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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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.
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The Nation’s Station and the Mother Tongue
Thursday, 4 July 2024
Bob Carswell reflects on how Manx Radio played a part in the re-introduction of the Manx language, featuring the voices of Doug Fargher, Brian Stowell, John Quilliam and many more.
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What does the UK General Election mean for us?
Tuesday, 2 July 2024
People across the United Kingdom will head to the polls this week to decide who will take on the top job at Number 10. But regardless of the outcome - what does the general election mean for the Isle of Man? In this Island Life special, Siobhán Fletcher catches up with some of our Ministers here to find out more about our intergovernmental relationship and asks the Manx public “do you care who wins?”
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THE GALES - A RACING FAMILY
Thursday, 20 June 2024
This special programme is an excerpt from the latest JOURNEY TO A DREAM podcast series. Beth Espey finds out that motor racing really is a Family Affair, as she meets with former TT sidecar passenger (now Marshall) Dicky Gale and his sons Ben and Jim, as they look to their first start on the Southern 100 circuit in a matter of weeks. Longer chat and podcast available now in the 'Journey to a Dream' series.
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Powerful and moving stories and reflections on war and conflict (full interviews.)
Thursday, 6 June 2024
To mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Dave Moore brings us a series of previously unheard interviews, speaking with people on and from the Isle of Man with real life experience of war and conflict.These interviews were recorded in the year 2000.
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Walking in the Ayres
Tuesday, 7 May 2024
Howard takes a trip to the tip of the Island and has a behind the scenes look around the developing Point of Ayre Nature Reserve. We're grateful to Allison Leonard, Neil Morris and David Andrews for showing us around this incredible new space, which will be open to the public in stages this year. In the meantime, you can watch a video of Howard and Christy's visit to the space last year here: https://youtu.be/jv3W24SufUU?si=5EA3HgU5KwV1SIha
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ROTARY YOUTH : Speaking Out
Thursday, 11 April 2024
If you went to school here on the glorious Isle of Man, you might remember taking part in the annual Public Speaking competition. This popular event is just one of many that is organised by the youth committee of the Douglas Rotary Club. Christy - one of those that does remember taking part in the competition - wanted to find out more about the work of the Committee, so caught up with Chairwoman MaryJane Falconer. We also hear from the award winning pupils from St Ninian's and St Johns' Public Speaking teams, who took home the trophies this year for the Senior and Junior category respecti...
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MANX ON THE MOON
Tuesday, 2 April 2024
Christy DeHaven speaks to space entrepreneur Chris Stott, whose recent endeavours have taken Manx tech to the Moon and back. This is just the latest in many 'out of this world' achievements for Chris, who is a founding member of the British Space Education Council and remains active in supporting space education initiatives. He is also the Honorary Representative of the Isle of Man Government to the Space Community. Chris has also been instrumental in getting the music of Manx artists Truman Falls and Back Door Slam on the International Space Station and in 2009, he organised for Davy Know...
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The Housing Crisis
Tuesday, 19 March 2024
During the 2021 election campaign, housing was one of the most important topics for people on the doorstep amid rental shortages, soaring house prices and little to no support for first time buyers. So, at the halfway mark for the administration that promised housing would be one of its main priorities, what is actually being done to help? Amy Griffiths is finding out. Including interviews with David Ashford in his role as Chair of the Housing and Communities Board, Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall, Alex Cowley who is Chair of the Youth Tynwald Select Housing Committee and Chief Minis...
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Out on Exercise with the Port Erin RNLI
Wednesday, 6 March 2024
To mark the day that The Royal National Lifeboat Institution celebrates 200 years since it was founded here on the Isle of Man, Lewis Foster heads to Port Erin Lifeboat Station to meet some of the volunteers and join the crew out on exercise around the Calf of Man.
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'Squiggly' Careers
Thursday, 1 February 2024
Not every career path is straightforward. You can take any number of different roads, with twists and turns along with the way – squiggly, see? When Howard Caine and Christy DeHaven attended the Employment and Skills fair at the Villa Marina at the end of last year, that’s exactly what they discovered. With grateful thanks to all the employers and workers that spoke with us.
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The Murder Mystery with a Manx link
Thursday, 18 January 2024
Simon Richardson looks into the dark mystery of an unsolved murder. Could an unidentified body found in Burton on Trent in 1971 be a Scout Leader from the Isle of Man who went missing in 1979? Simon speaks with Ken Davies, an investigator who has been looking in to the local links to this 50 year old mystery.
