Citywing Connect Magazine | Issue 9 | Aug / Sept 2014

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CITYWING MAGAZINE | ISSUE 9 - AUG / SEP 2014

Blackpool throw a Little Mix into their illuminations

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Welcome to Citywing We are delighted to welcome you on board your flight today, and thank you for choosing Citywing.

Well, with hands rubbing in anticipation, I will be using our Glasgow service to introduce my children to the delights of visiting Scotland. We will be flying into Glasgow and then travelling for a couple of days up the west coast and then over to the east side for the rest of the holiday. The importance of planning early for our children’s education is dawning on us, so, while taking in the scenery, we will also be mindful of the universities that could potentially be suitable for our two, if that is what they decide to do.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of St Andrew’s University, as it sounds like the most ideal place to visit and just so happens to be near a rather famous golf course, apparently. If either go there it would be rather rude not to see what can be achieved on the courses and, if time permits, I might even be able to find time to see the family member! My wife and I have visited Scotland a few times, and we are both really looking forward to going back to Inverary; the setting is beautiful and the views from the castle area are just stunning. While I hope the weather is kind, one thing I can be sure of is the excellent welcome we will receive.

May I take this opportunity to thank you for supporting Citywing and hope you have found the service met your expectations. We aim for excellence throughout the whole process, from the website, check in, flight experience and afterwards, whether it be just collecting baggage and departing the airport, to dealing with a member of the Citywing team.

We continually strive to improve our service, so we would ask you to fill in the questionnaire in the seat pocket if you have time to give us feedback. We will always listen to your views, whether positive or negative; it is good to praise people for delivering excellent service, but it is also important to rectify any issues that may arise.

We hope to welcome you aboard again in the not too distant future.

Later in the year we will be travelling to England via Gloucestershire Airport and driving over to the ‘Fens’.

In contradiction to the hills and mountains of Scotland, in this countryside you can find places where in every direction you look it is completely flat. This is the area in which I grew up in and has led me to think that cycling should not involve any climb of any sort. When I first brought my wife to the area I wanted to show her the unusual sight of the flat lands, only to go to Hungary to visit her family near Hortobagy for the first time and discover it just so happens to be completely flat! So much for the unique experience I was hoping to show her in my home area. Still, it is always good to meet up with family and friends, so we are all looking forward to that trip too.

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Many of you have already liked our Facebook page and followed us on Twitter. If you haven’t yet, please do, as that is where you’ll find our most up to date information and, from time-to-time, offers.

We are in a position to offer charter or group services to and from most airports within the United Kingdom and Ireland, at very favourable rates compared to other companies offering similar services. We can usually tailor services to meet your needs. For more details and prices email scc@citywing.com.

David Buck, Managing Director

www.citywing.com

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.CITYWING.COM

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COTSWOLDS The Big Feastival

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BLACKPOOL The Big Switch On

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NEWCASTLEGATESHEAD EAT! EAT! EAT!

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BELFAST Fizzing with Festivals

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ANGLESEY Tour de Mon

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GLASGOW Beer, Music, Street Food

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ISLE OF MAN Rock and New Role

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THE BUSINESS REVIEW

Designed & Published by The Thought Store - www.tts.im

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WWW.CITYWING.COM | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014

Advertising Opportunities inflight@citywing.com

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Featured Deals Our website is designed to make our booking process as easy as possible, but if you‘d like to make a booking over the phone, please call our reservations centre on 0871 200 0440 and one of our team members would be happy to help.

Belfast from £29.95

Newcastle from £49.95

Gloucester from £49.95

Blackpool from £23.95

Glasgow from £49.95

Jersey from £99.95

Belfast > Blackpool from only £59.95

Cardiff > Anglesey from only £29.95

Isle of Man from only £23.99

No debit card fees. No fuel surcharges. Guaranteed.

Book online: www.citywing.com AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.CITYWING.COM

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Citywing News

TRY HARD

Douglas RUFC claimed victory at the Citywing Plane Pull event, held at its hangar at Ronaldsway, with teams raising money for Citywing’s 2014 charity of the year, Manx Cancer Help.

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The entrants flexing their muscles were Triumph Group, southern police, Robinson’s Fresh Foods, Southern Nomads RUFC, Western Vikings RUFC, Douglas RUFC, SMP Partners, Sleepwell Hotels, Barclays, Isle of Man Prison and Hansard, as well as a children’s team.

Almost all of the teams managed to beat last year’s record time of 16.52 seconds, but Douglas RUFC ultimately triumphed.

Chief executive officer of Manx Cancer Help Andrea Chambers added: ‘We have really enjoyed being a part of such a fantastic event, and it was wonderful to see all of the competitors and spectators have so much fun on the day. We are delighted to be Citywing’s Charity of the Year for 2014 and all of their fundraising efforts, and of course the efforts of the Plane Pull teams, are hugely appreciated.’

Douglas RUFC

After enjoying sausage and bacon baps, tea and coffee provided free of charge by Sleepwell Hotels, the Douglas rugby union team completed the 34-yard course in an impressive 13.12 seconds, just pipping Southern Nomads RUFC who recorded a time of 13.13 seconds, with last year’s winners Robinson’s Fresh Foods coming in third at 13.46 seconds.

Citywing managing director David Buck said: ‘The event was fantastic fun, and congratulations must go to all of the teams that took part, but especially to Douglas RUFC who took home the cup this year. Anyone interested in challenging them and trying to break the record for 2015, or just looking to get involved with this unique fundraising event, please do get in touch – there aren’t many people who can claim to have pulled an aircraft!

‘We would also like to thank Sleepwell Hotels for contributing refreshments for all the competitors, the St John Ambulance crew, and Matt Mosur for his excellent photography of the event.’

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WWW.CITYWING.COM | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014

Kids tried too!

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Citywing announces new Blackpool Hopper offer Citywing is excited to announce its new ‘Blackpool Hopper’ offer, which allows passengers to take advantage of even lower fares on selected flights between the Isle of Man and Blackpool.

The new offer lets customers book certain flights on Citywing’s Blackpool route between July and November for just £23.95 one way including all taxes and charges, so Isle of Man residents can sample the delights of Blackpool and the North West for less than £50 return.

All Citywing passengers can also enjoy free access to the Executive Lounge at Blackpool International Airport, which offers a variety of complementary drinks and snacks, comfortable seating, desk space and a number of TV channels.

TT 2015 SCHEDULE NOW AVAILABLE TO BOOK ONLINE AT CITYWING.COM

Managing Director David Buck said: ‘We are delighted to be able to offer our new Blackpool Hopper

tickets to Citywing passengers, and make it easier for our customers to discover just why this seaside town is renowned for its entertainment.

‘Visitors can pay a trip to the legendary Blackpool Pleasure Beach or Blackpool Tower, meet the stars at Madame Tussauds, or experience Illuminasia, the brand new must-see attraction for 2014, to name just a few of the things to see and do in Blackpool this year!

The town is also a gateway to other locations in the North West, making the attractions of places such as the Lake District, Yorkshire and Cumbria far more accessible.’

Citywing Blackpool Hopper offer tickets between the Isle of Man and Blackpool. Tickets are just £23.95 on selected flights, subject to availability and not including peak times.

Visit www.citywing.com for full information and to keep up to date with Citywing’s latest news.

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Flights for Festival of Motorcycling - 16th to 29th August 2014 Good news for Motorcycle fans as Citywing have announced additional promotional seats will be put on sale for the two week period.

The world famous motorcycling festival is held from the start of practices on Monday 16th August until 29th August, on the Isle of Man, and incorporates the Manx Grand Prix, the Classic TT, and the Festival of Jurby. Prices start from just £29.95 each way including taxes, making the event now more affordable than ever.

BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS ONLINE AT WWW.CITYWING.COM

Always wanted your very own private aircraft?

