Douglas Council leader David Christian has hailed the ’wisdom and expertise’ of Councillor Ritchie McNicholl, who has declared his intention not to seek re-election to the council in the local authority elections on July 22, after serving the borough for 28 years.

Councillor Christian made his comments at last week’s public meeting of the council.

He went on to thank Councillor McNicholl for his long service, referring to him as a colleague ’you can always turn to for support’ and a councillor who had long enjoyed the respect of those he represented in Murray’s Ward.

He added that, as a four-time Mayor of Douglas, Councillor McNicholl had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of Douglas Council and he wished him ’all the best for the future’.

Mayor of Douglas Jon Joughin added: ’Councillor McNicholl is a one off and will be missed by the council and, because without realising it, he has become a friend and a mentor.’

David Cretney writes about local authority elections on page 19 of this week’s Isle of Man Examiner.