Commissioners Picture Gallery 2010

BORN 1908 AND STILL GOING STRONG
8th March 2010

Pictured in her home in Royal Avenue is Mrs Eva Hobday who celebrated her 102 birthday on 8th March 2010.  Mrs Hobday came to the island in the early 1960s and lived above a shop in Main Road where she sold knitting wool, baby clothes etc.  This was located beside Royal Buildings which at that time was still Martins Bank.  Her husband took the lease of a number of shops on the opposite side of the road and sold a host of household items which gained him the affectionate nickname of Steptoe after the television programme that was popular at the time. 

In May 1968 Mr Hobday got up a petition which he presented to the commissioners objecting to the yellow lines that had been laid down in Main Road and requesting dispensation for shoppers. 

A few years later the commissioners bought the shops he rented along with others either side and demolished them to assist the Highway Board in a road widening scheme.  The commissioners then built Elm Tree House incorporating a lay-by for shoppers’ parking. 

When Mrs Hobday was 100, two years ago, she received a card from the Queen, a personal visit to her birthday party at The Sefton from his Excellency the Lieutenant Governor and a letter of congratulations from Onchan District Commissioners. 

At the meeting of the commissioners held on 1st March this year it was agreed that a letter of congratulations be given to Mrs Hobday on her 102nd birthday and that the Chairman and Vice Chairman present her with a basket of flowers and a plaque bearing the crest of the commissioners. 

The picture shows Mrs Hobday with Chairman of the Commissioners Brian Stowell JP behind and Vice Chairman June Kelly on the right.  Unusually Mrs Kelly is wearing her chain of office which is normally only worn when the Vice Chairman is deputising for the Chairman at a function.  Mrs Hobday is greatly helped by neighbours Mr and Mrs Gray who she has lived alongside since moving into her present home nearly 20 years ago.

Children’s Planting Competition at Onchan Park June 2010

Onchan District Commissioners invited local primary school children to help them design new planting schemes for two of their planters at Onchan Park. Children could enter as individuals, or through their school, and all the entries went on display at Onchan Library. Parks Foreman, Colin Pennock, had the daunting task of selecting just two designs from all the colourful work entered, and he chose a flower design from Josie Quirk age 7, and a bird design from Bethan Greenwood age 6. Both girls attend Ashley Hill School.

Josie and Bethan helped to plant up their designs at Onchan Park last Monday afternoon, 14 th June. The designs can be viewed coming into bloom at Onchan Park, along the pathway by the Boating Lake.

Taekwondo - 18th July 2010

Onchan Commissioners Chairman and Vice- Chairman, Master Ian Lennox, Technical Director, Master Adrian Tranter Chairman, Master Bill Darlington Vice-Chairman and members of the Douglas Taekwondo Club

Photo taken at the conclusion of the Black Belt Examinations

Onchan Village Fair - August 2010

Onchan District Commissioners held a Village Fair in Onchan Park on Saturday 28th August 2010.   There were lots of stalls, rides for children, street entertainers and a punch and judy show.   The IOM Fire Services, Police and British Red Cross brought their vehicles along for the children to explore and the Western School of Dance performed some dance displays.   Unfortunately, the weather turned during the afternoon but the rain did not dampen the spirits of all those who were there and there were many smiling faces and fun was had by all.

The Crowd enjoy the Fair

Dance Display by the Western School of Dance

Winners of the Fancy Dress Competition

COMMISIONERS OPEN NEW CLUBHOUSE - August 2010

Onchan Commissioners June Kelly, Terry Black, Keith Watterson and Derek Crellin performed the official opening ceremony to mark the handing over of the excellent new clubhouse to the members of the IOM Flat Green Bowling Club.

President Tom Keenan, on behalf of the members, thanked everyone involved from the Commissioner’s Office and Parks staff for providing the fabulous new facilities.  The weather was kind and all the members and guests enjoyed a great day of bowling and fun events.

The day’s proceedings finished off with the Onchan Commissioners’ Triples competition and 4 teams battled it out to win this fine trophy.  Some precision bowling ensured that the outcome was in doubt till the very end. The eventual winners were the team of Diane Moore, Jimmy Sanson and Brian Doherty who delighted the crowd with a fine display of bowling.  A big thanks to all involved for making this important day such a great success.

Remembrance Day 2010 in Onchan

Photographs courtesy John Turton, johnturtonphotography.co.uk