We now have replica aircraft models for sale. 1:70 scale and available from Isle of Man Check In, Gloucester Airport Check In, or on ebay.co.uk (search Citywing) for just £15.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.CITYWING.COM

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Newcastle from ÂŁ49.95 A favourite of those in search of world-class culture, entertainment and sport, fantastic shopping and fine cuisine, Newcastle offers all of this and more, served against a vibrant backdrop of stunning architecture and bustling city life. For fashionistas and shopaholics, Newcastle is home to two of the largest shopping centres in the UK, as well as a high street littered with independent and vintage stores. full terms and conditions on Citywing.com WWW.CITYWING.COM | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014

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Citywing Timetable Summer Schedule 2014 Isle of Man to Belfast M

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Our check-in desks open one hour before departure and close strictly 30 minutes before departure.

PHOTO ID Valid Government issued Photo ID is required on all flights.

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BAGGAGE 10 Kgs of hand luggage is free, as long as it fits in the sizer.

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Our luggage allowance per passenger is 20 kilos in total, including all cabin and hold bags. Business Select passengers receive an additional allowance of 5 kgs.

TIMINGS Timings are subject to change without notice or liability.

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BUSINESS SELECT Visit citywing.com and discover the benefits of travelling as a Business Select passenger.

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Gloucester to Isle of Man (May-Sept) SU

You can now check in on line for all destinations, up to 14 days before travel.

We recommend a minimum of 40 minutes check-in for all our services.

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Gloucester to Isle of Man Depart

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Blackpool to Isle of Man Depart

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Reservations: 0871 200 0440

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.CITYWING.COM

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Jamie Oliver and Alex James present The Big Feastival, a unique weekend celebration of music, food and fun for all the family, set on Alex’s idyllic Cotswolds farm.

Enjoy music from top acts, tuck into top chef demos in the Big Kitchen and have your fill from The Menu, featuring the cream of the UK’s street food crop. Browse local producer stands, join a cookery class or get your foodie fix joining top chefs for intimate Q&A sessions. Keep little and big kids happy in the funfilled Little Dudes Den, join an arts & crafts workshop, enjoy the Big Top games or take a spin round the vintage funfair.

Here's a taster of what's on...

Music - Chefs - Big Top Tent - AEG Big Kitchen - AEG Cooking Club - AEG Family Food The Potato Patch - Little Dudes Den - The Workshop - Justin Fletcher - Mr Bloom Cotswold Farm Park - The Cheese Hub - Festival Food - Supper Club - Bar Stars Food & Drink Markets - Lifestyle Markets - The Table Sessions - Book Signings - Funfair

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Festival-goers will be spoilt for choice when it comes to what to eat at The Big Feastival. There will be plenty of choices on the menu and each stand will also be serving up child-friendly portions for little festival-goers.

A feast for your ears too...

Watch as your favourite chefs take to the stage and pick up the tricks of the trade along the way.

In this fromage-ophile’s paradise, Alex James welcomes you to taste, try and buy his entire range of artisan cheeses, some of which are made on the very farm where the festival is held.

It wouldn’t be The Big Feastival without the hottest chefs cooking up a storm in the kitchen!

FRIDAY: Nathan Outlaw | Mark Hix | DJ BBQ | Levi Roots | Felicitas Pizarro | John Quilter | Emily Watkins SATURDAY: Jamie Oliver | Gennaro Contaldo | Rachel Khoo | Ashley Palmer-Watts Gizzi Erskine | James Graham | DJ BBQ | Cupcake Jemma SUNDAY: Jamie Oliver | Monica Galetti | Gennaro Contaldo | Martin Morales | Adam Henson Natalie Coleman | DJ BBQ | Kerryann Dunlop | Barry Lewis | Michela Chiappa | Aaron Craze

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Headliners for this year’s Big Feastival, plus a few other very special acts...

FRIDAY: Guilty Pleasures |Bjorn Again | Fleetwood Bac | DJ BBQ | Levi Roots SATURDAY: Fatboy Slim | Kelis | Laura Mvula | Molotov Jukebox | Norman Jay MBE | Cuban Brothers | Duke SUNDAY: Jamie Cullum | De La Soul | Jack Savoretti | Stornoway | Kitty, Daisy & Lewis | Lee Thompson Ska

Opening Hours & Key Timings Friday 29th August 07.00 – Campsite opens for arrivals (last entry 22.00) 11.00 – Festival opens for campers and day visitors 14.00 – 22.00 – Live acts on the Main Stage 23.00 – Festival site closes for the day Saturday 30th August 08.00 – Campsite opens for arrivals (last entry 21.00) 10.00 – Festival opens for campers and day visitors 12.00 – 23.00 – Live acts on the Main Stage 00.00 – Festival site closes for the day Sunday 31st August 10.00 Festival opens for campers and day visitors 12.00 – 20.00 Live acts on the Main Stage 22.00 Festival site closes for the day

Get your flights booked for this awesome event!

www.citywing.com

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For loads more feastival information:

www.jamieoliver.com/thebigfeastival

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.CITYWING.COM

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Sudoku

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So you do Sudoku do you?

Solution on page 38

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Spot the difference.

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Hey kids! There are 8 differences here... how many can you see?

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DID YOU KNOW? One quarter of the bones in your body, are in your feet. Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails. The chameleon has a tongue that is 1.5 times the length of its body. The faster kangaroos hop, the less energy they use. Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur. A gecko uses its tongue to clean its eyeballs! The average housefly lives for one month. Honeybees have hair on their eyes... they also talk to each other by dancing!

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Word Search J V E S O R D K F U B G

A M Z T J E G C R V T T

C A B E O M D D E B V T

G G I B B M O Z Q T A U

R W L V U U Z Z U Y F P

D Y D O Q S X F E H X Q

R E X M W O Y C N J O O

C E K B N R I R T Y G J

BLACKPOOL BOOKING CITYWING

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FESTIVALS FLIGHTS FOOD

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FREQUENT HOPPER ONLINE

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O P N B X S F C B B M I

OUTDOOR STREET SUMMER

U T C Z E X X V V H X H

W N H D L M F V T I L R

Blinding

Innovation

Talbot & Son were appointed Britains first Luxaflex Gallery dealership in 2008 and are the Island’s only suppliers of the stunning new Duette® Shades range. You can see these blinds in our award winning showroom where you can try the revolutionary SmartCord® and cordless LiteRise® operating systems for yourself - they’re sublime to look at and beautifully simple to operate.

Call in for a demonstration - you’ll be delighted you did.

Over 40 Years experience.

Free measuring and design service.

Expert fitting service available.

Talbot & Son

Talbot & Son | 61 - 62 Derby Square | Douglas | Isle of Man IM1 3LP T: 01624 629940 | E:sales@talbotblinds.com | www.talbotandsonblinds.co.uk

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Food fans rejoice, NewcastleGateshead’s acclaimed festival EAT! is back for its annual summer outing...

Taking inspiration from the natural beauty of the North East, EAT! NewcastleGateshead is going alfresco from Friday 8 – Sunday 17 August with a ten-day programme of foodie events and experiences that celebrate local talent and the nation’s love of outdoor dining. The Port of Tyne / www.portoftyne.co.uk is proud sponsor of EAT! NewcastleGateshead in 2014.

Titled EAT! OUT, the summer edition of EAT! festival includes a programme of Naked Feasts (Friday 8 – Saturday 16 August), adventurous dining experiences in stunning outdoor locations across NewcastleGateshead. Take your place at the communal table for one of eleven themed feasts inspired by family, community, history, art and summer - all prepared by the very best upand-coming North East chefs.

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Locations include the rooftop of The Vermont Hotel, the Toffee Factory, a Byker community garden, an orchard at Rising Sun Farm and for one very special evening, Dunston Staiths – the largest wooden

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WWW.CITYWING.COM | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014

structure in Europe - will open to the public following a 30 year closure for a dinner experience high above the Tyne. Supper club chef and food blogger Anna Hedworth will create a menu of dishes inspired by the Staiths’ 120 year history. On Saturday 9 August, EAT! offers diners the unique opportunity to explore Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS Vital exhibition at Life Science Centre before sitting down to an outdoor body-themed feast of offal.

