EDWARD VII

By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India

First published in August, 2013.

Duke of Kent in County Down

The Duke of Kent has paid a two-day visit to County Down.

His Royal Highness visited Downpatrick Police Station, Downpatrick, County Down, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Down (Mr. David Lindsay).

HRH later visited Down Cathedral, Downpatrick .

His Royal Highness subsequently visited Finnebrogue House, near Downpatrick.

The following day The Duke of Kent officially named the MV Strangford II ferry.

His Royal Highness later visited Castle Ward Estate, County Down; and the Exploris Aquarium, Portaferry, County Down.

Unfortunate Lady Jane Grey

This exquisite painting of 1833 is entitled The Execution Of Lady Jane Grey.

This poignant oil painting by Paul Delaroche is on display at the National Gallery in London.

The detail; the grief on the face of the lady-in-waiting; the stance of the executioner with his axe; and their expressions all bring tears to my eyes as as study this, one of my favourite paintings.

I shall view it the next time I am in the Metropolis - and bring a clean handkerchief.

New Armagh DLs

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANTS

The Rt Hon the Earl of Caledon, KCVO, Lord-Lieutenant of County Armagh, has been pleased to appoint,

Mr John BRIGGS, Richhill, County Armagh;
Dr Eileen S McALINDEN, Portadown, County Armagh;
Mr David REANEY, Armagh, County Armagh;
Dr Gareth CONWAY, Portadown, County Armagh;

To be Deputy Lieutenants of the said County, dated the 7th July, 2017.

Signed,

THE EARL OF CALEDON

Lord-Lieutenant

Finnebrogue Beating Retreat

Finnebrogue House

On Friday evening, the 23rd June, 2017, two hundred friends and supporters of Hope For Youth Northern Ireland came to Finnebrogue, near Downpatrick, County Down, for a fundraising Beating Retreat.

I was abroad at the time so, alas, I was unable to be there.

Noel Lamb, of Finnebrogue House, is Chairman of the Trustees of Hope For Youth Northern Ireland.

Beating Retreat, or Beating to Quarters, has its origins in the early years of organised warfare, when the beating of drums and the parading of post guards heralded the closing of camp gates and the lowering of flags at the end of the day.

The Pipes and Drums of the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Band of the Royal Irish Regiment played a selection of music, both military and classical pieces.

There was a wide range of guests at the event, including the Lord-Lieutenants for County Down and Belfast; the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev Richard Clarke, and his predecessor, the Right Rev Alan Harper OBE; the Earl of Erne; the Chairman of the CBI, the Principal-elect of the Belfast Royal Academy, members of the police and the local community.

The programme for the evening included the band playing Scipio by Handel, the Soldiers Chorus from Faust, the Army of the Nile and various cavalry marches.

The Pipes and Drums played the Rowan Tree, the Green Hills of Tyrol, the Gael and Highland Cathedral.

The weather was ominous and threatened rain, but the sun came out just before the band played “Sunset” and the National Anthem.

It cast wonderful long evening shadows on the front lawn and glinted off the helmets.

Mr Noel Lamb pictured with the Earl of Erne (a Trustee of Hope For Youth NI), the Commanding Officer and the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Royal Dragoon Guards.

Mr David Lindsay, Lord-Lieutenant of County Down, Mrs Lindsay, and Captain Andrew Moncrieff, Adjutant of the Royal Dragoon Guards.

Mr Noel Lamb with the Bandmaster, Band Sergeant-Major and Drum Major of the Royal Irish Regiment.

The sun shone as Sunset and the National Anthem were played.

Even a "selfie" was taken with two of the guests, the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev Richard Clarke, and His Grace's predecessor, the Right Rev Alan Harper OBE.

Troopers of the Royal Dragoon Guards stood to attention as guests arrived.

The band of the Royal Irish Regiment paraded on the front lawn.

As did the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Dragoon Guards.

New Belfast DL

Mrs Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle CBE, Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast, has been pleased to appoint:

SHERIDAN, Dr Mark Christopher,
Jordanstown,
Newtownabbey,
County Antrim,

To be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County Borough, her Commission bearing date, the 28th day of June, 2017.

Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle CBE

Lord Lieutenant of the County Borough