November 2018 | the TOUGH issue

Isle of Man Premier Magazine | no. 80 | November 2018 | the [TOUGH] issue

£ priceless

#80

the TOUGH issue BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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UPFRONT

CONTENTS UPFRONT

AGENDA lite

5 Edito

6 What's On 8 Feature FEATURE

KNOCKOUT CANDIDATE: THE MARTIAL ARTS FAN

When I was growing up, being “into martial arts” meant that you owned a Bruce Lee box set and might have taken a few karate lessons. Most of the guys who did this grew luxurious pony tails, and it definitely wasn’t something you’d talk about to a prospective employer unless they ran a shop that sold video games or nunchuks. This all changed when Mixed Martial Arts exploded in popularity, uniting fans of boxing, roundhouse kicks and Hulk Hogan in one socially acceptable and Instagram-friendly lifestyle. It’s now unremarkable to make water cooler conversation about how you spent Saturday night being kneed in the back by a doorman from Bristol, so telling the interview panel that you’re a cage fighter underlines your dedication to dull, painful training as well as a high tolerance to a working environment that runs the risk of permanently damaging your brain.

When I’m in a boundary dispute with my neighbours it’s also reassuring to know that my advocate could, if needed, smash a pile of bricks or planks with just a single blow of their fist.

WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TEAM?

White collaR extreme: get tough on your CV WORDS Grant Runyon

I’M TOLD THAT THE CORE SKILL REQUIREMENTS FOR LANDING AN OFFICE JOB IN THE ISLE OF MAN ARE LITERACY, NUMERACY AND A CLEAN CRIMINAL RECORD. IN A WELLEDUCATED POPULATION THIS DOES LITTLE TO NARROW DOWN THE COMPETITION, SO AS WELL AS PROMISING THE INTERVIEW PANEL THAT YOU DEFINITELY HAVEN’T MURDERED ANYBODY IT HAS BECOME COMMON TO BE QUIZZED AT LENGTH ABOUT HOW YOUR NONWORK SKILLS TRANSLATE TO THE OFFICE. When I was last unemployed this might have been as simple as elaborating on the paragraph tacked on your CV that says you play squash, like reading, or that old classic “socialising with friends,” but competition for today’s best jobs is cutthroat and you’re unlikely to stand out simply by announcing that, yes, you do really enjoy human company when you’re not at work. Instead we’re starting to see the winning candidates stake their claims to the prime positions by demonstrating

the career relevance of running a marathon through a desert, deadlifting a Fiat 500, or maybe strangling an adversary to submission with just the muscles in their thighs. I know that Jason Statham levels of hardness is a quality I personally demand in the person who administers my mortgage, so it’s good to see management taking an interest in the candidates who aren’t afraid to go that extra mile - especially if that mile is through a filthy ditch covered in barbed wire.

strong under pressure, know how to exploit weakness, good at ignoring a crowd that might be baying for your blood .

IDEAL JOB: Lawyer - no loyalties in the ring.

Will mercilessly inflict pain and damage on their opponent, but will still shake hands with them afterwards.

ADRENALINE JUNKIE: THE EXTREME SPORTS ENTHUSIAST You would think that somebody who enjoys wingsuit flying or free climbing might not choose to work in an office, but those corporate health plans come in very handy if you’re unlucky over the weekend and your lung gets impaled on a tree branch.

There’s also a limit to how much adrenaline most people can take, so a working environment that many of us might consider dull could represent a lovely calm alternative to a person who spends their off-time jumping out of planes or hunting sharks with a speargun. HR professionals have also realised that there’s a kind of Darwinism at work - if you’re into this kind of stuff and still alive you’re probably skilled and organised, or perhaps just lucky.

There’s also the chance that these adrenaline seekers might demonstrate the “motorsport effect,” where one of the main skills needed

to operate a tiny car at incredibly dangerous speeds appears to be having the off-grid personality of an accountant who likes to spend Saturday night ironing their socks.

WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TEAM? An intense understanding of the fine print in insurance liability, the ability to make snap life or death decisions, the hard-won knowledge that man is the deadliest prey of all.

IDEAL JOB: International currency trader take dangerous gambles at high speeds, try to avoid causing a gigantic crash.

GOING THE DISTANCE: THE ENDURANCE RUNNER

I often liken working life to crawling through a muddy trench, whilst being shouted at by sadists, only to receive a pathetic and ultimately worthless reward at the end. For some people, this is also what they like to do on their days off. Going for

UPFRONT

type of comforts we’ve become used to in our daily lives - comforts we’ll happily return to after a measured and character building amount of hardship. There is a much smaller group of people out there who’ll endure every activity on this page - not because they enjoy it, but because they see it as essential training for a grim and uncertain future. They have built their lives around a philosophy that predicts the imminent collapse of human society, and the lack of consensus amongst their ranks over whether this will be caused by climate change, zombies or pandemic flu means they need a preparedness plan for any situation. Having to deal with late accounts and IT problems is unlikely to have much effect on a person whose definition of “calm under fire” refers to their feelings about being shot at by masked goons whilst looting Benest’s of Millbrook. They will definitely work hard in the office, but don’t expect to be invited around for drinks and

45 Business News 48 IOMBN Gin Event 50 Feature - Thomas Miller 52 UCM Students Awards 55 Careers Special THE LIFE OF LIFE INSURANCE ON THE ISLE OF MAN

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

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

Careers

Life Insurance - Isle of Man

“When I was growing up, being “into martial arts” meant that you owned a Bruce Lee box set and might have taken a few karate lessons .” a normal run stopped being impressive a few years ago - if you want to stand out you either need to run hundreds of miles in one go, or do a normal distance run in a field that resembles a game show obstacle course themed around the first hour of Saving Private Ryan. With names like Tough Mudder, Nuclear Racing and the Chocolate Starfish Egg and Spoon Race, these feats of mucky endurance are sure to impress management by demonstrating your willingness to endure any amount of filth and punishment if there’s a chance you might come out in first place.

WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TEAM: stamina, a degree of masochism, and willingness to crawl through a ditch somebody else has dug for you.

IDEAL JOB: generic office drone - you don’t ask where you’re going, or why, you just try and get there a bit faster than anybody else.

nibbles because they live in a blacked out bedsit full of machetes and dried foods, and are only working to earn enough money for a down payment on a bunker somewhere in Canada. Never, ever get them involved in a conversation about the ethics of cannibalism.

WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TEAM:

extreme resourcefulness, cool and composed in the face of certain disaster, the ability to make the best out of any situation (if salt and pepper are available).

IDEAL JOB: Business continuity expert ensures your invoices will still be sent out whether the delay is caused by rain, snow or the inevitable fall of mankind.

ELITE CANDIDATE: THE DOOMSDAY SURVIVOR

Words by Tony Rea

Most of these activities, whilst extreme, represent a deliberate alternative to the

Looking back, the 1970’s was an era of questionable hairstyles and fashion; and in the same decade, both Ziggy Stardust and the Isle of Man’s life insurance sector were born.

BECAUSE BECAUSEQUALITY QUALITYMATTERS MATTERS

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10 Getaway Festive Spirit 12 Tough Luck 14 Cover Profile 16 Roberto Firmino - Eye-care 18 GIVE - Our Community

The history of the Isle of Man’s life insurance sector began with the overseas activities of UK life companies through branch operations in the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man is now home to 13 international life insurance companies housing around 2,000 employees. Its 40 year success story can be attributed to meeting the needs of high value international groups and positioning itself as a truly global player in the market.

The sector has become renowned for its strength, security and stability, underpinned by a strong regulatory environment that has helped to build the reputation of the Island globally and ensure customers are always placed first.

Over time, growth in this sector has also assisted in developing financial services as a whole.

The life insurance sector continues to be the Island’s largest financial services

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sector and remains a vital part of the local economy, making up over 16% of the island’s economy. From humble beginnings, the sector has grown to one of the most important sectors for the Island’s economy and it is now hard to believe that pre-1975 it didn’t exist on our shores.

The 1980s started with the Island becoming the first cross-border jurisdiction to create a specific regulatory framework for life insurance and with it the international insurance companies began to arrive. These companies were established in the Isle of Man due to the Isle of Man Government’s forwardthinking approach to regulation, supporting and encouraging the sector; the first such company was established in 1981.

The majority of the companies that were established on the Island during the 1980s did so with a handful of employees

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operating out of small offices. Today, new purpose built offices in the Business Park and elsewhere on the Island house individually 200-300 staff members. This remarkable growth helps to demonstrate the significant success of the sector and the impact it has had, not only on the Island’s economy but also in terms of its global outlook and reach. By the early 1990s, ten licensed companies were established on the island with branches located in far-flung corners of the world such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai.

2009 saw the Isle of Man life insurance sector take over from the banking sector as the largest economic sector on the Island. The regulatory environment continued to develop at pace and the Island was, and continues to be, widely regarded as a jurisdiction ahead of the curve. The recent introduction of a Risk Based Capital Solvency Regime and ON THE AGENDA

the upcoming new Conduct of Business regulations from 1 January 2019 will further cement this and confirm the Island as a jurisdiction that puts the policyholder first.

In late 2017, a major independent strategic review of the Isle of Man’s life insurance sector was carried out, culminating in 15 recommendations for the future protection and growth of the sector. A major campaign is due to commence that will highlight the benefits of using Island based life insurance companies and why the Island is seen as a centre of excellence for life insurance and wealth management.

Various factors are now driving the sector’s growth, which is helping cater to a diverse client base including the benefits offered by insurers and the versatile range of products on offer for expatriates of other countries and local nationals around the world. The Island now has the broadest market footprint of all established crossborder life domiciles. The Island’s life insurance sector offers a wide range of solutions, superior product benefits and features such as, international investment options, risk benefits, and guarantees to investors not otherwise available in their home market and with sound governance and promotion of the sector led by representative body, the MIA. Over the years, the Island’s life insurance sector has developed an insurance skill base in actuarial, underwriting and policy administration and supported areas such as investment management, accounting and information technology as well as sales and marketing.

The sector continues to provide a wide range of career opportunities for the Island’s residents and attracting talented and skilled people from further afield.

This development of skills and expertise in the workplace has also crucially helped to ensure excellent customer service to all policyholders.

The Isle of Man is a vibrant business centre, endorsed by world-class businesses that choose the Isle of Man as their base with the facilities and services to support them, offering an efficient, experienced and

WHO WE ARE PUBLISHER

well-governed environment for businesses and their customers. The Island’s life insurance sector continues to thrive and

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

is looking forward to at least another 40 years aiding economic growth and career opportunities for Island residents.

CAREERS SPECIAL

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70 Feature Property 72 Property News

EVENTS

20 Fern & Adam Callister’s Big Day APPETITE 22 Children’s Centre 150th Ball 24 Mark & Claire Corkish Wedding 74 Wine Talk 26 Mechelle & Kevin Quirk Big 75 Recipes 28 Standard Bank Awards 2018 EVENTS

EVENTS

STANDARD BANK MARK OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2018

After magicians, dancers and music, the evening moved on to its high point: the

PO Box 52 Douglas Isle of Man IM99 1GY Tel: 01624 619540 www.gallery.co.im

TRAVEL

76 Go Hard or Go Home

CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL

Clare Bowie Leroy Hudson Alex Bell Suzy Holland Robert Shrimsley Les Able Alex Wilson Tony Rea

FASHION & BEAUTY

Standard Bank’s Mark of Excellence Awards 2018 were held at Begoade Cottage Fields on Friday 28 September.

The annual celebration recognises and rewards employees who constantly go above and beyond the call of duty, but it is also an opportunity for the bank to say ‘thank you’ to the whole Isle of Man team and their families. The Douglas office is part of Standard Bank’s Wealth International division and supports thousands of customers around the world.

221 MEDIA Gallery/Agenda Magazines

78 5 Autumn Trouser Trends

awards presentation. Staff were nominated by their peers and then selected by a panel of judges. The winners were: John Gaydon and Jason Gaines (Financial Outcome Award), Ryan Burke (Risk Conduct Award), Kayleigh Georgeson (Employee Engagement Award), Kyle Wheeler (Client Focus Award), Kimberley Moore (Social, Economic and Environment Award), BCU Team (Best Team Award) and Emma Pressley (‘LOVE’ – Living Our Values Everyday – Award).

HARDWARE 30

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

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BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

30 Bee Gees Tribute Night

32 MBCSP 5th Anniversary Ball

80 Motoring News 81 Gadgets 82 Tough Enough for Enduro?

DESIGN STUDIO

Emma Cooke Russ Atikinson

PHOTOGRAPHY

36 Culture News 38 Everything is Poetry 40 Upload - Your Photos 42 Ready to Go - Local Film CULTURE

Peter Kwiecinski Matt Mosur Liam Gilman Adele Priest Robyn Ackron Steve Babb

PAPARAZZI

CULTURE

84 Thrilla in The Villa 86-92 Are you in?

NIGHTLIFE

I could never talk to my sister in the UK without asking her to repeat herself…

Disclaimer.

ARE YOU IN?

THE COURTHOUSE

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

Any views expressed by advertisers or contributors may not be those of the publisher. Unsolicited artwork, manuscripts and copy are accepted by Gallery Magazine, but the publisher cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage. All material, copy and artwork supplied is assumed to be copyright free unless otherwise advised. Contributions for Gallery should be emailed to editorial@gallery.co.im. Names have been changed to protect the innocent and no penguins were harmed in the manufacture of this magazine, you can’t prove nuffing. Why are you still reading the small print?

How about researching what really makes the best paper aeroplane? Test them with your friends or colleagues, add a picture to our Facebook and we’ll send you some doughnuts.

/GALLERYIOM

CULTURE

…now I can

mobile call clarity, made personal to you register for FREE at manxtelecom.com/nowican

86 Words by: Josh Baumbach

A story about a man taking his cat to be put down doesn’t sound like a natural premise for a comedy short film but that’s exactly what filmmaker Lynda Reiss has pulled off with her director debut Ready to Go. The film starts Kevin Doyle, best known for playing the role of Joseph Moseley in Downton Abbey, as Lance taking his cat to be put down. But without giving away any spoilers, that’s not really what the film is about. “I think the only way I can approach very heavy subjects is with humour” explains Lynda. “There’s a lot of humour in the script, that’s one of the things that attracted me to it.”

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The film has become the most successful short to have been made on the Island, winning 21 awards and gaining 24 official selections around the world, including BAFTA and Oscar qualifiers. Prizes have been awarded for script, directing, cinematography and Doyle’s performance as Lance.

Ready to Go was shot entirely on the Isle of Man in the summer of 2017 by a Manx led crew. Bev Lawley led the team as producer, Lynda Reiss directing, Edward Crompton as editor, John Craine as writer and cinematographer and Katharine Watling as production designer. Most of the team have worked together in various combinations ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

before, but this production might be the biggest yet. Bev has supplied extras to most of the features shot on the Island over the past 20 years and has an impressive track record of producing award winning short films on the Isle of Man.

“We’ve had planes, trains and automobiles on this one” explains Bev, “Lynda had such a specific vision for the look of the whole film that it soon became apparent that we’d have to build some of the sets in a sound stage. We’ve never done that for a short before”. Many of the interiors were constructed at the Kennaa Studios in St. Johns. “John doesn’t write stuff that’s easy to film” laughs Bev “One of the film’s BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

most hair raising moments, was where we needed to create a silent movie style shot of a woman tied tothetracks as a train barrels towards her. If we were shooting anywhere else that would have to have been bought as stock footage but because we’re on the Isle of Man, the department of transport organised for us to shoot it, safely of course! The annoying thing is that it looks so authentic that audiences just assume we bought footage from the 20s. Typical!”

Lynda Reiss has a formidable CV as a Hollywood prop master. Her feature film credits include American Beauty, Cruel Intentions and American History X, and her recent TV work includes two of the

“There’s a lot of humour in the script, that’s one of the things that attracted me to it.”

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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Recycle.

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

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

UPFRONT

#80 [the TOUGH ISSUE] £ priceless

Isle of Man Premier Magazine | no. 80 | November 2018 | the [TOUGH] issue

Toughen up!

edito

WARNING: *This may be hard to read but it’s for your own good*

#80

the TOUGH issue BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

WWW.GALLERY.CO.IM

COVER CREDIT PHOTOGRAHPER SHAN FISHER SHANSPHOTO.COM MODEL LIAM RICE

ARE YOU IN? You can also view paparazzi photos on our facebook page.

“I

t’s tough at the top”, “life’s so tough for kids these days”, “It’s tough out there”. Hold on, what are we saying? Has the word tough become the new, “one size fits all” go-to adjective to cover every eventuality, to explain away every challenge life throws our way?

I mean, I would go out but I’m having a tough time at work, or, oh the family situation is a bit tough at the minute, or, it may be tough to even get to work, what with traffic and hurricanes etc etc. What? It’s going to be tough out there, so don’t even bother? When the going gets tough, the tough get going curl up on the sofa and say: “nah, not today.”

Truth is, we’ve never had it so easy! The digital age has taken the tough stuff out of life, we don’t even have to bother using our brains half the time. It means that, when we are actually presented with a challenge it feels a bit, well, tough, really. We’re not saying the typical discerning Gallery reader is a pathetic snowflake, branded by the millennial curse but, you know, we have got it all a bit too easy these days. Still not sure? This is how the average person lives: You’re going out with friends, you pick up your phone, send a group message, book a table online, book and pay for a taxi and actually feel deeply inconvenienced when some bars don’t have contactless! You don’t have to queue for things or bring out the right amount of cash or go anywhere without checking a review or planning a route first and if you can’t really stick to the arrangement because life’s a bit too tough today, then you just agonise over the appropriate emojis for 30 seconds and message the group to cancel. Crisis averted!

It’s November, we are not asking you to grow an unsightly moustache, blow up Parliament, stop drinking alcohol or inhaling sugar but you could try putting your phone down for a few days to see what tough really means; your brain will thank you for it, trust. Probably best to flick through Gallery though, to help with the withdrawals. You’re welcome!

SR

FACEBOOK.COM/ GALLERYIOM

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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CULTURE

WHAT’S ON 01.11.2018

02.11.2018

//VILLA MARINA, DOUGLAS// The stars of Megaslam Wrestling are returning to the Villa for their 2018 Spectacular, a two hour all-action family entertainment, which promises to be best wrestling event ever seen on the Island.

The 2018 show will feature many never seen before Wrestlers, as well as some of the biggest names in the Wrestling World including WWE TV Superstars.

//DOUGLAS// Celton Manx will once again be sponsoring the Douglas fireworks display. The event starts at 7.15pm when the Mayor will judge the ‘Best Guy’ competition. The bonfire will be lit at 7.30pm and then from 7.40pm the fireworks display, set to music will be fired from a barge moored opposite the War Memorial on Harris Promenade.