EAT! OUT takes a trip to the coast and countryside for a series of fishing and foraging workshops (Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 August) led by wild food experts. Chopwell Woods, Gateshead and Rising Sun Country Park, Newcastle, provide the locations for the foraging events that feature butchery demonstrations and outdoor cooking.

Fishing workshops at Tynemouth Pier give novices an opportunity to catch their supper and the historic North Shields Fish Quay will be opening its doors to the public for a rare opportunity to watch the early morning fish auction.

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The Kids Cook School @ Fenwick (Thursday 7 – Thursday 15 August) invites budding bakers to don their chef’s whites for a series of cooking classes every morning and afternoon. The mouth watering creations can be enjoyed at the giant EAT! kitchen table or taken home in a goody bag for the whole family to enjoy.

The EAT! OUT Food Heroes Festival (Friday 15 – Sunday 17 August) starts in dramatic fashion with local chef Gareth Kyle’s attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest chef demonstration. Starting at 6am on Friday 15 August, Gareth will cook his way through the weekend in an attempt to break the current 36 hour record.

Taking place at Monument in Newcastle city centre, a special dining table will be set up for people to enjoy Gareth’s dishes throughout his challenge.

From early morning smoothies to late night kebabs, passers-by will be able to tuck into the fruits of Gareth’s labour as he cooks and commentates his way through 37 hours of the EAT! OUT Food Heroes Festival. An online stream of Gareth’s world record attempt will be available via the official EAT! NewcastleGateshead website and supporters can follow his journey on twitter using #gogareth. Gareth’s world record attempt is in support of The People’s Kitchen, with many of the dishes prepared during the challenge being donated to the Newcastle charity.

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In addition to Gareth’s world record attempt, there will also be a Food Heroes Market featuring a handpicked selection of the North East’s finest food and drink producers as well as innovative street food stalls, local craft ales and some fun foodie activities for all the family.

The EAT! Gold Awards will crown the top ten products at the Food Heroes Market and Newcastle Food Charter will launch its awards (taking place in February 2015 at EAT! IN) as part of the weekend celebrations.

EAT! Street will deliver the very best street food from the North East’s restaurants and traders and award-winning beer writer Alastair Gilmour and Iles Tours will serve up a series of pub walking tours and NewcastleGateshead food walking tours.

EAT! OUT’s sister-event, EAT! IN, takes place from Saturday 21 February – Monday 2 March 2015 and sees the events come indoors for more adventures in food and drink.

For more festival info www.eatnewcastlegateshead.com AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.CITYWING.COM

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And the bride wore leathers...

A ‘TT’ civil marriage ceremony was held at Ramsey Town Hall, the first since Ramsey Town Commission took over the civil registry service for Ramsey and the north.

Beverley Cartwright and Simon Smith from Shropshire were married in the building’s civil ceremony room overlooking the TT course at Parliament Square during the Sidecar Race 2 event on Thursday June 5th.

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Beverley, a professional counsellor, is the fourth generation of her family to visit the Island for the TT, it was her third visit and the groom’s second.

The bride’s uncle, John Parton, who has been coming to the TT for 47 years, gave her away.

Simon, a commercial vehicle body builder, said: ‘I’d been longing to come over to watch the TT for years and finally made it last year. We’re both mad about bikes and met at a bike rally in England. Ramsey’s a fantastic base for the TT and we always stay at the Ramsey AFC campsite at Ballacloan, so we were delighted that the club’s chairman Malcolm Kelly came to the wedding.

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WWW.CITYWING.COM | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014

‘The campsite’s a really good place to stay, everyone is so welcoming and the amenities are excellent. In fact everyone in Ramsey we met was so friendly and helpful, especially the staff at Ramsey Town Hall who went out of their way to make sure our day went without a hitch.

‘It was Bev who proposed to me - on Valentine’s Day - and we knew we wanted to have our wedding in Ramsey at the town hall, it’s such an imposing building and, for us, the perfect setting. The registrar, Gemma Kelly, was brilliant right down to arranging for our favourite music track, Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters, to be played, and the wedding was perfect.

‘After the ceremony and once the roads had re-opened we fulfilled another ambition, to do a lap of the course as a married couple on my bike. Everyone really pulled out the stops to make our wedding day special. It’s something we’ll never forget.’

Unsurprisingly, the new Mr and Mrs Smith, who stayed in the Island for a few days after the TT for their honeymoon, have already booked for TT 2015.

Ramsey Town Hall has the only civil registry room on the TT course. For more details, call +44 1624 810100.

Exclusive 4* Hotel & flights offer with Citywing> CONNECT/MAGAZINE

2 nights from £185.00 per person

Enjoy an Autumn / Winter break in the beautiful Isle of Man only a short flight from the UK. Relax in the enchanting surroundings of The Sefton Hotel or enjoy the variety of entertainment at BEST WESTERN Palace Hotel & Casino. Both hotels offer lavish hot and cold buffet style breakfasts with the option of freshly prepared Manx Kippers, and a delicious choice of evening meals.

The luxurious 4* Sefton Hotel in Douglas, is close to the capital's main shopping and business district and combines finely restored Victorian elegance, a modern extension centered round a beautiful indoor water-garden, and the new 5* quality Sefton Suites.

If you want luxury, convenience and tranquility...

The Sefton is the obvious choice.

The Sefton Hotel BEST WESTERN Palace Hotel and Casino

The Palace Hotel holds the largest nightclub on the Island, as well as the island's only casino, which includes slots and a bingo17 lounge. The Hotel houses a health club with indoor pool, saunas and full gym facilities available to residents. The onsite restaurant, Paragon, provides a delicious daily three cou course carvery with the public bar serving snacks and light meals until late.

Prices are based on 2 sharing a Double or Twin room and Include: • 2 Nights Dinner Bed & Breakfast • Return flights as indicated Offers available between 14th September 2014 & 31st March 2015 (packages subject to availability) Single occupancy packages available on request.

The Sefton Hotel Flying from Blackpool - £205 pp Flying from Belfast - £225 pp Flying from Glasgow - £305 pp

BEST WESTERN Palace Hotel and Casino Flying from Blackpool - £185 pp Flying from Belfast - £205 pp Flying from Gloucester - £285 pp

For further information, check availability and book please contact:

IOM Event Services on: 01624 66440 or visit www.iomevents.com AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.CITYWING.COM

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Anglesey..

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elcome ‘Tour De Mon’; a cycle sportive that will take you around the isle of Anglesey. The Tour de Mon will take you to the most beautiful and iconic locations on this wonderful island, boasting possibly the most beautiful coastline in the whole of the UK. Once you’ve been I’m sure you will agree Anglesey can be described as one of Britain’s best kept secrets.

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he area has always been incredibly popular with local cycling enthusiasts, but the ‘Tour de Mon’ in mid-August will take you on a cycle tour never to be forgotten. The Anglesey roads and paths are amazing for riding, but don‘t be deceived by this ‘flat‘ isle; there is a challenge here for us all. With events for the whole family ranging from the tour de teulu (family tour) right through to the tour mawr (Big tour - 103 miles around our coastline) There is something for everyone here. nable to join us at the Tour de Mon, don’t worry, with over 168 Miles of cycle routes on an island claimed to be flat and being only 20 miles wide there’s plenty of choice anytime of the year.

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eing one of the UK’s most spectacular and unique holiday destinations, The Isle of Anglesey, once called the Mother of Wales, is truly a place apart. Wild, rugged, astonishingly beautiful, it’s like nowhere else on earth. Stroll along our award-winning beaches, enjoy the spectacular countryside, or immerse

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yourself in the Island’s rich heritage and culture.

Historic treasures such as Beaumaris Castle, Plas Newydd or Wales’ only working windmill – Llynnon, Llanddeusant - await, and for those of you who prefer a little more action, Anglesey’s coastline provides plenty of opportunities for sailing, windsurfing or fishing. Whatever your favourite pastime - Anglesey offers more than enough for that perfect break.

