibre jury of international experts identifies the most significant building projects as well as the highest quality UK estate agencies, property consultants and industry websites and marketing campaigns.
“
Our ability to secure exclusive locations and create homes which will meet the lifestyle requirements of all of our customers for years to come is central to our approach.
”
Isle of Man premier magazine
places
Words | Hannah Stephen
It’s action stations for Autumn It’s time to ease yourself out of the deckchair and put on your gardening gloves because autumn is almost upon us, and with it, a plethora of tasks to wake you from your summer slumber. There’s a host of jobs to do to get ahead this autumn, so make the most of the last warm days by perking up your plants, then enjoy the season change as the leaves turn from green to brilliant shades of warm yellow, burnt orange and burgundy.
Here’s just a few of the tasks you could be doing to get a head start:
Boost your lawn Autumn is a great time to sow a new lawn, when the ground is still warm and there is likely to be some rain. You should have prepared the soil the previous season, making sure it has been well firmed and settled before levelling. Mark out your area and sow the seed evenly, scattering it in both directions before raking it into the soil surface. If it doesn’t rain, water the seed well and keep the soil moist until the grass starts to appear. Net the area or put up a scarecrow to keep birds away.
Patio Plants When your summer bedding is past its best and beyond reviving, chuck it out and treat yourself to a fresh batch of winterflowering pansies, evergreens and shrubs including autumn heather, Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ and variegated ivy to drape over the sides. Plant bulbs, such as dwarf narcissi underneath. Springflowering bulbs in pots combine well with winter bedding plants such as pansies, evergreens, grasses and heathers. Group taller bulbs in the centre of the pot and use seasonal bedding nearer the sides.
If you have bare patches, mow the lawn, rake the surface to remove debris then spread seed over the sparse areas, sweeping it into the surface, before covering it with a fine layer of compost and watering it in.
Order bulbs
You should be ordering your spring bulbs now. Among the first spring bulbs for planting are narcissi, both in the border and in containers. Others for planting in early autumn include muscari, crocus, iris and hyacinth. Plant dwarf bulbs in your patio pots underneath winter-flowering pansies and foliage-fillers including euonymus and ivies. Plant your bulbs in gritty compost and place pots on feet to avoid the bulbs becoming waterlogged from the bottom.
Best of the bunch - Rudbeckia Summer may be almost over, but zingy rudbeckias keep flower borders bright, with their daisy-like flowers and chocolate brown centres, blending beautifully as the colours in the garden change.
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These eye-catching, robust perennials are known as coneflowers because their petals hang down, making the dark central cone extremely prominent. They can grow from 60cm (24in) to 180cm (72in) tall, so there is one for every situation, but taller varieties may need staking. They are easy to grow, thriving almost anywhere in full sun and a reasonably fertile, moist soil. Some will also do well in partial shade. Smaller types such as R. fulgida deamii are ideal used in fiery displays with crocosmias
De-clutter shed Now’s the time to clear out those cracked and broken pots, rusty tools and snapped bamboo canes to make some space for yourself. Invest in a tool rack from any good DIY store on which to hang your forks, spades, lawn edgers and other large tools which will otherwise take up valuable floor space. Disinfect and neatly pile seed trays which won’t be used until next year and give your hand tools a good clean, wiping blades over with an oily rag before prolonged storage.
and red-hot pokers, while larger types such as R. ‘Herbstsonne’ do well at the back of a border and act as a foil for wall-trained lateflowering clematis. Other good varieties include R. fulgida sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’, which has so many flowers it has almost a solid effect, and R. fulgida speciosa. Many flower right through to October and once flowering is over, cut the plants down to ground level in late autumn. isle of man premier magazine
The best place to find a new place in the Isle of Man PLANTATION ROAD - PORT ST MARY
3
4
2
£415,000
4
This lovely and spacious detached family home is set in a lovely area of Port St Mary, enjoying rural views towards Bradda Head and within walking distance to all village amenities. The property consists of a large lounge, spacious sunny dining room with large bay window, sun room and breakfast kitchen with Aga and four double bedrooms. In addition to this there are two attic rooms and two shower rooms. The property enjoys good sized well maintained gardens, the rear being south facing and well stocked with mature shrubs and four apple trees. There is also a timber shed, store, covered car port and parking for approximately four vehicles.
01624 835252
www.harmonyhomes.co.im
CROIT E CALEY - COLBY
3
01624 835252
www.harmonyhomes.co.im
4
£700,000
3
4
A spacious detached dormer bungalow (non estate) which is well planned and beautifully presented, enjoying delightful rural and distant sea views. There are three generous reception rooms and a recently refitted breakfast kitchen, four bedrooms (one with en-suite and dressing room), a family bathroom and two cloakrooms. Outside adjacent to the driveway is a separate three single garage block, with parking bays and car port to the rear offering either additional garage space, income potential (renting) or potential building plot subject to obtaining necessary approvals. The front of the property has a driveway with parking for approximately six vehicles which provides access to the integral garage and rear garden with a greenhouse, timber shed and fruit trees.
Offshore Business
News
events
Comments
Issue 3
2013
The Art of Effective Meetings Investments and Wellington Boots Finance - the retail distribution review - the island approach Technology - The end is nigh CSR - to give or not to give Plus - Money talks, island of culture, working lunches thrive, appointments
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In the Agenda...
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KEY CONTACTS EDITORIAL & DESIGN Steve Redford DD : (+44) 7624 249249 steve@agenda.im
ADVERTISING SALES Rachel Morris DD: (+44) 7624 209726 rachel@agenda.im
CLIENT RELATIONS Laura Macgregor DD: (+44) 7624 249249 Laura@agenda.im Disclaimer: All rights reserved. Any form of reproduction of Agenda Isle of Man 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 Agenda 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.
Investments and Wellington Boots
Retail Distribution Review
contents In The News ................................................. .. 92
Henry Bloom Anniversary Year .... 108
Creechurch Capital .................................. . 96
Royal London 360 ................................. .. 110
Retail Distribution Review .................. 98
The Art of Effective Meetings ......... 112
Island of Culture ...................................... 100
Money Talks ................................................ 114
The End is Nigh ..................................... ... 102
The Claremont Hotel ............................. 115
Manx Telecom ............................................ 104
Working Lunches Thrive .................... 116
To Give or Not To Give ........................ 106
Appointments ............................................ 118
To give or Not to give
112
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The Art of Effective Meetings
62 91
In The News
SBOBET Partners with five English Premier League clubs
Celton Manx Executive Director - Bill Mummery
Celton Manx Isle of Man, as operator of the global online sports book SBOBET, has signed contracts with five Premier League clubs to be their official Asian betting partner for the 2013-2014 season: Hull City, Norwich City, Southampton, Swansea City and West Ham United. The agreement will see the SBOBET brand promoted on the Premier League clubs’ LED pitch-side perimeter advertising hoardings during all home games. The Premier League is broadcast across 212 territories, reaching an audience approaching five billion, providing SBOBET with a total of more than 1000 minutes of global advertising exposure across the season. Celton Manx executive director Bill Mummery said: ‘These signings illustrate the growth of and respect for the trusted SBOBET brand in the Asia region where it is recognised as the leading online sports book. ‘These agreements also demonstrate our commitment to continue building mutually beneficial relationships with the Premier League clubs, which most recently saw SBOBET enjoy a four-year partnership as principal sponsor of West Ham United, which forms part of our commitment for the 2013-2014 season. ‘These mutually beneficial commercial arrangements also provide SBOBET, as a company with a strong sense of corporate responsibility, an opportunity to work with the clubs in supporting their community and charitable initiatives. ‘The 2013-2014 Premier League season promises to be a very exciting one and we are proud to partner with so many highly regarded clubs.’
Organisations invited to participate in Employment and Skills 2013 Organisations from across the Isle of Man’s economy are being invited to participate in Employment and Skills 2013, the largest local event highlighting potential career and training opportunities for young people. The event takes place on Tuesday 26th November at the Villa Marina, Douglas and is jointly hosted by the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Education and Children. Tony Wild MLC, Political Member for the Department of Economic Development with responsibility for Employment and Skills said: ‘This event is primarily targeted at the Isle of Man’s students and school leavers who are keen to find out more about the kind of opportunities that exist in the Isle of Man and the skills required to exploit them, but is also open to anyone seeking to extend their skills or look for new opportunities and career options. ‘This year’s event will feature a dedicated ‘skills zone’ where those attending can experience firsthand some of the softer skills required to be successful in the jobs market. ‘We welcome companies and associations from the private, public and third sectors to the event. Contact: MeShell Berry on: 01624 693830 or meshell.berry@gov.im
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Creechurch Capital scoops shortlist place in prestigious international awards Creechurch Capital has been shortlisted for a prestigious Citywealth International Financial Centre Award. This comes hot-on-the-heels of the firm scooping the ‘best in class’ accolade for boutique wealth manager from Professional Adviser Magazine.
CEO at Creechurch Capital - John Greenwood
The investment boutiquehas been shortlisted in the ‘Isle of Man Investment Management Company of the Year’ category. Now in their third year, the awards celebrate the excellence of the advisors and managers in the private wealth sector, highlighting the quality of their work in the international marketplace. Coincidentally, Creechurch Capital has also grown from strength-to-strength over the past three years, having met its three-year target with six months to spare and added £150m of private client assets in the past 12 months. John Greenwood, CEO at Creechurch Capital, commented: “It is hugely flattering and also humbling to receive industry recognition at this level, particularly given the fact that we are only halfway through our initial five-year business plan. “The achievement of receiving this shortlist position is testament to the hard work and unwavering dedication of the entire team who have made our business targets a reality and worked to surpass all of the initial ambitions for the business. “I’m extremely proud of the achievement and also delighted to be flying the flag for the Isle of Man as an International Financial Centre that projects excellence on a global stage.”
Potential of local Clean Tech sector highlighted
Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) Isle of Man ICSA prize-winners and graduates will be celebrated at the ICSA Annual Dinner and prize-giving on Friday 20 September. The event, sponsored by RBS International, takes place at Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club, Santon, and also features Germaine Greer appearing as the after-dinner guest speaker.
The 2013 Energy Expo highlighted the significant potential that exists in the Clean Tech sector for the creation of economic development opportunities in the Isle of Man. That was the view of Laurence Skelly MHK, Political Member for the Department of Economic Development, who made the opening address at a clean technology networking event at the recent Energy Expo. He commented: ‘I believe that the move to a low carbon economy will create significant economic development opportunities in the Clean Tech sector. The Department is looking to attract inward investment and grow the Isle of Man’s Clean Tech and Energy sectors, which complement our other high value added business sectors. ‘A recent report prepared by KPMG for the Department of Economic Development confirmed that the local clean tech sector is expecting continued significant growth. The Department wants to work closely with local businesses to ensure this potential growth is delivered and that the Isle of Man benefits economically.’ ‘These aims are also in alignment with the Isle of Man’s energy policy which commits the Government to maintaining the security of our energy supply, securing the efficient use of affordable energy and minimising the impact of our energy use on the Environment. ‘To help ensure these aims are achieved the Isle of Man Government are also investigating new legislation to enable low interest loans for funding energy efficiency improvements in domestic properties.’ The networking event also featured a presentation from Richard Thompson, Business Development Manager for Williams Advanced Engineering, the technology commercialisation arm of Formula 1 race team Williams. Additionally at the well-attended Expo, the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Environment Forestry & Agriculture conducted an Energy Efficiency Loan survey receiving a total of over 80 responses. Surveys received were entered into a prize draw with the winner receiving a free Air Tightness Test on their home courtesy of Stroma NX with ISO QA Isle of Man Ltd donating three electronic timers as runners-up prizes. The winner was Mrs Gomme of Ballaugh, with the runners-up prizes going to Mr Cannell from Kirk Michael, Mr Moon from Douglas and Mrs Underwood from Onchan.
ICSA President David Venus and Guest Speaker - Germaine Greer Chief Executive Simon Osborne are to attend the dinner and David will present prizes and awards to students as part of the evening. Graduates including the February 2012 – February 2013 COFA/DOFA (Certificate and Diploma in Offshore Finance and Administration) and June 2012 to June 2013 CSQS (Chartered Secretaries Qualifying Scheme) will be included. Ron Berry has again kindly taken on the role of Master of Ceremonies. The evening will also include a charity raffle in support of the new dedicated breast care unit at Noble’s Hospital. Gillian Prestwich, ICSA Isle of Man Chairman, “The Dinner is a highlight of the ICSA’s year – a welcome opportunity to welcome the year’s graduates and celebrate our prize winners. We are delighted to welcome Germaine Greer as guest speaker and grateful to RBS International for their support, to Appleby for sponsoring the pre-dinner Drinks Reception and to our MC Ron Berry. “Companies often take the opportunity to take tables for staff to recognise the hard work and commitment shown by graduates and prize winners – we ask all places and tables to be reserved by Friday 6 September at the latest. With bookings already being received we encourage new bookings as early as possible.” Tickets (£50 each) and corporate tables please visit: www. icsa2013.eventbrite.com. For enquiries e-mail: gillianprestwich@ manx.net .
MannBenham win Law Firm of the Year, twice MannBenham advocates are pleased to announce that they have won the category of Isle of Man Law Firm of the Year in both the ACQ Global Awards 2013 and ICFM 2013 Law Awards. Commenting on the awards Miles Benham a director at MannBenham Advocates stated: “It’s a real credit to our team of lawyers to win not one but two awards in the category of Law Firm of the Year from two of the leading finance magazines. We have been working hard to position ourselves as a leading Isle of Man full service legal practice and these awards are testament to that achievement. Businesses today operate in a challenging market place and the Island’s business men and women have to comply with a complex raft of legislation and regulation. The perceived cost and time of obtaining legal advice inhibits a number of people from seeking advice and decisions can be made in ignorance of the legal issues involved.
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In The News
Manx Financial Group Posts Interim Results Manx Financial Group PLC, the AIM listed Isle of Man based financial services group, announced its interim results on Tuesday 19th August. The Group, which includes local businesses Conister Bank Limited and Edgewater Associates Limited, recorded a profit of £255,000 for the first six months of the year, an improvement of £822,000 on the same period for 2012. Conister Bank Limited, the Island’s only independent bank, grew 6 months earnings to over £1 million with its loan book growing 23% to £64.88 million. Overall, the Group’s financial highlights include a 367% increase on trading profit over 2012, a 44% increase in net interest income and a 23% increase in loans, instilling a degree of customer confidence which has resulted in an 18% increase in customer deposits. The Group is Manx based and majority Manx owned with over 88% of its employees being Island residents. Last year the Group contributed nearly £10 million to the Island’s national income, and embarked upon a cost reduction exercise aimed to complement significant growth in sustainable revenue.
Managing Director - Juan Kelly
Two Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Apprentice Engineers have successfully completed their shorebased training and will this month join the Company’s engineering department onboard the Ben-my-Chree.
Sales Director - Sandra Cardwell
Conister Bank’s Managing Director, Juan Kelly, stated: “Given the current evolution of the offshore banking sector here, more than ever the Isle of Man needs a strong domestic bank. We are committed to providing lending and deposit solutions to all of our community. Our success over recent months demonstrates the increasing demand from the Island’s small and medium sized businesses to secure flexible and responsive funding, which enables them to reinvest in their ventures and contribute further to the local economy. We feel this is best achieved through partnership with an organisation that possesses a detailed understanding of the Island’s economic subtleties and whose long term interests are fully aligned with those of the Isle of Man.” Edgewater Associates Limited improved its financial performance with earnings increasing 7.6 times over the same period last year. Edgewater’s Sales Director, Sandra Cardwell commented: “Our growth is customer service driven and we remain committed to being the Island’s market leader for the provision of independent financial advice. We have a strong, professional, well qualified IFA team which is now complemented by our general insurance division, which can offer tailored insurance solutions to both individuals and businesses alike. This comes as part of a constant focus on service development and on identifying the needs of the Island’s residents through local knowledge and expertise. It is this degree of understanding that has secured our offering over recent years and which enables us to successfully adapt to the Island’s maturing economy.” For more information on Manx Financial Group’s 2013 profile, visit www.mfg.im.
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SUCCESS FOR STEAM PACKET COMPANY ENGINEERING APPRENTICES
Jed Fisher, 20, from Ramsey and Michael Keeling, 20, from Ballabeg, have been working hard for four years to attain their ONC in Engineering, attending the Isle of Man College for one day each week and gaining practical experience at the Steam Packet Company’s Engineering Workshops. They have been working with trained Marine Engineers throughout their apprenticeship, learning skills such as machining and welding as well as working on the ferry Company vessel’s engines whenever they were in dry dock. Both Jed and Michael will now work within the Engineering department onboard the Ben-my-Chree as Junior Engineers. They are both determined to work towards their goal of becoming Chief Engineers. Jed explained: ‘Michael and I both aim to sit our Officer of the Watch ticket in the near future, before progressing to 3rd and 2nd tickets and so on until, eventually, we can sit our Chief ticket. This can take up to fifteen years to achieve, but it is something that we are both determined to accomplish.’ While Jed is the first in his family to pursue a career with the Steam Packet Company, for Michael the Company is already a part of his heritage. He explained: ‘My grandfather, Gordon Keeling, was formerly Tug Master Driver with the Steam Packet Company before he retired in 1989. Whilst my career path is a bit different, I’m glad that I am able to work for a company of which he was also proud to be a part.’ Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said: ‘We are very pleased for Jed and Michael and we’re delighted to welcome them as full-time employees. They have both done remarkably well and I am sure that they will prove a tremendous asset to our Engineering department. The Company is committed to securing the future of local talent and is focusing on a long term in-house training program approved by the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA). This will enable the Company to ensure that its future workforce have the skills which are not often readily available in the external job market.’
APPLEBY SHORTLISTED IN RECORD SEVEN CATEGORIES AT THE CITYWEALTH INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE AWARDS 2014 Appleby, a leading provider of offshore legal, fiduciary and administration services, has been shortlisted in a record seven categories for the Citywealth International Financial Centre Awards 2014, including ’Isle of Man Law Firm of the Year’ and ‘Isle of Man Trust Company of the Year’.
is evidence of the significant strength, expertise and high levels of innovation and service of our private client & trusts team.”
This is the first time that any offshore legal group has been shortlisted in so many categories for the Citywealth IFC Awards, which were established to highlight the excellence of advisers and managers in the private wealth sector across the major international financial centres. The winners will be judged, by an international panel of highly respected practitioners from across the private wealth sector, to have excelled in achievement, innovation, expertise and service.
The winners will be announced at an awards presentation evening on 23rd January 2014 at the Grange St Paul’s Hotel.
Sean Dowling, Managing Partner in Appleby (Isle of Man) LLC, added: “We greatly value this recognition by the judges for our private client work, which reinforces our leading position in the offshore legal market.”
For full shortlists, online voting and further information, please visit www.citywealthmag. com/international-financial-centre-awards.
Managing Partner - Saun Dowling
Commenting on the shortlist nominations John Rimmer, Partner at Appleby (Isle of Man) LLC, said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for these prestigious awards in a record number of categories, especially in the Isle of Man. This strong endorsement by practitioners worldwide
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Investment
WORDS
Arthur Molloy, Head of Private Wealth, Creechurch Private Wealth
Investments and wellington boots
How to invest - a magic formula? Sage of Omaha, the holy grail of investing is finding a quantitative and mechanical methodology based on a simple set of screening criteria that anybody can follow.
E
very investor wants to beat the stock market, but most of us are all too aware that this is something easier said than done.
Becoming a superior value investor like Warren Buffett is probably the best and most sustainable way to outperform index investing, but Buffett’s version of value investing requires years of experience and expertise in fundamental analysis – there’s no secret formula. Outside of the kind of investment prowess displayed by the
There have been lots of promises delivered via a plethora of readily available strategies and vehicles, but all too often those who have taken a bite are left bemused with mundane returns from assets with little or no human factor. Their use also goes against the grain of what we naturally want to use to navigate this increasingly, unnecessarily complex environment. Clever marketing claiming to have found the holy grail of investments adds to this confusion.
Keeping it simple At Creechurch we like to keep things simple. The creation of optimal investment portfolios can only flow through the application of a robust framework, which while may not automatically throw options away, does at a very early stage, identify a universe from which optimal investment portfolios can be populated in a sensible risk adjusted manner. The results yield relative certainty and avoid the onset of surprises as the investment landscape evolves and global financial markets continue to suffer through periods of volatility that come what may. As the thirty year bull market for bonds rapidly
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veers toward a fork in the road, we prefer to take some of those profit laden chips away and reorientate to assets providing yield and exposure to real world activities and assets. They deliver the negative correlation so cherished and simultaneously (on an individual basis) produce the kind of strong long-term returns that those risking capital should rightly expect.
And finally… As a father of three perhaps I’ll now take to donning my Hunters more often (coupled with an alternative slant to my pension plan, I may avail of the kind of luck bestowed upon Deborah Kendall, should it come to it!). Kendall, 33, was hit by lightning as she put her two-year-old daughter in her car but escaped with only pins and needles and cramp. The mother, who was struck by several million volts, told how doctors who treated her said it may have been because she was wearing her husband’s rubbersoled wellies at the time. Mrs Kendall put her wellies on before stepping outside with an umbrella to shelter husband David, 36, as he carried their two-year-old daughter to their car. She said: “We needed to get going, and it was absolutely pouring with rain. I only had little pumps on, so David said I should put his wellies on as my feet would get soaked otherwise”.
Finance
Retail Distribution Review: The Island’s Approach As of January 2014, the Isle of Man’s financial sector will be complying with brand new guidelines for financial advice set by the Retail Distribution Review (RDR). The new regulations will mean new requirements for the fee structures and qualifications for Isle of Man financial advisers. The new RDR regulation aims to guarantee that consumers are offered a transparent fee structure and an upfront and trustworthy service from highly qualified professionals. We look at some of the preparations that Island businesses are making and discuss if the Isle of Man RDR is ready.
Jon McGowan, Managing Director, MAC Group From a policy perspective, the UK Retail Distribution Review outlines in very certain terms the imperative for financial advisors to achieve qualifications to at least the new ‘Level 4’ standard. In addition, in the UK, as commisison is banned on
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new investment products, there is a requirement to charge fees for the advice given. For some time in the Isle of Man, there has been a necessity to offer clear and transparent commission details. The requirement to disclose advisor charges puts a definite price tag on financial advice and must, in turn, enhance customer confidence both in the terms of their investment and their relationship with their chosen advisor. This is a development that very closely ties with the ethics and strategy that MAC has been trying to evolve for the past 10 years. Through our initiatives, such as establishing the MAC Academy, we’ve set out to present the IFA world as an advice focused - as opposed to sales driven industry. Through sponsored courses, exams, additional seminars and visiting
speakers and academics, we aimed to raise the standards of our professional advisors and with significant success. All of our advisors are to gain the requisite ‘level 4’ accreditations, well in advance of the January 2014 deadline, and many are now active contributors to the industry’s regulatory community. As a result, we have positioned ourselves well in order to respond to the significant reductions in advisor numbers precipitated by these additional requirements elsewhere in the industry. Across the UK, advisor numbers have fallen by close to 20% and by as much as 40% in banking advisers. MAC has watched its own advisory team work and study hard to become more professional and more attuned to the demands of a thoroughly regulated marketplace.
EDITO
Overall, the RDR is a driver for positive change that we believe has been a long time in coming. What remains is to ensure that the Island’s selective approach to its requirements does not compromise our international reputation. Unlike the UK, there is no explicit ban on commission based charging structures and - although I’m confident that our industry will self regulate to the same effect - the potential for abuse by commission hungry salespeople could potentially remain. As such, it is important that the Island’s community of IFAs, as well as the FSC, takes an active role in ensuring the RDR’s smooth transition and, in so doing, showcases the Island’s commitment to international standards of compliance on its own terms.
January 2014 will see the introduction of the Isle of Man’s version of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) 12 months after its successful implementation in the UK. It is all about ensuring there is more transparency and fairness in the investment industry. Whilst in the UK the RDR has centred around two principles, adviser qualifications and the banning of commission, the Isle of Man has concentrated its efforts on qualifications and overall adviser competence. Investment advice has always had a cost, but it has often been unclear as to what the charges are and how they are paid. The purpose of the RDR is not to make advice cheaper or more expensive, but to make it clear and transparent. Since January 2012, IoM advisers have been required to fully disclose all remuneration to clients in advance of transactions being implemented. From the beginning of this year, all UK derived investment products have had to comply with the new RDR rules which, when combined with our new disclosure requirements, ensure our clients are fully aware of all costs relating to their investments.
Steve Locking, Associate Director, Edgewater Associates
From 1 January 2014, every adviser in the Isle of Man will have to meet new consistent professional standards. A code of ethics for investment advisers is being
introduced, ensuring that they act with integrity and treat the customer fairly. The good news is that at Edgewater the majority of our advisers already hold the required level of qualification, and follow the prescribed code of ethics. By December 2013, we anticipate that all seven of our IFAs will fully comply with the new standards.
The new rules will create a lot of change in the industry. Primarily, it will level the playing field for different kinds of investment products as commission payments will be eliminated in favour of a negotiated fee structure between client and adviser. This will ensure that the client receives unrestricted and unbiased advice from a better qualified adviser, which is the ultimate goal of the RDR.
Sponsorship
Chief Minister urges business support for Island of Culture Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK has issued an appeal for local businesses to give their backing to the Island of Culture programme of events taking place next year.
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romoted by the Isle of Man Arts Council, Island of Culture is a celebration of the community’s creative talent across a wide range of activities, from dance to digital innovation. BBC film critic Mark Kermode, who has Manx roots, is a patron, along with the President of Tynwald Clare Christian MLC. The Chief Minister said: “Island of Culture is an exciting concept that will promote the arts and culture, and the Isle of Man’s national identity, both on and off the Island. It aims to enhance the cultural life of the Island and to leave a lasting legacy, and I particularly welcome its emphasis on engaging young people. The Arts Council is to be congratulated for its hard work and imagination in developing what promises to be a very varied and interesting programme of
events next year. I know that a number of business sponsors have already committed to supporting Island of Culture, which is much appreciated, but there are still opportunities for further corporate involvement.’ Mr Bell concluded: ‘Island of Culture is all about celebrating creativity, excellence, identity and community. These are themes which should resonate with much of the private sector and I would urge all companies to consider how they could support this important initiative for the Isle of Man.’ For more information on Island of Culture 2014 see www.islandofculture.im Email iomartscouncil@gov. im Tel: (01624) 694598.
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Technology
The end is nigh!
But what an opportunity With the release of any new product version comes the realisation that businesses - and in particular CTO’s and IT Director’s - are going to have to address a fundamental question: “Now my installed products have aged by a major version, do I need to upgrade and, if so, when should I do so?”
Jason Spooner, Director of Technology for Intelligence Ltd
Microsoft is coming to the end of an extremely busy and exciting year (2012-2013), during which it has released new major versions of the majority of its product range introducing a wealth of new and improved features and services to meet the challenges of the modern business, whatever its size.
Microsoft have clearly defined lifecycles for their entire product portfolio - which in particular - document when mainstream and extended support ends. During the period of mainstream support, the product in question is fully supported with new service packs, security updates, hotfixes and feature requests. Then the product moves into extended support, when only paid support and security updates are available unless additional extended support is procured, reflecting Microsoft putting this product out to pasture. Once the period of extended support has ended, then the product is fully deprecated and effectively frozen in its current state. At the time of writing this Microsoft has four mainstream products (Exchange 2003, Office 2003, Windows XP and SharePoint 2003) that are in their final stages of extended support, closely followed by Windows Server 2003 (including Small Business Server 2003). Microsoft has analysed its licensing information and determined that an overwhelming 77% of small and medium sized businesses run a version of Windows Server today, that is approximately 22.5 million servers. More than half (57%) of that install base is Windows Server 2003, a 10 year old server operating system that pre-dated the current industry standard practices of virtualisation and Cloud Computing. The question remains, is this enough of a reason to upgrade from these product versions? How often do we hear our technical teams or customers say of a particular application or server, “it’s frozen again”, “it’s out of warranty”, “there’s no more space” or “it has that feature we need in the next version”. The real question to be asked is whether these systems are enabling or constraining business growth? Having determined that technically the time is right to upgrade, consideration must be given to the business case. Historically, this would have involved justifying the procurement of hardware and/or software, with an allowance for predicted growth, and then embarking
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upon a project to procure, provision, learn, test, and deploy. These projects tend to have a long lifecycles, require a significant capital investment prior to seeing any benefits, and draw heavily upon the already stretched technical resources of a business. In addition, the costly task must be undertaken ensuring business continuity and disaster recovery plans are updated and tested. Fortunately, there is a better way, and one which has now matured to become the de facto standard for businesses who are looking to drive immediate business benefit from a technical upgrade; namely Cloud Computing. Cloud Computing offers flexibility, scalability, rapid provisioning and mobility, all with the benefit of cash flow friendly monthly subscription based charging models. This allows businesses to move rapidly to a new environment with minimal business disruption and minimal upfront investment, while driving long term savings in IT costs and increased business efficiency. Having successfully helped many companies benefit from such an approach to technical upgrades, Intelligence have found that there are many critical factors that need to be assessed and managed for the change to deliver the benefits promised. Chris Davies, Chief Operating Officer for Intelligence, said: “we know the significant impact this technology can have on companies and we are keen to see all local organisations benefit, to this end, we are running monthly technical and executive briefings to highlight the opportunities as well as the pitfalls.” Perhaps then the real question CTOs and IT Directors should be asking is not “do I need to upgrade and when?” but “why wouldn’t I upgrade now?” Website: www.intelligence.im Email: ihaveseenthelight@intelligence.im Telephone: 01624 640400
IT/Telecoms News
Manx Telecom managed services contract with IoM Post Office goes live Manx Telecom has won, and begun to supply, a major contract for the provision of managed IT and telecoms services to the Isle of Man Post Office. The announcement of the seven year deal comes after the Post Office put contracts out to tender for the provision of a suite of services including fixed line telephony, internet, wide area and local area network management, and IT service support provided through a dedicated managed services platform. After months of planning and technical preparations these services were transferred from the Post Office’s previous providers in the space of one weekend and successfully went live on August 5. Supporting a workforce of 450 Post Office staff, Manx Telecom’s managed services platform covers 32 separate locations across the Island, making it one of the biggest deployments of its kind on the Isle of Man.
Mike Dee, CEO of Manx Telecom, said:
It is our biggest managed services project so far, and its scale and complexity represents another big step into a new era for our business.
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“We were delighted to win the contract and have now delivered a fully integrated IT and telecoms managed services platform which has the flexibility, performance and scalability which the Isle of Man Post Office requires. It is our biggest managed services project so far, and its scale and complexity represents another big step into a new era for our business. Increasingly, we are seeing more and more businesses seeking a full end to end managed service solution as it means that clients can focus their efforts on growing the core elements of the business, secure in the knowledge that their IT and telecoms needs are managed on their behalf by a world class provider. The Isle of Man Post Office contract is the latest example illustrating Manx Telecom’s transformation from a being a pure communications provider to one in which managed services are becoming an increasingly significant part of the business.” Manx Telecom employed a dedicated project manager specifically to oversee the Isle of Man Post Office project which took under six months from start to finish. The final and most crucial phase was the switchover from the Post Office’s previous providers which involved engineers
working round the clock for a full weekend. The managed services platform is hosted by Manx Telecom’s Tier 3 Douglas North Data Centre which meets stringent international standards for security and reliability. The contract also includes round the clock support provided by Manx Telecom’s Customer Service Centre and Network Operations Centre (NOC) as well as desktop support supplied by Argon Technologies Ltd. Mike Kelly, Chief Executive of Isle of Man Post Office, commented: “We congratulate Manx Telecom on a successful and seamless migration of a number of IT and telecoms services on to one managed services platform. It was imperative we progressed to having our own ICT network. We needed the freedom to service business opportunities with ICT solutions that fit the needs and requirements of the Post Office and our clients, and the solution provided by Manx Telecom represents state of the art development and value for money.”
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CSR Feature
Toor give Not to give WORDS
Michelle P. Tonnesen
The season of charity balls is in full swing. For some these are just a welcome excuse to have a good time; for others they are a chance to make a difference. Whether you belong to one camp or the other – or in the grey zone of the majority in between – when the wine has been emptied and the music has been played, the party guests and sponsors will have contributed to support a worthy cause; some more generously than others through auctions, raffles and the like. Someone will benefit 106
at the other end. Someone’s life will change for the better. But is it just the needs of the receiver that are fulfilled? What is actually in it for the giver, besides a fun night out? Is giving to charity in reality a selfish act? People generally give to others because it makes them feel good about themselves. Academics call this sensation the “warm glow” effect. For all the good that giving to charity does for the beneficiaries, this shows that donors get something too; the benefit of the warm glow in return.
Social psychologists have two theories for explaining why we help others: Public benefit: (altruism) Private benefit: (the giver gets something out of the giving) According to the public benefit theory,
we help because we perceive our actions to be beneficial to others. It is labelled this way because the public - or some section of it - benefits (such as the homeless). However, from this perspective we do not perceive ourselves as gaining any benefit from helping others; we have altruistic as opposed to egoistic motives for helping. The private benefit theory on the other hand states that we help others because we see ourselves as benefiting in some way too. According to social researchers and economists, private benefit serves an important function in maintaining the high level of giving that we see in our part of the world. Experiments have shown that a lack of personal motive reduces the tendency to give or help. Research into the motivations of businesses and corporations even suggests that profit maximisation (a form of private benefit) is the primary motive driving contributions. Corporations see increased profit through positive advertising and enhanced corporate image. Just like individuals who donate large amounts can receive recognition (i.e. social prestige) in terms of plaques, statues, or having new research, arts, or public institutions named after them. Thus, although many people talk of giving from the heart, research highlights how charitable donations can be a signal of the wealth of the donor. Human beings like showing off, just like peacocks enjoy fanning out their tail feathers.
EDITO
...at the end of the day, benefiting oneself whilst benefiting others has to be a win-win situation
For some the benefits of helping and giving, however, extend far beyond a momentary warm glow or an added feather in one’s cap. Numerous studies have shown helping brings a surprising number of physical and mental health benefits, ranging from reduced stress and depression to better immune system functioning, a greater sense of life satisfaction, and in the case of corporate volunteering, helping increases employee morale and productivity. As a consequence, not only academics, but also representatives of spiritual belief systems argue that giving and helping is of critical survival value for the human species. So, why is everyone not giving? One obvious reason is, of course, that not everyone is able to, like that someone who is at the receiving end of charity donations.
the global map of giving. Interestingly, affluent countries like Norway and Sweden came in 25th and 37th respectively. Why is that you might wonder? Well, most likely because of the Scandinavian welfare state system – which is based on their populations paying on average 50% income tax or above – they do not have as widespread a tradition for giving to charities. One could argue that they are already giving, as they contribute to the collective good via their taxes. In contrast, the Anglo-American countries generally have a larger income gap between rich and poor, and a less finemeshed safety net stretched out at the bottom of society. Thus, survival of the fittest is by and large the predominant mantra here.
You might not be surprised by the fact that the populations of Anglo-American countries are some of the top givers in the world. According to the World Giving Index 2012 - the largest study into charitable behaviour across the globe, based on 500,000 interviews by Gallup and published by the Charities Aid Foundation - Australia is the number one charitable nation in the world measured by the three giving behaviours; the percentage of people who donate money to charity, volunteer their time, and help a stranger.
Thankfully there are numerous affluent people across the world who give because they can. Not everyone, but a significant group of billionaires have decided to share their wealth. Think high-profile people like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates; through the foundation The Giving Pledge they dedicate significant funds to “doing good”. The Giving Pledge is an effort to help address society’s most pressing problems by inviting the world’s wealthiest individuals and families to commit to giving more than half of their wealth to philanthropy or charitable causes either during their lifetime or after their death.
Ireland came in second, Canada third, New Zealand fourth and USA fifth. A bit further down the list, UK ranked number eight on
But do these people not get private benefits like positive PR and social prestige out of their giving? Probably.
Does that make their giving immoral? From a cosmic balance point of view, perhaps. Some may argue that if you give just enough to benefit yourself, you are not really giving at all. However, at the end of the day benefiting, oneself whilst benefiting others has to be a win-win situation. So go ahead and start giving. It is good for your soul - and it is tax deductible too!
Relevant links for more information: Charities Aid Foundation - World Giving Index 2012 www.cafonline.org/ publications/2012-publications/ world-giving-index-2012.aspx The Giving Pledge www.givingpledge.org/ “Impure Altruism and Donations to Public Goods: A Theory of WarmGlow Giving” by James Andreoni www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/22 34133?uid=3738248&uid=2&uid=4& sid=21102366611007
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Henry Bloom News
Henry Bloom Noble Healthcare Trust looks forward in 125th year Anniversary “Today the very broad role of the Trust involves funding the latest equipment for our Island’s doctors, providing education so we have better-trained professionals in the public and private sectors, funding research into the prevention and elimination of disease and promoting good health, such as supporting healthy eating initiatives in the Island’s schools.” “The Trust also supports improvements to the quality of care for patients convalescing at home and in hospital, with the funding of equipment and training, equipment to expand the opportunities available to sick and disabled people and support for the nursing and care of the sick, infirm and disabled in their own home.”
Henry Bloom Noble is famous throughout the Isle of Man, especially in Douglas, as a great benefactor whose generosity assisted to establish such landmarks as the Villa Marina, St Ninian’s Church, Noble’s Park, Ramsey Cottage Hospital and, of course, the original Noble’s Hospital. Today, his ambition of seeing positive developments for the Island, especially in healthcare, lives on through the Henry Bloom Noble Healthcare Trust, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2013.
T
he Trust began following the death of Henry Bloom Noble’s beloved wife Rebecca in 1888 and continued after his death 1903, becoming a statutory body with widened remit in 1909. Through more than a century of support to Noble’s Hospital and other health-related charities, the Trust has continued with the earlier aspirations of the original Trustees. This has only been possible thanks to the kind generosity of the people of the Isle of Man. To celebrate the 125th anniversary, the Trust has launched a new website, hosted events including a fundraising black tie Diamond Dinner and carried on with its work of supporting healthcare imporvements. Trust Chairman Larry Keenan said: “The original aim of the Trust was to improve the quality of healthcare in the Isle of Man and, 125 years on, that is still our purpose. Of course, much has changed in terms of what we support, and how we fund that support.”
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It is not simply a case of buying doctors new tools. The Trust recognises ‘healthcare’ is a broad term which encompasses people outside hospital settings, as well as inside, and is as much about preventing illness and helping people recover as it is treating illness. In its early years, much of the Trust’s focus was on investment in buildings, such as the gifting of a parcel of land for a new hospital on the site of what is now the Manx Museum. That support has continued, notably with a substantial contribution towards the construction of the children’s wing of the Isle of Man Hospice, Rebecca House. Although the Trust has funded healthy eating projects in schools, staff training and research, it is the donations of important medical equipment which remains the most visible part of the Trust’s work. Recent donations have included machines which could save the lives of newborns in the neonatal unit, a portable x-ray device to increase the quality of dental care given to those unable to attend clinics and tools which have allowed complex joint surgery to be conducted in the
to supplement the care provided in the Isle of Man by supporting valuable equipment, training, research and education which, with the financial pressures it faces, the Island’s NHS could not otherwise fund. Our contribution helps improve healthcare, improve quality of life, improve prevention and treatment of illness and improve the standards of care experienced in the Island.”
patients being treated in the UK. So far more than 80 patients have benefitted from the use of the new equipment.
a worn out or failing joint replacement is exchanged for a new one, is also now regularly performed here.”
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Ross Barker said:
“These two large groups of patients, and of course their relatives, no longer have to travel to the UK for any phase of their treatment.”
“The equipment provided by the Henry Bloom Noble Healthcare Trust has enabled The Trust relies on the ongoing generosity complex hip and knee replacement to be of the public, who supports its work performed on the Isle of Man for the first with donations and bequests. In addition, surgery, where 41022time. HBNHT_hlf pg revision ad_Gallery_Layout 1 12/08/2013 09:27 Page Mr Keenan said: 1“The role of the Trust is
“This brings enormous benefits for the patients and their families, for the medical staff and for society as a whole, but it is only possible thanks to the donations and bequest which allows us to keep supporting healthcare improvement. As we celebrate our 125th anniversary, remembering the work of the Trustees who have gone before us and the extraordinary generosity of the public, we are also looking to the future and how we can continue to deliver the ideals of Henry Bloom Noble.” If you would like to support the work of the Henry Bloom Noble Healthcare Trust, please fill in and return the form below with your donation. For more information about the Trust and how to support its work, please contact Trust Secretary Robert Young, c/o Victoria Chambers, 47 Victoria Street, Douglas, or telephone 611933.
Henry Bloom Noble H E A L T H C A R E
T R U S T
Help Us Improve Island Healthcare The Henry Bloom Noble Healthcare Trust has been supporting improvements to healthcare in the Isle of Man for 125 years and we need your support to continue this vital work. Your donation will help us to provide equipment, training, education and research to improve the care and treatment of patients, as well as improving quality of life for the sick, infirm and disabled. Please fill in the form below and return it, with your donation, to Trust Secretary Robert Young, c/o Victoria Chambers, 47 Victoria Street, Douglas, IM1 2LD. For more information on how you can support the Trust with bequests and fundraising events, please contact Trust Secretary Robert Young by phoning 611933. Name Address Donation Sum Please provide your email address if you would like to know more about the Trust
Secretary Mr Rob Young, c/o Victoria Chambers, 47 Victoria Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2LD
01624 611933
info@hbnhealthcaretrust.org.im
Caring for our future www.hbnhealthcaretrust.org.im
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CSR Feature
WORDS
Angela Gregory Royal London 360° Communications Executive
Sponsorship the perfect partnership You can’t put a price on the sense of pride that comes with seeing someone from the Isle of Man do well. And yet, when it comes to corporate community involvement, that’s exactly what companies are asked to do.
O
bviously, a business’s motivation for sponsorship can’t be all altruistic, there must be some worthwhile leverage involved. A logo on a kit or a trackside banner is all well and good, but there must be more to it. So, why get involved? Over the years, Royal London 360° has supported the Island community in a variety of ways, from involvement in wildlife and heritage projects to support for community and sporting events. In 1997, when the company was Scottish Provident International, parent company Scottish Provident sponsored the Lions Rugby Union Tour of South Africa. Having the Scottish Provident logo plastered on the front of the kit was priceless when it came to media coverage, but for Scottish Provident International in particular it was a timely association, coinciding with the opening of a new South African office.
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RL360° is the longest running TT sponsor, having been the title sponsor of the Superstock TT Race for the last 10 years, and has also been the lead sponsor of the massively successful Youth Cycling League for two decades. The TT sponsorship allows RL360° an association with an event internationally synonymous with the Isle of Man. There is also the added bonus of being able to use the event for corporate hospitality. Independent Financial Advisers fly in from all over the world to get a taste of the TT, with unprecedented trackside access to riders and visiting celebrities. But it is, perhaps, the Youth Cycling League and its elite team of competitors (Team Royal London 360°) that RL360° is best known for supporting. It is the perfect example of a successful sponsorship arrangement. In short, RL360° provides support to help the league achieve its goals and, in return, the company’s profile is raised on an almost daily basis and is associated with a positive activity with international reach.
The Royal London 360° Youth Cycling League To get your fix of pride in Manx success, these days you only have to take a glance at any televised cycling event. Manxman Mark Cavendish is the fastest man in the world on two wheels and has won an astonishing 25 stages of the Tour de France. Onchan’s Peter Kennaugh won gold in the Team Pursuit at last year’s Olympics and was a member of the triumphant Team Sky which helped this year’s Tour de France winner Chris Froome to victory. In both cases, the Royal London 360° Youth Cycling League has played a part role in putting a phenomenally successful sportsman on the path to glory. “We started out 21 years ago with 14 children at the newly refurbished NSC,” explained the league’s Dot Tilbury. “It grew and soon our kids were getting placed in races in the UK. “Mark Cavendish came down at the age of 9 from BMX and Peter Kennaugh for a time. Mark used to lap the field, he was very special.” This year there are 600 plus youngsters signed up and, on average, 300 turn up for the famous Tuesday night cycle at the NSC. “People are amazed that out of a population of 80,000 we produce so many cyclists,” said Dot.
Mark Cavendish
The secret to any success is always tricky to quantify but there’s no doubting there’s some kind of magic at work here. “I think there’s lot of things that make up why it is successful. We have a wonderful history of cycling on
the Isle of Man with International Cycling week which started in 1935 and attracted the biggest names in cycling from Europe. Sadly International Cycling week is no more but we do have a very successful Youth Tour which is growing all the time.
and various other tasks. There’s no showbiz with what they do, they are just there to make the racing safe. No helpers, no racing, it’s as simple as that. People come on a Tuesday night having done it for years, I couldn’t do it without them.
“Other than that, apart from being rained off, we have been there every Tuesday night, no matter what,” said Dot.
“ So.....What makes Manx Cycling tick? A mixture of all the above and more!”
Peter Kennaugh
“We have never shirked from doing the best races in the UK, we have set our goals high. We have some horrendous boat journeys, arrive late at the digs and then ask the riders to get up at 6.30am to prepare to race in all weathers. You have to be dedicated to do that. We encourage all abilities because you might not have natural ability but a have great work ethic and if you want to do it you can do it. We are open to everyone. “The more experienced young riders occasionally go out training with Peter Kennaugh, Mark Cavendish, Johnny Bellis, Mark Christian, and (MotoGP star and Ramsey resident) Cal Crutchlow when they pay a visit home. Afterwards they go to a café so there’s a real social side to it too. How inspirational is that? “They all want to be professional cyclists but not everybody can make it, only the really talented and tenacious ones. If people want to do it, it can happen through hard work but it’s not easy and great sacrifices have to be made.
Current RL360° Cycling League youngsters making a mark at UK National level Nathan Draper was 3rd in the British National Championships in the under 16s and is currently standing 5th in the British Cycling National Series.
“The support of Royal London 360° and anonymous donors who help us is invaluable.
Elizabeth Holden was 3rd in the British National Championships in the under 16s and was 3rd in the Omnium Series on the track overall. 1st Girl in the youth tour of Ireland under 16. She is also on the British Talent Team.
“ Most important is the help people and parents give to enable races to go on - standing out to marshal or judge on the finish line
We have never shirked from doing the best races in the UK, we have set our goals high.
Jake Kelly is now leading the Junior British National Series and his brother Joe is on the Olympic Development Programme (ODP) with British Cycling. Mark Christian is also on the ODP and is now riding for Team Raleigh. His sister Anna Christian is Junior British National Girls Champion. Matthew Bostock recently won the Youth Errigal Tour of Ireland in County Donegal and Nathan Draper was 3rd. The Isle of Man won team prizes in the under 16s and under 14s at the Youth Tour of Ireland, where Eleanor Davies was 3rd in the under 12 category. Matthew Bostock, Owen Dudley and William Draper are all past British National Champions and Matthew Draper is the current North West Divisional Champion. As we go to press, Matthew Bostock has just won silver medals in the Points Race and the Individual Pursuit at the British National Track Championships.
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Feature
What’s on The Agenda? The Art of Effective Meetings WORDS
Michelle P. Tonnesen
A meeting is effective when it achieves its objective, in a minimum amount of time, to the satisfaction of the participants. 112 112
What’s on The Agenda? The Art of Effective Meetings This may sound like a very easy goal to achieve, but for an activity we do so much and that is so integral to our businesses, it is an activity that most people are notoriously bad at. Meetings are generally longer, less efficient and generate fewer results than ever before. We now need more meetings to accomplish objectives, leaving employees less time to get their own work done and companies out of pocket. The average worker wastes two hours and 39 minutes each week being unproductive in meetings. That is over 120 hours per year, which equates to £26 billion in terms of GDP lost to the economy.* So, what are the reasons for all this wasted time? Why do meetings fail to be effective? The truth is that most of us have never experienced the power of a truly effective meeting. With seemingly more work and less time in the day, we don’t spare time to put effect into ensuring a meeting is successful – we just want to get it out the way. As a consequence, very few companies can boast to have any role models or best practice standards when it comes to facilitating effective meetings. So what can we do to mitigate the risks of meeting failure? Many people drastically underestimate the importance and power of effectively planning a meeting. The why, what, who, when, and where deserves as much thought as the meeting itself. Let’s start with the why and what. Every meeting must have an agreed purpose and a clear objective that everyone is aware of, not just the chairing individual. If there is no clear purpose or objective (e.g. it has just become a habit for a team to meet on a Wednesday afternoon), then there does not need to be a meeting. It is a common assumption that the solution to everything is a meeting. This is precarious and wrong. A lot of the time a couple of emails or phone calls can be just as effective. Once you have a clear purpose, you need to consider who you should invite. People should be invited according to their ability to contribute, NOT according to their status. Try not to be influenced by politics, as the smaller the number of the people in attendance, generally the more effective the meeting. When is the most ideal time to hold a meeting? It is best to choose a time when people are more alert and less distracted. This is likely to be in the morning, allowing people to get in and settle, but not so much time that they get bogged down in other work which may prevent them from attending or contributing optimally Don’t always assume that the best place for a meeting – where – is in a standard meeting room. Match the purpose to the means and consider the sort of atmosphere you are trying to create. A creative brainstorming meeting is likely to
be more successful in a less formal setting with a relaxed atmosphere – perhaps even offsite – where people feel encouraged to open up and offer ideas. For a formal client meeting a classical meeting room and set-up will usually be more appropriate to convey a professional image.
When arranging an e-meeting of some kind, make sure you are using the right tool; everyone knows how to use it; people don’t talk over each other; people’s interest is kept by frequently asking for feedback; and words are chosen carefully to avoid misinterpretation.
Covering the why, what, who, when and where, will make a good foundation on which to build an effective meeting, but the real key to an effective meeting is a clear, well-structured, and well-communicated agenda.
Lastly, it is also your responsibility to ensure that you are a good meeting participant. Personally prepare for every meeting, don’t be late, be alert, listen actively, make succinct and valuable contributions, and stick to the point.
If an agenda is put together properly it will create a route-map and direction for everyone involved. It will help the meeting organiser plan the meeting; communicate the meeting purpose; provide all participants with the information they need to prepare for the meeting; and last, but certainly not least, create a structure to manage the meeting.
Remember that the first question should always be: Is a meeting really necessary or appropriate? Always query whether a meeting is the most effective way of achieving an objective to avoid wasting time, resources, money and causing frustration and stress.
What should an agenda include? • Meeting purpose and objectives • Information about place, date, time and duration of meeting • Who will be present • Specifically what business will be covered • Approximate timing of each item • Links to/attachments for any additional information needed for the meeting A handy rule is to always ensure that your agenda is SMART: Specific Measured Action-based Realistic Timed Participants should be careful not to fall into the trap of trying to cover too much in a meeting – keep it realistic, and allow an appropriate amount of time for each item. Otherwise it may result in issues being skirted around without being discussed in any depth. Always recognise and evaluate the benefits of useful debate on a topic and balance this with the need to keep to the agenda and time. When planning an agenda, it is equally important to consider the flow of items to ensure that it is logical, but also that the most important points are covered first when people’s attention and focus is at its strongest and running out of time is not an issue. It is not always a good idea to leave contentious issues to the end, as this may result in people leaving the meeting with a negative feeling and the issue may not be resolved. Always try to finish with something that will generate consensus, so people will leave feeling positive and that the meeting was a success. Ideally, minutes should be written up and circulated as soon as possible after the meeting, detailing key decisions, actions and the responsible persons in a concise, impersonal style.
* According to a study carried out by Opinion Matters on behalf of Epson.
Meetings SHOULD be used for: • Getting information or advice • Involving people • Clarifying issues • Establishing responsibilities
Meetings SHOULD NOT be used for: • Doing detailed analysis • Writing reports • Rubber stamping • Personal issues of a controversial or confidential nature A ‘great’ meeting saves time and money, results in decisions being made, new ideas being realised, people feeling motivated, increases morale and aids team development – all of which have a positive impact on the business bottom line.
Effective meeting checklist ✓
Agreed purpose and clear objectives
✓
Adequately planned
✓
Participants prepared
✓
Written agenda
✓
Begins/ends on time
✓
Suitable environment
✓
Stick to the subject
✓
Agreement on decisions and further action
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Finance Feature
Money Talks Brought to you by Edgewater
Marco Leonetti, owner of family run hair salon, Utopia, talks about how he manages his finances.
Have you ever been hard up? Yep; when I opened my first salon at the age of 18, I don’t think I slept for five years. We lived in a corporation house in Crosby and we had nothing but mountains of love and support from my mother and father. How much money do you currently have in your wallet? £70.00. What credit cards do you use regularly? I use Amex Platinum and Business HSBC Visa and MasterCard. Do you manage your own financial affairs? Yes, mostly, but Andrew Gerrard at Harding Lewis accountants keep me on the straight and narrow! Are you a saver or a spender? I’m a saver. How often do you save? I save all the time. What is your weakness when it comes to saving? My weakness is a regular family dinner out each week, and with so many clients and friends who own restaurants, I have to spread myself! How do you plan for large purchases, such as a car or a house? I have always made large purchases with the thought of buying things that are slightly out of reach. It‘s amazing what you can afford if you ‘tighten the belt’. What’s the most extravagant thing you’ve ever bought? First class plane tickets... Once!
MARCO LEONETTI, OWNER, UTOPIA HAIR SALON
How do you manage your outgoings? The only way to manage outgoings is firstly to figure out incomings, then take one from the other! What is your most costly regular outgoing? I guess it’s utilities: gas, oil, and power; Just like everyone else. Do you invest in shares? Yes, we hold a diverse spread of shares and property investments. Our investment portfolio is managed by Nigel Hibbet at Quilter Cheviot.
What - in your opinion - is the best type of investment? In my opinion, the best investment currently is property lets, however, I feel that if government undertakes a ‘means’ testing project for all folk in government/corporation housing, it would definitely get the property wheel started.
Local people will spend money on the Island if they have choice, variety, and value... and, of course, service! What is your current market outlook? I’m very positive with the current market outlook. It is important, however, that service and retail sectors re-invest not only in their people, but in the working environment. Local people will spend money on the island if they have choice, variety, and value... and, of course, service! Do you own more than one property? Yes, we have a property company that manages several properties. What, in your opinion, is the best way to save for retirement? In my opinion, the best way to save for retirement is... not to. Invest in something tangible that can’t be taken from you, or just stick it under the bed... plain and simple! What is the most important thing you have learned about money? The most important thing I’ve learned is to never take money for granted - but I have never let it rule my life! If you are prepared to work hard, rewards will follow.
“I thought I would have to miss the fishing trip to get our group pension plan sorted. Then we took on Edgewater.” Group pensions from Edgewater - giving you time to relax.
Talk to us on 01624 654000
edgewater.co.im
or email enquiries@edgewater.co.im for more information.
Edgewater is licensed by the Financial Supervision Commission of the Isle of Man and registered with the Insurance & Pensions Authority in respect of General Business.
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Shaping your Financial Future
Business News
The Claremont’s Multi-Million Pound Transformation Continues
T
he Claremont has completed another stage in the awardwinning 4-star hotel’s multimillion redevelopment to become the Island’s business visitors’ destination of choice. Following detailed research into the requirements of corporate clients, the Claremont now provides business focused facilities matching the highest international standards. The latest phase of refurbishment completely renovated and re-designed the entire ground floor of the hotel, transforming the entrance, reception and foyer areas and incorporating premium lounge facilities to provide a convenient and luxurious meeting space. This complete structural and stylistic revision saw the introduction of a new entrance, walnut reception desk, granite tiled lobby and the opening of structural walls to create a carefully furnished open space. The interior design has been carried out by Berlinbased interior architects, Bernreider, Sieweke-Lagemann Architekten, and constructed by G. J. Inghams of Peel. The Claremont’s 4-star, privately financed transformation started in 2012 with the wholesale refurbishment of the hotel’s 56 bedrooms into Business Club rooms and suites. Guest rooms now provide Nespresso machines, super-king sized beds with Tempur® mattresses, Hungarian goose down pillows, and elegant wet-rooms with Aveda products. Complimentary high-speed broadband is available throughout all areas of the hotel. The upgrade has already seen The Claremont win a raft of awards, including the Bloomberg International Hotel Award, the UK Hotel Awards Highly Commended Hotel Interior, Visit Isle of Man Silver Award, Trip-Advisor Certificate of Excellence, and most recently, the Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence - Company of the Year.
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Feature
WORDS
LES ABLE
Working lunches once again thrive but...
Lunchtime O’Booze is laid to rest... Business lunches! Once synonymous with an era when it was all boom and no bust are again thriving but a convivial bottle or two of wine has given way to mineral water or Diet Coke and Lunchtime O’Booze is now an almost forgotten and despised relic of yesteryear.
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...The business lunch is “definitely alive”. It’s a great way for developing ideas and bringing new business in but it’s certainly not about getting drunk. The boozy lunches of a few years ago did not help businesses, they were more for those who merely wanted to indulge themselves.
A
business lunch which lasts for two hours is seen as exceptional. Most last for little more than an hour while some just might stretch to between 75 and 90 minutes. One glass of wine perhaps, but often it will be a non-alcoholic drink for the duration of a one-course meal. As a journalist working in London some 25 years ago it wasn’t unusual to meet a ‘contact’ for an expenses paid lunch at somewhere like the Savoy Grill or Rules in Covent Garden, returning to the office three hours later. It was par for the course, your guest expected to be thoroughly wined and dined and a good story was often the result. The journalist of the 21st century, however, often has little time for the luxury of a lunch break at all, it will be a sandwich at the desk. It is now a decade or more since the ever cordial, invariably corpulent figure of Lunchtime O’Booze ruled supreme. He was supported by his red braceswearing, pin-stripe suited companions and sometimes their lively pulchritudinous female followers. After all, these guys had money from over the top bonuses and it was spend, spend and more spend. They would be responsible for pushing the befuddled and well fed O’Booze into a taxi. If he was travelling by train he would almost certainly fall asleep, miss his station and awake to find himself a hundred or so miles away from his destination. Today’s business lunch is a far cry from the alcohol swilling, so-called working lunch of those far off days. It now has a serious purpose. “Each week I have a lunch with someone with nothing to sell, just to get to know them better as the bridge to a longer term relationship,” says entrepreneur, Courtenay Heading. “Crucially, it can sift/ validate my judgement before I recommend the guest to another trusted contact.” He adds: “Often, I have sparkling water or orange juice, I never have more than
one alcoholic drink, a small lager being my favourite. A lunch lasting 75 minutes is ideal – an hour feels rushed, but at 90 minutes I’m feeling a bit guilt-laden on a working day. At a weekend, two hours minimum with friends/colleagues is much better, with dinner even longer.” One of the Island’s most experienced restaurateurs is Mario Ciappelli, managing director of Portofino. He has been in the catering industry for 37 years, running his own business for 25 years. As for recessions, he has seen at least three and says:
“In this last recession everything changed, somehow people got more worried and it has been the most difficult recession. But as for business lunches, they are definitely back but over soft drinks and mineral water, perhaps one glass of wine. It’s likely to be an older diner who will opt for a bottle of wine to share with his guest.” He adds: “I remember the time when the likes of bank managers came in just after 1.00pm and would order a glass or bottle of champagne or wine and perhaps brandies, there would be a lot laughter and a lot more business was done that way. There is now a different approach and certainly no desire to return to what some might
remember as ‘the good old days’. Overall, things have got a lot better in the last year. As for time spent over lunch? Maybe 90 minutes, or two hours at the very most.” Phil Taylor, a director of Rock Food Concepts which owns both 14 North and Bath & Bottle in Douglas, agrees that the business lunch is “definitely alive”. He adds: “It’s a great way for developing ideas and bringing new business in, but it’s certainly not about getting drunk. The boozy lunches of a few years ago did not help businesses, they were more for those who merely wanted to indulge themselves. It was a time when people were making so much money they didn’t have to worry about getting back to the office by a certain time. Businesses of today are more strict and looking at ways to save money and cut costs. People either come into 14 North with clients they are trying to impress and looking to do business with or are with colleagues in small groups. They will opt for one course and something like a Diet Coke or, if one person has a glass of wine then others at the table may do the same. People like to conform and wine does break down barriers and free people up to talk about what they really want to address during a business lunch.” Clive Parrish, recently elected chairman of the Institute of Directors Isle of Man, agrees that boozy lunches are a thing of the past, but in the right circumstances believes a working lunch, when appropriate, can indirectly benefit a business. Clive said: “It can put people at ease, gets the executive team away from the formality of the office and gives directors an opportunity to look at the bigger picture without being surrounded by the demands of their office environment.”
Lunchtime O’Booze R.I.P. Les Able is head of PR and Media Relations at Home Strategic.
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Movers & Shakers
New Chief Technical and Information Officer for Sure
Permanent Bank International appoints Head of Client Relations
Boston Appoints Kerry Smith as Senior Manager - Projects Analyst
SURE has appointed a new Chief Technical and Information Officer as part of a restructure that will strengthen performance in network operations.
Permanent Bank International Ltd (PBI) has appointed Simon Jones as Head of Client Relations. He has 14 years’ experience in international banking beginning his career when he moved to the Isle of Man in 1998 to join HSBC. Since then Simon, who grew up on the Wirral, has worked for Irish Permanent International and Bank of Ireland. He has gained experience in a wide variety of banking roles including mortgage counselling, personal banking, sales and marketing, and business development. He said:
Boston Limited, a leading local fiduciary, family office, and professional services group, has announced the appointment of Kerry Smith as Senior Manager – Projects Analyst.
Cyrille Joffre, who has 15 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry worldwide, will head up a newly merged division which will incorporate planning, operations and maintenance. He will also sit on Sure’s executive committee. ‘It is more important than ever that we focus on making some major investments in network infrastructure to deliver the next generation of high speed voice, data and video services to meet the future needs of our customers on the Isle of Man,’ said Andy Bridson, Chief Executive of Sure in the Isle of Man. He continued, ‘Sure has been looking to streamline its business for the benefit of its customers and through the use of convergent technologies, it is a natural move to put combine these departments into one division. Cyrille brings with him a wealth of experience, having held senior positions in the telecommunications business both in Europe and the Far East. I am confident that Cyrille’s appointment and the restructure and will give us a joined up approach internally and help us to deliver exceptional service to our customers.’ Mr Joffre’s career has seen him work across the world including time in France, Hong Kong, Monaco, Netherlands, Singapore and Tokyo. ‘It is a true pleasure to join Sure and support the team on its journey of transformation. I hope that my experience of working in countries across the world will allow me to identify ways in which Sure can continue to deliver the highest level of service to our customers,’ said Mr Joffre.
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“I’m delighted to have joined Permanent Bank International which is built upon the principle of being the personal face of banking. The whole ethos of the business is to focus upon getting to know our customers, building a relationship over several years, and offering a standard of customer service that few other banks can match. These are principles which have been important to me throughout my career so my new role at PBI is an ideal opportunity for me.” As Head of Client Relations his responsibilities will include assisting personal and corporate clients with their accounts, attracting new depositors, developing new lines of communication with customers and ensuring the highest levels of customer service continue to be applied. Simon, who is married with two children, is Chair of the Friends of Ballacottier School charity and a member of the Manx Executive Challenge organising committee. David Fulton, Business Development Manager at Permanent Bank International Ltd, commented: “Simon brings with him a breadth of customer service and relationship management that will be a major contribution to our business development goals. I know that he will fit in well with colleagues and customers and has already made a positive impact.
Kerry started her career in 2001 as a Regulator with the Financial Supervision Commission. In 2007 Kerry joined IOMA Group where she spent 6 years putting her technical knowledge into commercial practise as Compliance Manager for the fiduciary business, and later as Group Company Secretary. Coupled with her extensive industry experience, Kerry is a Business Studies graduate and qualified as a Chartered Secretary in 2004. Such experience has given her an invaluable insight into compliance, regulation and corporate governance, areas that she will continue to focus on within Boston. Kerry will also fulfil a Company Secretary role and is responsible for leading projects on tax compliance and reporting, monitoring risk, and delivering FATCA compliant services and solutions. Commenting on Kerry’s appointment, Phil Knop, Tax Director at Boston stated: “Kerry’s appointment is further evidence of Boston’s commitment to recruiting the very best people in our industry. This is a newly created role in recognition of the changing face of business and the many challenges we now face from, for example, the UK, US and the EU. The demands placed on our industry from the likes of FATCA are ever increasing and to recruit an individual of Kerry’s calibre and experience to tackle the associated tax and compliance risks is a real coup for Boston.” On her appointment, Kerry commented that she is “enthused and excited by the opportunity to join Boston Limited at a time when it continues to expand and develop. With important regulatory changes on the horizon I am pleased to be part of a forward thinking team.
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Words | Hannah Goodby – H.G. Equestrian
All Things Equestrian Learning to ride - how to get started Are you or your children looking to ride? Do you know where, what and how to get started? If not, then read on...
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un and exciting, I’ve lived and breathed horses all my life and even managed to carve a career out of it too. Horse riding has been around for generations and it is open to pretty much everyone, whether you want to fulfil that dream of galloping along the beach on a black horse, get fit, learn something new, or socialise and enjoy the countryside, riding is an experience that will live long in your memory. So, here’s how to get set and go: The key to getting the most out of your riding is to have a solid understanding of the basics. Building a good foundation now, will set you up for the future, providing you with skill and confidence later on.
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Where to learn Finding somewhere to ride, especially for the first time, can be a bit daunting. But don’t worry, the Isle of Man has an active equestrian community, with riding schools available across the Island. You might be surprised to learn that one is closer than you think. You’ll find many of the schools online, some with their own page and some with a facebook or other social media page. Of course, if you like the old ways, then you can always use the phone book. Remember, whilst horsing riding can be exciting, you and your child’s safety is paramount, so ideally look for:
Horse riding has been around for generations and it is open to pretty much everyone.
standards of safety, welfare and tuition. • A friendly atmosphere, with patient, experienced and knowledgeable instructors offering a good standard of tuition. Ask about the qualifications of the instructors and if they teach beginner riders. • A school that will allow you to watch a lesson and decide if it is suitable for you and/or your child. You may wish to observe more than once before making a final decision. * The British Horse Society is the UK’s largest and most influential equestrian charity, they protect and promote the interests of all horses and those who care about them. Source: www.bhs.org.uk
• British Horse Society approved riding schools. BHS* Approved means the highest
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Learning to ride...
What to wear
There is no shortage of equestrian wear available, but for beginners, focus on the following:
For your head
It is best to have your own hat, but for first lessons, most schools have hats they loan out. It is essential this is fitted to you properly. All hats must be CE marked, but ideally they will also be Kite marked. The Kite mark is a British standard and a registered trademark of the British Standards Institute (BSI). Many insurers will recommend a Kite marked hat.
For your feet
A pair of long riding boots or jodhpur boots should be worn, these cover your ankle and have a smooth sole and heel. Trainers or wellies are not advisable, as they can become stuck in the stirrup and offer little protection for your heel, which can easily rub. For more about equipment standards please see: www.bhs.org.uk/enjoy-riding/ learning-to-ride/basic-equipment
I love my life with horses. Rewarding and exhilarating no day is ever the same! My horse Monty is my best friend, we never argue or fight and he’s always guaranteed to put a smile on my face! So, what are you waiting for, start today Now Tally Ho and enjoy!
For your hands
A pair of gloves to prevent blisters, as you get use to handling the reins.
For your legs
Jodhpurs are useful, but for beginners, a pair of strong comfortable trousers are fine. because quality matters
Tynwald Mills have bundled together a Kids Starter Kit for £95.00 to include, leather boots, Childrens Jods, (variety of colours), skull cap (fitted) and a pair of stretchy magic gloves for little hands. The normal retail price for these items would be over £107.00.
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TOUGH MANN Adventure Challenge 2013 Over 300 competitors battled through mud, tears, and sweat at the first Tough Mann Adventure Race in Ballaugh on Sunday 4th August. A muddy 10km course involving hill runs, crawls, muddy swamps, the beast, monkey bars and more. Richard Cryer, and Kez Wardell, were the creators of this menacing track, and as soon as the race was complete they were already talking about 2014, which looks set to be tougher and harder with even more obstacles. The event had a great team
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spirit with entrants helping each other over the obstacles and pulling complete strangers out of the slowly sinking mud. First to cross the line for his victory Bushy’s beer and t-shirt ,was James Wren, who completed in a fantastic 56.54 minutes. More results can be found on www.manxtimingsolutions.com.
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Skanco backs local swimmer in Commonwealth Games 2014 bid Isle of Man IT solutions provider Skanco is backing summer employee Phil Harrison in his bid to swim at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Nineteen-year-old student Phil returned from university this summer to work for Skanco and has been balancing a full time role with up to 18 hours of training each week. The University of East Anglia student, who narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, said: “My ambition is to try and make the Commonwealths next year and I believe I can do it. It’s the ultimate goal.” He admits it’s not going to be easy to qualify, but he’s looking forward to getting stuck in and pushing himself. “You never lose the technique, but you have to work at it. You can have all the natural talent in the world, but you’ve got to apply yourself fully to it.” He has competed at many national events in various classes, but says his specialism is 200m and 400m freestyle. His proudest moment was representing the Isle of Man at the 2009 NatWest Island Games in Aland, where he achieved bronze medals in three different relay classes.
IOMA Fund and Investment Management Limited becomes a Team Isle of Man Champion IOMA Fund and Investment Management Limited is the latest Isle of Man business to become a Team Isle of Man Champion. A total of 10 Island businesses will be announced as Team Isle of Man Champions in the countdown to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as part of an initiative to help raise funds to send a strong team to the event. The Champions campaign will also raise awareness of the Games and celebrate the sense of national pride that we will all share next July when Team Isle of Man takes part in the opening ceremony and is seen by millions of TV viewers around the world. The Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association (IOMCGA), which is the charity responsible for the publicity, fundraising, travel and support for the Island’s team, says that the Champions initiative is a vital part of preparations not just for Glasgow 2014, but also for the 2018 Games in Australia, and the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa in 2015, and St Lucia in 2017.
M&S DOUGLAS CROSSES THE FINISHING LINE AFTER 24-HOUR CYCLE CHALLENGE Over 1,400 Marks & Spencer employees from across the UK, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland really went the extra mile by completing M&S’s BIKE 24 charity cycle challenge event. Covering over 150,000 miles during the challenge, M&S has already raised £850,000 and is now firmly on track to reach its £1.5million fundraising target this summer. The ‘Le Mans’-inspired event, which took place at Rockingham Motor Racing Circuit in Corby, was the UK’s largest 24 hour endurance event. Over the gruelling 24 hour challenge, 6,800 litres of water were drunk, 3,460 ready meals eaten and nearly 8,000 Percy Pigs packs were provided the much-needed sugar hits for participants and spectators.
For the latest news about Team Isle of Man go to www.cga.im which also allows donations to be made.
Impressive scores in the 20th annual Mann Link AM-AM Golf Tournament In true tradition, the first event of Ramsey’s recent annual ‘Golf Week’, the 20th annual Mann Link Travel AM-AM tournament, produced some spectacular results.
ARGON TECHNOLOGIES SUPPORTS MEDAL WINNING TENNIS TEAM Argon Technologies was pleased to stand in at the last minute to provide clothing sponsorship to the multi-medal winning Island Games Tennis Team. The team won gold in the Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles, silver in the Mixed Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Women’s Singles and bronze in the Woman’s Team Events. This year’s Island Games was the most successful ever for the Isle of Man, with the total medal tally exceeding all expectations at 97 medals across a variety of sporting disciplines. because quality matters
Standard Bank IoM Cricket Association Player of the Month
Jaco Jansen of Cronkbourne Cricket Club has been named as the second ‘Standard Bank Player of the Month’ for this season. The initiative which is in its fourth season is an opportunity to recognise individuals who make an outstanding contribution in a match or who display a consistently high level of performance. During the season four awards will be up for grabs by players nominated by the Isle of Man Cricket Association (IOMCA). The winner received a £50 sports voucher, a Standard Bank shirt and cap plus a certificate.
All of the teams finishing in the Top 3 completed their rounds considerably under par. The winners – Steve Taylor, Bob Baggaley, George Lawson and Tony Scambler – finished with a score of 121, 19 under par. Runners-up were Mann Link Travel’s Operations Director, Ian Liddle, and his team mates Seymour Corkill, Tony Kelly and Barry Teare, who finished 14 under par with a score of 126. In third place were Charlie Garside, Andy Nicholson, Neil Atkinson and Mike Nicholson who finished with a score of 128, 12 under par. A total of forty-three teams, comprising of 172 players competed in the tournament.
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Isle of Man Football Sunday League The league winners this year are Bushy’s again, winning two consecutive years in a row. The top scorers were David Bryne (Bushy’s), who scored 15 goals, Kane Dooley (ATH), who scored nine goals and Mike Quayle (Bushy’s) and Andy Groves (AFC), who scored a cracking eight goals for their respective teams.
final against Bushy’s - 1:1, 3:2 on penalties - and repeating their good fortune in the final with AFC Douglas; 1:1, 5:4 on penalties. Spencer Bell scored five goals for AFC; Bushys’ Mike Quayle and Paul Westhead Jnr (AFC) launched four goals each. Congratulate to Bushy’s and Atholville for winning a trophy and AFC Douglas for taking third place.
Cup winners were Atholville, winning this year’s cup following a semi-
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A journey like no other
London to Italy in 5 days Come and join us on our scenic drive to Portofino Contact Kim Sellers • E: kim@falcon-drives.com • T: +44(0)7772 14 84 63 • www.falcon-drives.com
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ART
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Faced with the sea of Ford Fiesta hire cars that’ll soon flood our streets now that summer* appears to have arrived, I’ve decided to take a tour of colourful cult creations via a handful of iconic racing liveries and how a certain issue of social acceptance once threatened to change the face of them forever. The brainchild of French racing driver Hervé Poulain in 1975, Poulain wanted something a little different for the livery of his BMW 3.0 CSL for that year’s 24 Heures du Mans race and invited artist and friend Alexander Calder to visit him along with a few litres of paint. The resulting red, yellow and blue BMW has since spawned sixteen further art car projects from BMW alone, as well as more than a few unofficial ones bearing the same badge. Swiss designer Walter Maurer’s E36 compact is directly left of this line and looks good enough to be officially sanctioned. I can think of three that have lived here alone. The creation of art cars has a cult following worldwide, but what I find most interesting are those that are recognised on an international scale, often exhibited across continents and followed by millions, often with a bird’s eye view; the racing cars. Although the BMW Art Car project’s purpose has changed somewhat during its 33 year lifespan so far, evolving from the cars being used solely as competition vehicles and after a departure in 2009 that saw the car being used as a tool to create the art rather than becoming the art itself when Robin Rhode used a Z4 with painted tyres to create a giant canvas, they later returned to their roots in 2010 when Jeff Koons designed the livery for their M3 GT2 that ran at Le Mans. It didn’t finish, but it did look as if it were travelling at lightspeed even whilst standing still. Many of the ensuing artists involved need no introduction; Lichtenstein’s dot and colour adorned imposing wide-bodied E21 turbo; Warhol’s colourful pop-scrawl with a hint of fingerpainting; Rauschenberg’s dark offering on a 635CSi and Brit David Hockney making more than just a splash with his animals and nature inspired 850 CSi (I particularly like the dog reaching for the door handle). Personally, of the vehicles in the collection covered in wild brushstrokes it is Sandro Chia’s E36 that stands out, whilst Frank Stella, of minimalist fame ,who created the second ever BMW Art Car painstakingly hand painted a fine grid over the entirety of his vehicle, the precision bordering upon the incredible as with much of his other work. All of the vehicles are on display at the BMW museum in Munich, if you’re ever passing by.
These works all began life as an artistic expression to be exhibited on racecourses worldwide, but are some sponsor liveries not works of art too, designed to catch the eye and etch themselves into your memory? I remember the Dodge Viper GT cars of French racing team ORECA in eyewateringly bright fluorescent colours burning my retinas whilst simultaneously inviting me to ‘rent a car’ as a child (not that they specialised in renting vehicles to underage drivers, it was more that I was of that age at the time) but more powerfully will always relate anything black and gold to the myriad John Player Special Lotus racing cars of old even to this day. Fortunately for JPS and Lotus at the time, the social acceptance of smoking swung in their favour. Take the red bodywork sporting a white triangle on the bonnet of four-time WRC champion Tommi Makkinen that proudly advertised Marlboro cigarettes though, which must have had ad-execs and rally bosses scratching heads in a fit of panic when cigarette advertising was banned in motorsport. Fortunately, the brand was so iconic that they managed to convince the powers that so strangled them that removing the text would be sufficient to run, even though the advertising message was practically as strong. Can it be argued that removing the sponsor names from vehicles in this way will slow the uptake of smoking amongst the youth? I doubt it, because if I’m honest I had no idea that John Player made cigarettes, only that the cars and bikes they sponsored looked sharp and moved fast, and that you could get a Capri in black and gold to match the stars on your Sunday screen. Similarly, 555’s sponsorship of Subaru in the World Rally arena met its demise alongside that of the Mitsubishi and Marlboro partnership, the luminous yellow fives slowly making way for three vertical bars next to the familiar crescent of the 555 logo giving them the aesthetic of a telco rather than a cigarette manufacturer, eventually conceding absolute defeat and evolving into the yellow swooshes of Subaru itself’s branding. State Express cigarettes? Never heard of them. They’re allegedly perceived as the best known foreign brand in China though, so maybe motorsport advertising does work after all. For an entertaining look at the changing face of cigarette advertising look to Formula 1, where BAR replaced the ‘Lucky Strike’ text to read ‘Lookies’, ‘Look Alike’ and ‘Don’t Look’ amongst others over time. Anyway, I’m off to guzzle a few cans of Red Bull whilst watching the Formula 1 on my Vodafone handset, I’m just not sure which cigarettes to smoke yet. I’d have to disguise my looks, obviously, one wouldn’t want to be seen smoking these days.
*Subject to availability, whilst stocks last. Stock limited to no more than 100 hours of bright sunshine per calendar year.
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MOTOR NEWS
THOMAS BANGALTER’S GIANT ROBOTIC HEAD TOURS LONDON
Not really, it’s Volkswagen’s XL1, a city car that’s being put into limited production (how limited? just 250 units, which definitely qualifies as limited in my eyes) that not only looks crazy, has scissor doors so that you can pretend you’re in a Lamborghini (despite packing a mere 2-cylinder 800cc diesel engine) and a generous 120 litre bootspace but can also achieve 313 miles per gallon thanks partly to the omission of wing mirrors in favour of cameras. Needless to say it’s pretty Aerodynamic. You know, like the Daft Punk song.
NEW CATERHAM TRUMPS OUTGOING R500 MODEL
If a Caterham R500 weighs half a tonne and produces 250 horsepower, what would a Caterham producing 310 horsepower be called? My guess would have been R620, but they’ve gone for 620R. I’ve been trying to think of things that only take 2.8 seconds to draw comparisons to the 0-60 time of the new model, but I couldn’t do it quick enough. At the other end of the spectrum there’s a super-efficient, minimalistic version of the classic Seven available too.
RANGE ROVER RACES SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE
Likely inspired by Top Gear style entertainment lunacy but with a high-end and historic twist, a man in a Range Rover Sport dueled with a Vickers Spitfire in what is, was, and always will be an utterly pointless race. Much like pitting a tonne of elephant tusks against a tonne of amoeba in an effort to find out which one is best at weighing a tonne. What, you mean a Range Rover is good at driving quickly on grass and a Spitfire with nearly four times the power can fly? Well I never.
