Douglas MacQueen's blog

The clock continues to run down towards the referendum vote for Scottish independence to be held in September 2014. As part of the on-going campaign in favour of a yes vote a March and Rally will be held in Edinburgh on Saturday 21 September 2013. Assembling between 11am – 12pm at The High Street, Edinburgh the march will go to Carlton Hill where a Rally will be held. For details go to the website of the Rally for Scottish Independence organisers. http://www.independencerally.com/

The economy of the Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin) is looking toward a growth rate of between 3 and 4 per cent this year. Figures for the three months up to the end of June show encouraging outlooks for manufacturing, shipping, e-business, tourism, clean technology and aircraft registration. These are postive outlooks for the island which is free from the incumbency of English dominated rule.

Plans are afoot to uncover the oldest four walled Christian edifice in mainland Britain. The chapel was buried under the sands in 1980. At the time it was said to be the best way of protecting the site. The St Piran trust and Perranzabuloe Parish Council, which owns the site, were originally awarded a development grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2010 to investigate the feasibility of uncovering the chapel. Now the excavation work is set to begin.