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.

Friday 30 November 2018

New DL

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANT


Mrs Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle CBE, Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast, has been pleased to appoint:-
CORBETT, Mrs Patricia Sarah,
Belfast,
To be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County Borough, her Commission bearing date the day of November,  2018.


Lord Lieutenant of the County Borough

Friday 23 November 2018

New DL

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANT

The Earl of Caledon KCVO, Lord-Lieutenant of County Armagh, has been pleased to appoint
Mr Simon CASSELLS QVRM
Portadown
County Armagh
To be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County his Commission bearing date the day of 11th November 2018.

Friday 16 November 2018

1st Earl of Breadalbane and Holland

THE EARLS OF BREADALBANE AND HOLLAND WERE THE GREATEST LANDOWNERS IN PERTHSHIRE, WITH 234,166 ACRES

This ancient family claims a common ancestor with the ducal house of ARGYLL, namely,

SIR DUNCAN CAMPBELL, of Lochawe, who was created Lord Campbell, of Argyll, by JAMES II, King of Scotland, in 1445.

His lordship wedded the Lady Marjorie Stewart, daughter of Robert, Duke of Albany, and granddaughter of ROBERT II, King of Scotland, by whom he left two sons,

ARCHIBALD, his successor, from whom the house of ARGYLL derives; and

SIR COLIN CAMBELL, upon whom his father settled the estate of Glenorchy, which had come into the Campbell family in the time of DAVID II of Scotland, by the marriage of Margaret Glenorchy with John Campbell.
"Sir Colin" says Douglas, "was a man of high renown for military prowess, and for the virtues of social and domestic life. He was a stream of many tides against the foes of his people, but like the gale that moves the heath to those who sought his aid."
He married firstly, Mary, daughter of the Earl of Lennox, but by her had no issue.
He married secondly, Margaret, second daughter and co-heir of John, Lord Lorne, with whom he got a third of that lordship, which still remains in the family, and Sir Colin quartered henceforward the GALLEY OF LORNE, with his paternal achievement.
By this marriage, his only son,

SIR DUNCAN CAMPBELL, who, in his father's lifetime, was designated of Glenorchy, by charter, dated 1480. The great-grandson of this gentleman,

SIR DUNCAN CAMPBELL, of Glenorchy, being in high favour with JAMES VI, was made, by that monarch, in 1617, heritable keeper of the forests of Mamlorn, Bendaskerlie etc, with many valuable privileges; and created, in 1625, a baronet, and High Sheriff of Perthshire, for life.

Sir Duncan married twice, and was succeeded at his decease, in 1631, by the eldest son of his first wife, Jean, daughter of John, Earl of Atholl, Lord Chancellor of Scotland,

SIR COLIN CAMPBELL, 2nd Baronet, who died without issue in 1640, and was succeeded by his brother,

SIR ROBERT CAMPBELL, 3rd Baronet, whose eldest son,

SIR JOHN CAMPBELL (1635-1717), 4th Baronet, being the chief creditor of George, 6th Earl of Caithness, obtained a disposition from that nobleman of his whole estate and earldom, with the hereditary jurisdictions and titles; and upon the demise of his lordship, in 1676, was created, by patent dated 1677, Earl of Caithness; but in a few years afterwards, that dignity being allowed by parliament to be vested in George Sinclair (who became, in consequence, 7th Earl of Caithness), Sir John Campbell obtained a new patent of nobility, dated 1681.

Sir John was created EARL OF BREADALBANE AND HOLLAND.

His lordship wedded firstly, Mary, daughter of Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland (which earl was beheaded in 1649), by whom he had two sons.

He married secondly, Mary, Dowager Countess of Caithness, 3rd daughter of Archibald, Marquess of Argyll; but by her had no surviving issue.

This nobleman married a third time, and had a daughter, Mary, who wedded Sir Archibald Cockburn of Langton Bt.
The 1st Earl is described, by John Macky, as having the gravity of a Spaniard, the cunning of a fox, the wisdom of a serpent, and the slipperiness of an eel.
His lordship died in 1716, and passing over his eldest son, Duncan Lord Ormelie, was succeeded by his 2nd son,

JOHN, 2nd Earl.
  • John Campbell, 3rd Earl (1692–1782)
    • Hon Henry Campbell (c. 1721-27)
    • Hon George Campbell (d 1744)
    • John Campbell, Lord Glenorchy (1738–71)

Marquesses of Breadalbane; First creation (1831)

Earls of Breadalbane and Holland (1681; Reverted)

  • John Alexander Gavin Campbell, 6th Earl (1824–71)
  • Gavin Campbell, 7th Earl (1851–1922) (created Marquess of Breadalbane in 1885).

