Thursday 27 December 2018

Wood Stuart, Outfitter


When I was a lad at prep school the uniform was supplied by a shop called J Wood Stuart, 19 Howard Street, Belfast.

Their motto was for man and man junior.

I have unearthed a receipt dated the 3rd July, 1972, for the following:-

  • One Brackenber House blazer     @ £6.55
  • One B/H tie                                  @ £0.55
  • One B/H cap                                @ £0.95
  • Discount                                           £0.15
  • TOTAL                                             £7.90
According to my Bank of England inflation calculator, that is about £80 in today's money.

The young Brackenbrian in the image below must have been en route to or from a Games Day, because we wore shirts and ties.

A Brackenbrian wearing uniform

Incidentally, they weren't overly generous with the discount!

First published in August, 2011.

Monday 24 December 2018

Kenneth Branagh

HONORARY BURGESS OF THE CITY OF BELFAST, 2018


Elected and admitted by the Council of the City of Belfast under the Municipal Privilege (Ireland) Act, 1875:-


SIR KENNETH CHARLES BRANAGH
Knight bachelor

In recognition of his "outstanding achievements and international status in drama and cinema, as an actor, director, producer and screenwriter".

Van Morrison

HONORARY BURGESS OF THE CITY OF BELFAST, 2013


Elected and admitted by the Council of the City of Belfast under the Municipal Privilege (Ireland) Act, 1875:-

SIR GEORGE IVAN (VAN) MORRISON, OBE
Knight Bachelor
Officer of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire 

In recognition of "the extraordinary contribution made to the City by [Sir] George Ivan ‘Van’ Morrison; achieving international acclaim over the last fifty years, he has portrayed a majestic image of Belfast and continues to inspire generations through his inspirational music." 

Sunday 23 December 2018

Mary Peters

HONORARY BURGESS OF THE CITY OF BELFAST

Elected and admitted by the Council of the City of Belfast under the Municipal Privilege (Ireland) Act, 1875:-


LADY MARY ELIZABETH PETERS, LG CH DBE
Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter
Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour
Dame Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for the County Borough of Belfast, 2009-14

"Over the past 40 years she has served as an ambassador for Belfast across the world and has been tireless in her efforts to promote sport and the benefits it brings to young people,"

"Accordingly, in the recognition of this service, the council agrees that Dame Mary Peters is hereby elected and admitted as a Freeman of the City of Belfast."

Captain Dame Mary Peters CH DBE RNR in 2013

I'd like to express my personal delight and compliments to Lady Mary, a wonderful ambassador for Belfast and Northern Ireland.

First published in November, 2012.

Saturday 22 December 2018

Cathedral Donors

Inside Armagh's Anglican cathedral, a stained-glass window above the West Door displays the armorial bearings of the ten principal donors during the great 1834 restoration of the building, viz.

  • 1st Earl O'Neill KP PC; 
  • Sir Thomas Molyneux Bt; 
  • Samuel Blacker; 
  • Maxwell Close; 
  • James Wood; 
  • Elias Elsler; 
  • Thomas Keers; 
  • Roger Hall; 
  • R Livingstone; 
  • Sir William Verner Bt MP.

Could Lord O'Neill's act of beneficence have been meant as a kind of atonement?

In 1566, Shane O'Neill ‘utterly destroyed the Cathedral by fire, lest the English should again lodge in it’.

In 1641, it again became a target for the O'Neills, when Sir Phelim O'Neill burned it.
Sir Phelim, incidentally, met his timely fate in 1653, when he was caught and executed on the orders of William, 5th Baron Charlemont, for the murder of his brother Toby, the 3rd Baron.
Perhaps a more plausible explanation is that, as a Knight of St Patrick, Lord O'Neill was well acquainted with the Prelate of the Order, Lord John Beresford, Lord Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.

First published in May, 2013.