MEGASLAM WRESTLING

DOUGLAS FIREWORKS DISPLAY

Elsewhere, on Sunday 5 November the RAMSEY fireworks display will take place in Mooragh Park, from 7.30pm with fireworks synchronized to theme tunes from popular 70’s & 80’s TV and in PORT ERIN, their display starts at 7.30pm on the beach.

www.villagaiety.com

now – 4.11.2018

JIGSAW2

//ISLE GALLERY, ST JOHNS// ‘New pieces of the Isle of Man’ from Adam Berry. Following on from his original Jigsaw exhibition in 2015 which showed artwork inspired by places of interest on the Isle of Man, Jigsaw2 is another look at the beauty & variety of our Island. Adam’s work in Jigsaw2 once again references retro travel posters and illustrates the island in a distinctive and fun way.

All work is for sale, including a limited number of unframed prints. www.facebook.com/theislegallery www.adamberry.net

now – end of November

EVIDENCE OF HUMANITY

//NOA BAKEHOUSE, DOUGLAS// Janet Lees’ exhibition of visual and written art finally comes to the Isle of Man after its debut at the Interceltique Festival du Lorient in France this summer. Janet, an award winning poet and celebrated photographer, has combined the two in this exhibition with her own haunting poems paired with images inspired by the sea, water and the idea of Islands. www.janetlees.weebly.com Instagram @janetlees2001

3.11.2018

MURDER AT THE BIG TOP

//LAXEY WORKING MEN’S INSTITUTE// A circus themed murder mystery evening from pop-up theatre group Penny Productions is the second anniversary fundraiser for local charity Without Wings, the Manx Autoimmune Arthritis Trust.

Ticket are £15 per head, including light refreshments – bring your own bottle. www.withoutwings.co.uk | www.facebook. com/withoutwingsiom/ | theinstitute.im/

5.11. – 01.12.2018

ISLAND OF CONTRASTS

//HODGSON LOOM GALLERY, LAXEY// An exhibition of new work from popular local artist Paul Parker, who has been experimenting with various new (to him) mediums including inks.

Also: The Hodgson Loom Annual Open Art Competition, which will run from December to February is now open for entries. This year’s theme is ‘Light’ and the competition, as always, is open to everyone working in any medium – number of entries

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per person is limited to three (£2 per entry).

Entry forms are now available from the gallery but for further information, please email julia@laxeywoollenmills.com www.facebook.com/ HodgsonLoomGallery/

8.11.2018

ALLELUJAH!

//NORTHERN THEATRE EXPERIENCE, RGS, RAMSEY// Alan Bennett’s sharp and hilarious new play ‘Leaves you bobbing on a wave of happiness’ (The Independent).

The Beth, an old fashioned cradle-to-grave hospital serving a town on the edge of the Pennines, is threatened with closure as part of an efficiency drive. A documentary crew, eager to capture its fight for survival, follows the daily struggle to find beds on the Dusty Springfield Geriatric Ward, and the triumphs of the old people’s choir.

Filmed live at London’s Bridge Theatre during its limited run, tickets (£15.30 adults, £6.20 u16s and a concessionary rate for seniors - £12.75). https://rgstheatre.ticketsolve.com/ shows/873597599

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

CULTURE

NOVEMBER O9.11 – 10.11.2018

POKERSTARS RALLY

//ALL ISLAND, CLOSED ROADS// The PokerStars Rally is a National B status Stage Rally taking place on closed roads throughout the Isle of Man in November each year.

For more information about where you can view the rally and which roads visit: www.manxautosport.org/PokerStarsRally-2018/

17.11.2018

TRUMAN FALLS & JEFF JEPSON

//PEEL CENTENARY CENTRE// An evening of music from the islands home-grown talents, Truman Falls and The Jeff Jepson Band. Tickets (£10) from Celtic Gold, Shakti Man, Thompson Travel and Peter Norris Music and online from http:// etickets.im/cc/

25.11 – end 2018

MANX AFFORDABLE CHRISTMAS SHOW, POSTCARD LOTTERY & ART CRAWL

//ISLE GALLERY, ST JOHNS and other venues// The Manx Affordable Christmas Show opens on 25 November showcasing many of the artists represented by the Gallery, and includes the ever popular Postcard Lottery, with the opportunity for you to own a framed postcard sized work from a local artist for just £20 – the lottery is that you won’t know what you’ve bought until the exhibition is over and you take it home.

The Christmas Art Crawl (30 November – 2 December) is a market style, art trail event, in a variety of venues including House of Manannan, Pilates Isle of Man, The Isle Gallery at Tynwald Mills and in Kirk Michael. It’s a family event in which you will be free to roam the venues with a downloadable venue guide which will include venues and participating artists. Festive refreshments will be also available at some venues, so this is an ideal opportunity to get some of your Christmas shopping out of the way early. Artists and venues will be confirmed by email closer to the time, so to register your attendance and receive information regarding the trail and free entry, link to all the events on our Facebook page or at the website: www.artreachiom.com. www.facebook.com/theislegallery BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

24.11 – 24.12.2018

ARCHIBALD KNOX and OTHER LEADING MANX ARTISTS

//AYLMER-LEVINEFINE ART, DOUGLAS// A selling exhibition of over 100 Knox pieces and works from other Manx artists including Norman Sayle, Nicholson, William Hoggart Aitken and more.

This exhibition also celebrates 30 years of business on the Island for Aylmer-Levine Fine Art, which is located on the Lower Ground Floor, 9-11 Duke Street. All pieces are for sale, so if you’re looking to start or add to your collection, you’re advised to attend the exhibition early - on Saturday 24 November, the gallery will be open from 10.30am – 4.30pm.

24.11.2018

FOOD, ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR

//CASTLETOWN// Interesting arts and crafts to purchase as well as amazing world food by local producers at the monthly (last Saturday) Castletown market between 10am and 4pm. www.facebook.com/CastletownMarkets

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White collaR extreme: get tough on your CV WORDS Grant Runyon

I’M TOLD THAT THE CORE SKILL REQUIREMENTS FOR LANDING AN OFFICE JOB IN THE ISLE OF MAN ARE LITERACY, NUMERACY AND A CLEAN CRIMINAL RECORD. IN A WELLEDUCATED POPULATION THIS DOES LITTLE TO NARROW DOWN THE COMPETITION, SO AS WELL AS PROMISING THE INTERVIEW PANEL THAT YOU DEFINITELY HAVEN’T MURDERED ANYBODY IT HAS BECOME COMMON TO BE QUIZZED AT LENGTH ABOUT HOW YOUR NONWORK SKILLS TRANSLATE TO THE OFFICE. When I was last unemployed this might have been as simple as elaborating on the paragraph tacked on your CV that says you play squash, like reading, or that old classic “socialising with friends,” but competition for today’s best jobs is cutthroat and you’re unlikely to stand out simply by announcing that, yes, you do really enjoy human company when you’re not at work. Instead we’re starting to see the winning candidates stake their claims to the prime positions by demonstrating

the career relevance of running a marathon through a desert, deadlifting a Fiat 500, or maybe strangling an adversary to submission with just the muscles in their thighs. I know that Jason Statham levels of hardness is a quality I personally demand in the person who administers my mortgage, so it’s good to see management taking an interest in the candidates who aren’t afraid to go that extra mile - especially if that mile is through a filthy ditch covered in barbed wire.

FEATURE

KNOCKOUT CANDIDATE: THE MARTIAL ARTS FAN

When I was growing up, being “into martial arts” meant that you owned a Bruce Lee box set and might have taken a few karate lessons. Most of the guys who did this grew luxurious pony tails, and it definitely wasn’t something you’d talk about to a prospective employer unless they ran a shop that sold video games or nunchuks. This all changed when Mixed Martial Arts exploded in popularity, uniting fans of boxing, roundhouse kicks and Hulk Hogan in one socially acceptable and Instagram-friendly lifestyle. It’s now unremarkable to make water cooler conversation about how you spent Saturday night being kneed in the back by a doorman from Bristol, so telling the interview panel that you’re a cage fighter underlines your dedication to dull, painful training as well as a high tolerance to a working environment that runs the risk of permanently damaging your brain.

When I’m in a boundary dispute with my neighbours it’s also reassuring to know that my advocate could, if needed, smash a pile of bricks or planks with just a single blow of their fist.

WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TEAM?

strong under pressure, know how to exploit weakness, good at ignoring a crowd that might be baying for your blood .

IDEAL JOB: Lawyer - no loyalties in the ring.

Will mercilessly inflict pain and damage on their opponent, but will still shake hands with them afterwards.

ADRENALINE JUNKIE: THE EXTREME SPORTS ENTHUSIAST You would think that somebody who enjoys wingsuit flying or free climbing might not choose to work in an office, but those corporate health plans come in very handy if you’re unlucky over the weekend and your lung gets impaled on a tree branch.

There’s also a limit to how much adrenaline most people can take, so a working environment that many of us might consider dull could represent a lovely calm alternative to a person who spends their off-time jumping out of planes or hunting sharks with a speargun. HR professionals have also realised that there’s a kind of Darwinism at work - if you’re into this kind of stuff and still alive you’re probably skilled and organised, or perhaps just lucky.

There’s also the chance that these adrenaline seekers might demonstrate the “motorsport effect,” where one of the main skills needed

to operate a tiny car at incredibly dangerous speeds appears to be having the off-grid personality of an accountant who likes to spend Saturday night ironing their socks.

WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TEAM? An intense understanding of the fine print in insurance liability, the ability to make snap life or death decisions, the hard-won knowledge that man is the deadliest prey of all.

IDEAL JOB: International currency trader take dangerous gambles at high speeds, try to avoid causing a gigantic crash.

GOING THE DISTANCE: THE ENDURANCE RUNNER

I often liken working life to crawling through a muddy trench, whilst being shouted at by sadists, only to receive a pathetic and ultimately worthless reward at the end. For some people, this is also what they like to do on their days off. Going for

UPFRONT

type of comforts we’ve become used to in our daily lives - comforts we’ll happily return to after a measured and character building amount of hardship. There is a much smaller group of people out there who’ll endure every activity on this page - not because they enjoy it, but because they see it as essential training for a grim and uncertain future. They have built their lives around a philosophy that predicts the imminent collapse of human society, and the lack of consensus amongst their ranks over whether this will be caused by climate change, zombies or pandemic flu means they need a preparedness plan for any situation. Having to deal with late accounts and IT problems is unlikely to have much effect on a person whose definition of “calm under fire” refers to their feelings about being shot at by masked goons whilst looting Benest’s of Millbrook. They will definitely work hard in the office, but don’t expect to be invited around for drinks and

“When I was growing up, being “into martial arts” meant that you owned a Bruce Lee box set and might have taken a few karate lessons .” a normal run stopped being impressive a few years ago - if you want to stand out you either need to run hundreds of miles in one go, or do a normal distance run in a field that resembles a game show obstacle course themed around the first hour of Saving Private Ryan. With names like Tough Mudder, Nuclear Racing and the Chocolate Starfish Egg and Spoon Race, these feats of mucky endurance are sure to impress management by demonstrating your willingness to endure any amount of filth and punishment if there’s a chance you might come out in first place.

WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TEAM: stamina, a degree of masochism, and willingness to crawl through a ditch somebody else has dug for you.

IDEAL JOB: generic office drone - you don’t ask where you’re going, or why, you just try and get there a bit faster than anybody else.

nibbles because they live in a blacked out bedsit full of machetes and dried foods, and are only working to earn enough money for a down payment on a bunker somewhere in Canada. Never, ever get them involved in a conversation about the ethics of cannibalism.

WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TEAM:

extreme resourcefulness, cool and composed in the face of certain disaster, the ability to make the best out of any situation (if salt and pepper are available).

IDEAL JOB: Business continuity expert ensures your invoices will still be sent out whether the delay is caused by rain, snow or the inevitable fall of mankind.

ELITE CANDIDATE: THE DOOMSDAY SURVIVOR Most of these activities, whilst extreme, represent a deliberate alternative to the

BECAUSE BECAUSEQUALITY QUALITYMATTERS MATTERS

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••••

UPFRONT

WE’RE FINALLY HERE! WE ACTUALLY MADE IT TO PEEL. I WAS STARTING TO THINK THIS JOURNEY WOULD NEVER END.

MANN TAILS #12

OK, SO WE’RE HERE...

NOW WHAT? I KNOW, RIGHT. MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE JUST TAKEN THE BUS FROM THE START.

THE MODDEY DHOO SCARED AWAY MY ANSESTORS, THAT’S THE REASON MY FAMILY MOVED. I JUST WANTED TO ASK HIM WHY HE WAS SUCH A JERK, SO I EMAIL HIM. HE JUST RESPONDED WITH...

Gus, the three-year-old German Pointer, is a very fine example of his breed. His previous owners describe him as friendly, happy, enthusiastic, clever and playful, but their failing health has forced them to make the difficult decision to rehome him. Gus still thinks he’s a puppy and so he can be a bit excitable and strong on the lead, and so he needs an energetic new family who will be able to keep up with him. He’ll also need new owners who are prepared to continue with his training, making sure he respects his boundaries and understands right from wrong.

Gus

HONESTLY...

I’M NOT REALLY SURE. MAYBE I SHOULD EXPLAIN. YOU SEE, I MAY HAVE MANX HERITAGE, BUT I’M ACTUALLY FROM AMERICA.

Gus’s previous owners have told us that he chases cats, and so he needs to live in a cat-free household. And because he doesn’t know his own strength it would be unsafe to rehome him with young children. Gus gets on with most other dogs but we’re told that he really doesn’t like black dogs. This is quite a common issue in the canine world and may be because black dogs are more difficult to see – their body language isn’t so obvious and so other dogs can’t predict how they’ll react.

If you are interested in finding out more about Gus please contact the kennels team by calling 851672, and selecting option one. It’s sometimes difficult for the team to answer the telephone when it rings, especially in the mornings when they are busy cleaning and walking the dogs. So, please leave a message on the answer machine rather than simply hang up, and a member of the team will call you as soon as they can.

Apoc is an eight-year-old Manx tom cat – he’s a full Manxie, with absolutely no sign of a tail!

I JUST FELT SO ENRAGED THAT I HAD TO CONFRONT HIM IN PERSON. BUT THIS IS MY MESS AND I’VE PUT YOU GUYS IN DANGER.

He is a friendly boy and enjoys chin rubs and strokes and rolling around, but he will let you know when he’s had enough - cuddles must be on his terms. He’s been in the cattery for several months and although he’s well fed and has lots of visitors who spend time with him, he would like a home and garden of his own. He really doesn’t like other cats and he’s surrounded by them in the cattery.

Apoc

The cattery staff and volunteers call him ‘a character’ and they have a soft spot for him, but he wouldn’t enjoy living with young children and so he’s looking for a quiet home with patient and understanding owners who will give him time to adjust to his new surroundings.

He’s a cat with his own boundaries and he needs people to respect them.

YESSIR, THIS IS A BIT OF A MESS. THE BLACK DOG DOESN’T LIKE COME OVERS, BUT TIMES MOVE ON. YOU’RE MY FRIEND AND I’M HERE FOR YOU. NOW LET’S TEACH THAT OLD DOG A NEW TRICK!

He really needs his next family to be the one he spends the rest of his life with. His first owner moved abroad and couldn’t take him; and his second owner moved house and, once again, he wasn’t allowed to go with him. Poor Apoc just needs his ‘forever home’.

ManxSPCA • Ard Jerkyll, East Foxdale • Tel: 851672

www.manxspca.com

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

UPFRONT

GET INTO THE FESTIVE SPIRIT ON YOUR NEXT GETAWAY market stalls of St Nicholas Fair (15th November – 23rd December).

The ‘walled’ ancient city steeped in history has so many places to visit including the Jorvik Viking Centre, the National Railway Museum and a guided tour of the chocolate factory where treats like KitKats, Smarties and Toffee Crisp all began!

As well as soaking up the city’s medieval charm, you can don skates at the Ice Factor or spend a night in the stalls for playful panto fun.

Yet while Albert Square is the centre of the city’s Christmas market offering, there are around 300 market stalls filling the streets spread across the city centre – ideal for you to find the perfect presents for your loved ones and maybe treat yourself to a few yummy snacks like roasted chestnuts as you walk around a winter wonderland and listen to the carol-singing choirs.

IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE YET ANOTHER YEAR HAS ALMOST PASSED AND IT’S NEARLY TIME TO TRIM THE TREE AND DECK THE HALLS. As you start to get into the festive spirit, why not indulge in yuletide activities on a seasonal break?

Wherever you choose to go, travelling with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is a great way to start your journey for all the family.

With so many great destinations in the UK and so much going on at this time of year, the tough bit is fitting it all in.

Bustling Christmas markets are situated across northern England in the build-up so why not lose yourself in a bustling city like Manchester or Leeds as the renowned markets offer an alternative shopping experience to the high street, with many boasting exquisite crafts and delicious foods from artisan stallholders.

Manchester’s Christmas shopping extravaganza returns from November 9th to December 23rd with the main thriving market hub in front of the town hall in Albert Square.

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Manchester is a popular destination, with its vibrant nightlife, great shopping and host of must-see attractions including Christmas productions such as Peter Pan, Cinderella and Dr Doolittle – perfect for all the family.

Not too far away, historic Chester is always a delightful place to visit and from 16th November the streets around the Town Hall and cathedral come to life with festive cheer.

Its Christmas market features more than 70 wooden chalet-style stalls wrapped around the sparkling Christmas tree in the heart of the city centre and opposite the landmark Chester Cathedral.

Aside from visiting the markets you’ll also have time to explore the shops, where you might be able to find a festive bargain or two and enjoy the sights and sounds of some of Britain’s most wonderful cities.

Your Christmas break starts as soon as you step on board.

Steam Packet Holidays has a range of ferry and two-night accommodation packages on offer to these and more destinations.

You can even take your car so you have the freedom to explore and plenty of room to bring back some festive goodies.

For full details about ferry and accommodation packages, call the Steam Packet Holidays team on 645777.

Visit www.steam-packet.com for details on ferry only offers.

As well as an array of seasonal gifts to select from, there are also plenty of locally produced treats including hot mulled wine, festive cocktails and hog roast baps.

If you fancy heading over the Pennines, there is a continental style festive shopping experience in Leeds where the Millennium Square transforms into a scenic winter village.

More than 40 traditionally decorated wooden chalet stalls, themed indoor venues and a Christmas carousel ride means there’ll be plenty to explore between 9th November and 22nd December.

Then there’s the historic city of York and the opportunity to meander through the magical

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UPFRONT

TOUGH LUCK You’re too sensitive. life can be very tough for you, you’re still feeling raw about the demise of Woolworths, you thought life was better when wine bottles had corks and why oh why did they kill off Keeley Hawes in the Bodyguard? You try to be brave but it’s all too much for you.