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on’t have 2 wheels? Then why not try a quiet stroll followed by some mouth-watering local produce at a local inn. With our stunning countryside, lakes and sea all brimming with the richest and highest quality local produce, more than ever before our restaurants can source the very best ingredients right here on their doorstep and our shops and delis have an unrivalled range of local products so that you can take a little bit of Anglesey home with you. nce you’ve arrived all you have to do is choose which direction to go! Sea on the left, or Sea on the right? The choice is yours!

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ardiff was awarded city status in 1905 by Edward VII before being crowned the Capital in 1955 and throughout its history there have been a number of well documented events. The world’s first £1 million pound cheque was signed in Cardiff’s Coal Exchange at the turn of the 20th Century, Roald Dahl was born here in 1916, the Millennium Stadium with the UK’s first fully retractable roof opened in 1999 to host the Rugby World Cup and the very first game of the London 2012 Olympics was held in the city. he jewel in the crown is Cardiff Castle which stands in the heart of the city with a history spanning 2000 years. Roman soldiers slept here, noble knights held court here and the Bute family transformed the Castle into a romantic Victorian Neo Gothic fantasy which can still be viewed today during guided tours.

Whilst at the Castle, there is also the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Welsh banquet and an evening of entertainment within the medieval Undercroft where visitors can enjoy a true flavour of Wales.

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he iconic Wales Millennium Centre is a must see tourist and cultural attraction standing in the heart of Cardiff Bay on the magnificent waterfront. The centre has world-class facilities for many performing arts such as opera, ballet, musicals and contemporary dance and has a variety of restaurants nearby where visitors can enjoy the best in Welsh food. Guided tours of the centre are also available, allowing visitors to go backstage and see what lies beneath the iconic stones.

ardiff is also famous for its sporting venues with a number of renowned stadia including the famous Millennium Stadium, SWALEC Stadium and Cardiff City Stadium, together with the Cardiff International Sports Village, home to Cardiff International White Water (CIWW) where visitors can try out rafting and indoor surfing. As well as offering a variety of activities for visitors, these venues have helped to secure a huge number of prominent events such as the Canoe World Cup, The Ashes, British FIM Speedway, FA Cup and Rugby World Cup.

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s one of the top six shopping destinations in the UK (based on Experian UK Ratings) Cardiff has a wide variety of shops ranging from Victorian and Edwardian arcades to the new St David’s Centre.

Cardiff can also lay claim to the world’s oldest record store, Spillers. The range of bars and restaurants on offer also provides a wide variety of nightlife, entertainment and dining to suit all tastes.

For more information call 029 2087 3573 email: visitor@cardiff.gov.uk

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Rock ‘n‘ role for Davy Knowles Davy Knowles was always interested in rock; he just didn’t know for a while that the rock he was interested in was of the musical and not the geological kind.

As a child, and long before he took up the guitar, he took up the chisel. ‘I wanted to be a paleontologist and would often be out chiseling away at pieces of rock.’

But that was before he heard Dire Straits’ Sultans of Swing on the car radio while out with his father, Tony. From that moment the 11-year-old from Port St Mary decided he wanted to play the guitar.

‘My dad first taught me the guitar but I didn’t really want to know about the theory, I just wanted to be able to play like Mark Knopfler or Eric Clapton.

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‘I sort of fell into becoming a musician. At first I was just fiddling about, playing by ear for a hobby. I never craved fame; I just wanted instant ability.’

He was taught not only by his father but also by Peter Lumb. ‘Peter and my dad were great but as an 11-yearold I didn’t want to learn the boring stuff like chords.’

In between his studies at Castle Rushen High School he continued to drift into music circles. ‘In the Isle of Man it’s so easy to meet other like-minded people.’

By the age of 17 he’d met Bob Miller who became and still is his manager. After gaining what he admits were less than impressive A levels he went to see his careers adviser. ‘I had an opportunity to move the UK and pursue a career in music, but mum and dad wanted me to go to university. My careers adviser, though, looked at my results and said I’d be better off taking a gap year and seeing the world.’

But instead of seeing the world he saw Newark in Nottingham where he moved to and started his career as blues rock artist in earnest.

‘When I reached about 19, though, I realised it was time I started to learn more about the practical side, so studied theory and harmony which opened up more creative possibilities and began to bring an extra layer to my work.’

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Now an accomplished singer songwriter, he released his first solo album, Coming Up For Air, in 2009. ‘When I’m writing a song the lyrics and the music come at the same time, but separately, sort of in parallel. I might hear something someone’s said that I could use in a song and note it down or see something and take a shot of it on my phone, then later I’ll put the two together. For me the best songs are conversational, because then they take on that extra, human element.’

Celtic influences play a big part in his work. He says Manx Celtic music ‘is blossoming and blooming’ and he’s proud that through his work he can promote elements of Manx culture and heritage in the US. The Isle of Man has played a big part in his and the band’s career. ‘We cut our teeth in the Isle of Man, playing – and getting paid – in pubs, which was great. It was a shock, though, when I started playing at jam nights in London and found that you actually had to pay to play.

‘Pubs in the Isle of Man are very supportive of musicians and are incredibly useful training grounds for bands. When I was younger and still living in the Island I found it a very safe and encouraging environment to be in, so I’m really pleased to have been chosen to be a youth cultural ambassador for Island of Culture 2014 and to have an opportunity to give something back to the Isle of Man.’ Based in Chicago where he lives with his fiancée Amber - ‘She’s got a proper job; she’s a radiologist’ - much of his life is taken up with touring (‘as we’ve gained some recognition over the years the tour busses have got better’) and he’s just two states left where he has yet to perform, Alaska and Hawaii.

‘Although I’ve been a professional musician since I was 19 the fact that people actually buy our records (he’s a big vinyl fan) and pay to come and see us perform is still utterly baffling to me.’

He says it’s equally baffling – and flattering – that he was invited to be the keynote speaker at the recent Employability conference aimed at helping young people make the transition from school to the workplace. ‘The help and advice I received from people in my early days was incredibly valuable so for the conference I wanted to make the point that it’s really important to listen to your mentors and absorb like a sponge everything they say.’

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He’s seen big changes in the music industry since he started out. ‘There was a time when you’d never have seen Mark Knopfler or Peter Frampton on Twitter. Now people buy into you as a person as well as an artist. Social media is really useful for finding out where your fan base is; also, with people able to comment so easily on you and your music, there’s an added pressure to reaffirm their faith in you and do good work.

‘What’s been one of the nicest and most rewarding things for me is when I hear from Manx ex-pats who’ve heard Roll Away (from his debut album of the same name with Back Door Slam and includes the line: “Maybe I‘ll return to this island some day”) and they say how it reminds them of home.’

www.davyknowles.com AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.CITYWING.COM

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PLAN YOUR VISIT WITH OUR BLACKPOOL MAP!

Isle of Man to Blackpool

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BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS SWITCH-ON FESTIVAL WEEKEND 2014 Britain’s best-loved comedian, Peter Kay, is to switch on this year’s Blackpool Illuminations.

Global travellers have named Blackpool attractions among the best in Europe.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach was voted the ninth best amusement park in Europe in a list compiled by the TripAdvisor website from millions of reviews.

Blackpool’s Sandcastle Waterpark also proved a favourite with travellers - being placed eighth in a list of best European water parks.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Paultons Park were first and second in the best UK amusement park list, with Alton Towers third, Drayton Manor fourth and Thorpe Park fifth.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach managing director Amanda Thompson said: “We are thrilled to be named the UK’s best amusement park. We pride ourself on offering the best experience for a great day out.”

TripAdvisor spokesman James Kay said: “Blackpool Pleasure Beach is not just the country’s best-rated amusement park, it is also one of the cheapest for a family day out among the UK top 10, proving that great value often trumps bigger rides in the eyes of consumers.“

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The full line-up for the Friday night Switch-On concert is now complete with chart toppers Little Mix headlining the star-studded show with a live performance full of their biggest hits.

The Guinness World Record Breaking comedian, who currently holds the record for the biggest live stand-up comedy tour on the planet, has been a lifelong aficionado of Blackpool since he was a child.