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DOUGLAS ROTARY at 100
Tuesday, 9 January 2024
A special Island Life programme to celebrate 100 years of the Douglas Rotary Club, looking at the work they have done in the Island's community over the decades and getting a sneak preview of their exciting plans for their Anniversary Year - a project that will change the very landscape of the Island. Christy DeHaven is in conversation with Club President Charles Fargher, Secretary Howard Callow and long time Rotary member Ivan Bratty.
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Manx Radio at 60
Monday, 1 January 2024
In the first in a special series of programmes to celebrate our 60th anniversary year, John Moss takes an extended look at how it all began for Manx Radio back in 1964.
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Whatever the Weather
Tuesday, 26 December 2023
Rainy days and snow days, windy days and glorious sunshine, along with record breaking temperatures - the Isle of Man has witnessed a huge variety of weather throughout 2023. Senior Met Officer at Ronaldsway Kirsty Pendlebury joins Ben Hartley for a look back at the big weather events of the last 12 months.
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MANX RADIO'S BLOOPERS 2023
Sunday, 24 December 2023
Join H as he looks back over 12 months of gaffes, cock-ups, spoonerisms, double entendres and general incompetence from your favourite station. We did some good stuff as well apparently . . where did we find the time?
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A Christmas Spooky Story
Saturday, 23 December 2023
Rhian Evans narrates a spooky story at Christmas.
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Winter Skies at Night
Tuesday, 12 December 2023
Our Spaceman Went Travelling... Astronomer Howard Parkin has returned from another global adventure, where he's been telling international enthusiasts about incredible celestial events. Christy took the opportunity to catch up with him again, for a festively seasonal insight into the astronomical events we can look forward to, by looking up at our own Island night skies. Winter brings meteors, areas of super bright constellations and, of course, a very special Christmas Star.... Winter brings meteors, areas of super bright constellations and, of course, a very special Christmas Star....
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The News Team Make the Headlines in ‘23
Wednesday, 6 December 2023
Earlier this year, 3 members of our news team went to London, where the station was recognised at an awards ceremony celebrating the very best in commercial radio news. Held at Sky Cinema in London in association with IRN and Sky News, the 2023 Commercial Radio Awards proved successful for the team and in this special programme, we listen back to clips from the nominated shows and hear some previously unheard audio recorded on the night itself.
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Squiggly Careers!
Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Christy DeHaven and Howard Caine chat to some exhibitors at DESC's Employment and Skills Fair 2023 about how they came to be doing what they are today and the importance of transferable skills
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Diabetes doesn't define you
Thursday, 16 November 2023
You might have noticed various Island landmarks going blue on Tuesday? Well, this was to mark World Diabetes Day. Professional cyclist Sam Brand was diagnosed with the condition 22 years ago – on World Diabetes Day in fact. So it was poignant that our Christy caught with him on the day itself, along with his good friend and comrade in the mission to educate and empower – Natasha Parry from Diabetes Isle of Man.
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The Forgotten Army
Tuesday, 14 November 2023
101-year-old Port Erin resident James Fenton was a Bombardier with 178 Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery during WWII. At the age of 20, he was sent to fight in the steamy jungles of Burma as part of the 14th Army, the so-called “Forgotten Army”. Listen now to James’s incredible story in full, as part of Remembrance 2023. James recalls his exploits in Primary Training and thoughts on life when he was posted to the far east. From dealing with the hazards of malaria ridden mosquitos, snakes and scorpions to the daily onslaught of shelling by the Japanese army. James always had a passion...
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The Ivy League 55
Monday, 13 November 2023
Mozza and H drop down to the Villa Marina to talk about the season of 1955 which featured both the last appearance of Joe Loss - and the first of Ivy Benson and her all girl band!
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Remembrance Sunday Documentary
Sunday, 12 November 2023
In this special programme for Remembrance Sunday, John Moss reflects on war and conflict down the years and also the current conflicts around the world.
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Rekindling Old Flames
Thursday, 2 November 2023
Howard Caine investigates ‘whatever happened to Bonfire Night?’ in a one off special, asking if we really do ‘Remember Remember the 5th of November’
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The Come-Overs do Hop-tu-Naa
Tuesday, 31 October 2023
The nights are getting darker... which can mean only one thing - it's Spooky Season! This time, Siobhan 'FrightNight' Fletcher gets a crash-course in all things Hop-tu-Naa as she takes a deep dive into the traditions and festivities that make up this quintessentially Manx holiday. She'll be dragging Lewis Foster along for the ride, as they follow fearless leaders Beth Espey and Christy DeHaven into the dark...