New PRONI GHQ

I am just back from the brand new GHQ of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) at Titanic Boulevard and excellent it is, too. I parked the car at a car-park opposite the old Harland and Wolff GHQ and walked the five or six minutes to the Office.

It is commodious, light and airy, with all "mod cons". Notably, PRONI has its own free wi-fi, though what they term "personal" websites - including Lord Belmont - are blocked. Still, it's all most convenient and word processors can be used on laptops.

I was undertaking some research on Brackenber House School (the results of which will be posted on a later article).

Visitors are issued with a personal "smart" card, with their photographs thereon; and these are used to gain access to the various rooms.

The cafeteria is on the ground floor, at the rear, and it is self-service as one would expect. I had the £3.50 stuffed chicken dinner, including roast potatoes and cabbage. This was akin to a school dinner, satisfactory enough, though I had to use some of the old Belmont brawn and elbow grease to stab the tough roasties!

All in all, an agreeable experience and the staff most obliging.