Little Mix have topped the charts in the UK and America, selling almost 2 million albums worldwide and will be joined by Texas who are celebrating their 25th anniversary since their debut album in 1989.

Chart stars Pixie Lott, Union J, Neon Jungle and George Ezra will join what is going to be a starstudded line up on Friday 29 August on the Tower Festival Headland.

BOOK TICKETS ONLINE: www.blackpoolsback.com >

WWW.CITYWING.COM | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014

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August in Belfast sees a sizzling start to the City's festival season, from August Féile, Ireland's largest community festival, outdoor music festivals including Belsonic and Tennents Vital, a world of cultures with Belfast Mela to a mouth-watering fare of food at St Anne Summer Food Festival. The entertainment doesn't stop there with Culture Night, Belly Laughs and a host of neighbourhood festivals promising the hottest tickets in town in September.

A Taste of Summer 9-10 August A weekend of al-fresco food and fun will take in the shadows of St Anne’s Cathedral.

Aug place Fast becoming, Belfast’s premier area for arts, gourmet cuisine and café culture, St Anne’s Square will celebrate the finest of local and international food and drink with food demos, artisan food stalls and cookery lessons and masterclasses.

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www.saintannessquare.com

Culture Night Belfast 19th September It‘s the fifth year of Culture Night Belfast, the biggest, most colourful and inclusive Sep city‘s cultural celebration. Cultural organisations representing theatre, dance, music, drama and performance arts will radically transform and energise the streets, thoroughfares, spaces and places of Belfast over six hours. Don’t miss an evening of carnivalesque adventure like no other in Belfast!

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22 Aug

Eastside Arts Festival 22-25 August A showcase of East Belfast with music, comedy, talks, workshops, and more. East Belfast musiclegend, Van Morrison will return to perform at his old school, Orangefield High!

www.eastsidearts.net ‘Meet in Belfast’ at Belfast Mela - 24 August Visitors will be treated to the sights, sounds smells of world cultures as one of Aug and Northern Ireland’s flagship festival returns to Belfast’s Botanic Gardens. Jam-packed with a show-stopping line up of music, dance, food, street theatre, and carnival from across the globe highlights will include Malkit Singh and his live band, Cuban beats from Son Yambu and the Discovery Gospel Choir. Discover the fantasy forest where children can experience a diverse programme of interactive workshops.

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www.belfastmela.org.uk Son Yambu

www.culturenightbelfast.com Belly Laughs from 25th September Belfast Comedy Festival ‘Belly Laughs‘ will for its 3rd year promising more laughter Sep return for all. The awfully nice chap, Hal Cruttenden will open the festival as part of his ‘Tough Luvvie’ tour and Richard Herring will also return to Belfast with his Lord of the Dance Settee at the iconic Empire Music Hall. It’s not just about stand-up, though – the festival promises a diverse range of events from comedy bus tours, musical cabaret, cartooning to comedy poetry and kids workshops – something for absolutely everyone who likes a laugh. Plenty of more acts to follow!

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www.bellylaughsbelfast.com

Awfully nice chap - Hal Cruttenden

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Discover Glasgow Glasgow is the perfect location for a short break but don’t just take our word for it. Many leading publications including The Guardian, Marie Claire and Rough Guides, have rated Glasgow as a must visit destination for 2014. With stylish shopping, world-class museums, lively bars and restaurants and a choice of brilliant entertainment, visit and discover it for yourself!

Arts & Culture The city is home to more than 20 world-class museums and art galleries – many of which are free to visit - and is proud to have Europe’s largest civic arts collection with works by Dali, Van Gogh, Degas and Monet all available to view in magnificent venues including the internationally renowned Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum and the Zaha Hadid designed Riverside Museum – voted European Museum of the Year 2013.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum

Meanwhile innovative spaces such as Trongate 103, CCA and Tramway are just some of the cutting-edge venues at the very epicentre of the city’s creativity with their year-round programmes of thought provoking events and exhibitions.

A great way to explore the city is to hop on the Glasgow City Sightseeing Tour Bus, designed not only for sightseeing but also as a unique way of getting around the most popular places to visit in the city

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Shopping With over 1,500 shops, Glasgow is a shopper’s paradise, recognised as the second largest retail centre in the UK and home to the best shopping experience outside of London’s West End. The biggest brands and major retailers can be found in the city’s ‘Style Mile’ – the square mile in the very centre of Glasgow which houses the most extraordinary concentration of shops - from unique designer stores to flagship stores for British and international retailers. Over 200 stores on the Style Mile are now open until at least 7pm every weeknight.

Riverside Museum

Shopping in the 'Style Mile'

Head to Ingram Street for top designer names including Ralph Lauren, Mulberry and Cruise or for something more quirky, head to the vintage stores, independent boutiques and weekend craft markets located in the vibrant neighbourhoods of the west end and Merchant City.

Eating Out There are plenty of fantastic restaurants to explore in Glasgow after a busy day, every taste is catered for from traditional Scottish fare and Italian to Indian and Thai. The West End is a great place to head for a fantastic array of eating and drinking options.

Merchant City

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Cool Quarters Much like New York, away from Glasgow’s city centre, nestle a number of vibrant neighbourhoods off the beaten track where visitors can live like a local: Recently voted ‘Best Neighbourhood in UK & Ireland’ by the Academy of Urbanism, ultimate hipster hang-out, Glasgow’s West End, with its exquisite sandstone villas and leafy avenues is the perfect place to people-watch. Explore the stunning Gothic university buildings, walk through Kelvingrove Park, shop on Byres Road and round off with a cocktail in one of the charming bars on fairy-lit Ashton Lane.

Emerging cool quarter, Finnieston is being touted as the “new West End” - buzzing with bars, restaurants and independent shops. Highlights include new openings The Gannet and Old Salty’s, seafood restaurant The Crabshakk, cocktail bar The Kelvingrove Cafe and The Ben Nevis whisky bar housing one of the finest selections of the ‘water of life’ in the city.

Tucked away just behind the city centre, is the Merchant City, one of the oldest quarters of Glasgow. It was once the home to the city’s wealthy merchants during the city’s trading heyday and as such has some of Glasgow’s most stunning architecture. Now it has some of the city’s finest boutiques, and fascinating places to visit, such as the Panopticon Music Hall where Stan Laurel debuted as a young man. Take one of the cultural tours around the Merchant City area, from a Public Art Trail to a guide to Glasgow Bridges.

Entertainment Culture Sport Festivals Shopping Fine Cuisine Active

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Trongate area - behind the hustle and bustle of Argyle Street, discover independent artist galleries, vintage clothes shops, and cafes where the city’s creative community can be found hanging out or browsing the book and record collections.

Glasgow’s Southside is home to two of Mackintosh’s most famous buildings, Scotland Street School Museum and House for an Art Lover, plus Tramway - the Scottish Ballet’s home and host venue for the 2015 Turner Prize. You’ll also find Glasgow’s biggest green space, Pollok Country Park, wherein nestles The Burrell Collection and Glasgow’s very own Downton Abbey, Pollok House. The tree-lined conservation area, Strathbungo (or simply ‘the Bungo’ as it’s known to locals) is the place to go for a bite to eat, with a rapidly growing cluster of delightful restaurants, bars and cafes.

For more information visit:

www.peoplemakeglasgow.com Royal Exchange Square

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BEER, MUSIC, STREET FOOD

Scotland’s biggest collaborative craft beer festival announced Offering a blend of craft beer, street food and music, Craft Beer Rising has today announced it will be bringing its renowned festival to Scotland.

Hosted in collaboration with Drygate Brewing Co – the UK’s first experiential craft brewery – Craft Beer Rising will take place in Glasgow from the Friday 19th – Sunday 21st of September 2014, with tickets now on sale.

With over 3,000 people expected to attend, Craft Beer Rising leads a new wave of cultural craft beer festivals that celebrate street food, music and beer under one roof.

Taking place across four sessions, festival goers can sample up to 200 beers from 45 local and international breweries, including Tempest Brew Co, Siren, Beavertown, Thistly Cross Cider, Pilot Brew Co and Harbour.

