MAXINE CANNON TO TAKE OVER THE REINS FROM DOT TILBURY

Maxine Cannon 

Isle of Man Post Office is delighted to announce the appointment of Maxine Cannon as General Manager of Isle of Man Stamps & Coins from April 2. Maxine will take over from Dot Tilbury who retires from the role in May.

Maxine joined Isle of Man Post Office in 1981 and has worked in Stamps & Coins throughout this time, latterly as Sales and Marketing Manager. She has extensive expertise in the Stamps & Coins business and will bring enormous enthusiasm to her new role. Maxine’s intention is to build on the achievements of Isle of Man Stamps & Coins, gained over the past 15 years through Dot Tilbury’s leadership.

On her forthcoming appointment Maxine said: “I’m grateful to my colleagues past and present in all areas of the business and at every level for their help, advice and good humour over the years, which has enabled me to reach this stage in my career and for making it possible to follow on from Dot.”
She added: “As we move past our 40th anniversary milestone, knowing that Isle of Man Stamps and Coins has the support of a worldwide customer base and an extensive network of top ranking suppliers, researchers and contributors, both on and off Island, gives me great confidence for the future.”
Dot Tilbury has headed up the division for the last 15 years and has been instrumental in producing creative and topical stamp issues which have been seen around the world. Dot has been with the business since 1975, giving 38 years of loyal and dedicated service to Isle of Man Post Office. She will retire in May, allowing for a smooth transition of responsibilities to Maxine.

Dot Tilbury & Sir Paul Smith

Dot Tilbury said: “I can honestly say that I have had the best job in the world as Manager of Isle of Man Stamps & Coins. However, none of that would have been possible without Maxine’s invaluable knowledge and assistance. I am so delighted she is to take over the reins and that with the support of the wonderful team in the Department, she will ensure that Isle of Man Stamps and Coins will continue to be successful.”

Mike Kelly

Mike Kelly, Chief Executive, Isle of Man Post Office described Dot’s retirement as an end of an era and Maxine’s appointment as a new chapter for Isle of Man Stamps & Coins.

He said: “We are enormously grateful for the all that Dot has contributed towards the success of Isle of Man Stamps & Coins over the years and we are confident that Maxine is the best person to take the business forward to build on those successes.”

Miniature sheet reflects modern day Fire and Rescue Service

IoM Fire & Rescue Service

Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service will be showcased in a miniature stamp sheet produced by Isle of Man Post Office early 2013.

Source: gov.im via Isle of Man on Pinterest

While fire fighting has traditionally been at the forefront of their work, the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service’s role has expanded considerably since its establishment in April 1965. Techniques, skills, equipment have been developed to enable an effective and professional response to a wide range of non-fire related incidents.

A miniature sheet to showcase their varying roles has been produced by Isle of Man Post Office and will be officially issued on the 20th February next year. The images on the sheet depict the service’s roles in the community from fire fighting, dealing with chemical incidents, road traffic collisions, mountain rescue, community safety and much more. The service’s three core objectives are preventing, protecting and responding with much of their work now focusing on how accidents and emergencies can be prevented from happening in the first place and if they do occur, how people can best protect themselves and others from the possible impact of such events.

Source: gov.im via Isle of Man on Pinterest

 Brian Draper, Chief Fire Officer said: “The Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service is delighted that the Post Office has chosen to commission a stamp issue depicting the varied and extensive remit of a modern, 21st Century Fire and Rescue Service. Here on the Island our Emergency Services deliver on a daily basis a wide range of prevention, protection and response activities and the Fire and Rescue Service is at the very forefront of such delivery. I hope this issue will appeal to both collectors and the general public alike as it provides just a little insight into the many ways we try to keep our Island a safe place in which to live, work and visit.”

Source: gov.im via Isle of Man on Pinterest

Dot Tilbury, General Manager Isle of Man Stamps & Coins said: “We are especially pleased to recognise the sterling work our Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service provides on a daily basis. We are immensely proud to have such a reliable, multi- skilled and experienced fire service and it’s fitting to mark their status with a miniature sheet.”

Please visit our website at www.iomstamps.com to find out more about the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service miniature sheet and products and to pre-order.

