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by Aoife Donohoe

Aer Arann is to cease operating its Isle of Man to London City service with effect from Wednesday 11th April 2012. The airline intends to operate a normal Isle of Man-London City schedule up to and including Tuesday, 10th April with the last flight, RE 308, arriving from London City at 2050hrs that evening.

Passengers with confirmed bookings for flights after 10th April will be contacted directly by Aer Arann and will be offered a full refund.

We sincerely regret the impact that this decision will have on our customers said Sean Brogan, Aer Aranns Interim Chief Executive. The decision however is due to our evolving new business model which is based on providing connectivity and frequency on flights between the UK and Ireland and onwards to the USA and unfortunately the Isle of Man-London City route is not a strategic fit with this.

Aer Arann has 14 flight deck and cabin crew based in Isle of Man and all will be offered the opportunity to move to other Aer Arann bases.

I would like to thank our customers for their continued support for this service and for remaining loyal to us and to the London City route, said Sean Brogan.

Our team in Ronaldsway has provided an excellent service to our Isle of Man and London City customers since the route was launched in January 2009 and they have helped to build and maintain our reputation as a professional, safe and caring airline.

Aer Arann will continue to operate its Isle of Man to Dublin service under the Aer Lingus Regional brand effective 25th March.

With the Aer Lingus Regional service, Isle of Man passengers will benefit from connectivity on all Aer Lingus flights through Dublin offering not only excellent access to major European destinations such as Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels and Rome but also transatlantic connectivity on Aer Lingus flights to New York, Boston, Chicago and Orlando.

Passengers will also benefit from US Customs and Immigration pre-clearance facilities at Dublin Airport that will allow them to arrive in the US as domestic passengers, saving valuable time. Flights from Isle of Man to Dublin are available for booking on http://www.aerlingus.com.

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Aer Arann to Close Isle of Man – London City Route

by Chris Boyde

When Rally Isle of Man returns to the calendar this September, itll do so as a three-day event.

Organisers have confirmed that they will run stages from Thursday 20th September through to Saturday 22nd, taking the event, which will incorporate Druidale Motor Clubs Duke Stages Rally, back to its traditional format and revered place as one of the biggest challenges in the sport.

Rally Isle of Man Chairman John Gill confirms the news. The organising team is fully aware of this events standing at the heart of British and Irish rallying. Since the return of the rally was announced many competitors have told us they would like to see it come back as three days. We are proud of the fact that it has a heritage to live up to, and excited that we have been able to ensure that the first step towards that is to deliver a traditional style event.

Scrutineering has always taken place during Thursday, and since the cars and competitors are here lets use the opportunity to re-launch Rally Isle of Man in style!

The opening evening is set to feature four stages, before daytime and evening legs on Friday and daytime stages throughout Saturday.

The team is also mindful of the current financial environment, both within the sport and generally, and is working to offer the best possible value for money to competitors.

Rally Isle of Man was most recently a three-day event in 2008, when recently-announced event Patron Mark Higgins and co-driver Rory Kennedy scored the closest ever victory in the rallys history, by just 11.6 seconds over Irish champions Eamonn Boland and Damien Morrissey.

The route for the 2012 edition is currently being confirmed with local authorities and organisers hope to announce further information in the next few days and whether youre a competitor, official or spectator, the exciting plans will have you chomping at the bit for the return of Rally Isle of Man!

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Rally Isle of Man to Return as Three-Day Classic

by George Quayle

Local charity Age Concern Isle of Man is celebrating changing its name and branding to become Age Isle of Man. The new name recognises the organisations partnership with the Age UK, the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged.

Age Isle of Man will work with the Age UK to make later life better for local people.

Age Isle of Man will continue to provide tailored support and services for people living on this Island, including Information and Advice, the CHAT bus, Lunch Clubs, Activity Clubs and Computer Drop in Centres.

Day Care Centres and Meals on Wheels will continue to be run in partnership with the Department of Social Care. The Energy Doctor service will also continue to be run in partnership with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

Age Isle of Man will work with the Age UK to ensure a high quality of service provision whilst retaining its independence, ensuring all monies raised here are spent on the Isle of Mans older people.

George Quayle, Age Isle of Mans Chief Executive Officer, said: We are delighted to be part of Age UK. We believe that working together with a network of local Age UKs in North West England represents a wealth of benefits for people in later life on the Island. Also working closely with Age UK will mean we can continue to improve the great work we already do for older people. It is important to note that apart from our name, nothing else will change in the way we operate here on the Island.

