Thursday 28 September 2017

Mobile-Friendly Blog

Following a prompt from Google, I have amended the blog settings to enable a more mobile-friendly appearance on mobile phones.

I hope those readers who tend to follow me on their smartphones will notice a difference.

I’m grateful to Google for bringing this feature to my attention.

Saturday 16 September 2017

ELIZABETH I

Her Majesty ELIZABETH I, Queen of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith

Sunday 10 September 2017

Heritage Weekend

Of course the European Heritage Open Days have been held this weekend.

I paid my first visit this morning - quite spontaneously in the sense that I only decided to go today - to the Old Museum Building, College Square North, Belfast.

Incidentally, an ancestor of mine once lived at 22 College Square North during the Victorian era.

This was my very first visit to the Old Museum.

The Ulster Architectural Heritage Society appears to have its GHQ here now.

One of the staff kindly gave me a tour and afterwards I took advantage of their half-price publications offer by purchasing The Architectural Heritage of Malone & Stranmillis, and Tollymore: The Story of an Irish Demesne.


During the afternoon I drove to Scrabo Tower, a memorial to Charles, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry.

I bumped into an old National Trust volunteer pal, Ron, in the first floor exhibition room, where we had a very good chin-wag about local Trust affairs (!).


Afterwards I motored down the hill to St Mark's parish church, Newtownards, which has been beautifully restored.

The Stewarts, Marquesses of Londonderry were patrons and benefactors of St Mark's.

All in all, a more enjoyable day than I'd expected.

Saturday 9 September 2017

HMS Intrepid


HMS Intrepid (L11) docked at Limassol, Cyprus, 1987.

JAMES I

His Majesty JAMES I, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith

Thursday 7 September 2017

Prince Harry in NI

PRINCE HENRY OF WALES is today carrying out engagements in Northern Ireland.

HRH was welcomed by the Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mrs Joan Christie OBE.

His Royal Highness officially opened Northern Ireland Ambulance Service's new £5.6 million station, which combines Ballymena Ambulance Station and North Division Headquarters.

During the afternoon HRH will visit Belfast, where he will undertake a number of engagements, and hear about the Northern Ireland National Citizenship Service and the Amazing the Space programmes, which bring young people together who might otherwise not meet.

Prince Harry will later be among hundreds of guests at a garden party at Hillsborough Castle, County Down.

The event, which was attended by TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge last year, has been hosted annually by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland since 1984.

Saturday 2 September 2017

CHARLES I

His Majesty CHARLES I, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith