Captain Steven Carter is the founder of the well-known Laxey Towing Company that is still deployed around the island assisting in all things nautical. For many years he entertained thousands of passengers aboard the M.V. Karina on various trips around the island, regaling them with his many interesting stories both of land and sea. He was also the Harbour Pilot for thirty years and is the Captain of the parish of Lonan.
Captain Carter will perform the official opening ceremony at this year’s beer & cider festival. This will include pouring the first pint of festival ale that has been specially brewed for the occasion by Okell’s brewery. The beer is to be called “S.O.S” and a donation from each pint sold will be given to the R.N.L.I., this year’s festival charity which is celebrating its bicentennial year. The “Star Shanty Singers” will also be performing with a selection of their uproarious sea shanties.
The R.N.L.I. was the brainchild of island resident Sir William Hillary and was founded with like minded people in a pub in London, so the Beer & Cider Festival is a fitting occasion to celebrate its 200th anniversary.
The festival – the 11th – takes place from Thursday, 11th to Saturday, 13th April in the Villa Marina’s Royal Hall, featuring more than 150 real ales, ciders, perries and fruit wines. A good selection of food will also be available.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased from the VillaGaiety box office, the Welcome Centre at the sea terminal or on the door subject to availability.