You’re a foodie. You were a vegan before anyone else, you were foraging for apples and rustling up Buddha bowls before anyone else had even considered making a cake with no eggs and no butter and now it’s all getting too much for you with “modern vegans” and rhubarb cordial and shaved coconuts. You don’t even know who you are anymore! *sips minty melonade and hopes it’s still trending* You’re anti-social. You daydream about being stuck on a dessert island, where you wouldn’t have to waste so much time avoiding people. You can’t even get into your car safely because your neighbour keeps leaving the house at the same time, it is pure AGONY. So much weather chat and at least two, “how’s it goings?” It’s all very stressful and you feel it may be too late to erect a 10 foot dividing wall in case they think you’re not friendly or something.

You hate shopping. Even online grocery shopping is not faceless as you have to talk to the delivery man, pretending that you’re having people round as you unpack two dozen sauvignon blancs. There really should be an app for getting petrol and why oh why do they have to know your name before you get a coffee? Talk about intrusive!

You hate Whatsapp. When randomers add you to their group it’s a step too far.

Yes your kids are in the same club but I don’t want to hear your lolz. Not Ever! Did I give permission, did I ask to join and will I look like a weirdo if I leave the group?

You soooo want to leave the group but here you are watching your phone blow up with fifty shades of shiz from the bowels of their brains.

You’re an obsessive mother. It’s like an addiction, you live vicariously through your child, their pain is your pain, every worry is your worry and the only point of your life is to make them better and smarter and stronger and funnier and prettier. Ok, so maybe they do bite people and wet the bed but you’re absolutely sure you’ve got this and they will be number one in life, any day now. #no pressurehere

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The 10 types of people who just can’t tough it out

You’re a workaholic and even if it is too tough you will never admit it, plus there’s no time to admit it when there’s emails to send out at 6am and midnight, and all the other hours are spent telling everyone how extremely busy and important you are, because you just know they’ll be so impressed!

You have absolutely no FOMO because you secretly know who the real winner here is.

You’re indecisive. Your whole life is tough. You never ever trust your instincts, you can never decide what to have from the Chinese take-away and you start to feel like life is ebbing away, just like “the one” who got away ten years ago and the dream job you probably should have taken, maybe. You’ve had the same hairstyle since 2001 but you’re definitely still considering a change, one of these days, probably.

You’re spoilt. You only know a life where everything is done and bought for you so it’s only natural that so many things are too tough for you to handle. Like the time the WiFi cut out on your Barcelona penthouse balcony or the day the cleaner took the day off or the bread board starter which didn’t have craft butter with it. Talk about an awkward moment! You can’t even.

Yo br u’re an an de a m M d ye d by illen a me ybe s it d soc nia it w dia if y oes iety l: Yo o be ill b and u ju mak ; you u’ve f ’r s b e c e o o co m ok rg t sc yo e t ee a s nfus par . Oh et ab roll u fe oo la n cru elfi ing ing wa ou thr el a zy o elly o t e a tr y b i nd y to ours t yo part ugh it a r too nx u’r ic s e al s “ o l ie adu f to e n ipat me iou oft o do lt” ing so s. o t t wn th he su c ro rs; pp IRL ial . ug os i t t h ’ h l s a ed e ife ll s to n .B o es tt ak e

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

SMILES TO LAST A LIFETIME It really has been over 10 years since Abbey Dental opened its doors to new dental patients in Ballasalla.

With principal dentist Mark Hepworth at the helm, it has built a reputation of quality and excellence in all aspects of dental provision for patients across the Island.

The practice has been a finalist in the Island’s Excellence Awards, and also three UK dental awards. Abbey Dental has been elected through patient reviews to be represented in the Isle of Man’s Best Business Guide, every year for 11 years.

Mark is not one to sit on his laurels, he seeks perfection in all he does continuing to hone his dental skills and techniques to provide Abbey Dental’s patients with the highest quality evidence based minimally invasive aesthetic dentistry.

He has completed rigorous academic and clinical post graduate courses in endodontics, sedation, dental implants and restorative dentistry such as; advanced composite fillings, veneers and crowns. He has presented at, and has won a prize for the British Endodontic Society, and has trained in Switzerland to teach endodontic techniques to other dentists.

At Abbey Dental, orthodontics (teeth straightening) was initially carried out by specialist orthodontist Birgit Jensen, then on her retirement the

Abbey Dental 4 Silverburn Drive, Ballasalla, IM9 2DR T: 01624 823040 E: abbeydental@manx.net F: abbeydentalisleofman

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practice was joined monthly by Darren Stone who is one of Invisalign’s top trainers and is a Platinum Elite Invisalign provider. Mark has also been an Invisalign provider for 8 years working alongside Birgit and Darren.

So what do these words mean?

Aesthetic dentistry - restored teeth that look natural and beautiful.

Minimally invasive dentistry preserving existing teeth wherever possible.

Restorative dentistry - restoring damaged teeth to have natural form and function.

Endodontics (root canal treatment; RCT) - cleaning out (disinfecting and removing dead tissue) from inside the root(s) of a tooth and filling/sealing the voids created to prevent re-infection.

Dental Implant - surgically placing a titanium screw into the jaw to support bone and then an artificial tooth or teeth.

Invisalign Orthodontics - using a series of nearly invisible, removable, clear braces to gradually straighten a smile.

Mark is welcoming new patients from across the Island who self refer or are referred by their own general dentists for: Root canal treatment, dental implants, sedation and tooth straightening with Invisalign.

Of course Dentist Mark Hepworth has not been working alone. Dentists Sita Kapur and Miles Ritchings also follow Mark’s lead providing dental techniques and procedures backed up by the latest evidence based research, with Sita being midway through a year’s certificate course in endodontics.

Hygienists Paula Bell and Gail Garrad demonstrate to, and educate Abbey Dental’s patients how to look after their teeth and gums and are fastidious at cleaning to the highest clinical standards. Paula is also keen on improving and updating her knowledge having just achieved a first in her degree in Dental Science.

At Abbey Dental you will be welcomed by friendly reception staff and caring nurses to make every step of your dental journey more relaxing, and yes some patients have said ‘enjoyable’.

As part of Abbey Dental’s campaign to help everyone understand different aspects and myths of modern dentistry Mark will be on hand to answer caller questions at a monthly airing of Manx Radio’s, Women Today. If you have any burning questions about your teeth please contact Manx Radio (T: 682600), or book a consultation with one of Abbey Dental’s Dentists. T: 823040.

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UPFRONT

ON THIS MONTH’S COVER ….

Words: Suzy Holland Images: Shan Fisher/Liam Rice

Anyone who keeps on top of the social media blizzard, will recognise 25 year old Liam Rice, even without his dog. Liam’s images with his Siberian Huskie puppy Luna sharing his facial expressions went viral earlier this year, and found him Instagram fame and led to being stopped in Island nightclubs by people wanting to know why Luna wasn’t at the bar with him.

But Instagram ‘likes’ don’t always carry over into real life and after a particularly tough break up, a friend convinced Liam to apply for Channel 4’s First Dates. Although that came to nothing, he was then approached to appear on the dating show ‘A Year to Fall in Love’ - 20 people filming themselves searching for ‘the one’ – which is still available on the Channel 4 website if you missed it.

“I was looking for love,” Liam says now, “but most of all I wanted to be happy. It’s tough being young and single here on the Island, where everyone knows everyone, and if they don’t, they know your Mum or your ex. And that’s multiplied ten times over when you’re gay.” Over the months the show was made, Liam dated a man in Liverpool, met someone on the Island and ultimately, his now long-term boyfriend Jack, who’s a student just outside London.

As befits a 25 year old, particularly one

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who’s so involved with social media, Liam met Jack on Tinder. “Someone on the show talked about how people used to date, often meeting at work, in a bar or via friends. Tinder, and the other online apps, are just the 21stcentury version, and particularly useful when you’ve run out of friends-of-friends locally,” he laughs. “But I was never interested in dating a different person every week, which is fortunate as it would have been very expensive to keep flying across for what might have been a disastrous night out! It’s not ideal that Jack is so far away, but we’re making it work.”

Liam works for the ManxSPCA, and can often be found out with Luna on the beach near his home in Kirk Michael.

He’s recently been promoted into a desk job, as PR and Fundraising Co-ordinator, which he says means he’s going to have to very reluctantly go back to the gym.

“I like my bed and my TV too much,” he groans, “and I’ve never had to work at

keeping fit! As a youngster I was a pretty good Motocross rider, and when I first joined the ManxSPCA last year I was either working outside or walking the dogs. Although I’m really appreciating the Monday to Friday routine of my new role, taking Luna out for a couple of decent walks isn’t going to keep me in shape, especially when my desk is right next to the celebrated Ard Jerkyll tearooms.”

So after social media fame and TV stardom, has Liam’s head been turned by this cover-model photo shoot? “I really enjoyed being photographed by Shan,” he says, “but I love my job too much to give it up anytime soon! I’ve got my life with Jack to concentrate on too - long distance relationships are tough, of course they are, and although we won’t be making any big decisions whilst I’m working here and Jack’s studying across, we’re doing ok so far. Hey, I hope he likes these pics…”

“I really enjoyed being photographed

by Shan”

COVER CREDIT Photographer: Shan Fisher Model: Liam Rice

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

Family Portraits www.shansphoto.com | photo@shansphoto.com | 07624 418031

UPFRONT

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino wears tough protective glasses supplied by local opticians Holmes & Davidson.

Having suffered a grotesque eye injury during Liverpool's clash with Tottenham Hotspur, Roberto Firmino was a doubt to feature in their Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain three days later.

toward the cameras stationed pitch-side at Melwood.

However, after starting on the bench, Firmino entered the fray late on and duly scored the winning goal in a dramatic 3-2 victory before celebrating by covering his eye with his hand.

As for Firmino, the forward looked right as rain while training with his teammates, pulling off a silky back-heeled flick and scoring with a neat finish during a small-sided game.

Firmino then reported for training on Thursday morning sporting a brand new pair of protective glasses supplied by local opticians Holmes & Davidson via their Liverpool shop. When Firmino arrived wearing the glasses it instantly put Jurgen Klopp in mind of a certain somebody.

Firmino’s new look was clearly a source of great humour among the Liverpool players at training, as seen in a video on LFCTV.

Photos Credit: Liverpool FC

Davids, the former Netherlands international, wore tinted goggles throughout his professional career due to issues with glaucoma.

It’s understood his eye has now recovered.

“Edgar Davids is back!” Klopp quipped with a trademark grin

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

Where will 2019 take you?

With 2019 just around the corner there is no better time to start thinking about your next getaway.

Discover the majestic beauty of the Scottish Highlands, road trip through Ireland’s dramatic landscape or fall in love with one of the UK’s distinctly British towns. With no luggage fees you can pack everything you need for your getaway!

MORE THAN

900,000 OFFER SEATS AVAILABLE IN 2019

from

Pack more in - sail by ferry.

Book now at STEAM-PACKET.COM

Image – Baslow Edge, Peak District - credit WWW.VISITPEAKDISTRICT.COM

Take your vehicle No luggage fees Convenient ports Stretch your legs

UPFRONT

OUR COMMUNITY

GIVE

TEENAGER ALEXANDRA AND FRIENDS SET GAIETY STAGE ALIGHT STEAM PACKET COMPANY PASSENGERS MAKE SIGNIFICANT DONATION TO MGP CHARITY Kind-hearted passengers on Isle of Man Steam Packet Company sailings have continued to pledge their support to the Manx Grand Prix Supporters Club.

During the Festival of Motorcycling, crews on board both Manannan and Benmy-Chree coordinated collections and generous passengers donated £12,527.56 – £1,500 more than last year’s collection.

Proceeds were recently handed over to club chairman Allan Brew.

The money will support the club, which makes a large contribution towards the cost of hiring two rescue helicopters required for the Festival, as well as assisting injured riders and families of those that are lost while competing.

JOIN WI-MANX FOR BLUE DAY AND HELP RAISE MONEY FOR CROSSROADS CARE On the 9th November, leading Island technology and telecoms provider, WiManx, will be holding a fundraiser across the Isle of Man to help local charity Crossroads Care raise £5,000 towards its £30,000 target as a celebration of its 30th anniversary.

If you are planning to take part in the day, please confirm your participation by emailing Megan Faragher at Crossroads

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The Greatest Variety Show raised the Gaiety Theatre roof and, more importantly, looks to have raised £8,000 for Hospice.

The variety event, organised by WoW Events and sponsored by Appleby, featured many of the Island’s leading performers and was staged to raise money for Hospice as it celebrates its 35th Anniversary.

It was the brainchild of 16 year-old Alexandra Slater of Kirk Michael who was last year named Hospice’s first Young Ambassador.

She was approached by Hospice management after impressing them during her performance at Miss Isle of Man. Alexandra performs for patients and staff at the Hospice chapel and was a regular visitor while they cared for her grandfather during an 18 month period.

When he passed away earlier this year, Alexandra wanted to thank them for their care and approached a group of musicians and performers who agreed to take part in this show.

Wi-Manx, who have coined the initiative as a ‘Blue Day’ launched the appeal with a £500 contribution.

All schools, businesses, organisations and individuals across the island are invited to take part in the fundraiser and should wear something blue on the day and make a £1 donation for the privilege.

Aside from wearing blue, other ways to raise funds might include a cake or craft sale, raffle, fun run or a sponsored walk or anything else that would be fun and inclusive.

After the smash-hit film The Greatest Showman, the Isle of Man staged its very own blockbuster show – all courtesy of a talented teenager.

Carefundraising@crossroadsiom.org.

If you would like more information, please contact Megan on 673103 or at fundraising@crossroadsiom.org.

Alternatively, contact Sarah Read by emailing sarah.read@wimanx.com. www.crossroadsiom.org/support-us/ donate/ for information on making donations.

Guest performers included Dani Bridson, Simon Lynch, Mandy Griffin, Paul Costain, Sonia Callin, Douglas Town Band and the Mannin Youth Dance Company.

£80 per room, per night AT THE SEFTON

Bed & Breakfast to include a bottle of House Wine**.

Available Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from 21st September 2018 to 31st March 2019* Includes: Overnight stay for two people sharing a Standard or Atrium double or twin room Full use of the Sefton Hotel Swimming pool and Express gym Upgrade to a luxury Sefton Suite for an extra £59

Book now

01624 697070

reservations@seftongroup.co.im Office hours: 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday *Terms and conditions apply ** Red, White or Rose wine. Please specify upon booking.

Add a 2-course dinner for two at Harbour Lights at the Sefton for only £37 per couple

EVENTS

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THE WEDDING DAY OF FERN & ADAM CALLISTER

Location: Tholty-Y-Will

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

EVENTS

Photos by: Liam Gilman

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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EVENTS

(left to right), Linda Muirhead (CC trustee), Fiona Dawson (CEO Children’s Centre), John Spellman (chairman of trustees Children’s Centre), Baroness Michelle Mone, Doug Barrowman, Stuart Colligon (CC trustee) and Anthony Page (managing director Knox House Trust).

THE CHILDREN’S CENTRE 150TH ANNIVERSARY BLUE-TIE BALL More than £60,000 was raised for The Children’s Centre at its inaugural blue-tie ball at the Villa Marina.

Simon Scott (managing director OF Barclays IoM) and Andrea Scott.

Sponsored by Plan.com and Knox House Trust, the milestone celebration was attended by over 220 guests who enjoyed a sumptuous three-course meal, charity auction and entertainment before dancing the night away to local soul band Soul Suspects.

Philip and Helen Summerscales

Compered by Jo Pack and John Hunter, the evening also featured performances from Ballacottier School Choir and talented young singer Jasmine Colligon.

And to keep guests entertained between courses, award-winning magician and illusionist David Penn – former runner-up in Britain’s Got Talent – moved from table to table to astound them with his unique style of magic tricks.

Comperes Jo Pack and John Hunter

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Jasmine Colligon who performed at the event and her father Stuart

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

EVENTS

Photos by: Robyn Ackron

(left to right) Enterprise Minister Laurence Skelly, Anthony Page (managing director Knox House Trust), Chief Minister Howard Quayle, Fiona Dawson (CEO Children’s Centre), John Spellman (chairman of trustees Children’s Centre)

The team from joint sponsors Plan.com

Staff from IoM Advertising and PR

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EVENTS

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THE WEDDING OF MARK & CLAIRE CORKISH

Ceremony: Laxey Washing floors Reception: Ballacregga

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

EVENTS

Photos by: Matt Mosur

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EVENTS

THE WEDDING DAY OF MECHELLE & KEVIN - THE NEW MR AND MRS QUIRK.

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

EVENTS

Photos by: Steve Babb

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EVENTS

STANDARD BANK MARK OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2018 Standard Bank’s Mark of Excellence Awards 2018 were held at Begoade Cottage Fields on Friday 28 September.

The annual celebration recognises and rewards employees who constantly go above and beyond the call of duty, but it is also an opportunity for the bank to say ‘thank you’ to the whole Isle of Man team and their families. The Douglas office is part of Standard Bank’s Wealth International division and supports thousands of customers around the world.

After magicians, dancers and music, the evening moved on to its high point: the

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awards presentation. Staff were nominated by their peers and then selected by a panel of judges. The winners were: John Gaydon and Jason Gaines (Financial Outcome Award), Ryan Burke (Risk Conduct Award), Kayleigh Georgeson (Employee Engagement Award), Kyle Wheeler (Client Focus Award), Kimberley Moore (Social, Economic and Environment Award), BCU Team (Best Team Award) and Emma Pressley (‘LOVE’ – Living Our Values Everyday – Award).

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

EVENTS

Photos by: Sarah Jewell

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EVENTS

BEE GEES TRIBUTE NIGHT

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Location:The Palace Hotel

ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

EVENTS

Photos by: Peter Kwiecinski

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EVENTS

MANX BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 5TH ANNIVERSARY BALL

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

EVENTS

Photos by: Adele Priest

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CULTURE NEWS MANX FOLK TRADITIONS

MANX FOLK TRADITIONS RECREATED IN ISLE OF MAN POST OFFICE STAMPS An array of traditional folk customs which still form a part of people’s lives today will feature in a new set of stamps to be issued by the Isle of Man Post Office.

The six stamps highlight a selection of Manx folk traditions, all of which continue to be practised or have been revived throughout the Island.

Designed by Manx illustrator Jay Cover the stamps were printed in Canada using a special Metal FX process that lends gleam and lustre.

The collection will include a four-page presentation pack folder holding a mint set of the stamps, along with complementary issue text written by esteemed Isle of Man writer Valerie Caine, who brings to life the stories behind the Island’s folklore. Also included in the collection is a first day cover.

The traditions featured on the stamps include Hop tu Naa, Hunt the Wren and the Eve of Old Christmas Day. Commenting on the stamps, Jay explained: ‘It has been hugely enjoyable to work on the designs of these customs and in many ways each stamp embodies the spirit of the Island.