In addition to the festival’s beer and street food offering, a programme of talks and demonstrations – such as live brewing from a collective of breweries – is also planned.

In keeping with Craft Beer Rising’s signature party-style atmosphere, Kiltr will be curating the festival’s music line-up that includes pioneering electro funk DJ, Greig Wilson, as its headline act.

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>>“When looking for a location outside of London, we were instantly drawn to Glasgow. The city’s emerging craft beer scene is hugely exciting and is something that breweries from all over the world want to be a part of.

“Craft Beer Rising has traditionally been held within the walls of a brewery; our festival at Drygate being no exception. Not only is Drygate one of the coolest places to experience craft beer in Scotland, it’s also powered by a collective of people who share the same ethos as us – to take people on an immersive journey through craft beer culture and beyond.”

As part of Drygate’s collective of three young, talented brewers, Alessandra Confessore explained more about Drygate: “From the very beginning, Drygate has been inspired by the spirit of collaboration. We can’t wait to open our doors to Craft Beer Rising and have the opportunity to create experimental beers and share ideas with some of the world’s most forward thinking breweries as part of the festival.”

Tickets for Craft Beer Rising at Drygate are on sale now for £20 from www.craftbeerrising.co.uk

Craft Beer Rising founder – Daniel Rowntree – explained more about the event: “Born out of a desire to create a culturally awesome beer festival, Craft Beer Rising is about discovery and adventure as well as creating an environment where everyone – from adventurous foodies to music lovers, craft beer novices to aficionados – can get involved. >>

Drygate Craft Beer Rising - L to R - Matt Johnson (Pilot), Pat Jones (Pilot), Alessandra Confessore (Drygate Brewing Co), Graeme Martin (Tempest Brew Co), Peter Stuart (Thistly Cross Cider)

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MANX RADIO / 89 | 97.2 | 103.7FM | 1368AM

of the border (I’m not entirely sure I believe them, but for our two days in the city it certainly was the truth!)

The moment we stepped into the airport terminal we discovered that Producer John, who’s primary job is to take loads of photos for Facebook and Twitter, had managed to forget the camera so a creative solution was called for. So I had the bright idea of him exercising his artistic side and producing sketches of us touring the city....suffice to say they are “distinctive” but eventually a camera solution was found!

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f I go back far enough I can trace Scottish ancestors, I quite like Haggis (and deep fried Mars Bars) and I find Billy Connelly funny, so it’s surprising that Scotland is a place I have rarely visited!

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We arrived to check out our accommodation, the city centre Radisson Blu Hotel... and

Away from quoting stereotypes, when I’m discussing destinations for a trip away Scotland hasn’t jumped onto my list and I ask myself; why?... Maybe not enough rollercoasters, theme parks or railways?.... Or as I discovered on my most recent radio excursion with Citywing, it was purely ignorance on my part of what was on offer.

The trip began bright and early on a Monday morning, sat in the Rendevous Lounge at Ronaldsway Airport enjoying tea and croissant, looking out across the tarmac to our Citywing jet stream aircraft ready to whizz my team and I to Glasgow to experience the delights of the city that was preparing to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

A short 50 minute flight, a great view of the city below as we approached and then touch down at Glasgow airport.

We stepped out into the glorious Scottish sunshine, which I was assured by nearly every Scots person I met was the weather that was the norm north

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wow! Not only did this 5 star establishment not disappoint, stunning decor, restaurants and bar, rooms with the latest in technological mod cons and the most intelligent glass lift system I’ve ever encountered which speedily take you up the 6 floors of the glass entrance atrium. You select your floor when calling the lift and it tells you which lift is coming to collect you, and takes you straight to your floor, quick and efficiently... small things impress

me.

Not only that straight outside the door and you’re next to the striking Victorian Central Station, so my railway fix was sorted from the moment we arrived.

Saying that our first port of call, literally, was the Riverside Museum which recently won the European Museum of the Year award and from the moment you enter its doors it’s easy to see why. The building itself is architecturally striking, but inside not only has it one of the most impressive collections of transport ephemera I’ve ever seen, but the most imaginative way of interpreting it and engaging the guest I think I’ve encountered in a museum from a trip through a real Victorian street with subway to the three story high wall of cars...oh and did I mention a real tall ship moored outside aswell?!

All of it free to enter like all the museums in Glasgow, so a gift for families visiting.

From here it was on to check out the sporting preparations for the Commonwealth Games and we were admitted through all the tight security to the Emirates Arena and the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. It was a hive of activity with literally hundreds of people putting the final preparations into the venue with just weeks to go before the games come to town, but we did a sneaky tour of the facility and the one thing you notice in person is just how steep the

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sides of the Velodrome are, TV doesn’t do it justice!

Sticking with sport, we then hopped across the city to check out the home of Scottish Football, and another Commonwealth Games Venue, Hampden Park. This time though we didn’t check out the facilities, but something else quite special. The Stadium is also home to the Scottish Football Museum, and although I admit football has no interest to me at all.... it was a fascinating and immersive experience from the feeling of entering the original stadium which housed more than the Isle of Man’s population to checking out the original players changing rooms (with smells added!) or the view from the press box... it was all recreated as part of the story along with an impressive collection of silverware.

If Guinness is synonymous with a visit to Dublin then a visit to the Tennant’s Brewery Tour is a must when visiting Glasgow.

Not only did the tour educate us on the process of making some of the most recognisable brews on the market, but the brewery itself is one of the most impressive galleries of commercial artwork I’ve seen.

Innovative advertising artwork is to be seen everywhere from inside the visitor centre, to 5 storey examples adorning the side of the buildings of the complex. There are a few hidden gems aswell in the form of the Brewery’s own old fashioned pub or the Training Academy which offers visitors the chance to book a master-class cookery session, very Masterchef, with a group of friends to learn how to cook a wide variety of dishes, before tasting some of Tennant’s produce before a minibus takes you to a comedy club in the city... surprisingly this is rather popular, can’t think why!

After this it was time to retire to TGI Fridays in the city for a “Top Gear” style round up of the day with the team, some delicious food and a look ahead to the next day of exploring.

Next morning we enjoyed a Radisson breakfast that did more than tick all the boxes, it offered everything you could wish for. For myself and David from CityWing the traditional full Scottish Breakfast (with a nice bit of haggis) was in order, however John tucked into Smoked Scottish Salmon and Scrambled Eggs whilst we discussed the best way to get to our first location.

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After this we decided to not trust ourselves with a map again and this time catch the open top tour bus of the city, to not only help us see the sights, but also take us to our lunchtime destination. The bus tour is a must when visiting Glasgow, not just to experience the tour and the insightful commentary but it also provides efficient transport between all of the main tourist sites.

Saying that, it wasn’t our finest hour as because of a road closure for the Commonwealth Games that we’d failed to notice... we went miles past our stop, got lost again and had to disembark! However I can thoroughly recommend Bus Stop number 20 on the tour near to the Hilton Hotel in the upper part of the city for a leisurely sit down and rest whilst you wait for a taxi to come and rescue you!

Finally we arrived at our last stop of the tour before the airport, the Sisters Restaurant. If the name rings a bell, then it should, as its owner and head chef Jacqueline recently won the Scottish heats on the BBC’s Great British Menu and when you taste the food it’s not hard to see why. The food was succulent, indulgent and all served in an intimate yet friendly atmosphere, if you get the chance to go I can recommend the steak!

planning of the trip went slightly awry!

Having looked at a map of the city it was decided that it was “just a short walk” to the Glasgow City School of Art. 20 minutes later, in the scorching heat having climbed numerous hills that we didn’t anticipate we realised that not only should we have asked for advice, but also we were lost! Thankfully following the intervention of a smart phone and Google Earth we arrived at the stunning Glasgow School of Art. Sadly the striking Charles Mackintosh building suffered a huge fire recently and is currently out of bounds, but the School’s Art Tour is still open and displaying a huge amount of exquisite work from students past and present, some of whom have progressed to become very high profile... in fact Producer John and myself were most impressed that the New Doctor in Doctor Who, Peter Capaldi is a former Student!