Marquesses of Breadalbane; Second creation (1885)

Earls of Breadalbane and Holland (1681; Reverted)

  • Iain Edward Herbert Campbell, 8th Earl (1885–1923)
  • John Romer Boreland Campbell, 10th and last Earl (1919–95).

TAYMOUTH CASTLE, Perthshire, was the main seat of the Earls of Breadalbane and Holland until 1922.

Built in the neo-Gothic style on a lavish scale, no expense was spared on the castle's interior, which was decorated with extravagant sumptuousness incorporating carvings, plasterwork and murals.

Panels of medieval stained glass and Renaissance woodwork were incorporated into the scheme.

Much of this decor survives, though the castle has lost most of its original rich furnishings.

It has been empty since 1979, although plans have been put forward for its redevelopment as a luxury hotel.


In 1720, the 2nd Earl commissioned William Adam to remodel the house and lay out extensive formal gardens.

The 2nd Earl's son oversaw further changes in the 1750s, and by the 1780s the formal gardens had been replaced with a picturesque landscape.

The 4th Earl called upon Robert Mylne to prepare plans for a new "chateau" in 1789, though they were not carried out.

Ten years later the main block of the old house was demolished, to be replaced from 1806 by a Gothic building to the designs of the brothers James and Archibald Elliot.

The English-Italian Francis Bernasconi carried out the ornate plasterwork of the staircase and drawing rooms between 1809-12.

In 1818, the old east wing was pulled down and replaced by a two-storey wing designed by William Atkinson.

The 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane completed the improvements from 1838, by the remodelling of William Adam's west wing, which was enlarged and refaced to match the main block.

This time the architect was James Gillespie Graham, with interiors designed by A. W. N. Pugin.

The works were complete by 1842, in time for the first visit to Scotland of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, when they stayed at Taymouth for three days.

On the death of the 2nd Marquess, Taymouth passed to a distant cousin, along with the earldom of Breadalbane. The marquessate was re-created for his son Gavin Campbell in 1885.

The family estates were much reduced during his tenure, and on his death in 1922 Taymouth Castle was sold.

It was converted into a hotel, opening in 1929, with an 18-hole golf course designed by James Braid in the grounds.

It was used as a hospital for Polish troops during the 2nd World War; and between 1950-68 it housed the Civil Defence Corps training school for Scotland.

Taymouth was subsequently used by a boarding school for American children.

This closed in 1979 and the building has since lain empty, though the golf course has continued to be operated separately.

In 2004, it was reported that plans to redevelop the castle as a "six-star" hotel had been approved by Perth and Kinross Council.

By 2006, the buildings was weathertight, but work stopped in late 2006, and in 2009 the company restoring Taymouth Castle was declared insolvent.

Following the purchase of the estate by Meteor Asset Management, work re-commenced late in 2010 and, despite financial problems, the restoration was continuing in 2012.

First published in January, 2014.   Breadalbane arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

Sunday 21 October 2018

Londonderry State Coach


The State Coach is usually on display at the National Trust's Mount Stewart estate, County Down, former seat of the Marquesses of Londonderry.


A new coach-house was made for the coach, which used to be based at the family's grand London residence, Londonderry House, Park Lane.


The coach  (or chariot) is exquisite in its detail and craftsmanship.


The Londonderry coat-of-arms, crests and coronets adorn it.

7th Marquess & Marchioness

The walls of the coach-house tell its story: it only seems to have been used on state occasions.


The coach is on loan from the present Marquess.

First published in 2010.

Saturday 13 October 2018

Tyrone DLs

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANTS

Mr Robert Scott OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of County Tyrone, has been pleased to appoint
Mr Charles Gregory PARKE
Omagh
County Tyrone 
Mr Peter David WATERSON
Omagh
County Tyrone
To be Deputy Lieutenants of the County, his Commission bearing date 5th day of October, 2018.

Robert Scott

Lord Lieutenant of the County

Saturday 22 September 2018

New DL

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANT
Mrs Alison Millar, Lord-Lieutenant of County Londonderry, has been pleased to appoint:-
Mrs Lorraine Martha YOUNG JP
Portrush
County Antrim,
To be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County, her Commission bearing date the 7th day of September, 2018.