New Comp Winner

Barbara Doyle won our competition to win a year’s joint members to the Friends of Manx National Heritage. She is pictured with Dot Tilbury and Marty Quine of Isle of Man Post Office receiving her gift.

POST OFFICE HELPS HERITAGE TRUST TO REBUILD HISTORY

A project to help bring back to life mail vans that traditionally transported mail between Douglas and Ramsey on the Manx Electric Railway (MER) is well underway, thanks to funding from the Isle of Man Post Office Sponsorship Committee.

For some seventy years, until 1975, the MER carried bagged mail between Douglas and Ramsey in special four wheeled rail vans. A unique feature of the service was that the MER conductors were also enrolled as postmen to collect mail from post boxes, located at a number of the small stations and halts along the line.

The Laxey & Lonan Heritage Trust have reached agreement with Isle of Man Transport to restore two of the mail vans which are no longer used by the MER and are now undertaking a three-year project to revamp the railway yard, located next to the Laxey Manx Electric Railway Station. For the past 20 years, the yard has been used to display a number of the Trust’s agricultural items but will now be refurbished with an exhibition commemorating the MER’s mail service.

Andrew Scarffe, of the Laxey & Lonan Heritage Trust said: “We are very pleased indeed that Isle of Man Post Office has agreed to be the main sponsor of this project. The Post Office had close connections with the Manx Electric Railway shortly after the line was opened and it is very fitting indeed that this connection has once again been made. Their sponsorship has given us the confidence that the restoration project can now be completed within the next three years, as we had originally hoped.”

Other work will include the construction of a replica line side post box, the restoration of a typical line side shelter and an exhibition of associated items in the area of the adjacent goods shed, which is currently under the control of the Trust.

Geoff Corkish MBE MHK, Chairman of Isle of Man Post Office said: “We are pleased to be involved with this project which is very much linked to the history of the Post Office. This is a superb restoration and once the overall project is completed it will create a fabulous open-air style museum for residents and visitors of the village where the history of the MER’s involvement with postal services in years gone by will be illustrated.”

The Laxey and Lonan Heritage are seeking suitable illustrations of the MER mail service and any other artefacts to use at the exhibition. The Trust would particularly like to hear from anyone who may have any photographs of MER conductors emptying the line side mail boxes. Please contact Andrew Scarffe on 307563 or thescarffes@manx.net.

Isle of Man Post Shop Christmas Comp – First Week Winners

Our First Week Post Office Christmas Comp Winners 2012 – Mr & Mrs Tomlinson

Our first post shop Christmas competition winners last week were Christine and David Tomlinson, of Douglas.

They were presented with their £50 worth of postage by Dot Tilbury, General Manager, Isle of Man Stamps & Coins at Isle of Man Stamps & Coins HQ.

On winning David Tomlinson said: “It was a very pleasant surprise to be told we had won live on Manx Radio. To win £50 worth of postage is particularly pleasing at Christmas as we do send a lot of cards, so the prize will be well used.”

Isle of Man Post Office Wins International Business Of The Year Award

At a glittering ceremony in the Villa Marina last night (Thursday), Isle of Man Post Office won the coveted International business of the year award at the 2012 Awards for Excellence.

Commenting on the award Mike Kelly, Chief Executive of Isle of Man Post Office said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won such a highly sought after award. This reward is in recognition of our commitment to creating an innovative diversification strategy, helping the business to thrive when traditional services and mail volumes are in decline.

Over the last number of years we have grown significantly, particularly with the introduction of Integrated Mailing Solutions (IMS), our specialist business communications division. We have evolved to be able to offer clients based locally and internationally physical and digital mail services which has not only contributed significant financial reward, but has placed Isle of Man Post Office on the map as one of the most up and coming innovative Posts in the world.”

He added: “One of our long-term strategies is to take our trusted third party into the secure electronic communications market. We launched our first digital mail product, „ePostbox‟, this year which is available to clients globally. Customers can for the very first time, receive their postal mail online, anywhere in the world 24/7. We also have an exciting product that will be launched next year, complementing our existing mailing services.”

None of this success would have been possible without the dedicated, loyal and hard working team that makes Isle of Man Post Office.