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On the way back to the airport I thought back to my inital thoughts about visiting Glasgow, it wasn’t somewhere I’d particularly thought was of interest and had never been pencilled onto my to-do list of places to go. Having been there and experienced only a taster of what the city and the wider area has to offer from Stirling Castle to Hadrian’s Wall, I’ve firmly inked it onto my to-do list for the future, and I recommend you do too.

Alex in the Afternoon is brought to you by Citywing and presented by Alex Brindley.

Weekdays on Manx Radio from 2 – 6pm.

More info online www.manxradio.com facebook.com/ alexintheafternoon

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Unmissable

Island Aug / Sept 2014

John Newman Wednesday 20 August 2014 | Villa Marina | Douglas John Newman, one of the breakthrough artists of 2013, has announced his third major UK tour, including a one night performance in the Villa Marina.

All Tickets £33.50 (inc 2% booking charge) | Doors 7.30pm 01624 600555 www.villagaiety.com

The Jacksons Live at the Villa Marina Thursday 11 September 2014 | Villa Marina | Douglas

The Villa Marina Royal Hall will play host to pop royalty in a massive coup for the Isle of Man, in what is being billed as ‘THE Party of Summer 2014“. On September 11th 2014 the greatest musical family on earth, THE JACKSONS will play the Isle of Man in a show for every generation and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Adored by millions of fans the world over, the Jacksons forever changed the landscape of popular music and are one of the most beloved acts of all time.

Original members Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Tito Jackson are a global sensation. They’ll be playing all their classic hits including ‘ABC’, ‘Blame it on the Boogie’, ‘I Want You Back’, and ‘I’ll Be There’ – still the best selling song in Motown history. Brother Michael may be gone but is certainly not forgotten and his performances will join his brothers on some songs via video screens in a spectacular show that will take your breath away.

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Tickets from £18.36 (inc 2% booking charge) Concessions available.

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Gigs to note NewcastleGateshead Hau5 - Festival Venue - Metro Radio Arena (courtyard) Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st Sept 2014 Hau5 will be the first outdoor festival event of its kind to be held within the grounds of the Metro Radio Arena. Two huge stages with massive production, epic sound systems and giant LED walls - this is going to be the highlight of summer 2014. A must for dance fans.

Line up already confirmed: DVBBS CHASE AND STATUS DJ SET & RAGE SUB FOCUS DJ SET + ID SIGMA DJ Sneak DARIUS SYROSSIAN Robin Schulz (Mr Probz ‚Waves‘).

AN21 Third Party Dimitry Vangelis & Wyman And Finnebassen

Belfast Odyssey Arena A quiet Aug & Sept at the Odyssey - A couple of future gigs selling like hot cakes are: Ed Sheeran - Concert Venue - Belfast Odyssey Arena Wed 8th & Thur 9th October 2014 Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum selling, Madison Square Garden conquering singersongwriter Ed Sheeran has announced his return to the UK/Ireland for his first headline tour since Autumn 2012.

Paolo Nutini - Concert Venue - Belfast Odyssey Arena Sunday 2nd November 2014 Without doubt 2014 is the year of Paolo Nutini.

Acclaimed third album ‘Caustic Love’ went straight in at number 1, quickly reaching platinum status.

His biggest tour to date - Paolo Nutini looks set to cement his place as one of the country’s leading artists.

Booking: www.odysseyarena.com

Booking: www.eventim.co.uk

Glasgow

Cardiff

Pet Shop Boys - Concert Venue - Clyde Auditorium @ SECC in Glasgow Friday 5th September 2014

RAY DAVIES - Concert Venue - St David‘s Hall Sunday 7th September 2014 Booking: www.ents24.com FUTURE GIG: Kylie Minogue - Concert Venue - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena Friday 3rd October 2014 *There is a ticket limit of 6 tickets per person & per credit card on this event.

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80s pop pioneers and 90s electropop dance gurus, Neil & Chris are the most successful recording duo in British history. This millenium has seen them ‘Go West End‘, writing music & lyrics for London theatre productions with similar proficiency - and, of course, continuing to create great music for old and new fans.

Booking: www.ents24.com

James Taylor - Concert Venue - Glasgow SSE Hydro Monday 29th September 2014

For more event information please visit: www.visitcardiff.com/events

Booking for all Glasgow events: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.CITYWING.COM

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THE

BUSINESS REVIEW New Director of Civil Aviation for the Isle of Man announced

T

he Department of Economic Development has announced that Simon Williams will take over the role as the Isle of Man’s new Director of Civil Aviation on October 1st 2014 replacing Hartley Elder who retired earlier this year.

Minister for Economic Development Laurence Skelly MHK commented:

‘I am delighted to welcome Simon Williams to the Department as our new Director of Civil Aviation. He brings significant breadth and depth of experience to the role following a very diverse and successful 25 year career in military and civil aviation.

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‘I look forward to working with him to ensure that Isle of Man Aircraft Registry continues its impressive growth and to help maintain its status as the best in the world for quality and service.’

New Director of Civil Aviation - Simon Williams

Simon Williams commented: ‘I am thrilled and honoured to have been selected for the post of Director of Civil Aviation and I’m looking forward to working with the team at the Aircraft Registry to serve our much valued clients and to supporting the Island’s business aviation community.

‘I am inheriting a substantial legacy from my predecessors and would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that have worked so hard to make the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry the unprecedented success it has become.

‘I have been visiting the Island regularly since 1991 so am all the more pleased that I now have this oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to settle and work in such a wonderful place.

‘With the registration of its 700th aircraft earlier this month, the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry has carried on its strong growth and I’m looking forward to playing my part in contributing to its continued success and that of the Island’s aviation services sector.’

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Simon Williams has successfully held a number of challenging Senior Operational and Staff Appointments. He has operated as an Aircraft Commander, Training Captain, Qualified Helicopter Tactics Instructor, and Instrument Rating Examiner and has flown a wide variety of aircraft including Royal Air Force Search & Rescue Sea Kings, Special Operations Pumas and Civil Boeing 757s and Boeing 767s, most recently for British Airways.

During 5 years at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, he developed a very broad regulatory and safety portfolio which saw him chairing groups at national and international level. These groups were focussed on delivering tangible safety benefits whilst working closely with a diverse cross section of the aviation industry.

More recently, he increasingly devoted much of his time to working in ‘Safety Partnership' with the business aviation community, latterly focussing on seeking to influence the development of proportionate and effective EASA Regulations, in particular for NonCommercial Complex Motor Powered Aircraft.

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Isle of Man Aircraft Registry continues strong growth The Isle of Man Aircraft Registry is continuing its strong growth and has just completed the registration of its 700th aircraft since it was established in May 2007.

The aircraft was a Bombardier Challenger business jet, which was surveyed and registered in Hong Kong.

Minister for Economic Development Laurence Skelly MHK commented: ‘This is another significant milestone for the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry, which continues to be held in high esteem around the world for its high regulatory standards coupled with a customer-friendly approach.

‘The Registry contributes significant income for the Government, supports jobs in the Island’s financial and professional services industry and provides a very positive experience for clients so I would like to congratulate the staff at the Registry for their hard work and dedication.’

Brian Johnson, Director of Civil Aviation commented: ‘The Isle of Man Aircraft Registry continues to be the best in the world for quality of service and speed of registration and its phenomenal growth rate continues.

‘As well as managing and administering the ongoing renewals of the growing number of existing aircraft on the register we are welcoming significant numbers of new aircraft.

‘Two new aircraft per week are being added on average, although in the first 15 days of May this year the registry team received 15 new aircraft applications for registration.

‘Compared with our initial first year target of 12 aircraft registrations in 2007/08 we continue to exceed our expectations.

‘Our highly successful ‘parked commercial airliners’ scheme is continuing to prove very popular and this will shortly provide us with our largest ever project.