Helena Herklots, Services Director at Age UK, said: We are delighted that Age Isle of Man has joined us as one of our key partners in delivering our goal of improving later life for all. The combined strength, knowledge and know-how of the national organisation and the vibrant network of local independent charities provide strength and security in these difficult times. By coming together we can achieve so much for older people across the country. Age Isle of Man is a fantastic charity and we look forward to working with and supporting them in all that they do for people in later life in the years ahead.

For more information about Age Isle of Man please call 631740 or visit us online at http://www.ageconcerniom.com until our new website has been set up.

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Continued here:
Introducing Age Isle of Man

by Stephen Ritch

The Rt.Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst MP was guest speaker at the Isle of Man Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) dinner on Tuesday, March 13.

Addressing the audience of present and former CPA members at the Claremont Hotel, Douglas, Sir Alan, chairperson of the CPA international executive committee and Conservative MP for Saffron Walden, reaffirmed that the CPA was open for business and spoke of the importance of redefining the associations status.

Sir Alan explained that central to CPA strategy was the need to bring parliamentarians together, adding The clues in the name. He acknowledged there were special issues affecting small island states, remarking that the CPA enabled the small to mix with the mighty and learn from each other and, as a recent example of the Isle of Mans important contribution to the CPA, cited the valuable contribution made by the President of Tynwald, the Hon Clare Christian MLC, in her capacity as the British Islands and Mediterranean Region (BIMR) CPA working party representative.

Sir Alan said he hoped to expand the scope and reach of seminars and workshops organised by the CPA and stressed the importance of constantly looking at what others [in the Commonwealth] are doing in a move to adopt a more global perspective.

During his 24-hour visit, his first to the Island, Sir Alan spent time at the Legislative Buildings where he was given a tour of Tynwald Court and the Legislative Council chambers conducted by Madam President and of the House of Keys led by the Speaker, the Hon Steve Rodan SHK, during which the Tynwald voice recognition transcription technology was demonstrated. Sir Alan also met with the executive committee of the Isle of Man branch of the CPA and visited Tynwald Hill and the Royal Chapel at St Johns.

CPA Isle of Man branch chairman Mr Juan Watterson MHK said: Sir Alans speech illustrated his deep commitment to strengthening the CPAs global reach, redefining its role for the 21st century and forming lasting alliances. An ardent proponent of strength through unity Sir Alan brings strong leadership and wise counsel to the CPA and we were honoured to welcome him to the Isle of Man.

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we were honoured to welcome him to the Isle of Man."

Read more from the original source:
International Executive Committee Chair Says CPA ‘Open for Business’

by Jonathan King

The Isle of Man has many impressive historic and cultural attractions. One of the newest is the Wurlitzer organ at the Villa Marina Arcade, built in 1929 and extensively refurbished in 2009.

Since the refurbishment was completed, increasing use has been made of the Wurlitzer each year. This year once again there will be evening recitals by visiting artists about once a month starting with Len Rawle on 16 May. Free Wednesday lunchtime concerts by Manx resident musicians will take place throughout the summer starting with John Riley on 27 June. In a new departure there will be a Wurlitzer Tea Dance on the afternoon of Sunday 22 April at which the Wurlitzer will be played by Margaret Cubbon.

More information can be found on the Villa Gaiety website and also on Facebook by searching for Friends of the Isle of Man Wurlitzer. This new Facebook group was set up in February and already has a number of members from the theatre organ community in the UK as well as being used by music lovers from around the Isle of Man.

Given the level of use now being made of the Wurlitzer, it is now a real possibility to include the Wurlitzer when planning a visit to the Isle of Man. This possibility is to be promoted by Friends of the Isle of Man Wurlitzer through the On Your Doorstep exhibition at the Villa Marina on 24 March.

Where a group visit, such as a cruise ship or coach tour, does not coincide with an existing Wurlitzer performance, the Friends of the Isle of Man Wurlitzer may be able to help facilitate a range of Wurlitzer experiences from short informal demonstrations to full-scale evening concerts.

The Villa Marina Arcade is part of the Villa Marina complex which a high quality conference venue. The music of the Wurlitzer can give a unique atmosphere to any event. If event organisers need someone to play the Wurlitzer, the Friends may be able to help.

The Friends would be interested to hear from musicians who would like to play the Wurlitzer. Open console" sessions are held each month.

For more information on all of the above please contact Jonathan King on 07624 458117.

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Read more from the original source:
Wurlitzer Takes Its Place Among Manx Attractions: A Theatre Organ “On Your Doorstep”