Mike continued: “We are proud to have some of the longest serving employees on the Island with a very low staff turnover and none of this success would be possible without everyone‟s hard work and dedication in making Isle of Man Post Office so successful. This is a great place to work and we are so fortunate to have not only a heritage of experience and skills but also great creativity and innovation within the business. We strive to ensure this continues now and into the future.

“I would like to thank all our customers, partners, suppliers and Isle of Man Government as our principle stakeholder, indeed everyone associated with us for their support. Each has contributed to making the business so successful and continuing these partnerships will help secure our sustainability into the future. This is a very exciting time for the Post Office as we continue to expand our global client base. However, we remain committed to our Isle of Man based customers and we will continue to play a vital role in the local community.”

Further success was celebrated on the night as Dot Tilbury, General Manager for Isle of Man Stamps and Coins, won the highly coveted “Lifetime Achievement Award.” Dot has worked for the Post Office for 37 years and has built a worldwide reputation for the Stamps and Coins division for producing innovative, high quality and topical stamp issues. Dot received this award for her dedication and tireless work in the community; she is particularly well-known for her involvement in children‟s cycling.

Mike said: “Everyone at the Post Office is delighted that Dot‟s community work has been recognised with this award. She is a key member of the senior management team at the Post Office and we are all thrilled for her. The award to Dot turned the evening into a fantastic night and magnificent double celebration.”

Hosted by Isle of Man Newspapers, the Awards for Excellence is a celebration of the Island‟s success from the business sector, the local community to individuals such as young achiever of the year, volunteer of the year to the prestigious lifetime achievement award.

Lovely Words!

Click Image To Order

 

Wow, lovely words about our Lewis Chessman Stamps from Robert M E Paterson, The Bishop of Sodor and Man! How kind of him, we are very proud! 🙂

“I am delighted to see the 80p stamp with the figure of one of my predecessors on it – a Bishop of Sodor and Man from the twelfth century ‘Lewis Chessmen’. The Isle of Man Post should be congratulated on commissioning such an interesting, evocative and attractive set of stamps.

Robert Sodor as Mannin.

The Rt Revd Robert M E Paterson, Bishop of Sodor and Man”

Click HERE to order the stamps

www.iomstamps.com

A FANTASTIC VARIETY OF PRIZES TO BE WON WITH ISLE OF MAN POST OFFICE

In the lead up to Christmas Isle of Man Post Office is giving customers the chance to win six fabulous prizes on offer from £50 worth of postage, a Santa Tram and train trips for a family of four, £50 worth of saving stamps, a year’s joint membership to the Friends of Manx National Heritage and the grand prize draw of £500 of foreign currency.

 

The free to enter competitions will be held each week from 12th November through till the 13th December with one competition per week and the winner will be announced live on Manx Radio every Monday morning from November 19. Entry coupons for each competition can be found in a leaflet which is being distributed to all 40,000 residential addresses on the Island from Monday 5th Nov 2012. The household delivery leaflet also contains ideas for Christmas presents, packing materials available from Regent Street Post Shop and the last posting dates.

 

To enter the competition/s simply cut out the relevant coupon and post it into the special post box in Regent Street Post Shop only during the dates the coupon is valid to and from. All entries to each of the competitions will automatically be entered into the chance to win the grand prize draw of £500 worth of foreign currency to be drawn on December 13.

 

There is also a special competition for children with the chance to win a fabulous evening for a family of four to see this year’s pantomime, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs at the Gaiety Theatre on December 21, being staged by the Manx Operatic Society. The prize also includes pre-show dinner at Sir Norman’s in the Sefton Hotel and an after-show backstage pass to meet the cast. For children to enter it couldn’t be easier, Dot Tilbury General Manager Isle of Man Stamps and Coins explains how:

“We want to encourage lots of children on the Island to write their letters to Father Christmas. The art of letter writing is a valuable skill and in this day of modern technology, we should still find time to put pen to paper. Children need to write their Santa letter and visit Regent Street Post Office and place it in the special post box no later than December 12 to be entered into the prize draw. Children must include their name, address and contact telephone number of their letter. This is a wonderful prize and I’m sure we will receive a lot of entries, so get writing kids!

