Manx Radio's Island Life Series - Specials
A series of programmes focussing on aspects of Island life on the Isle of Man covering a wide range of topics.
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Episodes
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STORIES FROM THE SEA 2025
Thursday, 23 January 2025
In the week that started with 'Blue Monday', we take a deep dive into the increasingly popular obsession of plunging into the Big Blue. Often referred to as “cold water therapy”, just how therapeutic is it, really? Christy DeHaven speaks to regular dippers, experts and members of the Island’s medical community to find out more.
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ISLAND SKIES AT NIGHT 2025
Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Howard Parkin (MBE!) talks to Christy DeHaven, giving us a heads up on what we can expect to see in the Island’s Night Skies in 2025. From eclipses to occultations, aurora to meteor showers, there's plenty to keep us occupied as we look up over the next 12 months.
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SAFEGUARDING THE ISLE OF MAN
Thursday, 16 January 2025
What is safeguarding - and what do the teams across the Island who work in this area do on a day-to-day basis to keep our most vulnerable people safe? That's the question Siobhán Fletcher is asking in this special Island Life programme. We’ll hear from the various agencies who make up the MASH and find out how they’d tackle a real case.If you think you or someone you know is being exploited or is at risk of being exploited, Contact the Isle of Man Constabulary on 01624 631212 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. You can also call the NSPCC Children's Helpline on 0808 800 5000.I...
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Sailing by; A century of the shipping forecast
Wednesday, 15 January 2025
BBC continuity announcer and presenter of the shipping forecast, Amanda Litherland, talks to Manx Radio's Chris Pearson about the forecast, what it means to people, her career and growing up here on the Isle of Man.
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THE BABY IN THE GLEN - Mary Ramsey's story
Tuesday, 14 January 2025
A woman whose mum was abandoned in Ballure Glen near Ramsey as a baby nearly 80 years ago believes she may have traced the family names of her birth grandparents.Mary Ramsey, who was later adopted and renamed Stephanie Taylor (née French), was raised in the UK where she lived until her death in 2012.Her daughter Lorraine Berry has now used DNA tracing to find out more about her biological family.
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THE SOLWAY HARVESTER AND THE ISLE OF MAN
Thursday, 9 January 2025
January 11th 2025 marks 25 years since the Solway Harvester sank off the Isle of Man, with the loss of all on board. RNLI crewmen John McCreadie and Peter Cowin, Captain Stephen Carter of Laxey Towing Co and Dudley Butt, former Detective Chief Inspector of the Isle of Man Constabulary, along with Manx Radio reporter Dave Moore, recall the events of the tragedy.
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William King's TT Encounters
Monday, 30 December 2024
William relives some of his favourite interviews and features from TT 2024.
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MANX RADIO BLOOPERS 2024
Monday, 30 December 2024
H with his round up of the worst of Manx Radio from 2024. We're getting better. Apparently . .
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ECHOES OF EXCELLENCE - A tribute to opera star Margaret Curphey - in music and her own words!
Sunday, 29 December 2024
She was as Manx as the hills, and when she died in Spring 2024, tributes poured in for Margaret Curphey, placing her firmly among the leading opera stars of her generation.Returning to the Island in 1980 with husband Philip Summerscales and daughter Helen, she soon established herself as an inspirational teacher.On 1st November 2024 a tribute concert to celebrate the professional opera career of Margaret Curphey, was held in St Andrew's United Reformed Church in Douglas. Music was by Glenfaba Choral conducted by Margaret's sister, Muriel Corkish with solo performances from Kristene Sutclif...
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ECHOES OF EXCELLENCE - the complete Margaret Summerscales tribute concert is here!
Sunday, 29 December 2024
The complete concert recorded in St Andrew's United Reformed Church, Douglas on 1st November 2024 - a tribute to opera legend MARGARET CURPHEY (Margaret Summerscales following her marriage to Philip) who died in the Spring of 2024.The full concert features :Glenfaba Chorale conducted by Margaret's sister, Muriel Corkish and accompanied by Jean JamesSoloists Kristene Sutcliffe, Simon Fletcher, Neil Taverner and members of the Kilgallon family - all accompanied by Graham KirklandThe compere is Alan Gelling and the concert includes the recorded voice of Margaret Curphey both singing and talkin...
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The Weather in 2024
Thursday, 26 December 2024
The wettest April day on record, the warmest May on record, a summer that never really got going and a battering from Storm Darragh, we've certainly witnessed a variety of weather throughout 2024.Ben Hartley and Senior Forecaster at Ronaldsway Met Office Kirsty Pendlebury look back at the big weather events of the last 12 months.
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The Ten Bards of Christmas
Wednesday, 25 December 2024
To celebrate the appointment this year of the tenth Manx Bard, H gathers together the nine living bards for a chat and of course some festive poetry. Warning: It's not all happy!
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Christmas Spooky Stories
Tuesday, 24 December 2024
Rhian Evans brings you a spooky story for Christmas Eve.
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Christmas at the Flicks
Monday, 23 December 2024
Tom Cain and Lisa Smith take a trip to the movies to enjoy some festive films and soundtracks from down the years.