‘Working with Valerie Caine was a big help to get started

and narrow down the subject matter. I visit the Island three or four times a year so when I was back I picked up as many books as I could about Manx folklore.

That sowed the seed for my interest.

‘Apparently it’s a good sign of a living breathing tradition if you cannot find much information about it, because it means the tradition is still alive.’

Jay, who is associate lecturer on BA Illustration at Camberwell College Of Arts, lived on the Island until he was 21 and still has many family here.

His grandfather Jack Greggor is a well-known fisherman in Peel.

‘I’ve read that historically crofting and fishing provided employment for many Manx people but the work could be strenuous and it was a difficult life,’ Jay added.

‘Whether celebrating the Melliah harvest festival to the pumpkin free zone of Hop tu Naa and the mysterious figure of Jinny the Witch, these celebrations were a welcome distraction from daily demands.

‘I miss the Island so this commission has been a wonderful opportunity to come back across more regularly and learn more about the history of some of these celebrations.

‘It has also been fascinating to research and find out more about the tangible links with the Island’s close neighbours.’

Maxine Cannon, General Manager, Isle of Man Stamps & Coins, added: ‘We have been very pleased to be able to work with Jay to celebrate our very own Manx customs and we are delighted with the designs.

‘The traditions have been recorded by both local and visiting collectors over the

years, including scholars of international reputation, and the words of Valerie Caine further enhance this celebration of customs. I look forward to seeing the continued revival of the Quaaltagh tradition across the length and breadth of our Island as we bring in the New Year’. www.iompost.com/ folk-traditions | www.Facebook.com/ IsleofManStampsandCoins

SMALL WONDER: FREE LITTLE LIBRARY NOW IN NOBLE’S PARK

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The Tot Lot in Noble’s Park is now home to a Free Little Library which aims to offer 24/7 access to books and invites readers to ‘take a book, share a book and exchange a book’.

Borough librarian Jan

Built by a team from Men in Sheds, the Free Little Library holds a mix of adults’ and children’s titles and is an initiative from the Henry Bloom Noble Library.

idea of the Free Little Library

Macartney said: ‘People are welcome to help themselves to the books but we’re also encouraging them to donate unwanted books. The whole is about community; Noble’s Park plays a huge role in the Douglas community, so is the perfect site.’

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JANET LEES: “EVERYTHING IS POETRY” Words: Suzy Holland Images: Janet Lees

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To try and fit Janet Lees into a creative box would not do her justice. She’s a photographer, an artist, a film maker, a poet, and you might have taken part in one of her ‘writing for wellbeing’ workshops. And now a very successful year is being topped off by an exhibition of her work, ‘Evidence of Humanity’, at Noa Bakehouse in Douglas, an image selected for a London exhibition and a poem, Saltwater, commended in the prestigious ‘Second Light’ competition which is to be published in the November issue of Artemis Poetry.

That sounds like a pretty gilded life, but nothing could be further from the truth. Janet studied for a joint degree in visual arts and creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University,followed by nearly 20 years as a functioning addict, which, as you’d expect, stunted her creativity. “I still took photographs, but there was no connection with my surroundings,” Janet says now.

“As anyone with any addiction, or suffering from any trauma, knows, there is no room in your life for anything else and I stopped writing altogether.”

A couple of months before her 40thbirthday, Janet went into recovery and gradually – she cites a meditation retreat in Greece eight years later as the real breakthrough – she began to write what she described to me as “some pretty awful” poetry. At that point many of us would have given up, but not Janet and in 2011 she started a part-time MA in Creative Writing at Lancaster University.

“That gave me the freedom to write, and the encouragement and criticism which comes from a structured environment,” Janet says about her decision to go back to studying. “And quite unexpectedly I found the Ben My Cree commute and staying in a Travelodge ‘cell’ just the writing space I needed to fine-tune and tweak my work.” Two years later, Janet’s writing was rewarded - and awarded - with a Distinction.

And she didn’t stop there.

“Creative writing has had an overwhelmingly positive effect on how I feel about myself and my place in the world, and I began to explore ways in which I could encourage others to find that too,” she says. “So I invested in more training through the Orchard Foundation, and by 2014, thanks to generous support from Isle of Man Arts Council, I started running writing for wellbeing workshops,

with the intention of making them available to as many people as possible.”

That was at The Hub in Port Erin and buoyed by the success of those, she has recently expanded to sessions at the Jurby Community Centre. She also collaborated with poet Christine Thatcher on a ‘Road to Recovery’ writing and open mic weekend at Noa Bakehouse in April this year, which one participant described as ‘awesome’ in their feedback, adding ‘If you’re thinking of trying writing as therapy for whatever reason, do it!’

By 2015 Janet had also rediscovered her love of photography, which she describes as both curating reality and as visual poetry. Some of her images are exhibited in ‘Evidence of Humanity’, now on at Noa Bakehouse, which is a re-working of her exhibition at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient earlier this year where she represented the Isle of Man, an honour which has in recent years included artists Eileen Schaer, Nicola Dixon and Juan Moore.

In ‘Evidence of Humanity’Janet’s photographs, which are almost all taken in the Isle of Man, are each paired with one of her poems. Although the images are largely urban abstracts, they evoke the sea, water and the idea of islands, which as Janet says in her artist’s statement accompanying the exhibition are ‘physical, emotional and societal’:

“I am endlessly fascinated by the ways in which we see and represent ourselves… the fundamental reality of impermanence… the literally impossible western notion of perfection.”

If you’re in London before 26 January 2019 you can see Janet’s image ‘House of water’ in ‘Out of the Ordinary’ at the Bridewell Theatre, just off Fleet Street, London EC4. Janet’s recent poetry film ‘The worst thing by far’, with a soundtrack by Post War Stories, can be viewed here: vimeo. com/282697576

You can keep up with Janet at www.janetlees.weebly.comor on Instagram @janetlees2001. She publishes news about her writing for well-being workshops on the HubCreative and JurbyCommunity Facebook pages and look out for a new creative writing/poetry gathering at Waterstones, in Douglas in the New Year.

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Words by: Josh Baumbach

A story about a man taking his cat to be put down doesn’t sound like a natural premise for a comedy short film but that’s exactly what filmmaker Lynda Reiss has pulled off with her director debut Ready to Go. The film starts Kevin Doyle, best known for playing the role of Joseph Moseley in Downton Abbey, as Lance taking his cat to be put down. But without giving away any spoilers, that’s not really what the film is about. “I think the only way I can approach very heavy subjects is with humour” explains Lynda. “There’s a lot of humour in the script, that’s one of the things that attracted me to it.”

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The film has become the most successful short to have been made on the Island, winning 21 awards and gaining 24 official selections around the world, including BAFTA and Oscar qualifiers. Prizes have been awarded for script, directing, cinematography and Doyle’s performance as Lance.

Ready to Go was shot entirely on the Isle of Man in the summer of 2017 by a Manx led crew. Bev Lawley led the team as producer, Lynda Reiss directing, Edward Crompton as editor, John Craine as writer and cinematographer and Katharine Watling as production designer. Most of the team have ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

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worked together in various combinations before, but this production might be the biggest yet. Bev has supplied extras to most of the features shot on the Island over the past 20 years and has an impressive track record of producing award winning short films on the Isle of Man.

“We’ve had planes, trains and automobiles on this one” explains Bev, “Lynda had such a specific vision for the look of the whole film that it soon became apparent that we’d have to build some of the sets in a sound stage. We’ve never done that for a short before”. Many of the interiors were constructed at the Kennaa Studios in St. Johns. “John doesn’t write stuff that’s BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

easy to film” laughs Bev “One of the film’s most hair raising moments, was where we needed to create a silent movie style shot of a woman tied tothetracks as a train barrels towards her. If we were shooting anywhere else that would have to have been bought as stock footage but because we’re on the Isle of Man, the department of transport organised for us to shoot it, safely of course! The annoying thing is that it looks so authentic that audiences just assume we bought footage from the 20s. Typical!”

Lynda Reiss has a formidable CV as a Hollywood prop master. Her feature film credits include American Beauty, Cruel Intentions and American History X, and

“There’s a lot of humour in the script, that’s one of the things that attracted me to it.”

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her recent TV work includes two of the biggest and best shows around: True Detective and Stranger Things. Having worked with directors such as Sam Mendes, Gus Van Sandt and Quentin Tarantino, she decided to turn her considerable talents to directing. “I’ve spent 30 years working with some amazing directors and actors, you kind of absorb that information, you see how to do it, and also how not to do it”.

Reiss lived on the Island for many years and still has a house in Andreas, although she lives most of the year in L.A. She also runs a prop house based in Ramsey. “The production gods were smiling on me when we managed to secure Kevin [Doyle] as Lance - when you’re working with an actor as good as him it makes your job so much easier”. Off the back of Ready to Go, Lynda has been selected for the Sony Pictures Television Diverse Directors Program scheme. “I’m beyond excited!” she beams.

Perhaps the most daunting role on the film was filled by Katharine Watling, who was faced with the task of designing the sets and overseeing the art department.

“Obviously there was a certain amount of pressure working for someone with such a bountiful knowledge of the art department and awe-inspiring background in film and television!” confesses Katherine. But she rose to the challenge. ‘It was an amazing opportunity to work with and design alongside the phenomenal Lynda Reiss.

I spent about a month in prep before the shoot.”

The film was financed by a variety of sources. “We got funding from the Isle of Man Film Commission through their Pitchfest scheme, then also a generous grant from the Isle of Man Arts Council” explains Bev, “Then we ran a kickstarter campaign and got some additional private sponsorship from local businesses such as Typhoon House”. The film makers have attended festivals across the world, with Lynda crisscrossing the United States to festivals in Albuquerque, Detroit, Florida and L.A. Bev travelled to Macedonia to be presented with the prize for best short film at the Macedonian Beach Film Festival.

One noticeable quality of the cast and crew is how genuinely diverse it. “We didn’t actively set out to do that, we just found the best people for the job” explains Lynda, “and half of them are women. Hopefully the industry is moving in the right direction and we’ll be hearing more women’s voices and seeing more women being hired.”

Bev and her team have provided training opportunities on all the shorts they’ve made on the Island to youngsters with great success. “I remember on the very first

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one we did, Pigtails, Edward Crompton was our camera trainee, he was only 19, then he went on to act in Closet, directed the award winning documentary Wandering Rocks, and edited several others. By the time he was cutting Ready to Gohe was working on Isle of Dogs, the latest Wes Anderson feature. I’m so proud that we were able to give him a first step on that ladder. I think that’s one of the ways these films and the way we train people really benefits the island.”

There are busy times ahead for the team.

Two more of John’s scripts are scheduled to begin production before the end of the year. Lynda will be taking the helm once again for her second short, Ain’t My Idea of Fun, this time shooting in the California desert. It’s the story of Rita, who, following the discovery of a man stoned to death on the outskirts of her trailer park, begins to suspect that her teenaged daughter and her wayward boyfriend might be involved.

Closer to home on the Isle of Man, Bev

is producing Grounded, a tale of a father and son on the run, the father slowly being lost to dementia, the film exploring masculinity and what happens to the father son dynamic when a son becomes a carer.

Award winning film maker Jonathan Harris will be directing. “It’s really tough getting funding for shorts, so it’s exciting to have two more going into production” John told me,

“A bit like Ready to Go, both scripts have quite a dark premise, but I hope they manage to find a similar pathos. We like our tragedy to be larded with humour. I can’t wait to work with Bev and Lynda again.”

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Business news

NEDBANK PRIVATE WEALTH MAKES IT A HAT TRICK AT INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

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edbank Private Wealth has made it a hat trick at this year’s International Fund and Product Awards, taking the trophies for Best International Wealth Management Provider (UK) and Best International Private Banking Service for the third year running. The business has now accumulated 31 awards in an 18-year unbroken record of winning achievements at this prestigious industry event. The awards were presented by comedian Jarred Christmas who hosted the International Fund and Product Awards ceremony at Merchant Taylor’s Hall in London on 4 October 2018.

Stuart Cummins, managing director and executive head at Nedbank Private Wealth International, said: “I am delighted we have been recognised at these awards for an 18th consecutive year as it provides a sound independent endorsement of our team’s consistency and ongoing commitment to providing great service and delivering to clients. To be recognised for a third time as the best provider for both UK and non-UK clients reaffirms our position as a leading international wealth management business.”

The Best International Wealth Management Provider award was open to financial advisers, banks and wealth management boutiques providing wealth management services to UK clients. In judging, the panel took into account growth of the business, level of service, support to target markets, technology and recent product enhancements. The Best International Private Banking Service award was open to banks that provide services to expatriates. In judging, the panel took into account the range of current, deposit and savings products available, currencies options, and other related financial services.

POST OFFICE THANKS PUBLIC FOR STRONG SUPPORT ON CONSULTATION

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sle of Man Post Office (IOMPO) wishes to thank the public for its overwhelming support to its public consultation.

More than 2,700 people have taken the time to have their say in how best IOMPO can adapt its letter and parcel deliveries and post office services in the community to suit demand in a financially responsible way. The consultation ran for six weeks and local residents, businesses, organisations and IOMPO clients were encouraged to get involved.

COMIS Hotel and Golf Resort – NOW OPEN

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sle of Man-based Comis Holdings Limited are pleased to announce the completion of phase one of the development known as the ‘COMIS Hotel and Golf Resort’. The hotel located on the outskirts of Douglas, has seen substantial investment to rebuild the hotel’s public areas, 105 spacious bedrooms, function suites and a new 140-seat restaurant ‘The Snaefell’.

The hotel’s new website www.comishotelandgolfresort.com has been launched and phase two of the development will see further investment to complete the hotels new swimming pool and leisure centre and the development of a new SPA facility

by ESPA. This phase will be completed by the end of April 2019.

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ON THE AGENDA

2019 Director of the Year Awards launch, as Isle of Man business leaders are encouraged to celebrate their success

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eaders of businesses from all sectors across the Isle of Man are invited to celebrate their successes of the past year, as the Institute of Directors (IoD) has launched its annual Director of the Year Awards.

For the first time in the event’s history, the awards will this year be merged with the North West region, meaning Isle of Man business leaders will battle it out with nominees from Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumbria and Merseyside.

Speaking of the awards, which seek to unearth the most inspiring and pioneering business leaders, with categories including Director of the Year of a Family Business, Corporate Social Responsibility Director and the Start-Up Director of the Year, Jennifer Houghton, Chair of the IoD in the Isle of Man said: “I am so excited to celebrate the achievements of our great leaders from across all sectors – and raise awareness of the great work we do in the Isle of Man, alongside directors in the North West.

“The awards are a brilliant opportunity for anyone with a great business story to tell – and they’re free to enter – so I would really would encourage any great Isle of Man leaders to get involved.”

Winners this year included Gary Lamb, CEO of Manx Telecom and Chairman of Strix plc, who scooped the coveted Chairman’s Award for Excellence.

He said: “This award was a great achievement for us in 2018 and meant a lot to me personally; I felt particularly inspired at the event and am really looking forward to attending the National Awards in London.”

The awards celebrates entrants from Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire,

Merseyside, Cumbria and the Isle of Man; winners will also automatically go on to represent the region on the national stage at the IoD national awards in London in October 2019.

Entries for the 2019 Director of the Year awards can be made via the IoD website, with nominations closing in December.

For more information about the awards please contact the events team at www.iodawards.com/northwest.

We’ve always been by your side Celebrating 30 years of private banking and unwavering client service excellence in the Isle of Man. For a multi-award-winning approach, phone 645000 or visit

WWW.NEDBANKPRIVATEWEALTH.COM

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Nedbank Private Wealth is a registered trade name of Nedbank Private Wealth Limited. Nedbank Private Wealth Limited is licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority.

Registered office: St Mary’s Court 20 Hill Street Douglas Isle of Man.

IOMBN event

When the Isle of Man Business Network met the Fyns Written by: Alex Wilson Photos by: Liam Gilman

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leven months ago co-founders Paul and Tiffany Kerruish of the Fynoderee Distillery found their surname interwoven into an ancient folklore tale, their home boundary neighbouring land where the last Manx juniper tree was reputed to grow and where the Manx Wildflower Trust are re-introducing juniper groves and discussing the science of distilling gin with Master Distiller Gerard Macluskey, formerly of Tanqueray Gin and Masons Yorkshire Gin at a tasting event in the UK. Today, seventeen thousand bottles in, with four handcrafted seasonal Manx Dry Gins, a limited-edition pink gin in aid of Manx Breast Cancer Support Group and a bumbee vodka, and with a personal collection of over 100 gins, Paul and Tiffany know a thing or two about spirit production and what makes the “perfect serve”.

The husband and wife team shared their story, introducing Isle of Man Business Network members to the key personalities behind the brand, the science behind the distillation process and future plans for drinks industry domination before a guided tasting through all four seasons at an event hosted at the British Hotel, Douglas.

If you missed the event, you can find Fynoderee stocked in bars, restaurants and eateries across the island or to enjoy at home, look for Fynoderee on the shelves in Shoprite or order online at www.fynoderee. com.

For more information on the Business Network and upcoming events including an evening with Lynn Day, Design Director for Starbucks EMEA, a business breakfast on Digesting the Brexit Deal and the Network’s reputable Christmas Party, please visit www.iombn.im.

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Delivered in a fully-compliant offshore environment with high regulatory standards, and in conjunction with our market-leading technology partners, our world-class security solutions provide protection from attack and continually manage ongoing risk.

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brand voice

Bond managers are typically more cautious, understandable given the marginal upside potential and the significant downside risk.

End 2 of the cycle or more to come?

017 could easily be characterised as ‘risk-on’ for financial markets.

Buoyed by synchronised global growth (a phenomenon not seen since 2007) investors threw caution to the wind and bought into the more riskier asset classes.

Emerging market debt, Asian equities, high yield, and commodities all saw strong returns in 2017 as multi-asset investors reached for opportunities to improve returns from their portfolios.

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ON THE AGENDA

Fund managers were in similarly bullish mood, talking up their opportunity set with an optimism that could be mistaken for irrational exuberance at the top of the cycle.

Equity and fixed income managers alike positioned portfolios for a global economy that was firing on all cylinders. In ‘equityland’ even value names (or perhaps more accurately – cyclical names) had their brief moment in the sun. In the fixed income world some of the stronger performing names were drawn from the volatile energy sector while companies with significant emerging market exposure also performed well.

For the multi-asset investor, in 2017, it was difficult not to generate strong returns such was the level of optimism abound in financial markets. Somewhat accustomed to a traditional Santa rally, December of last year was no exception. There’s an almost unwritten rule in finance that everyone goes home on Christmas Eve and comes back on the 2nd of January, with an expectation that the valuation of their portfolios will remain virtually unchanged.

Yet, in the three trading days the FTSE 100 was open between Christmas and New Year, the index rose almost 100 points!

With markets off to the races in January, confidence amongst the global investor base was clearly near all-time highs. Then came February 2nd and the US unemployment report that revealed a large spike in wage growth. Worried about fears of an overheating US economy and rising interest rates, risk assets plunged, credit spreads widened, price/earnings ratios fell and in the blink of an eye sentiment had turned. Speculation around trade tariffs followed, speculation turned to reality while economic momentum (particularly in Europe) started to falter. Throw in an antipopulist coalition government in Italy and ‘risk’ was very much back on the agenda.

With bond yields rising and prices weakening, no asset class was immune as both investment grade credit and developed market sovereign government bonds suffered losses. Equity markets fell with emerging markets, China and the rest of Asia suffering the brunt of the trade war sell-off fears. With correlations high, multi-asset investors suffered with no-where to hide and meaningfully protect capital values. Fund managers too had been caught offside with those most stretching for risk suffering the biggest drawdowns.

Credit managers with their off-benchmark exposures to contingent convertibles (“Cocos”) were nursing losses, EM equity managers with their overweight allocations to Chinese tech names cursed their luck.

What had worked so well in 2017 had reversed course in 2018. Most investors had their foot firmly on the accelerator and were not prepared for this speed bump, volatility picked up measurably and the

market began to question the durability of the ‘synchronised global growth’ story.

Speaking to fund managers today reveals a dichotomy in views; those who are shutting up shop in preparation for the end of the cycle and those who feel there is still some juice left to squeeze. Therein lies the crux of the issue for the multi-asset investor – do you prepare to hunker down for a period of low and possibly negative returns for risk assets or carry on full steam ahead, under the belief that risk assets have another significant leg up from here?

This is the point when portfolio construction and detailed understanding of the underlying funds in your portfolio can enhance risk-adjusted performance.

Being aware of credit spread and duration across your corporate bond managers and having a grip on the beta of your equity fund managers are just two metrics that are key to controlling risk in multi-asset portfolios. If you haven’t sat down with your fund manager recently, now might be a good time to assess their bullishness or bearishness. If either scenario makes you uncomfortable, it might be a good time to start tilting your portfolio.

Bond managers are typically more cautious, understandable given the marginal upside potential and the significant downside risk. For UK sterling corporate bond managers, the outlook is uncertain, leading to more discrepancy across portfolios. Some remain bullish, expecting corporate credit spreads over Gilts to compress again. With no obvious economic deterioration in the offing, these managers expect an element of mean reversion to support shorter-term returns.

Others have turned distinctly bearish. In their portfolios they have reduced duration times spread (DTS), which equates to bringing down credit spread risk. They have increased their exposure to high quality government bonds whilst moving up in overall credit quality. Their sector biases too are shifting, where they were once knee-deep in subordinated financials they have retreated towards the noncyclical sectors, focusing on credits with more stable earnings profiles.

Equity managers are collectively more bullish but are reducing risk at the margin. Some of the more ‘valuation’ driven managers are now extolling the virtues of an approach that does not chase growth stocks at any price, a motto that would serve most well wherever we are in the cycle. For growth managers, those that have turned more bearish are trimming gains and recycling back into underperforming names as well as building small cash buffers.

Looking across the discretionary fund manager (DFM) peer group reveals two clear trends for those preparing to hunker down. The first is the move back

towards active equity managers after almost a decade of empire-building by the passive providers. In particular, DFMs are allocating to active US equity managers, less exposed to the ‘growth-like’ and tech names in the S&P500. Having underperformed the index for so long, those active managers that have remained true to their investment style are beginning to see rewards for their patience.

The second trend is towards the increased exposure to developed market government bonds. Since the introduction of QE the asset class has been scorned by the multi-asset investor as a low (or sometimes no) yielding position. However, it appears that DFMs are returning to first principle portfolio construction rules and allocating to government bonds for their risk-mitigating properties, not something that would have been heard twelve months ago.

This backdrop leaves the fortunes of equity, fixed interest and multi-asset active managers finely poised. With positioning more polarised there will be clear winners and losers in the short-run. For those with strong longer-term performance the decision to be more defensive is easier, for those still playing catch up it’s a tough call. Performance when the cycle turns will be the key differentiator when clients eventually re-assess their options.

Jordan Sriharan CFA HEAD OF FUND RESEARCH AND SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER

The value of investments can go down as well as up. Any past performance or yields quoted should not be considered reliable indicators of future returns. Opinions, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this document represent our judgement as of this date and are subject to change. Furthermore, the content is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy.

Thomas Miller Investment is the trading name of the businesses in the Thomas Miller Investment Group. Thomas Miller Wealth Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register Number 594155). It is a company registered in England, number 08284862. Thomas Miller Investment Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register number 189829). It is a company registered in England, number 2187502. The registered office for both companies is 90 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4ST. Thomas Miller Investment (Isle of Man) Limited is licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority. It is a company registered in the Isle of Man, number 48181C. The registered office is Level 2, Samuel Harris House 5-11 St Georges Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 1AJ. Thomas Miller Investment is a registered business name of Thomas Miller Investment (Isle of Man) Limited. Telephone calls may be recorded.

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UCM Awards

A CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE AT UCM HIGHER EDUCATION AWARDS CEREMONY The Higher Education Awards Ceremony, one of the University College Isle of Man’s (UCM) key annual events , this year recognised over 100 students who have completed their higher education at UCM in 2018.

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his year’s graduates recorded impressive results with an 85% overall pass rate and with 18 students achieving first class honours.

Opening the ceremony, Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, Hon Graham Cregeen MHK remarked that he was confident the UCM graduates have been empowered with the requisite knowledge and skills to support the workforce of the Island’s growing economy and community.

Minister Cregeen MHK explains, “One of the key reasons for this is UCM’s close ties with local businesses.

These relationships have a formative influence on the courses taught at UCM, ensuring students are well prepared to compete in the job market. I applaud this strong collaboration between industry and education, as I believe not only our students, but the economy of the Island will benefit from it.”

Receiving the awards at the ceremony were students who completed their degree courses at UCM, in conjunction with the University of Chester, as well as those who have completed higher level apprenticeships and received professional certification.

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UCM Awards

Dr John C Taylor OBE, one of Britain’s most respected inventors, was bestowed with the title of UCM Honorary Fellow.

The purpose of this award is to give recognition to the significant contributions by individuals whose professional and/or personal achievements truly reflect UCM’s mission and vision.

UCM is committed to providing education that empowers its students to be who they want to be by offering a wide range of higher educational courses enhanced by a firm emphasis on employability skills and grounded in the development of a growth mindset which fosters the love of learning and cultivates resilience.

Addressing the graduates during her closing speech, Jo Pretty, Principal, said, “We live in a time of transformational change, which means your futures are full of possibilities. This is why at UCM, we have a strong emphasis not only in academic excellence, developing employability skills, but also a focus on developing mental resilience or grit. Because in a world of uncertainty, one needs to be flexible in adapting to situations and also creative in seeking opportunities.”

In 2019, UCM will be offering 22 higher eduation courses. To find out more about its degree and postgraduate courses, members of the public are invited to attend UCM Higher Education Open Day at its Nunnery campus on Saturday 24thNovember 2018, from 10.30am-2.30pm. There will be a separate Open Day especially for schools (Year 12 students) on Wednesday 21st November 2018.

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Welcome to our

Life Insurance Sector careers special...

Careers

Life Insurance - Isle of Man

Gallery speaks to employees about their working world, what motivates them and what advice they’d give to those that are looking at a career with one of the Isle of Man’s top Life Insurance companies.

THE LIFE OF LIFE INSURANCE ON THE ISLE OF MAN

Words by Tony Rea

Looking back, the 1970’s was an era of questionable hairstyles and fashion; and in the same decade, both Ziggy Stardust and the Isle of Man’s life insurance sector were born.

The history of the Isle of Man’s life insurance sector began with the overseas activities of UK life companies through branch operations in the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man is now home to 13 international life insurance companies housing around 2,000 employees. Its 40 year success story can be attributed to meeting the needs of high value international groups and positioning itself as a truly global player in the market.

The sector has become renowned for its strength, security and stability, underpinned by a strong regulatory environment that has helped to build the reputation of the Island globally and ensure customers are always placed first.

Over time, growth in this sector has also assisted in developing financial services as a whole.

The life insurance sector continues to be the Island’s largest financial services

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sector and remains a vital part of the local economy, making up over 16% of the island’s economy. From humble beginnings, the sector has grown to one of the most important sectors for the Island’s economy and it is now hard to believe that pre-1975 it didn’t exist on our shores.

The 1980s started with the Island becoming the first cross-border jurisdiction to create a specific regulatory framework for life insurance and with it the international insurance companies began to arrive. These companies were established in the Isle of Man due to the Isle of Man Government’s forwardthinking approach to regulation, supporting and encouraging the sector; the first such company was established in 1981.

The majority of the companies that were established on the Island during the 1980s did so with a handful of employees

operating out of small offices. Today, new purpose built offices in the Business Park and elsewhere on the Island house individually 200-300 staff members. This remarkable growth helps to demonstrate the significant success of the sector and the impact it has had, not only on the Island’s economy but also in terms of its global outlook and reach. By the early 1990s, ten licensed companies were established on the island with branches located in far-flung corners of the world such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai.

2009 saw the Isle of Man life insurance sector take over from the banking sector as the largest economic sector on the Island. The regulatory environment continued to develop at pace and the Island was, and continues to be, widely regarded as a jurisdiction ahead of the curve. The recent introduction of a Risk Based Capital Solvency Regime and ON THE AGENDA

Careers

Life Insurance - Isle of Man

the upcoming new Conduct of Business regulations from 1 January 2019 will further cement this and confirm the Island as a jurisdiction that puts the policyholder first.

In late 2017, a major independent strategic review of the Isle of Man’s life insurance sector was carried out, culminating in 15 recommendations for the future protection and growth of the sector. A major campaign is due to commence that will highlight the benefits of using Island based life insurance companies and why the Island is seen as a centre of excellence for life insurance and wealth management.

Various factors are now driving the sector’s growth, which is helping cater to a diverse client base including the benefits offered by insurers and the versatile range of products on offer for expatriates of other countries and local nationals around the world. The Island now has the broadest market footprint of all established crossborder life domiciles. The Island’s life insurance sector offers a wide range of solutions, superior product benefits and features such as, international investment options, risk benefits, and guarantees to investors not otherwise available in their home market and with sound governance and promotion of the sector led by representative body, the MIA. Over the years, the Island’s life insurance sector has developed an insurance skill base in actuarial, underwriting and policy administration and supported areas such as investment management, accounting and information technology as well as sales and marketing.

The sector continues to provide a wide range of career opportunities for the Island’s residents and attracting talented and skilled people from further afield.

This development of skills and expertise in the workplace has also crucially helped to ensure excellent customer service to all policyholders.

The Isle of Man is a vibrant business centre, endorsed by world-class businesses that choose the Isle of Man as their base with the facilities and services to support them, offering an efficient, experienced and CAREERS SPECIAL

well-governed environment for businesses and their customers. The Island’s life insurance sector continues to thrive and

is looking forward to at least another 40 years aiding economic growth and career opportunities for Island residents. agenda

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ANDY

TURNER

Careers

Life Insurance - Isle of Man

FINANCIAL REPORTING MANAGER AT ZURICH Age? 28 Uni Attended? Northumbria University.

Course undertaken? Applied Sports Science and Coaching What did you want to be when you were 8? Be a professional footballer.

Favourite way to relax? I like to completely switch off when I’m not in work so I read a lot of books. I’m a huge sports fan so if I’m not reading I’m probably watching whichever sport is on the TV at the time.

Favourite place to eat on the IoM? If I had to narrow it down I’d say The Alpine Café if I’m feeling healthy as they do the best salads around. I love noodles so Java is also a favourite.

What’s your favourite possession? I would say my snowboard but it’s not had much use in recent years so I’ll go with my piano.

What made you choose the company you work for?

I’d come from a similar but smaller company so I understood the industry however Zurich’s size and diverse range of opportunities was really appealing.

It taking only five minutes to walk to from home was bonus.

For a long time I didn’t know what I wanted to do as a career and when I first joined Zurich I worked in customer services. When I decided I wanted to study accountancy it wasn’t long before a suitable role was advertised internally and I was lucky enough to be successful. Not all companies have the ability to offer such varied roles so it was a key factor in my decision to choose Zurich.

Have you, or will you, undertake any professional training?

I have just completed the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Qualification this summer so I’m looking forward to having a break for a little while although I do already have a few ideas for what is next.

MORE ABOUT ZURICH If you’re interested in working in a dynamic and challenging environment, for a company that has had an island presence for over 35 years, is a global leader in managing risk and that recognises and rewards your creativity, initiatives and contributions - then Zurich International could be just the place for you. You can find a wide variety of exciting departments to choose from: Investment Services • Finance • Pricing and Propositions • Risk • IT • HR & Communications • Business Change • Customer Services • In-Force Management • Compliance.

Zurich International values the potential and diversity of every individual, embraces’ new ideas to exceed customer expectations, & helps you reach your full potential.

INTERESTED?

.Email: zurichinternationalcareers@zurich.com

What opportunities have you been able to take advantage of?

I began studying prior to moving in to the Finance department and I believe that having started and completed one exam played a big part in me gaining a role within the Financial Reporting team.

Working through the qualification meant that I had picked up the necessary skills and knowledge to progress to the role of Accounts Supervisor when an opportunity arose.

Having now completed the qualification I have been successful in progressing to my new role as Financial Reporting Manager.

I’ve also had the opportunity to travel to both Switzerland and Poland during my time at Zurich so it was nice to see a little bit of those countries when not in the office!

What do you do on an average day?

Some may be surprised by this but it’s actually a very varied role. The first two weeks of a month/quarter are really focused on reporting up to date figures to management or to the group however outside of this it could be project work or improving our processes. Zurich moves at a rapid pace so there is always something new to work on.

What is your next step?

I expect my new role to be very challenging so in the short term my focus will be on successfully taking on the new responsibilities and delivering the work to a high standard.

Looking longer term I’d like to undertake further professional qualifications and progress further in terms of my role within the company.

What advice would you give yourself as a graduate/school leaver considering the experience you have now?

Never stop learning and if you work hard enough opportunities will present themselves.

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LAUREN

Careers

Life Insurance - Isle of Man

SIMPSON

IT SERVICE MANAGER AT ZURICH

Age? 27 Uni Attended? N/A Course undertaken? N/A What did you want to be when you were 8? A Teacher.

Favourite way to relax? Spend time with my family or put on some of my favourite music and sing along.

Favourite place to eat on the IoM? Titan, the food is amazing and the portions are very generous.

What’s your favourite possession? My House, it took a lot of hard work to buy our first house. It’s also the biggest purchase I have ever made!

What made you choose the company you work for?

Zurich was an obvious choice for me, they are a growing company that offer challenges to help reach your full potential and recognises future leaders developing these through internal programmes.

It really is a dynamic company that recognises and rewards creativity, innovation and empowers people to work in ways that best suits their needs both professionally and personally, without the traditional limitations of when, where and how work is performed.

Have you, or will you, undertake any professional training?

In the upcoming year I am looking to undertake a Professional Certificate in Management through The Open University. This will enable me to perform more effectively as a manager, increase my knowledge of competencies in management skills and help me encourage independent and inquisitive learning in the workplace.

What opportunities have you been able to take advantage of?

With its international reach I’ve been able to travel to other offices around the world which has opened me to a global community of experts and given me the opportunity to make an impact across countries and cultures I am also part of a programme aimed at accelerating the careers of high talented individuals known as the Early in Career programme. This has helped me expand my network, elevate my reputation for delivering great initiatives and provide more senior opportunities.

What do you do on an average day?

I currently work as an IT Service manager so my day is very varied! I essentially act as a business partner between the business and Zurich IT. It can range from anything from Major Incident Management and ensuring that the business and our customers, are happy with the service we are providing to managing stakeholders and formulating IT’s response. That is what I love about my job, no day is ever the same! It keeps me on my toes and that’s what I thrive off.

What is your next step?

My next step is to become the IT Service Executive and lead the wider IT team, however I have enjoyed leading other functions outside of the department. I have widened my accountability within my current role by being responsible for multiple regions. But I am always opened minded to what the future holds.

What advice would you give yourself as a graduate/school leaver considering the experience you have now?

It’s ok not to know exactly what you want to do straight away, you don’t have to decide your future career at the age of 16, just gain as much knowledge and experience as you can. This will then allow you to make the decision of where you see your career lying. Find out what motivates and works for you and more importantly what you enjoy. Don’t be afraid to accept the unknown, take risks. I’m a big fan of saying yes to an opportunity and then figuring out the logistics afterwards!

CAREERS SPECIAL

MORE ABOUT ZURICH If you’re interested in working in a dynamic and challenging environment, for a company that has had an island presence for over 35 years, is a global leader in managing risk and that recognises and rewards your creativity, initiatives and contributions - then Zurich International could be just the place for you. You can find a wide variety of exciting departments to choose from: Investment Services • Finance • Pricing and Propositions • Risk • IT • HR & Communications • Business Change • Customer Services • In-Force Management • Compliance.

Zurich International values the potential and diversity of every individual, embraces’ new ideas to exceed customer expectations, & helps you reach your full potential.

INTERESTED?

.Email: zurichinternationalcareers@zurich.com

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CONNOR

Careers

COULTHARD

Life Insurance - Isle of Man

SENIOR COMPLIANCE ADVISOR AT ZURICH

Age? 23 Uni Attended? N/A Course undertaken? N/A What did you want to be when you were 8? An Astronaut.

Favourite way to relax? Going on walks with my wife and dog.

Favourite place to eat on the IoM? My parents house.

What’s your favourite possession? Roxy the Doberman.

What made you choose the company you work for?

After a year of working within a small compliance team in a local payroll company I decided I needed a new challenge that supported my professional qualifications. Zurich was the ideal opportunity, they offered me exposure to a higher requirement of regulation, to international business and access to a huge support network of both Compliance and non-Compliance professionals.

What sort of professional training do you take?

I have recently completed the International Compliance Associations, International Diploma in Governance, Risk and Compliance. Before this I completed the International Advanced Certificate in Compliance. These courses have provided me with strong theoretical foundations that I have been able to apply within a real working environment.

What opportunities have you been able to take advantage of?

The culture within Zurich is one where it wants to develop the people and I have really been able to take advantage of this; my line manager is very supportive in my development and I am very lucky to work in a team of highly skilled and very experienced individuals.

MORE ABOUT ZURICH If you’re interested in working in a dynamic and challenging environment, for a company that has had an island presence for over 35 years, is a global leader in managing risk and that recognises and rewards your creativity, initiatives and contributions - then Zurich International could be just the place for you. You can find a wide variety of exciting departments to choose from: Investment Services • Finance • Pricing and Propositions • Risk • IT • HR & Communications • Business Change • Customer Services • In-Force Management • Compliance.

