Funeral of Sir Norman Wisdom

Friday saw the funeral of Sir Norman Wisdom and I was taken aback that the Promenade was lined with people all the way along, many of whom clapped as the beautiful horses drew the hearse past. Presumably the volume of the onlookers increased as the procession neared the Town.

Here is the report from Isle of Man Today and a link to their website:

HUNDREDS turned up to wave goodbye to comedy legend Sir Norman Wisdom today as the Isle of Man’s most famous resident was given a public funeral.


They lined the pavements along Douglas seafront as the funeral cortege made its way to church, with well-wishers breaking out in applause as the horse-drawn hearse carrying the popular star of films such as Trouble in Store passed by.

Sir Norman died at the age of 95 on October 4 at Abbotswood nursing home, Ballasalla, where he had spent the last three years of his life.

Stars who travelled for today’s service in St George’s Church included Todd Carty, of the Bill and EastEnders, comedian and former Coronation Street star Bradley Walsh, comic Stan Boardman and TV mogul Michael Grade.

The funeral cortege travelled along the promenades, before heading to St George’s Church, where a service was led by Archdeacon Brian Smith.

Scottish singer Moira Anderson, an island resident, sang Who Can I Turn To and Absent, while Sir Norman’s son Nick paid a personal tribute to the ‘family man’.

He said: ‘He would always make time for people, whatever the situation, which was time he didn’t necessarily have because he was usually running late!

‘He was a very caring and loving father.’

Sir Norman’s grandson Lawrence, read out a poem entitled Gratitude, written by the funnyman 15 years ago.

His agent Johnny Mans also paid a tribute to Sir Norman, the actor.

Hymns included Praise My Soul, The King of Love My Shepherd Is and Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer.

A retiring collection was taken for Sir Norman’s Isle of Man charity Wooden Spoon.

A private service takes place in the north of the island tomorrow (Saturday).

Sir Norman’s daughter-in-law Kim said: ‘We have given the public what they wanted, which is a very public funeral.

‘We are hoping that everyone will respect our privacy the following day as this will be when the family will say our final farewells.’

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/funeral_of_sir_norman_wisdom_1_2366199

I Think Used to be Indecisive. Now I'm So So Sure (I am.)

We have been wrestling with the possibility of no longer serving Weekday Lunches over the last couple of months. A combination of high costs, low profit margins, increased competition with a gradual reduction in custom led to our 'final' decision to close the Restaurant.

And of course, we have suddenly become busier with yesterday being the best day for quite some time with 30 diners making The Welbeck Hotel Restaurant their choice of venue to consume their midday day repast.

Therefore, performing a U-turn comparable with some of the recent about faces of our esteemed Manx Government, we've fudged the issue and with rubber resolve decided to open Wednesday, Thursday & Friday but to shut on Monday, Tuesday & Saturday.

Sunday Lunches & Dinners remain the same, the former from 12.30pm to 2.30pm and the latter 6.30pm to 9.30pm seven days per week.

Incidentally, the photograph above is quite an old one, taken in January 2007 when we first opened for lunch. Ironically, Ewelina, the waitress pictured at the time, visited us yesterday for a meal along with her husband, former Hotel resident, Peter McGarry and their new baby. There must have been something in the air really because Karen Needham, pictured at one of the tables, also has had another child since.

Death, Taxes & Price Rises

<

After three years without an increase, I'm afraid that we've had to bow to the inevitable and put the dinner prices up.

Because of the current financial climate, we had managed to avoid it until now but the constant inflation of world food prices hasve forced our hand.

The good news however, is that we'll absorb the extra 2.5% V.A.T. in the New Year rather than change everything again so soon.

It remains the best value on the Island though, comparing favourably with the cost and quality of most local restaurants and certainly in superior surroundings.

http://www.welbeckhotel.com/sampledinner.html

Good luck to Murray Lambden, an occasional diner at the Welbeck, regular correspondent, webmeister of ManxAthletics.com and just to prove he's a top bloke, the only current follower* of this 'Blog' who is leaving the Island this evening to compete in the Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday.

* Though many thanks to Atif who is the first person to leave a comment.

Late Great Summer

In the Isle of Man, we have been blessed with some fantastic weather in September and October.

Two weeks ago, Irene & I were having lunch at Niarbyl Cafe, Dalby when we noticed that a gentleman sat out at the front was becoming quite animated. He had spotted a minke whale (see picture) which was swimming perhaps half a mile out to sea.

It was the first that we'd ever seen and then just to put the icing on the cake, there was a basking shark considerably closer to the shore. Whilst that isn't unusual in itself, I don't think I've ever been witness to one so late in the year, as they aren't often sighted after August.


Sunday 10th October was another wonderful Autumn day and saw the annual Welbeck Hotel & Restaurant One Hour Challenge on the perimeter track of the National Sports Centre.

A record turnout of over seventy athletes of varying ages walked to see how far they could travel in an hour or half an hour and prizes were awarded to the three best men and women novices.

Parish Walk winner, Jock Waddington achieved the farthest distance with 11,287m, followed by Richard Gerrard and u15 National and Schools Champion, Alex Eaton with an excellent 10,535m. Alex's first ever racewalk was at the 2009 event, so his progress has been exceptional but it shows the potential that this fixture can unleash.

For full results and photographs, see http://www.manxathletics.com/manxharriers/MHonehourchallenge2010.htm


Picture by Mike Quayle

http://www.msportspix.com/

KEEP SUMMERLAND FOR RECREATIONAL PUPORSES

I didn't really envisage climbing on to my soap box when I set up this blog but there again, I didn't really envisage the sale of the Summerland site for possible residential development.

There has even been a facebook group set up in the name of 'KEEP SUMMERLAND FOR RECREATIONAL PUPORSES' and despite not being overly struck on networking sites, I decided to join up to that particular cause and below is my contribution:

It has been suggested that any leisure development should be on the former bus staion site. However, that area is already a bottle neck for traffic while Summerland has great accessibility for all.

Car parking could be incorporated into any scheme and the new bus service from the South runs right past. The service to the North could be re-routed and it surely wouldn't take a genius to link in the West too.

If it takes some residential accommodation/hotel/whatever to advance the project then so be it, as it is a massive site and tourists no longer visit in such great numbers but we must safeguard this as a national asset and provide the people of this Island with a facility of which we can be proud.See more