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A Brief History of the RNLI
Thursday, 19 December 2024
It’s not every day you get to celebrate your 200th birthday. But that’s exactly what the Royal National Lifeboat Institution has been up to this year! As the huge milestone year comes to a close, Siobhán Fletcher looks back at how and why the RNLI come into existence. She also takes a tour of Manx National Heritage’s ‘All at Sea’ exhibition, held at the House of Manannan, to explore the pillars of the RNLI’s foundation.(With thanks to the RNLI, and Allison Fox at MNH.)
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LOCKIE'S FIRST CHRISTMAS
Tuesday, 17 December 2024
Almost 3 years since his accident on the Switchback Rd, the Kirk family can now celebrate Christmas with returning son Lockie in their community-built Peel home. Chanelle Sukhoo, who has followed Lockie's journey and progress, pops in to Ballalockie for a Christmas catch up.
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Martyn's Maritime Music : Part Two
Thursday, 5 December 2024
Martyn Perkins celebrates the Island's long Maritime heritage with a second programme of themed songs and reflections on our Island and the seas that surround us.
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Remembering the Cost of Freedom
Sunday, 10 November 2024
In a special programme for Remembrance Sunday, John Moss reflects on the freedom we have today, because of war and conflict down the years.
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FAMILY TREES AND TIES
Tuesday, 29 October 2024
A South African man who's been living on the Island for three years has recently discovered his own family's Manx links. It's led Justin Kinley Adkins to find out more about his lineage. He and Wendy Thirkettle, an Archivist from Manx National Heritage, have been talking to Chanelle Sukhoo about re-tracing our family trees, looking at the stories of those who've left the Island over the years and why.
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EMERGENCY - WHICH SERVICE?
Tuesday, 22 October 2024
Amy Griffiths marks International Control Week, going behind the curtain with the Emergency Services Operators who are first point of contact and co-ordinate emergency response here on the Island.
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Martyn's Maritime Music
Thursday, 17 October 2024
Martyn Perkins celebrates the Island's long Maritime heritage with a programme of themed songs and reflections on our Island and the seas that surround us.
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DOES MANX CARE?
Thursday, 10 October 2024
In the week Manx Care have announced a raft of cuts to patient-facing services to save money, Siobhán Fletcher speaks with politicians, medical professionals and the chief exec of the organisation itself, to find out the reasons why and hear some of the reaction.The organisation has since announced further cuts, which you can take a look at in detail here.
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DOMESTIC ABUSE AWARENESS: An Island Life Special.
Tuesday, 24 September 2024
Amy Griffiths speaks with some of the groups on the Island who work with those affected by domestic abuse. *Due to the nature of this programme, some listeners may find the content distressing.*If you are affected by the issues raised, the following may be helpful: the police will listen you if you come forward to report an incident. You can call the non-emergency number 631212 oruse 999 if you are in immediate dangeryou can contact Victim Support on 679950 or visit their website –victimsupport.im
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Our Island at Lorient 2024
Wednesday, 18 September 2024
Christy DeHaven takes a look back at the Lorient Interceltique Festival which took place in Brittany a few weeks ago, with upwards of 900,000 festival goers enjoying the sights and sounds - some of which came from our own talented Manx contingent. We chat with the organisers and some of the performers to find out about this huge international showcase for Manx creatives and producers.
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The Solway Harvester Remembered.
Tuesday, 10 September 2024
Just under a quarter of a century ago, a maritime disaster shocked the Manx community. But it also united the Island with a small community across the Irish Sea. Why did the Solway Harvester sink? John Moss returns to the opening days of the winter of Millennium Year, 2000.
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Smartphones in schools: vital learning tools or disruptive distractions?
Tuesday, 3 September 2024
Should children be allowed to have access to smartphones during the school day?The news that one of the Island's high schools was going to ban access to them during school hours sparked a big debate on social media, before the Department of Education confirmed it was planning on implementing a similar policy across the board.Amy Griffiths has been looking at both sides of the argument, and also the wider impact devices can have on young people.
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Planning: fit for purpose?
Tuesday, 27 August 2024
Amy Griffiths takes a look at the Island’s planning laws to find out if they’re currently fit for purpose.After one UK developer told her they’d be reluctant to undertake any more projects here because of the amount of red tape they’ve had to jump through, she wants to find out more about how the current legislation works, who’s responsible for upholding it, and whether any changes need to be made.
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DEATH IN CUSTODY : has the IOM Prison System learned lessons?
Tuesday, 20 August 2024
Three deaths in three years. Three lives lost, all in similar circumstances, while incarcerated. Have lessons been learned?This special programme, produced by News Editor Tessa Hawley, takes a look at what's being done at the Isle of Man Prison System to keep people safe.NB: This programme contains content that some listeners may find distressing, as well as references to suicide.
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MANX MEMORIES of ITALIA 90
Tuesday, 16 July 2024
In 1990, three Manxmen travelled independently to Italy for that year’s World Cup. These are their tales of a magical fortnight of football...
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The White Isle: A small Island with a big problem
Wednesday, 10 July 2024
The Isle of Man: a destination like no other; an Island described by government as the British Isles’ ‘best kept secret’. But scratch beneath the glossy tourism adverts, the beautifully created social media content and the straplines … and you’ll find a small Island with a big problem. Tessa Hawley uncovers a darker side to our beautiful Island and the disturbing prevalence of Class A drugs following the largest ever mass sentencing exercise at the Isle of Man Courts of Justice.