Onchan District Commissioners have held their annual Civic Sunday with a procession, church service and reception taking place.

The traditional procession of commissioners and guests was led by Onchan Silver Band around and through Onchan Park to St Anthony’s of Padua Roman Catholic Church where an ecumenical civic service was held.

The Head Boy, Mark O’Connor, and Head Girl, Rohini Ghosh, from St Ninian’s High School in Douflas gave the readings, and Ashley Hill Primary School choir performed during the service.

In keeping with the time of year, the theme of the day was harvest, with gifts received at the service being donated to the Isle of Man Food Bank, and the offertory donated to charity Dementia Friends.

A reception was held afterwards in a marquee on the lawn in Onchan Park, during which prizes were presented to the winners of the commissioners’ estates gardens gompetition by the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Richard Gozney, and Anthony Allen, the chairman of Onchan Commissioners.

An address of welcome to the chairman was given by the captain of the parish, Peter Kelly, with responses from both the chairman and Lieutenant Governor.

The Manx Hedgehog Conservation Society attended the reception to provide care advice for this declining species during the autumn and winter months, and their two hedgehogs were said by the organisers to prove very popular with guests during the afternoon.

Entertainment at the reception was provided by soloist Alex Harris.

Onchan Silver Band will be performing a concert on Tuesday, September 26, in celebration of their 80th anniversary.

The band will perform their specially commissioned work, the ’Seven Kingdoms’, with guest appearances from some of the composers of the work.

There will also be a varied selection of favourite pieces and tea and coffee available in the interval.