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BRUSHES ARE SO LAST CENTURY... WORDS | TAYLOR JONES
Art galleries, before the invention of Google, a daunting place for anyone without a History of Art degree, crowded with people walking annoyingly slowly, seemingly taking in and pondering pictures and drawings that it seems an infant wouldn’t struggle to replicate. From time to time you can hear words such as “fragmented”, “asymmetrical” and “domestic” being thrown around near what appears to be a pile of sand, and it looks like the unnecessarily large security guard is overly keen to keep you from touching anything in fear of the “destructive oils” on your hands. In short, it seems pretentious, confusing and quite up itself. Welcome to the world of modern art. Yet look below the surface and you can find a world of interesting cultural representations, model art, digital creations and iPhone accessories. That’s right, not everything has to be judged by
MAKERBOT REPLICATOR 2 2D images? How retro! Gone are the days when a simple black and white, filtered photo of a house was considered enough. With Makerbot’s Replicator 2, you can now print models of up to 410 cubic inches of almost anything imaginable. Now, some may be thinking “it needs to be at least…three times bigger than this”, but in fact, the Replicator 2 is one of the finest, largest, and fairly priced 3D desktop printers on the market, at $2,200. Despite the fact it takes a PhD in Engineering to understand how these things work, no one can say that they wouldn’t want to be able to have perfect scale models of anything from cars to shoes, and with the way modern art is going, it’s more than likely that anybody with enough money to get their hands on one of these printers is instantly in contention for a Turner prize.
mustachioed gentlemen that tut at the use of vibrant colours, anyone can be an artist nowadays! These are just a few of the gadgets that can help you become one, or to become someone that mocks them.
“ART CRITIC” IPHONE APP Modern art raises many questions today, one of which being “what has happened to the world?” In a time when a blank white canvas or a messy bedroom can be considered worthy of a prize, the mind boggles as to whether the judges or the artists themselves have gone insane. However, the new app Art Critic, developed by Mike Seaby for the iPhone, can now come to the rescue when you are asked whether an unmade bed is a representation of the chaos or hatred in our country. Of course, any logical thinking person can see that even a diamond-encrusted skull is no Sistine Chapel, but with Art Critic providing you with phrases such as “the organic tactilliousness of the piece renders it magnificently”, you can wander any gallery confident that you can fit in with even the most tweed-clad, moustache-curling “art” lovers.
OLLOCLIP IPHONE 3-IN-1 CAMERA LENS As if an 8 megapixel camera wasn’t enough on a phone, Olloclip have developed a 3-in-1 lens for your iPhone, giving a fisheye, wideangle and macro effect to your images, making those instagram pictures of your breakfast that little bit more interesting. The lens, specifically created for the iPhone 4, 4S and 5, simply slips on, covering both the front and back camera, and allows them to focus just as quickly as normal, meaning you can still catch those silhouette shots of your friends on the beach or of the “#amazing #sunset” over St Ouen. This may well be the ultimate hipster accessory for the iPhone, although priced at $70.00, it seems to me that a small, portable camera may be a simpler, easier option.
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PHONE HOME LG G2
Discover an enthralling viewing experience from the palm of your hand with the LG G2’s brand new refined rear key which allows you to control the phone just with your index finger. Placed on the back of the phone where your hand rests, the refined rear key means that using the phone is easy and natural. Thanks to the 3000mAh battery, you can enjoy all the multi tasking you need and want for longer. In addition, the added ‘GRAM’ chipset saves battery life with 20% less power consumption. The LG G2 is one of the first devices to run the ultra fast Snapdragon 800 processor. This means that you are able to experience greater power and performance to accompany the latest processor technology.
Key Features: • •
Instinctive design with refined rear key 5.2” Full HD IPS display with narrow bezel
• • •
Best in class battery capacity Ultra fast Snapdragon 800 Processor DSLR-like 13MP OIS Camera
Equipped with an impressive 13 megapixel camera, the brand new LG G2 can take high quality photographs which are now even clearer to see on the huge 5.2” screen which stretches out right to the edges of the phone (near zero bezels). You don’t need a steady hand to take pictures with the LG G2; due to the optical image stabilization technology, focus is enhanced whilst taking photos making the final image crystal clear. Not only does the camera provide the best image possible, but the phone also comes with plenty of modes, settings, and filters which will keep you entertained
for as long as the battery lasts! And if one camera wasn’t enough, there is also a 2.1 megapixel camera on the front enabling you to take the perfect high quality ‘selfy’ than ever before. Another key feature of the LG G2 is the audio zooming which allows you to zoom in on an audio source whilst recording. The innovative feature means that you can hear the only voice you want, clearer and louder when playing the video back, great for in a room full of people. LG have thought of everything possible with the LG G2 including a ‘Guest Mode’ designed to meet the needs of all users. This feature means that you can let other people use your phone, knowing that all of your private and personal contents are safe and secure. You can personalize the experience for your guest by choosing which apps and capabilities are available to them. LG CERTAINLY LIVE UP TO THEIR “LIFE’S GOOD” SLOGAN BECAUSE, LIFE IS PRETTY GOOD WITH ALL THE GREAT INNOVATIVE FEATURES THAT THIS PHONE HAS TO OFFER. COMING SOON, EXCLUSIVELY, TO MANX TELECOM. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO WWW. MANXTELECOM.COM/SHOP OR CALL 624 624 OR POP INTO THE STORE IN STRAND STREET.
Nokia Lumia 925 Are you tired of looking at a photo you’ve just taken and realising that somebody is blinking or looking the wrong way? With the all new Nokia Lumia 925 and you will never take a bad photo again! Boasting one of the world’s cleverest cameras for smartphones, the lens on this Nokia Lumia allows you to shoot a sequence of photos, making it a lot easier to capture those great moments in your life that you don’t want to forget. By looking back at your photo sequence, you are guaranteed to choose the perfect shot, ensuring that special memory stays with you forever. The 8.7 MP camera is also designed to offer spectacular sharpness when taking photos or videos in low-light conditions, even with shaking hands! Play back your video on the 4.5” display screen using the handset’s super sensitive touch technology and you will not be disappointed. You’re also able to adjust focus, shutter speed, white balance and more, with intuitive controls on your phone, which supports a Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait processor. because quality matters
The phone also supports HERE Maps, which means you can find your way anywhere in the world, even if you’ve got no signal. And with City Lens, hold up your phone to see restaurants, shops, sights and more, perfect for travelling around unknown places. The 925 is powered by Windows Phone 8 – which means you don’t have to worry about losing anything you saved on your phone if you’re switching from Android or iPhone. The Welcome Home to Windows Phone 8 app will move your calendar, contacts, photos and music from your old phone over to your new Windows Phone. And you’ll still be able to listen to all of your iTunes tracks too, as well as free tunes on Nokia Music! It’s impossible not to be impressed with the array of features packed into this 925, so we recommend you visit one of the Sure stores in DOuglas, Ramsey, or Port Erin today.
SURE STORES AROUND THE ISLAND • • •
35 Strand Street, Douglas 4 Orchard Walk, Port Erin 10 Parliment Street, Ramsey
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VILLA MARINA 2&3 OCTOBER Words | James Rampton
Jason Manford has not run away to join the opera. Despite winning ITV1’s charity based talent competition, “Born To Shine”, putting his new-found talent into practice by joining Alfie Boe on tour and then starring in the critically acclaimed West End production of Sweeney Todd alongside Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, Jason has not forgotten his standup roots. In fact, you will be delighted to hear, the wonderfully gifted comedian has now returned to his first love and embarking on a huge nationwide live tour with a major new show entitled, “First World Problems”.
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‘FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS’
IOM TOUR - Royal Hall, Villa Marina
2&3 October 2013
J
ason jokes that, “Some of you might think I’ve had a career change, what with all the opera and musical theatre I’ve been doing lately. Not a chance. I’m excited to be getting back to what I really love the most – stand-up!” A comedian with a marvelously charismatic style, Jason strikes up a natural rapport with his audiences. He also possesses an irresistible amiability and generates a rare warmth on stage. All these talents have combined to make Jason one of the best loved and most in demand comics in the British Isles. The critics agree, the Guardian praises, “What Manford does best: classic, chirpychappie stand-up”. The Evening Standard calls him “Effortlessly entertaining”. The Daily Telegraph says that he is, “Blessed with the sort of laid-back charm and sharp turn of phrase you can’t manufacture”. Meanwhile, Chortle declares that, “Manford retains an affably jovial demeanour that makes him warmly enjoyable company.”
“People who haven’t done stand-up focus on the negatives – ‘what’s it like to die on stage?’ I always say, ‘It’s horrendous, the worst feeling in the world’. But the lows are so low because the highs are so high.” The stand-up, who was also hosted Show Me the Funny and Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford for ITV1, carries on “It’s a huge risk, but when it goes right, there is nothing better. It creates a communal feeling that you just can’t beat. You get all these people laughing and you think, ‘I did that!’ If you make one person laugh in a day, that’s great. Imagine multiplying that by 10,000!”
Sometimes I say to them, ‘I don’t remember that one. I must put it back in the act – it’s a good gag!” The stand-up, who was a team captain on 6 series of 8 Out of 10 Cats, as well as appearing on QI, Big Fat Quiz of the Year, League of Their Own and Would I Lie to You, adds that: “It’s also really interesting to see the demographic of my audience. I get grannies, their kids and their kids. It’s great to see.” Jason goes on to explain the title of his new show, First World Problems. “I’d seen the phrase online and liked it; it just sums up so much I think the phrase emphasises those times when we moan about the most trivial things. It’s as if we invent problems so we have something to moan about. I imagine someone in the third world just thinking that we were all complete idiots!”
On stage, you’re everything, you’re the boss. You’re the performer, writer, editor, director. You’re even Ofcom. Jason reveals that his You decide what to say. It’s brilliant.” material is constantly
Chatting to me in a TV dressing room – he is about to appear on Jonathan Ross’s ITV1 chat show – in person, Jason manifests the same likeable magnetism that draws thousands of fans to his live shows. His winning friendliness is no act. With this particular comic, what you see is what you get. Jason, who has also performed stand-up on BBC1’s Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and multiple Royal Variety Performances, cannot contain his excitement about returning to live comedy. The performer; a first-rate observational comic who describes his show as “essentially moaning about everyday life, but with punchlines” said - the buzz you get from live comedy is unrivalled. “You can’t give it up!” he beams.
Jason underlines that stand-up remains his overwhelming passion. “TV is simpler. You can do re-takes. But you’re not getting an immediate response. You don’t know if something is funny till weeks later. “Overall TV is much, much easier. A lot of the time it’s just professional reading. It’s reading while trying to make it look like you’re not reading.” Stand-up, on the other hand, is much more demanding. “On stage, you’re everything,” Jason continues. “You’re the boss. You’re the performer, writer, editor, director. You’re even Ofcom. You decide what to say. It’s brilliant.” Jason now has a very wide fan base. He observes that, “By now, people know that we share a sense of humour. They are aware of what they’re getting, and I’m aware of what makes them laugh. The weirdest thing is fans who remember jokes that I’ve forgotten.
evolving. “I only tour every couple of years, and the good thing is that over that time your life and the people who surround you are constantly changing. Also, as you get older, you get more opinionated.” Sadly, Jason has to leave now - he must to go into make-up in preparation for the chat show. Before he departs, though, I return to the subject of his sheer likability. Jason smiles and says, “I’m the same on stage as I am in real life – which can be incredibly annoying at home! Jimmy Carr says that because he is quite rude on stage, if he says ‘hello’ to a fan in the street, that will make their day. “By contrast, because I’m nice on stage, unless I ask a fan if they fancy a brew, they’ll say, ‘He’s a bit rude’. I’m a victim of my own niceness. Sometimes I wish I’d gone down the Jack Dee misery route!” Don’t go changing, Jason. We love you just the way you are.
Tickets £22.95. Available from the Villa Marina at: www.villagaiety.com or tel: 01624 600555
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