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New Town hall clocks for Port St Mary
WE’VE all heard of the land that time forgot – but Port St Mary will soon be the land where you won’t be able to forget the time!
Three clocks will go on the visible faces of the town hall, provided a planning application (12/00901/B) is approved by planners.
The clocks come at no cost to the ratepayer as they are a gift to the port from former resident Henry Goldsmith, who now lives at Ballakillowey in Rushen.
Mr Goldsmith said: ‘I would like to thank the people of the Isle of Man and Port St Mary in particular, who have been very good to me over the years. I hope that the island community will accept the Goldsmith clocks as a mark of my respect for them.
‘I would also like to thank Port St Mary commissioners for giving great advice as to the best location of the clocks, particularly [clerk] Jason Roberts, who managed the meetings with the clock maker, As Time Goes By, and who dealt with the necessary paperwork to make this happen.’
Commissioners’ chairman Bernadette McCabe said: ‘The board was approached by Henry Goldsmith towards the end of 2011, with the notion that he wanted to give something back to the Isle of Man, which has been his home for some years. We discussed a number of options, but when Henry suggested that he would like to donate a clock, the board was unanimous in their support. After reviewing all of the possible locations to place the clock, we felt that with the work [we are] currently undertaking to bring the town hall back into use, the addition of a clock will be a really nice addition to the town hall.
‘Henry was delighted with the proposal. So much so, that he kindly suggested that a clock on each of the three faces of the town hall would look even better.’
She added: ‘We are working with Henry and his chosen supplier to create clocks which fitted with the look of the village whilst complementing the town hall and I am sure everyone will be very pleased with the result.
‘On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Henry Goldsmith for such a generous gift to the village of Port St Mary and the Isle of Man, which will be enjoyed by many for years to come.’
The application is being considered by planners and a decision should be made next month.
l The town hall will definitely re-open this year, the commissioners’ clerk has confirmed. Refurbishment of the building, the auditorium of which closed in 2003 when plaster fell from the ceiling, is ongoing. Last week concrete was laid for the new steps after which the new storm porch will be built. The application for the new clocks includes new double-glazed windows and work installing these will also take place once permission is granted. In mid-August internal decoration of the hall will begin. Consideration is being given to retaining the character of the building – ‘We do not want to lose its history’, he said.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: North west
