Last year’s winners of the Guild are being asked to return their trophies as preparations for this year’s festival continue/

The Manx Music, Speech and Dance Festival, better known as ’The Guild’, celebrates its 125th anniversary during Guild week, from April 21 to 29 at the Villa Marina in Douglas.

An essential element of the festival is the trophies.

Some 200 are presented throughout the duration of the Guild.

The oldest trophy still awarded is the Transvaal Shield, which was given to the festival in 1907, while others are newer, including nine trophies to be awarded this year.

Chairman of the Guild Sarah Kelly said: ’The festival is extremely proud of its heritage and the trophies form a very important part of our history. They have been donated over the years in memory of Guild performers, committee members and friends of the Festival or by Manx Societies from around the world.

’Trophies have been given from as far afield as South Africa but also from London, Manchester, Canada and, of course, the coveted Cleveland Medal, presented annually by the Cleveland Ohio Manx Society in America.

’We allow the trophy winners to take their trophy home for 11 months but we then ask them to return it, engraved and clean, to the Peter Norris Music shop on Buck’s Road, Douglas, which has kindly acted as the collection point for many years.

’We are very grateful to Ken and Robert Mitchell for their help, and we are now asking all 2016 winners to have their trophies back to us by April 1.’

The Guild trophies are proudly displayed in the Villa Marina Royal Hall throughout the week of the festival.

Dr Jacqueline Yates, secretary of the Guild, added: ’The trophies form a wonderful focal point in the Royal Hall. They are a stunning display and as the week goes on, the trophy display diminishes until there are none left - they have all been won for another year, and we then celebrate the amazing week we will have enjoyed with our festival’s finest showcase, this year on Saturday, April 29.Some of the week’s winners are invited to perform showing the diversity of the music, speech and dance that is featured during the week.

’We are looking forward to an exciting celebration of the festival’s 125th anniversary, and would again like to thank our title sponsor Dandara for its ongoing commitment.’

The festival’s finest showcase will also include the first performance by the 2017 Cleveland Medal winner, with finals evening being held on the Friday night.

Season tickets for the Manx Music Festival are now available from the Box Office at a cost of £30 for all sessions during the week, with the exception of the ’festival’s finest’ concert which costs £8.

General admission for sessions will be £4 and is free for under 18s.

All trophies should be returned to Peter Norris Music, Buck’s Road, by April 1.