Zurich International values the potential and diversity of every individual, embraces’ new ideas to exceed customer expectations, & helps you reach your full potential.

INTERESTED?

.

Email: zurichinternationalcareers@zurich.com

Zurich not only focuses on technical skills but the development of soft skills too which is crucial in the development of individuals that aspire to achieve more. They have developed a programme called the Early in Career that selects a handful of individuals that wish to drive their careers forward, which I was very excited to be part of. The programme provided me with an opportunity to develop my presentation skills, project management and much more.

What do you do on an average day?

I wouldn’t say that any day in my role is average, Compliance covers such a huge range of activities that it’s almost impossible to list them all, every day is different and provides a new challenge. However, the core elements of my role involve monitoring the activities performed by the business and reporting on how effective the business is, managing regulatory and data protection breaches, streamlining the way the business operates and supporting in projects.

What is your next step?

For me, the next step involves several things, widening my network, increasing my knowledge of compliance by both on the job learning and further professional qualifications and utilise the skills Zurich has taught me to excel in a people management role where I can lead a team within the compliance environment.

What advice would you give yourself as a graduate/school leaver considering the experience you have now?

Don’t be afraid to experience a variety of roles, find out what interests and motivates you. You spend the vast majority of your life in work, make sure you do something you and enjoy and make a difference.

Take every opportunity that is presented to you and don’t be afraid to ask for opportunities, even if you don’t believe you have the skill set yet, you will learn quickly and try to build as many relationships as possible.

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LOVE WHAT YOU DO CHOOSE AN EXCITING CAREER

Looking for an exciting career? A role in insurance could be just what you’re looking for. In today’s complex world, tackling risk is fast, unpredictable and invigorating.

Challenge yourself fnding ways to protect the things people care about most. If you love a challenge and want to make a difference, work with us.

FIND OUT MORE AT zurich.com/careers

Zurich International Life Limited is fully authorised under the Isle of Man Insurance Act 2008 and is regulated by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority to provide life assurance, investment and protection products.

Registered in the Isle of Man number 20126C. Registered office: Zurich House, Isle of Man Business Park, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 2QZ. Telephone +44 1624 662266

RACHEL

QUAYLE

Careers

Life Insurance - Isle of Man

SYSTEMS DEVELOPER AT UTMOST WEALTH SOLUTIONS Age? 22 Uni Attended? University of Liverpool

Course undertaken? Mathematics BSc. University was something I always really wanted to do. My A-Levels were Maths, Further Maths and Physics so when it came to choosing a course I didn’t feel as though I had many options. Originally I applied for Mathematical Physics, it didn’t take me long to realised how much I preferred Maths and managed to switch courses before I started.

What did you want to be when you were 8? I really wanted to be an astronaut.

Favourite way to relax? Walking my dog Puddle, my 8 year old Cavapoo.

Favourite thing to eat? Chips, cheese and gravy from The Cod and Castle.

What’s your favourite possession? My cameras; I have a Polaroid, a GoPro and a DLSR. My one year old niece is the cutest person ever and I take her picture all the time. I also love to travel and have caught some great moments over the last few years.

MORE ABOUT UTMOST WEALTH SOLUTIONS We are a leading international wealth manager with a heritage of over 25 years on the Isle of Man. As an independent specialist, we aim to be the partner of choice for advisers and their high and ultra-high-net-worth clients, through a combination of market-respected technical expertise, industry-recognised service and award-winning products.

With group assets under management of €24bn (as at 31 December 2017), we have the necessary scale and sustainability to achieve our objective of being a formidable business in our market, long into the future. Our financial strength provides our policyholders with the reassurance that their wealth, and that of their heirs, is held by a business that has a sharp focus on its governance and responsibilities.

We’re here to make a wealth of difference.

INTERESTED?

www.utmostwealth.com/careers/

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What made you choose the company you work for?

Utmost have a really good reputation for the way they treat their staff, which was important to me. They were also growing quickly, meaning there could be more opportunities for progression in the future. With all of the recent acquisitions Utmost has made, I knew that as part of the IT team I would always be busy and that the work would be challenging. I also really value how much a company contributes to the community. I had noticed Utmost in the local paper a number of times before I was made aware of the job opening, so when I found out I had an opportunity to interview I was really enthusiastic.

Have you, or will you, undertake any professional training?

I have only been here for a few months so I have not yet undertaken any professional training, although I am starting some SQL exams in the near future to help focus my development. To begin with I will work towards the MCSA: SQL Server 2016 Database Development certification, it is Microsoft certified which is really valuable, there are many others like it that I can look at in the future.

What do you do on an average day?

I am new to the industry so I spend a few hours a day training at the moment, mostly working one to one with experienced developers but sometimes doing online courses. I have recently moved into a busy project team, so when I’m not training I work on some of the simpler task, which really reinforces my knowledge. These tasks included building new user interfaces and making changes to our databases. I also spend time talking to the Business Analysts to ensure I fully understand the requirements of what I’m building. Once I have completed a task I then talk to the Testers to help identify any bugs in my code.

What is your next step?

I will continue to focus on my training; during my time here I have learnt so much but there is still plenty of opportunity to gain more knowledge. I currently work in two programming languages which I am really starting to gain confidence with. There are others that we use here so I will look to learn those too.

What advice would you give yourself considering the experience you have now?

Just to be open minded and consider all opportunities you are given. When I first went to University to study Maths I did think I may have a career in the finance industry, I just hadn’t considered that it might be the IT side of it and I’m really enjoying what I do.

ON THE AGENDA

Careers

Life Insurance - Isle of Man

VICKI

BURGESS

LEAD BUSINESS ANALYST AT UTMOST WEALTH SOLUTIONS

Age? 33 Uni Attended? N/A Course undertaken? N/A What did you want to be when you were 8? I think it was a Farmer or a Doctor, or perhaps both, but I think I was put off being a vet when I was told what grades I’d need to get as it sounded like far too much hard work!

Favourite way to relax? At the end of the day once the kids are in bed I like to sit down with a nice cup of tea, a chocolate biscuit and snuggle up on the sofa with my hubby to watch a good film.

Favourite thing to eat? Chicken Alf redo with garlic bread made by my favourite chef (also my hubby).

What’s your favourite possession? My guitar.

What made you choose the company you work for?

I joined the company when I was 19, coming freshly from my first job after leaving school, and was intent on finding somewhere where I could build a career that would ultimately take me into Information Systems. Whilst I was offered positions for a variety of roles during my search for a new job, and some even exactly the same as the one I took, I was drawn towards what seemed like a great company to work for, that cared for its staff, that gave promotion opportunities and employed the best in the market. My interviewer (the then MD) managed to convince me that there would be the opportunity to progress, and after only a few years making my way around some of the Operational areas, I did indeed manage to make the move into I.S. Have you, or will you, undertake any professional training?

I completed the ISEB (Information Systems Examination Board) Business Analysis Diploma in 2011. This consisted of a number of modules and a final oral exam on key principles and competencies of a Business Analyst. I also took the ISEB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing, but didn’t progress through to Intermediate Level because of deciding to focus on analysis rather than testing.

MORE ABOUT UTMOST WEALTH SOLUTIONS

In the coming year I am also looking to undertake the CII Life Office Administration course that covers various aspects of different Operating Models, which will support our business going forward as we continue to expand through growth and acquisitions. A bit further down the line I want to build on my ISEB Diploma and work towards the ISEB International Diploma for Business Analysis.

As an independent specialist, we aim to be the partner of choice for advisers and their high and ultra-high-net-worth clients, through a combination of market-respected technical expertise, industry-recognised service and award-winning products.

What do you do on an average day?

One of the great joys of my job is that every day can be different, and it completely depends on what phase of a project that you’re involved with is at. One major part of my role is to bring together all the individual elements involved in order to provide one working solution across the systems, so it can take a while to work out all the kinks along the way.

What is your next step?

The natural progression would be to move into a more managerial position, which would mean people management. However, I love the technical side of my role. So, for now at least, I am happy to stay put and just continue to develop my skills to make me even more effective at what I do and train others along the way.

We are a leading international wealth manager with a heritage of over 25 years on the Isle of Man.

With group assets under management of €24bn (as at 31 December 2017), we have the necessary scale and sustainability to achieve our objective of being a formidable business in our market, long into the future. Our financial strength provides our policyholders with the reassurance that their wealth, and that of their heirs, is held by a business that has a sharp focus on its governance and responsibilities.

We’re here to make a wealth of difference.

INTERESTED?

www.utmostwealth.com/careers/

What advice would you give yourself considering the experience you have now?

Enjoy it. Admit your mistakes early to learn and grow quickly. Seek advice and remember that you don’t have to do things alone.

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CHARLOTTE

BARHAM

Careers

Life Insurance - Isle of Man

FINANCE MANAGER AT UTMOST WEALTH SOLUTIONS

Age? 23 Uni Attended? No, I left school at 18 following the completion of my A-levels.

Course undertaken? During my final years of secondary school, like most people my age I was being pushed towards university, visiting, applying and stressing. I unfortunately couldn’t make up my mind what course I wanted to do, I ended up looking at other options available. Accountancy was an obvious choice for me; I loved mathematics and liked the idea of being paid. I went on to do the ACCA qualification, consisting of 14 exams over 3 years, whilst working full time and studying every other hour of the day. I sacrificed a lot over the years but it was really worth it! I was ACCA Isle of Man Student of the Year two years running and was awarded a silver medal by ACCA for achieving the second highest results in my final year, worldwide.

What did you want to be when you were 8? I wanted to be a teacher, being a bossy redhead made me naturally good at this!

Favourite way to relax? A box set which my boyfriend gets me addicted to along with a gin and tonic.

Favourite thing to eat? Anything with cheese on, in or around it!

What’s your favourite possession? Our dog, Floki, he is a Chowski, a Chow Chow cross with a Husky, one of a kind on the Isle of Man. Floki looks like a giant teddy bear, he can make anyone smile and is the happiest boy!

MORE ABOUT UTMOST WEALTH SOLUTIONS We are a leading international wealth manager with a heritage of over 25 years on the Isle of Man. As an independent specialist, we aim to be the partner of choice for advisers and their high and ultra-high-net-worth clients, through a combination of market-respected technical expertise, industry-recognised service and award-winning products.

With group assets under management of €24bn (as at 31 December 2017), we have the necessary scale and sustainability to achieve our objective of being a formidable business in our market, long into the future. Our financial strength provides our policyholders with the reassurance that their wealth, and that of their heirs, is held by a business that has a sharp focus on its governance and responsibilities.

We’re here to make a wealth of difference.

INTERESTED?

www.utmostwealth.com/careers/

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What made you choose the company you work for?

The chance to be part of a company that is growing, which allows and encourages change, innovation and investing in its people!

Have you, or will you, undertake any professional training?

I will continue to maintain my ACCA membership through completing my CPD, together with role-specific training and management skills development.

What do you do on an average day?

I am the Finance Manager at Utmost, I oversee the reporting, treasury and operational control functions, together with internal reporting. I am working alongside the management team within Finance to develop all aspects of our processes, systems and reporting to ensure we are efficient and effective at everything we do. I am in addition to the above, assisting with the migrations of new books of business into the group, together with liaising with my counterparts throughout the entire Utmost group of companies.

What is your next step?

I have only been with Utmost for 8 months, however my next step is to develop my team through training and support as I really want to push forward our department to be a leading function across the group. In addition to my normal day job, I would like to provide support to potential and existing accountancy students both within my organisation and across others.

What advice would you give yourself considering the experience you have now?

Stick at it, it is worth it! There’s always more effort you can put in and it could not feel any better than when you get your results… no one else can take credit for it, it is all YOU! ON THE AGENDA

J in us gradu8 [careers special]

grow with us

we believe in our people and suppor t them in achie ving their goal s and ambitions We commit to develop you to be the best you can possibly be We value your contribution by offering competitive salaries along with a supportive benefits package We cultivate an environment that embraces your wellbeing and supports our local community

utmostwealth.com/careers

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brand movers voice & shakers

Junior operations’ promotions set to strengthen Sefton Group guest experience

T

he Sefton Group has strengthened its guest experience offering after making two promotions to its junior management team.

Barrie McCabe and Monika Kutkowska have been appointed junior operations managers, Barrie at the Sefton Hotel and Monika at the Palace Hotel.

Barrie said: ‘Right from the start I was supported and encouraged to develop my career and the training I’ve received across all aspects of the hospitality industry has been invaluable.

Monika said: ‘I started at the Sefton Group as a waitress at the Palace Hotel.

Two years later I was promoted to food and beverage supervisor, a role I carried out for three years before my promotion to junior operations manager at the Palace Hotel.

‘Throughout all that time I’ve been encouraged to gain new skills for a career that I really enjoy. The hospitality industry offers such a wide variety of career paths and for me to be able to connect with guests every day and help to make their stay enjoyable is very rewarding. What makes my job all the more satisfying is that you’re working as part of a team’.

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agenda

Sure strengthens sales team in the Isle Of Man

T

he local telecoms company Sure has strengthened its sales team with two appointments. Zoe Richardson and Lyle Krause have both been recruited as account directors to create, nurture and maintain business relationships.

As well as having owned her own business, Mrs Richardson brings over 20 years’ experience in finance, real estate and media. This experience has honed her negotiation techniques as she has expertise in strategic planning. Mrs Richardson also achieved an ILM Level 1 Leadership and Management this year.

“I understand business and how to build relationships with my clients and chose Sure because of its fantastic reputation in an exciting industry.

I’m looking forward to assisting, networking and meeting small business owners in the Isle of Man to really bring my role to life,” said Mrs Richardson.

Mr Krause holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from the University of South Africa and has 10 years of experience in account management and client service; previously working for Mars, Nestle, Bio Oil and Federal Mogul.

Mr Krause’s main experience is in the advertising sector but he has also been involved in three start-up

businesses. These included creating a South African-specific business networking social media platform as well as conceptualising, developing and selling a flat–pack, branded school desk for rural schools in Africa.

Mr Krause said: “I chose Sure because I view it as a nimble company that is well positioned to evolve with the fast pace of change in the ICT sector. It was also important to me that the company I joined shared my values. I’m excited by the opportunity to go out and tell businesses how customer-centric we are and about how we do things differently. I’m also looking forward to meeting the people in the businesses I will look after and helping them achieve their vision.”

Mike Phillips, CEO of Sure Isle of Man, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Zoe and Lyle to our locally based sales team. They both have impressive backgrounds and I have no doubt they will continue to grow our business and promote our values to customers.

“Our enterprise offering has expanded significantly in recent years and our sales team has grown to keep up with both the number of developments and the number of clients we now have.”

ON THE AGENDA

THERE’S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS…

Education and travel. They feature in most people’s plans when they’re young.

Chelsey was no different and her childhood ambition was to teach. Her plans evolved, but her passion for education remained.

So, when given the chance to work for us, she grabbed it with both hands. Now Chelsey helps train our Customer Services teams not only in the Isle of Man but also in Kuala Lumpur and Montevideo.

Education and travel. Who says you can’t achieve them both at work?

Find out more at www.rl360.com/quality/chelsey

CHELSEY HALL CUSTOMER SERVICES

Quality at your service

RL360 Insurance Company Limited. Registered Office: International House, Cooil Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 2SP, British Isles. RL360 Insurance Company Limited is authorised by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority. Registered in the Isle of Man number 053002C.

Technology news

Sure is getting ready for 5G

Department for Enterprise releases National Telecoms Strategy

T

he Department for Enterprise has released a National Telecommunications Strategy which was presented to Tynwald in late October.

The strategy, based over six key themes and 22 actions, sets to position the Isle of Man at the forefront of telecoms innovation, with a telecommunications infrastructure that is recognised as being world class.

The six themes include regulatory reform that will further foster competition and investment, securing two new subsea fibre routes to complement the existing five that are already in place. Together with a national broadband plan, this will seek to support the rollout of fibre to premises Island wide within five years.

The timescale for the role out of the network will aim to be five years and will help elevate the Island’s position in world broadband speed league tables. This Island wide fibre network will deliver fast, reliable telecommunication services and support future rollouts of 5G. www.tynwald.org.im/business/opqp/ sittings/20182021/2018-GD-0062.pdf

Manx Telecom brings first 5G demo to the Isle of Man

The Huawei 5G Is Now roadshow vehicle at Manx Telecom’s HQ.

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“S

ure is focused on bringing 5G technology to the Isle of Man to benefit the economy and ensure the island continues to thrive in an increasingly digital future,” said Mike Phillips, Sure’s chief executive in the Isle of Man. “5G technology will completely change the need for traditional broadband services through new and exciting developments and facilitating innovative ways of connecting our community. The Isle of Man is currently ranked 62nd for broadband speeds in the world – 5G will enable the island to be in the top-ranked jurisdictions. The capacity available with 5G means we will constantly be connected to an ultra-fast network whether we’re at home, at work or travelling.

“Introducing 5G technology is a great opportunity for the island but it will be a complicated process and will involve a huge amount of investment. The work has already begun toensure that the

island maximises this opportunity. We’re discussing how this emerging technology can be used to transform the Isle of Man; enabling us to be at the forefront of pioneering digital technology which will support the continued diversification and growth of our island’s economy.”

At the 5G roadshow are (left to right) Francisco Manuel Alcalá Corpas from Huawei; Gareth HoosonOwen, Strategic Account Manager, Manx Telecom; Gary Lamb, CEO, Manx Telecom; and Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK.

M

anx Telecom today brought the power of 5G to the Isle of Man for the first time. It showcased the amazing potential of the mobile network technology to drive business innovation and growth on the Island, to significantly enhance service experience for everyday consumers, and demonstrate how it creates the opportunity for the Isle of Man to be a potential testbed for 5G innovation.

Ed Jennings, Chief Commercial Officer at Manx Telecom, said: “5G presents a genuinely exciting opportunity. What we are most excited about is the step-change in how people on this Island live, work, and enjoy leisure time, and the wider possibilities 5G could create to drive business innovation and growth on the Island.”

5G is the generic name given to a new type of mobile network technology which offers the potential to deliver mobile internet download speeds of up to 10 Gbps. This would, for example, allow consumers to download full HD movies and videos to their mobile devices in around 10 seconds instead of 10 minutes. The high speeds, low latency

and higher reliability of 5G also opens up the possibility for a range of new service applications to become technically and commercially viable. Think selfdriving cars, delivery drones, virtual and augmented reality gaming (VAR), and remote robotic applications.

Global technology giant Huawei was invited by Manx Telecom to bring its ‘5G Is Now’ roadshow to exhibit a select number of 5G business applications.

The roadshow visited the headquarters of the Island’s leading communications solutions provider at Isle of Man Business Park in Braddan.

The 5G showcase is another first for Manx Telecom – four years ago it launched the Island’s first 4G network.