 

The Post Shop is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm (open from 9.30am on a Tuesday) and 9am to 12.30pm on Saturday.

 

Gold medallist Peter Kennaugh Exclusive Signing 23/09/2012, Sea Terminal, Douglas, Isle of Man,11.00am – 12.00pm

London 2012 Olympic Games Gold medallist Peter Kennaugh will be exclusively signing limited edition Gold Medal Winners Stamp Sheets, which will be on sale at the Sea Terminal, this Sunday (September 23) between 11.00am and 12.00pm through the Isle of Man Post Office.

 Fans of the Manx-born Olympic cyclist will have a unique opportunity to meet their sporting hero and get a piece of history signed as in celebration of the success of Peter and his team mates Steven Burke, Edward Clancy and Geraint Thomas in the Men’s Team Pursuit last month, Isle of Man Post Office has produced a Gold Medal Winners Sheet in a limited edition of 2012 only.

The sheet features the cycling stamps of Isle of Man Post Office’s London 2012 Olympic Games stamp issue, designed by world-renowned fashion designer Sir Paul Smith, along with images of Peter and his team mates taking part in the dramatic race which saw the Great Britain team set a new world record time of 03:51.659.

Peter became the first Manx-born Olympic Champion to win an Olympic gold medal since Sidney Swann, who was part of Great Britain’s rowing eights team at the 1912 Games in Stockholm.

Dot Tilbury, General Manager Isle of Man Stamps & Coins said: “We are delighted Peter is able to do an exclusive signing of Gold Medal Winners Stamp Sheets for us this Sunday. It’s the ideal opportunity for people to meet our Manx cycling hero and get his autograph at the same time. Peter will be available for just one hour only from 11am till midday in the Sea Terminal, Douglas, so don’t miss out. The Isle of Man is immensely proud of Peter’s achievement and I’m sure crowds of people will come along to congratulate him especially as the event coincides with Shoprite’s Cycle for Life charity event which is based at the Sea Terminal on Sunday and is always a marvellous event.”

*The signing will go ahead even if the Cycle for Life should be cancelled due to bad weather.

Limited edition Gold Medal Winners Sheets, just 2012 copies, can be purchased at the Sea Terminal on Sunday morning priced £10 each or in advance from Regent Street Post Office, Douglas or online at www.iomstamps.com

Bee Fauna Of The Isle Of Man

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The Isle of Man Post Office is pleased to present this beautiful stamp issue dedicated to one of our most popular and beloved insects and recognising its crucial role in the life cycle of the natural world.

Apart from the honeybee, the Isle of Man is home to approximately 15 species of bumblebee and 57 species of solitary bee. To put this into perspective, currently there are known to be 24 species of bumblebees and over 200 solitary bee species recorded from the British Isles. On the Island these bees can be found foraging from flowers on our mountain moorlands where the lovely Bilberry Bumblebee, amongst several other bee species, can be found visiting bilberry and heather flowers, right down to the Island’s coastal fringes where a number of bees make a living on the Ayres and the soft cliffs of Ramsey Bay for example.

Most of us will be familiar with some of the various species of bumblebees that visit our garden flower beds, but the solitary bees will be less familiar and it may be only when they are nesting in our lawns or flower beds that we may notice them. They are called solitary because, unlike the honey and bumble bees, there is no worker caste and they do not live in colonies although they can form large nesting aggregations such as those of Colletes succinctus.

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Other solitary bees, known as cuckoo bees, forgo the labour of building and provisioning their own nests but sneak their eggs into the nests of other bees and where they develop and eliminate their competition for the nest’s provisions. The silver and white Epeolus variegatus is one such cuckoo bee which can be found on the Ayres where it takes advantage of the efforts of bees such as species of the genus Colletes.

On the Isle of Man there are in the region of 120 beekeepers with varying numbers of colonies, 100 of them are fully paid-up Members of the IOM Beekeepers Federation affiliated to the BBKA, comprising of three districts. It is estimated that there are at least 400 colonies kept by these beekeepers or the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

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These images are so life-like you can almost smell the honey as this issue is made extra special printed on honey-scented paper.
Please visit our website at www.iomstamps.com to find out more about the Bee Fauna of the Isle of Man collection of stamps and products and to pre-order.