‘A major client has asked us to register 27 airliners on this scheme which goes to demonstrate the high regard in which the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry is held and will generate a significant income stream.’

The Isle of Man remains an important one-stop shop for global aviation business with many international corporations and high profile individuals having their aircraft assets registered and managed in the Isle of Man.

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THE

BUSINESS REVIEW

Isle of Man moves to control Digital Currencies The Department of Economic Development announced today that the Isle of Man intends to take specific actions aimed at helping protect businesses and customers utilising digital currencies and provide an environment for high-quality businesses in this rapidly emerging field who wish to operate here.

The Department’s Director of E-Business Development Peter Greenhill stated:

‘Our stance is intended to welcome those who can meet the necessary standards while also preserving the Island’s good reputation as a financial centre. We will work with Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission, Department of Home Affairs and industry to ensure a fair and appropriate regime is implemented. This is not at this stage expected to embrace a full prudential suite of requirements, so consumers will need to be aware of this when making their decisions.

‘The Isle of Man recognises both the risks and opportunities presented by digital and virtual currencies.

We are conscious of issues that have surrounded these activities but also can identify serious and credible entrants to the market wishing to explore this innovative technology. Therefore, the Government has instructed the relevant departments and statutory bodies to ensure there is a regime that promotes both business opportunities but also applies appropriate anti-money laundering requirements.

‘While it will take a period of time to instigate, it is a clear demonstration of the Isle of Man’s commitment to keep abreast with market developments but also maintain its international responsibilities. We anticipate that this market will develop and change rapidly and, as a result, we will keep market changes under review and with a view to considering future regulatory regimes as required.

Of course, if any business were to undertake activities that are regulated under existing regulations, we will expect them to comply fully.

Sure launches Upp™ fuel cell technology from Intelligent Energy 36

Telecommunications services supplier Sure, part of the Batelco Group, has announced that it is partnering with Intelligent Energy, the international power technology company, to offer the Upp personal energy device in its retail stores.

inconvenient it is when a mobile device runs short of power whilst you are away from a power socket. Upp now enables Sure customers to stay connected longer and use their devices with freedom from the constraints of ever shrinking battery life,” continued Mike Fawkner Corbett.

“We have all experienced the frustration of a dead or dying phone so we are really looking forward to introducing our customers to Upp, which is an amazing alternative power source for when you need instant energy, anytime, anywhere off-grid to charge your mobile device,” said Mike Fawkner Corbett, Sure’s Head of Mobile.

“We are delighted to welcome Sure as the first telecommunication provider that is making the Upp personal energy device available to their customers. Upp allows you to live your life unplugged while making sure you stay connected both at work and in your social life,” said Amar Samra, Intelligent Energy’s Managing Director – Consumer Electronics.

Flight friendly*, Upp is a perfect portable travel companion, which enables mobile users to power USB-compatible portable electronic devices with a single Upp cartridge typically delivering up to one week of energy for smartphones**.

Designed to meet the growing demand for portable power driven by an ever-increasing need to power “on-the-go” electronic devices, Upp powers smartphones, wearable technology such as fitness bands, portable speakers, e-readers, portable gaming devices and digital cameras using just hydrogen and air.

Upp comes with its own mobile companion app, which shows users how much energy they have left in their cartridge, the nearest cartridge exchange locations, personal usage statistics, FAQs and customer support. It can be downloaded from the Apple App Store (iOS 5 and higher) or from Google Play™ for Android™ devices (Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and higher).

“In this fast changing mobile technology landscape, fuel cells present the latest in clean, portable energy solutions to powering mobile devices off-grid and provide a much longer operating life than a conventional battery. We all know how

+44 (0) 1624 640420 WWW.CITYWING.COM | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2014

The Upp starter pack (consisting of fuel cell and cartridge) is available now in Sure stores across the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man for £149.95.

Replacement cartridges for the upp are £9.95 each, when exchanging an empty cartridge.

The Upp fuel cell takes hydrogen provided by the Upp cartridge and combines it with air to produce clean electricity.

Users simply need to connect the fuel cell to an Upp cartridge to achieve instant energy for their mobile devices.

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Kenyan delegation praises study visit to Tynwald ​ delegation from the County Assembly of Laikipia A in Kenya has completed a study visit to Tynwald and found the experience ‘extremely valuable’.

Arranged by the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald the visit built on that of April 2011 when officers from the parliament of Kenya came to study the structure and operation of Tynwald after the country’s new constitution had been approved by a referendum in August 2010, which led to the creation of 47 counties, including Laikipia.

improve the lives of around 30,000 people.’

Mrs Matai said she was interested to note how the Lord Bishop was permitted to both speak and vote in the Legislative Council, a body of Members Mrs Waruguru commended for the role they played in contributing to parliamentary democracy.

The delegation also had the opportunity to watch the 2014 sitting of Junior Tynwald, which prompted Mrs Waruguru to comment: ‘I believe it would be of value for us to introduce a version of Junior Tynwald at county level as we are keen to bring young people on board and encourage them to become actively involved in decisionmaking processes, an objective central to the new constitution.’

The delegation of five Members, Hon Jacob The delegation spent time Pictured: Hon Rose Maitai, Hon Peter Thomi, Hon Michael Kinyua, Endom, Hon Michael Kinyua, Hon Rose Maitai, Clerk of Tynwald Roger Phillips, Deputy Clerk of Tynwald Jonathan King, with the teams from Hansard Hon Peter Thomi and Stanley Ngwiri, Hon Jacob Endom, Hon Catherine Waraguru and Purity and the Tynwald Chamber and Information Service. ‘IT-wise Wanjiku. (Photo Paul Dougherty, Tynwald Seneschal) Hon Catherine Waruguru, Tynwald is doing very well,’ said together with two Mrs Waruguru, commenting on the quality of the Tynwald officers, Mr Stanley Ngwiri and Ms Purity Wanjiku, spent a week meeting Members and officers of Tynwald and senior website and adding that although its internet connectivity was unreliable Laikipia had ambitions to become ‘a paperless government officials and also enjoyed a tour of the Island. assembly’.

After observing the workings of Tynwald, which included attending a sitting of Tynwald Court and a Select Committee Mr Thomi spoke for all the delegation when he praised the private meeting Mrs Maitai said: ‘Much of the policy making Isle of Man for the degree of independence it maintained from is clearly geared to offering an improved quality of life to the United Kingdom and, on a more practical note, said he the people and that is most commendable. At home levels and his fellow Members had been struck by the ease of public of poverty are high, with begging on the streets common. access to the Legislative Buildings. ‘At home we are used to Laikipia, which is currently suffering from drought, relies on high security so we were also surprised to learn how Members rain-fed agriculture so nature doesn’t allow government to of Tynwald can walk about in the town unaccompanied by “think big” in a county where building just one dam could security officials, a level of freedom parliamentarians in our county seldom enjoy.’

Celton Manx to sponsor Bobby Moore Fund charity golf day For the fourth year in succession Celton Manx is to sponsor the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK charity golf day.

West Ham United Football Club from 2009 to 2013, Celton Manx is an ardent supporter of the Bobby Moore Fund and its pioneering research into a disease that can be treatable if detected early.’

The event will take place on Thursday September 11th at the Mount Murray Hotel and, as in previous years, is attracting strong support from the Island’s business community with 16 teams already signed up.

Stephanie Moore MBE, who founded the Bobby Moore Fund in 1993 in partnership with Cancer Research UK said: ‘Bobby was great friends with Lars and his wife Geraldine and so all these years on I am proud and grateful to them both, as well as to the organising team, for all the hard work and dedication that will help make this, the fourth Bobby Moore Fund charity golf Day, a tremendous success.’

Since they began in 2011 the golf days have raised more than £60,000 for the fund, committed to bowel cancer research in memory of legendary West Ham United player Bobby Moore OBE, who died of the disease in February 1993, aged just 51.

Celton Manx executive director Bill Mummery said: ‘As operator of the global sports book SBOBET, sponsors of

For more information, contact Aubrey Brooks on: 827089 / 458894 or email: aubreybrookscc@gmail.com

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