The company is also a leader in rollingout fibre (FTTP) technology on the Island with 12% of premises expected to have access to fibre by the end of this year.

The 5G event follows the recent launch of MT clearSound, a mobile phone product which creates a personal hearing experience for people with hearing loss.

The innovation is a global first in mobile phone technology.

ON THE AGENDA

r e t n al i i c W e p S d n e fast k Week a e r nd B Bed , r e Dinn

a

Available Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from 28 September 2018 to 31st March 2019* Includes: Overnight stay for two people sharing a standard double or twin room Three course Carvery dinner in Paragon Restaurant Full use of the Palace Health Club facilities including swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and gym ÂŁ5 free Palace Casino chip per couple

ÂŁ75

om per ro ght per ni

*

To book:

01624 697070 reservations@palacehotel.co.im Office hours: 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday *Terms and conditions apply

Ballacreg Dreemskerry Hill, Maughold £749,500 BALLACREG HAS ARCHITECT DRAWINGS FOR ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSION TO THE EXISTING DETACHED PROPERTY.

THE PROPERTY SITS IN APPROXIMATELY 8 ACRES OF STUNNING MATURE GARDENS WITH BREATHTAKING BEAUTIFUL VIEWS ACROSS MAUGHOLD AND RAMSEY BAY. You can locate the property by travelling from Ramsey towards Laxey taking the coast road, turning left towards Maughold Village.

Go through the village and past the entrance to Port Mooar. Continue up through Maughold and take the next right turn, the property can be found on the left hand side up the road approx 500 yards.

THE ACCOMMODATION COMPRISES: •

Lounge, Dining Room, Conservatory, Kitchen with Large Pantry, Rear Porch and wc

•

Detached Single Garage, Sweeping Driveway Flanked by Rhododendrons and leading to Parking for Several Vehicles

•

Four Bedrooms ( 3 Doubles) with Beautiful views, Family Bathroom

•

Oil Fired Central Heating and NEW uPVC Double Glazing

Tel: 01624 882820

Branches Island Wide

SURVEY DRAWINGS

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HOME

someone else, but that’s not the MannBenham approach, and I’m really pleased to part of such a pro-active team.”

MANN BENHAM ANNOUNCES EXPANDED PROPERTY LAW TEAM The recent upturn in the property market, particularly for homes in the £400k+ bracket, has led Mann Benham Advocates Limited to add two experienced property professionals to its established team.

Advocate Marie Ashworth and conveyancer Jeanette Craster have been recruited to join conveyancer Thomas Harmstone, in the Property Law department headed up

by Director Carly Stratton and Advocate Terence McDonald.

“Property law is one of the core components of our business,” says Carly, “and is an extremely busy department. The domestic property market is flourishing and we’re delighted that Marie and Jeanette have joined us, bringing with them a wealth of experience and local knowledge.”

For most people, their only contact with property law specialists is when they buy

or sell their own home, and for many it can seem a frustratingly long drawn-out process.

“At MannBenham we pride ourselves on not only our efficiency but also our approachability,” says Carly, “and we don’t want our clients to feel left in the dark about what the work involves. If there are delays, and there sometimes are, you’ll know why.”

Thomas agrees: “Marie, Jeanette and I liaise with everyone concerned with your sale or purchase, including other advocates, the estate agent and any mortgage provider. And we don’t leave you out: you’ll have a direct-dial number and email address, and we’ll keep you fully informed. We all know how frustrating it is when you’re left hanging on the phone whilst someone finds who’s responsible for your file, or your emails are either ignored or forwarded to

Marie is also responsible for signing off all the Land Registry files and confirming the accuracy of all the documentation for any mortgage. “I don’t think there are many Advocates that go out and visually check property boundaries like I do,” Marie laughs, “but because I’m a qualified Advocate I’m also able to talk direct to your mortgage lender before signing the relevant papers. I see it as all part of my job to make sure the buying and selling of your home goes as smoothly as possible.”

It’s no secret that moving house is considered one of the most stressful life events, but MannBenham’s dedicated Property Law department aims to take as much pressure off its clients’ shoulders as possible.

“Whether you’re buying your first home, or moving up or down the property ladder, it can be made much less stressful by appointing the right conveyancing team,” Carly Stratton says. “Everyone wants to work with people they like and trust, and we know you’ll be happy with the services Mann Benham provides. By adding Marie and Jeannette to the team we are now fully equipped to make sure all your conveyancing requirements are dealt with efficiently, and by a friendly face. And it’s worth knowing that whenever possible we’ll agree a fixed fee with you, so there’ll be no nasty surprises when you get the final bill.”

The Mann Benham Advocates Limited Property Law department can be reached on 01624 639350 or at carlystratton@ mannbenham.com

RELEASE OF CONTEMPORARY NEW HOMES IN LONAN A development of 13 new homes in Lonan was officially launched recently.

The Willows by Dandara is the latest development of contemporary new homes in the parish and comprises four-bedroom detached properties each with a garage.

and four of the new properties are already sold.

Prices start from £399,950 and the first homes will be ready for occupation in spring 2019.

Dandara commercial director David Thomas said: ‘Much of this development includes a brand-new style of split-level home which we have not built in the Island before and is only available at The Willows.

The award-winning developer says there is strong demand for new homes in the area

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‘It is an exciting development and will pro-

vide high-quality homes with coastal views in a superb location within easy reach of local amenities.’

You can find out more about ‘The Willows’ development at www.dandara.com or from the Dandara Sales & Marketing Suite, 22-24 Victoria Street, Douglas; by calling 01624 615000 or e-mail: iomsales@dandara.com ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

NEW RELEASE

THE WILLOWS, LONAN

Superb new family homes Designed to deliver the style, comfort and quality your family deserves, our latest collection of new 4-bedroom detached homes in Lonan is now available.

Offering fabulous sea views and quality built-in as standard, these are homes you’ll love living in for years to come.

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Specification may vary subject to house type and build stage. Full details available on request. Prices and details correct at time of going to print. Computer Generated Image shown for indication purposes only.

APPETITE

By The Team at The Wine Cellar of the Year in 1984 for navigating Musar through this difficult time, and for putting Lebanon back on the map as the proud winemaking country it had been thousands of years ago. Musar’s wines are now among the most admired in the world. Chateau Ka, another Lebanese wine stocked at The Wine Cellar, had only established their winery in 1973 and shortly after their first wines were made they were forced to close as Lebanon was engulfed by war. They returned to the fold in 2005 and produce elegant reds blended from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot.

TOUGH VINEYARDS

BETTER KNOWN FOR DECADES OF CONFLICT RATHER THAN WINEMAKING, LEBANON’S TALE IS ONE OF PERSEVERANCE, RESILIENCE AND INGENUITY. THE VINEYARDS REPRESENT AN INTENSE AND DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT WHERE BOMBS ARE ALL TOO COMMON AND THREATEN WHOLE HARVESTS AT A TIME. FORTUNATELY FOR US THE LEBANESE BELIEVE THAT THE MORE HURDLES YOU OVERCOME, THE BETTER THE RESULT, AND THE WINES SPEAK ENTIRELY FOR THEMSELVES. The Bekaa valley is the most notable region of production, where vines have been cultivated for over 6,000 years, putting it amongst the oldest vineyard areas in the world. The Phoenicians, ancestors of the modern Lebanese people, exported their wines throughout the Mediterranean even in the face of repeated invasion.

This birthed the legend of the Phoenix; a suitably apt mascot for today’s winemakers.

Chateau Musar was established in 1930 and is entirely synonymous with Lebanese wine. It was the first winery in Lebanon to implement organically certified viticulture (an increasingly important trend), and their methods involve minimal intervention.

The late Serge Hochar firmly believed that winemaking is an act of profound artistry and so made the difficult decision to leave the quality of the wine in the lap of the gods.

Influenced heavily by Bordeaux and Rhone styles, the flagship red blends are comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault. The wines mature in French oak for 12 months and are bottled without filtration at the end of the third year following the harvest, so decanting is recommended. After further ageing in bottle this seven-year gap from harvest to release represents the Hochar family’s dedication to quality. The impressive reds boast blackcurrants, cherries, cranberries,

damsons, figs, liquorice, cinnamon, coffee and leather; pairing superbly with steak, casseroles or mature cheeses.

Their whites are comprised of the indigenous Obaideh and Merwah grapes which are believed to be ancestors of the better known Chardonnay and Semillon varieties, and are among only six indigenous grapes still commercially cultivated here. These spend six to nine months in oak and are cellared for six years before release. With a bold flavour profile of citrus zest, peach, pear, roasted almonds and honeycomb these solid whites can be served cellar cool rather than fully chilled and are the perfect foil for spicy Asian dishes, rich seafood, or make the ultimate cheeseboard white.

Musar wines are deliberately lightly oxidised to help them age for decades and will evolve both in bottle and in your glass over time; a process Serge describes as the wine ‘talking to you’. Musar is also available in the slightly less premium incarnations of Hochar Pere et Fils, and the Musar Jeune range which is produced without oak and is thus more vibrantly fruity and less ageworthy.

The Civil War from 1975-1990 had a dramatic impact on Lebanon’s winemaking landscape; many restaurants closed their doors and customers and tourists fled.

Serge became the first ever Decanter Man

Whittled down to a mere five producers in the 1990s Lebanon has come back from the brink to nearly 50 in 2018; veteran winemakers persevered and now work alongside new boutique producers as they gain international niche prominence. The Hochar family endured, securing the future of Lebanese wine by exporting all over the world.

Our full range of Chateau Musar will be at our Autumn Wine Tasting Evening on Friday 9thNovember (6pm-8:30pm) if you’re interested in tasting some of these superb wines. Tickets are £20 redeemable against a 12 bottle purchase on the night.

Chateau Musar Rouge 2011 Released in the spring of 2018, this latest available vintage of Chateau Musar Red is a dark blood red colour with a rich, fragrant fruit nose; mulberries, black cherries, plums and a hint of mocha. Very intense and concentrated, it’s generous and characterised by forest and black fruits with elegant spice.

The tannins are soft and juicy and it has a lengthy finish. A vibrantly powerful vintage and cellared well it will keep for decades.

Chateau Musar Rouge 1998 Packs a punch for what was one of the lighter Musar vintages. There’s a complex mix of flavours: mulberries, blackberries, coffee, chocolate and spice, and that typical underlying Musar sweetness and earthy, leathery gaminess.

It’s soft and mellow and still gives enormous pleasure.

Definitely one for claret connoisseurs.

THE WINE CELLAR • THE MILESTONE • PEEL ROAD • DOUGLAS • IM1 5ED TELEPHONE: 01624 611793 • EMAIL: sales@thewinecellar.im

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

APPETITE

Recipes HOW TO MAKE SALIHA MAHMOOD AHMED’S LAMB SHANKS IN POMEGRANATE AND DATE SYRUP WITH AUBERGINE COUSCOUS A DECADENT, BEJEWELLED DINNER.

“This lamb shank recipe is truly celebratory.

The meat is soft, sweet and almost falling off the bone, while the fragrant date and pomegranate sauce is rich and perfectly spiced,” says last year’s MasterChef winner, Saliha Mahmood Ahmed.

Ingredients: (serves 4) n 2tbsp olive oil n 1 onion, thinly sliced n 5 cloves n 1 cinnamon stick n 3 star anise n 1tbsp fennel seeds n 1tsp chilli flakes n 2 thumb-sized pieces of ginger, unpeeled n 4 French-trimmed lamb shanks (about 200-250g each) n 3 dried limes n 120g dates n 2tbsp pomegranate molasses n Handful of pomegranate seeds, to garnish For the couscous: n 200g couscous n 1 x 400g tin chickpeas, rinsed and drained n 250ml hot beef stock n 4tbsp olive oil n 1 medium aubergine, cut into small cubes n n Juice of 1/2 lemon n 1/2 bunch of fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped n Salt, to taste Method: 1. Heat the olive oil in a deep casserole dish and add the onion. Fry over a medium heat for about five minutes; when the onion starts turning golden, add the cloves, cinnamon, star anise, fennel seeds, chilli flakes and ginger. Cook the spices gently for a minute, being careful not to let them to burn.

2. Add the lamb shanks to the pan and brown them in the onions and spices, turning to brown all sides. Finally, add the dried limes and dates to the casserole dish with just enough warm water to cover the shanks (about 900ml). Increase the heat to bring the mixture to the boil, then cover with a lid and reduce the heat to mediumlow. Allow the lamb to simmer for about two hours, or until it is tender to touch and BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

practically falling off the bone.

3. Remove the casserole dish from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Gently remove the lamb shanks from the casserole dish with a slotted spoon and set aside. Strain the liquid in the casserole dish through a sieve, discarding the whole spices. Return the strained liquid to the casserole dish, add the pomegranate molasses and season to taste with salt. Place back over a medium heat to reduce the liquid to a sauce with the consistency of double cream.

have caramelised and softened. Fluff the couscous grains using a fork and drizzle with the remaining olive oil and the lemon juice. Mix the fried aubergine into the couscous together with the parsley.

6. Return the lamb shanks to the sauce and heat through gently. Serve with the couscous, garnished with the remaining pomegranate seeds, if you like.

4. Meanwhile, put the couscous and drained chickpeas into a bowl. Bring the stock to a boil and season with salt, then pour over the couscous. Cover the bowl with cling film and allow to stand for 15 minutes.

5. While the couscous is standing, heat half the olive oil in a frying pan over a mediumhigh heat and add the aubergine cubes.

Fry for about five minutes, or until they

Khazana by Saliha Mahmood Ahmed, photography by Kristin Perers, £35.

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TRAVEL WANDERLUST TRAVEL WANDERLUST TRAVEL WANDERLUST

WORDSRebecca RebeccaEvans Evans WORDS WORDS Rebecca Evans

Thedictionary dictionarydefinition definitionof ofholiday holidayisis'a'ashort shortperiod periodof ofleisure leisureor orrecreation', recreation',and andfor for The The dictionary definition of holiday is 'a short period of leisure or recreation', and for many of us it's the leisure aspect that defines our getaways.

Two weeks out of otherwise many of us it's the leisure aspect that defines our getaways. Two weeks out of otherwise many of us it's the leisure aspect that defines our getaways.

Two weeks out of otherwise busylives livesspent spentlargely largelyhorizontal horizontalon onaasun-lounger, sun-lounger,with withthe theoccasional occasionalstroll strollto tothe thepool pool busy busy lives spent largely horizontal on a sun-lounger, with the occasional stroll to the pool bar,beach beachor orbuffet buffetbeing beingthe themost mostenergy energywe're we'rewilling willingto toexert. exert. bar, bar, beach or buffet being the most energy we're willing to exert.

Adventure Tourismisisone oneof ofthe thebiggest biggestgrowing growingsectors sectorsof ofthe thetravel travelindustry, industry,with withthe the Adventure Tourism Adventure Tourism is one of the biggest growing sectors of the travel industry, with the trendshowing showingno nosigns signsof ofslowing slowingdown. down.Whether Whetherit's it'swhi white-wat te-water errafting, rafting,getting gettingup upclose close trend trend showing no signs of slowing down.

Whether it's whi te-wat er rafting, getting up close andpersonal personalwith withthe theBig Big55on onsafari safarior orjumping jumpingout outof ofaeroplanes, aeroplanes,people peopleall allover overthe theworld world and and personalinactivity with the Big 5adrenaline. on safari or jumping out issue of aeroplanes, people all over the world are swapping inactivity foradrenaline.

For theTough Tough issue I'vetaken taken lookat atholidays holidays are swapping for For the I've aalook are swapping inactivity for adrenaline.

For the Tough issue I've taken a look at holidays designedto toraise raisethe theheart heartrate. rate. designed designed to raise the heart rate.

HikingKilimanjaro Kilimanjaro Hiking Hiking Kilimanjaro Standingaashade shade under6000m 6000mabove abovesea sealevel leveland anddominating dominating Standing under

the skyline,Kilimanjaro Africa’sabove highest peak, andattracts attracts over Standing aKilimanjaro shade under sea leveland dominating the skyline, isis6000m Africa’s highest peak, over 50,000 hopeful adventurers to Tanzania each year, although only the skyline, Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak, and attracts over 50,000 hopeful adventurers to Tanzania each year, although only around half those makeitittoto the summit, fondly known the 50,000 hopeful adventurers to Tanzania each year, although only around half ofofthose make the summit, fondly known asasthe ‘roof Africa’. around half of those make it to the summit, fondly known as the ‘roof ofofAfrica’. ‘roof of Africa’.

Withascents ascents taking5-9 5-9days daysdependent dependenton onroute, route,potential potential With taking summiteers cantaking expect hike6-8 6-8hours hoursaaday day uphill, throughan an With ascents 5-9 days dependent on route, potential summiteers can expect totohike uphill, through awe-inspiring and varied landscape including verdant cloud forest summiteers can expect to hike 6-8 hours a day uphill, through an awe-inspiring and varied landscape including verdant cloud forest on thelower lowerreaches, reaches, andarid arid rock-fields higherverdant up.The Theplains plainsforest awe-inspiring and varied landscape including cloud on the and rock-fields higher up. surrounding the dormant volcano arehome homehigher wildlife including on the lower reaches, and arid rock-fields up. The plains surrounding the dormant volcano are totowildlife including giraffe andelephants. elephants. surrounding the dormant volcano are home to wildlife including giraffe and giraffe and elephants.

Accommodation onmost mostroutes routesisisrough roughand andready readycampsites, campsites, Accommodation on although theMarangu Marangu routeroutes offersis wooden hutsready withthe the Accommodation on most rough huts and campsites, although the route offers wooden with comparative luxury flushing toilets long-drop latrines. although the Marangu route offers wooden huts with the AA comparative luxury ofofflushing toilets ororlong-drop latrines. multitude companies offerorganised organised trips andall allinclude includetrained trained comparative luxury of offer flushing toilets trips or long-drop latrines.

A multitude ofofcompanies and guides, luggage portersand and cooks, allowing hikers toconcentrate concentrate multitude of companies offer organised trips andto all include trained guides, luggage porters cooks, allowing hikers purely onluggage puttingone onefoot footand front theother otherhikers andwatching watching outfor for guides, porters cooks, allowing to concentrate purely on putting ininfront ofofthe and out signs dreaded altitude sickness. purely on putting one foot in front of the other and watching out for signs ofofdreaded altitude sickness. signs of dreaded altitude sickness. experience is required for Whilst noparticular particular mountaineering Whilst no mountaineering experience is required for Kilimanjaro, a decent level generalfitness fitness andsome some acclivitous Whilst no particular mountaineering experience is required for Kilimanjaro, a decent level ofofgeneral and acclivitous hiking trainingawill will putyou youatat distinctfitness advantage.

Kilimanjaro, decent level ofaageneral and some acclivitous hiking training put distinct advantage. hiking training will put you at a distinct advantage. www.intrepidtravel.com www.intrepidtravel.com www.intrepidtravel.com

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ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

TRAVEL

Kayak the Camino de Santiago The Camino de Santiago, or ‘way of St James’ is a network of pilgrimage routes across Spain, France and Portugal all leading to the tomb of St James, within the impressive cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Northwestern Spain.

With routes ranging between 110km and 1000km, it’s not uncommon for travellers to walk for a month or more through spectacular countryside to reach their end goal. If a month out of the office seems like a bit much to slide past your boss, it’s possible instead to undertake a 77km section of the trail by sea kayak, passing by areas of outstanding natural beauty along the Galician coast such as Cortegada National Park and Arousa Island.

If paddling 20km per day on open water doesn’t sound like enough of a workout, the final 25km stretch to the cathedral is undertaken on foot, joining the famous Camino Portugues route.

Accommodation for the week-long journey is a mix of scenic waterfront campsites and hotels and equipment rental and tasty locally inspired meals are included on most tours. www.responsibletravel.com

“Whether it’s white-water rafting, getting up close and personal with the Big 5 on safari or jumping out of aeroplanes, people all over the world are swapping inactivity for adrenaline.”

The Troll Trail

Cycling the Pacific Coast

For those who already ski, but fancy a change from the well-trod resorts of the French or Swiss Alps; the Troll Trail is hailed by those in the know as one of Europe’s most wonderful adventures. A 165km cross-country skiing route linking Høvringen to the Olympic city of Lillehammer, this challenging journey passes through a magnificent snowy landscape, across frozen lakes and through the habitat of Norway’s last wild Reindeer.

Renowned as one of the World's ultimate road trips due to the dramatic coastline scenery, the US Pacific Coast stretching from Oregon to California offers over 1500 miles of breath-taking views.

A couple of days of non-stop driving would get you from one end to the other, but if you've got time to spare and a strong pair of legs then selecting a section to cycle is a more immersive and invigorating way to explore.

Not for the faint-hearted, a good level of fitness and some crosscountry experience is required in order to cover 20-40km per day of undulating terrain at a steady pace, but the views alone will make every aching limb seem worth it.

Whilst hills can be expected along the entire coastline, Northern California is where they're at their most common, so expect your thighs to burn between San Francisco and Santa Maria, whilst Oregon offers slightly easier going.

Accommodation throughout this week long expedition is arranged in comfortable and cosy hotels and guesthouses, aside from one night spent in the ‘wild’ camped in a traditional hut on the tundra. On most days luggage is transferred separately between accommodations, allowing hardy skiiers to (snow)plough on unhindered.

From fertile farmland to the lavish celebrity hideaways of Malibu beachfront, every section of the route offers something new to see.

Accommodation along the route is plentiful, from campsites to 5* hotels, so the level of luxury, and length of trip, is entirely up to you (or at least how many pairs of clean pants you can pack into your panniers)

www.cloud9adventure.com

www.adventurecycling.org

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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FASHION

5 TROUSER TRENDS THAT’LL GIVE YOUR MIDI SKIRT A RUN FOR ITS MONEY THIS AUTUMN

2. SPORTY STRIPED The grown-up version of tracksuit bottoms, tailored trousers with a sporty stripe down the side are a chic update on the classic black cigarette pant.

A tapered style looks great dressed up with heels (and a fitted knit to match the colour of the stripes), or dressed down with plain white trainers and a slouchy jumper.

Give your new-season wardrobe a leg up. From luxe leggings to cool cords.

Yes, we know, if you want to be totally on trend this autumn, a midi skirt should definitely be on your shopping list.

Preferably a swishy, pleated number to boot.

But in seasonal no man’s land, where the weather still makes you deliberate ‘tights or no tights’, trousers can be a total saviour.

And we’re not just talking workwear - there are trews for lazy weekends and glam evenings too.

These are the five trouser trends that will make you want to give that midi a day off...

1. CHECKS AND TWEED Heritage prints were huge on the AW18 catwalks, from slouchy coats to sharp suits.

Wallis Berry Colour Block Wrap, £33; Berry Zip and Stud High Neck Jumper, £28; Black Side Stripe Trouser, £28 (shoes, stylist’s own) Long Tall Sally Bow Sleeve Blouse, £42; Side Stripe Crepe Trousers, £58; LTS Rebecca Kitten Heel Slingback, £60

Tweed trousers are an easy way to try the trend, but keep it modern by pairing grey or brown check with bright block coloured tops and stiletto heels or boots.

Hobbs Lorelai Jacket, £199, and Trousers, £149; Penny Sweater, £69; Ada Boots, £189 Girls on Film Avenue Check Trousers, £28, Little Mistress

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

HEALTH

Oral Health

3. CORDS Part of the Seventies revival that rocked the autumn catwalks, corduroy is back in a big way.

When it comes to cords, they’ve got to be loose, straight legged, cropped a little shorter at the ankle and in a suitably autumnal colour, like rust, mustard or dusty pink.

Marks and Spencer Collection Checked Belted Coat, £99; Funnel Neck 3/4 Sleeve Jumper, £55; Autograph Collection Corduroy High Waist Cropped Trousers, £35; Collection Faux Leather Cross Body Bag, £29.50; Trainers (available January), £45 Miss Selfridge Cropped Straight Leg Pink Cord Trouser, £28.50 5. VINYL LEGGINGS If all this talk or tweed and tawny colours doesn’t float your boat, get a load of these shiny beauties.

Vinyl is currently edging out leather as the texture to be seen in after dark. A pair of high-waisted skinnies should be paired with a spaghetti strap vest or glitzy crop top for maximum impact. For the less daring, one of those lovely knits should do the cover up trick for the waist area!

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4. WIDE LEG TROUSERS Just when we thought she couldn’t get any cooler, Blake Lively busted out the wardrobe to end all wardrobes during the promo tour for A Simple Favour.

Want to steal Lively’s look? Well you can do just that by picking up a pair of roomy, extra-long trousers and teaming them with a tailored jacket or fitted shirt.

Bonmarche Striped Jacket, £28; Wide Leg Stripe Trouser, £17 (shoes, stylist’s own) JD Williams Chocolate Wrap Wide Leg Trousers, £45 Glamorous Tall Vinyl Look Trousers, £32, available from Topshop PrettyLittleThing Black Vinyl Zip Front Skinny Trousers, £18

At Integral Dental they are of the opinion that the mouth is an integral part of the body. Most people do not realise how important oral health is to the overall health of the body.

The mouth is one of the most important gateways. We chew our food with it, some people breath through it and of course we laugh and smile with it. It is a barometer to our overall health; indeed a vet will decide upon the health of an animal by assessing its oral health as does traditional Chinese and Indian medicine.

However, things can go wrong. How many of us have had a filling, root canal treatment or lost a tooth! Nobody likes the dentist and put off going even when the body is telling them. That little bit of bleeding on brushing or that twinge which goes away but is worse next time round.

At Integral Dental one of the key areas that they focus on is oral hygiene. When the mouth is not clean then things can start to go wrong.

The dentist, dental therapist, hygienist should be regarded like a coach to an athlete aiming at peak performance. At Integral Dental they focus on this key area specialising in a nonsurgical approach to gum and periodontal disease achieving excellent results using their dental ozone machine from America.

It is always easier to prevent rather than cure and at Integral Dental they always start with Oral Hygiene first.

If you have any questions on oral health contact Ian at Integral Dental, Carrs Lane, Douglas.

WHEN TEETH COUNT, COUNT ON INTEGRAL

T: 800230 | E: info@integraldentaliom.com

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MOTORING NEWS

MORGAN UNVEILS ‘110 ANNIVERSARY’ MODELS Morgan has revealed a special new lineup of cars to help it celebrate its 110th anniversary next year.

The range - appropriately enough called ‘110 Anniversary’ cars - will benefit from unique badging, as well as a range of performance and styling options included as part of the cars’ overall cost.

Plus 4 and Roadster models will get a front valance, rear exit sports exhaust and a leather bonnet strap to help them stand out from other cars in the Morgan range. Inside, you’ll find a leather or wood-rimmed MotoLita steering wheel, as well as performance seats trimmed in one of a variety of different Yarwood leather colours.

Each car gets a ‘110 Anniversary’ logo embroidered on its headrests, too.

Steve Morris, Managing Director at Morgan Motor Company, said: “It is an immense pleasure and an honour to lead the Morgan Motor Company as we approach such a significant milestone in our history. We are delighted to be thriving as a privately owned, British, family owned automotive manufacturer, and in our 110th year of business are stronger than ever.

A range of new standard colours have been introduced too, with customers able to choose from Sport, Classic and Metallic colour packages. A range of shades have been chosen to reflect the most popular

colours from Morgan’s history, as well as a series of colours hand-picked by the company’s own design team.

The special treatment has been applied to the 3 Wheeler too. Equipment highlights for this include black roll hoops, black exhaust heat shields and a body-coloured engine cowl. The exterior can be finished in a colour from the newly-announced range of shades, too.

The Plus 4 110 Anniversary model is priced from £44,106, and includes 15 options worth £8,700 within the car’s price. The Roadster, meanwhile, kicks off at £55,074, and also benefits from £8,000-worth of extras included at no extra cost.

Prices for the 3 Wheeler 110 Anniversary edition start at £39,486 - with £3,000-worth of optional extras included as part of the celebratory trim level at no extra cost.

AN END TO STOP-START TRAFFIC? FORD GIVES VISION OF FUTURE WITH CONNECTED CAR TRIAL Ford has undertaken trials of new connected car technology that could remove the problem of stop-start traffic and free up roads worldwide.

The system, called Intersection Priority Management (IPM), was showcased on the streets of Milton Keynes in October, in a bid by Ford to show how the trafficeasing technology has genuine real-world potential.

IPM uses vehicle-to-vehicle communications to suggest optimum travelling speeds. It can even allow cars to pass by one another at junctions without the need to stop.

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Each car is capable of broadcasting its location, as well as its direction of travel and speed. The on-board systems identify an upcoming junction, while assessing the approach speeds of nearby vehicles simultaneously. The car can then pick an optimum speed so that each car can pass through safely.

their environment, enabling intelligent cooperation and collaboration on the roads - and around junctions.”

Christian Ress, supervisor for driver assist technologies at Ford Research and Advanced Engineering, said: “We know that intersections and traffic lights can be a real bugbear for many drivers. With the connected car technology, we have been demonstrating, we envisage a world where vehicles are more aware of each other and

Other technologies displayed were Collaborative Parking, which uses a crowd-sourced map of a car park to display available spaces, as well as Emergency Vehicle Warning, which can alert drivers to the location and proximity of approaching emergency services vehicles.

The showcase of technology was part of the UK government-funded UK Autodrive project, which looks to improve traffic flow as well as increasing safety and efficiency.

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PHONE HOME

APPLE WATCH SERIES 4 Fundamentally redesigned and re-engineered, the Apple Watch Series 4 helps you stay even more active, healthy, and connected.

The largest Apple Watch display yet makes it a defining feature. Without noticeably increasing the size of the case or compromising the battery life, narrower borders enable a viewing area that’s over 30% larger, while a new display technology improves power efficiency, helping you get through the day on a single charge.

Taking advantage of the new screen dimensions, the new ‘infograph’ watch face can now accommodate up to eight complications including a world clock, sunset/sunrise, UV index and stopwatch to name just a few, so you can see more and do more at a glance.

Apple Watch lets you share your activity progress from the gym, the track, or even the swimming pool. And now, new Activity competitions let you invite a friend to a sevenday contest where you earn points based on the percentage of your daily Activity rings you close. During a competition, notifications will tell you if you’re ahead of or falling behind your competitor, along with the score.

With Apple Watch Series 4, it’s easy to stay connected to the information and people you love the most, especially with the new Walkie-Talkie app! Quicker than a call.

More personal than a text. The Walkie-Talkie app lets you communicate in a fun, new way with anyone who has an Apple Watch. Just press to talk. Let go to listen.

Available to buy at Manx Telecom from £0 up front @ £20 per month or £399 outright.

A WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT IN YOUR POCKET There’s no two ways about it, the Sony Xperia XZ3 is designed to give you an unbeatable multimedia entertainment experience.

From the 6” HDR OLED display that delivers exceptional contrast, colour and clarity, through to the High-Resolution Audio sound system that gives your music the quality it deserves, the XZ3 is the perfect fusion of technology and entertainment.

Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 845 Mobile Platform, the XZ3 handles all your apps, videos and games with ease, making it ideal for gamers. In fact, it’s ideal for anyone who likes to put their smartphone through its paces.

Take photographers, for instance. They’ll be delighted with the 19MP main Motion Eye™ camera that comes with AI that is so powerful, itknows what you want to capture before you do! The 13MP auxiliary camera is perfect for hi-res selfies, particularly as it comes with beauty effects, Bokeh and a display flash to capture your great nights out.

Naturally, a device this powerful needs a steady and constant energy supply that will keep it working for days between charges and that’s exactly what you get with the Xperia’s long-lasting battery, Smart Stamina system and Qnovo adaptive charging and battery care.

The Xperia XZ3 is in the Sure store now and comes with a free Sony speaker that makes sure you get the best from the phone’s incredible sound system.

BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

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GRANT THOMSON: TOUGH ENOUGH FOR ENDURO With our ‘tough’ theme for November, Gallery can hardly ignore the WOR (Wirral Off-Road) Tough One, Tough Enough and Tough 100 Enduro races.

And we certainly can’t ignore the success of young Manx rider Grant Thomson in his first full year of racing in those and other UK Enduro races.

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Words: Suzy Holland Images: Eric Duncan, Garry Barnes and the Thomson family

If your knowledge of bikes is limited to TT or cycling, Enduro racing might have passed you by. But make no mistake, the Isle of Man is very good at it. The Knight family - headed up by brothers David and Juan, and with their sons Tom (age 16) and Finley (just 5) now getting into the game – has dominated the Enduro scene for years, but now Grant, from Port St Mary, is making his own mark on the sport.

If you’re new to Enduro, it might help to know that this is off-road racing (often in plantations, forests and quarries with lots of boulders, bogs and logs) and very physical.

The riders are categorised by skill, success and experience from Sportsman to Clubman to Expert to Pro Elite (with additional Veteran classes) and although all the riders compete against each other for the quickest times, their final placings are both in their class and overall. From his first WOR Tough 100 in 2017 – where he came first in the Clubman class – Grant has gone from strength to strength, now competing in the Expert class. For those not in the know, the ‘100’ stands for 100 miles which have to be completed in less ISLE OF MAN PREMIER MAGAZINE

HARDWARE

road racing team – is invaluable and although I’m a car mechanic myself and know my way around an engine, it’s not the same!” But it’s not just Andy - Grant also gets vital support from Juan Knight at his Sulby based workshop. “As one of the best ever Enduro racers, Juan’s experience has been invaluable,” says Grant, “and without him, I wouldn’t have come to the notice of the Gas Gas Team.”

It’s worth mentioning that Grant is still only 21, and has not just the skill, but also the determination to succeed, and in 2019 he’ll be competing in not just the WOR events but the British Championships so he’s looking forward to taking charge of his new Gas Gas 300 at Christmas. Grant will once again apply for discounted crossings from The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Ltd, which supports many of the Island’s sportsmen and women, but there are a huge number of hidden costs of competing at this level.

“Motorbike racing, whether it’s the big bikes at TT, Motocross or Enduro, is expensive,” Grant says. “I hate to think how much I’ve cost my Mum over the years, but the more races I take part in, and the more successful I am, the more it costs.”

than 5 hours and Grant’s 2018 time was a full 1 hour and 28 minutes quicker than the year before. To put this into perspective, David Knight (Pro Elite) came first overall, Juan Knight (Expert Veteran) second, Welshman Owain Humphreys (Pro-Elite) third and then Grant – not only 1st in the Expert class but fourth overall. Quite an achievement for someone who just a couple of years ago confined his racing to local offroad races, with support from the very Juan Knight he’s now competing against.

But like many youngsters in the Isle of Man, bikes were always a way of life. Grant was out on his quad bike at just 2 ½ copying everything his older cousin Andy Grimshaw (now of AGR Motorsport in Ballasalla) did, but always wanting to do it better. No slope was too big, no corner too sharp and once Andytook him up to Jurby to watch him compete on the circuit there, Grant was hooked.

“As a kid, I definitely hero-worshipped Andy,” laughs Grant now, “and since I’ve been competing in Motocross and in other races here, and in the WOR Enduro events across I’ve always turned to him for help with my bikes. His experience with road bikes – he also works with Martin Bullock’s BECAUSE QUALITY MATTERS

But asking for money doesn’t come naturally to Grant: “Loui’s Barbers in Castletown has just bought me a new helmet, and I’ve had additional sponsorship from local construction company Conroy & Henry but with race entries at around £100 a time, sometimes more, and tyres coming it at £80 each it would be great if someone reading this would like to help cover these costs,” he says sheepishly. “I promise I’m much better at racing than I am at begging, but in return your name or logo will go on my van, and I’ll give you a mention in any publicity, so thank you!”

The 2019 season begins in January with the Michelin Tough One Extreme Enduro on the Wirral and Grant plans to be there and to be successful, so if you’d like to support him either for this race or for the entire season, now’s your chance.

Grant can be contacted by any would-be sponsors at mcthomson@manx.netor, T: 07624 455877. If you’d like to know how he got on in the final event of 2018 – the WOR Sucker Punch – or his final standings in the championship, go to: www.worevents.com

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THRILLA IN THE VILLA

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Be excited Save regularly to reach your life moment with our new Premium Saver account You must be 16 years or over and an existing customer to open an account. You can only have one Premium Saver Account in your sole name, and only one Premium Saver Account in joint names with another person. No minimum deposit is required to open the account; no minimum deposit needs to be made on a regular basis; and there is no maximum balance limit. However, to earn the bonus rate of interest in each monthly bonus period, your account balance must be between £25,000 – £1,000,000 and you must not make any withdrawals in that month.

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Isle of Man Bank Limited (IOMB). Registered Company Number: 1C Isle of Man. Registered Office: 2 Athol Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM99 1AN. Tel. 01624 637000. Licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority in respect of Deposit Taking, Investment Business and registered as a General Insurance Intermediary. IOMB is a member of the Isle of Man Depositors’ Compensation Scheme (DCS) as set out in the Depositors’ Compensation Scheme Regulations 2010. To understand your eligibility under the scheme you may wish to visit http://www.iomfsa.im/investor/dep_comp.xml IOMB is a member of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. The Royal Bank of Scotland plc - Registered in Scotland No SCO83026. Registered office: 36 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2YB. The Royal Bank of Scotland plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. The latest report and accounts are available at www.investors.rbs.com IOMB places funds with other parts of RBS Group and thus its financial standing is linked to the Group. Depositors may wish to form their own view on the financial standing of IOMB and the Group based on publicly available information.

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