Friday 21 September 2018

Prince Andrew in Northern Ireland

Thursday, 20th September, 2018

THE DUKE OF YORK, Baron Killyleagh, this afternoon visited Belleek Pottery, Belleek, County Fermanagh, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of County Fermanagh (the Viscount Brookeborough KG).

His Royal Highness later visited Lough Erne Yacht Club, Gublusk Bay, County Fermanagh.

Friday, 21st September, 2018.

THE DUKE OF YORK, Baron Killyleagh, this morning visited a Search and Rescue Exercise at Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, County Fermanagh, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of County Fermanagh (the Viscount Brookeborough KG).

His Royal Highness, Founder, Pitch@Palace, later held Pitch@Palace on Tour Belfast at Ormeau Baths, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast (Mrs. Fionnuala-Jay O’Boyle CBE).

HRH this afternoon opened the Fintech Hub at Danske Bank, Donegall Square West, Belfast.

His Royal Highness this evening held a Business Dinner at Hillsborough Castle, County Down.

Saturday, 22nd September, 2018.

THE DUKE OF YORK, Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and The Ulster Defence Regiment), this morning presented new Colours to 1st and 2nd Battalions at Titanic Slipway, Queen's Road, Titanic Quarter, Belfast, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast (Mrs Fionnuala-Jay O'Boyle CBE).

Friday 14 September 2018

The Belmont Cataract

For the benefit of those of you who are unfamiliar with my ophthalmic history, it almost goes back to time immemorial, as those venerable peerages might say.

When I was a youth of about fifteen, suffering from a bout of ennui brought on by pop Thompson's maths class at Campbell, I suppose that was the time when the squinting commenced.

Thereafter I wore spectacles.

When I was about twenty years of age I purchased contact lenses, and wore those instead.

Fast forward to 1988, the year I made an appointment with that eminent Ulster eye surgeon, Mr Eric Cowan, whose consulting-rooms were in Eglantine Avenue, Belfast.

In a sense, Timothy was quite avant-garde in those days.

Mr Cowan pioneered the ophthalmic practice known as radial keratotomy, whereby minute incisions are made around the optic pupil in order to correct or improve myopia. 

I spent forty-eight hours in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, for this surgery.

It did improve the old eye-sight to the extent that I did not need to wear glasses.

My vision, however, deteriorated over time, and I decided to have laser surgery.

Let us Fast Forward again to 2017.

I was on holiday abroad in the bright sunshine one morning, at the swimming-pool of my hotel, when I became aware of a blemish of some sort in my right eye.

This blemish or spot is tricky to describe, so when I arrived home in Old Blighty I arranged for an appointment with the optician.

I was apprised that I had a cataract.

The optician wrote to my doctor, who arranged for me to see the relevant cataract clinic and, after many months, I was finally seen by the eye doctor.

I was informed that I had a cataract on my left eye as well, though I was unaware of this.

By this stage the cataract on my right eye was very blurry indeed.

I was reliant on my left eye for vision.

In April, 2018, I received a letter from the hospital letting me know that I was on a waiting-list for an appointment with them, though there was no mention of cataract surgery.

A few months later I was chatting my my aunt on the blower and she recounted her treatment with an eye surgeon based mainly in Belfast and Hillsborough, County Down.

Furthermore, when she heard of my predicament and the indefinite length of the waiting-list for cataract surgery, she urged me to get it done instanter, and highly recommended her consultant.

I called the clinic in Hillsborough, which happens to be directly beside the war memorial and parish church.

I was told that an appointment with Mr Rankin could be arranged within a fortnight, and that surgery could be about three weeks thereafter.

Well, dear readers, I considered it and called them back for an appointment.

Mr Rankin examined my eyes again and explained everything to me.

I decided to go ahead with surgery as soon as possible, so it took place on Wednesday this week at 3pm.

Service, care, treatment, staff were all second-to-none, as they say.

I didn't feel a thing apart from some stinging in the eye when the anaesthetic eye drops were introduced.

I'm writing this piece at almost 6pm, fifty-one hours later.

The sight in my right eye has been transformed and, as far as I'm concerned, it's virtually miraculous.

It's almost like having a new eye.

In fact, my right eye - the one which had a cataract - now has better, clearer, brighter vision than the "good" one.

I have an appointment with Mr Rankin in a few weeks time for a follow-up review, when I'll mention the other eye to him.

Wednesday 5 September 2018

Princess Royal at Hillsborough


THE PRINCESS ROYAL this afternoon attended a Garden Party at Hillsborough Castle, County Down.

Her Royal Highness afterwards held a Reception in the garden of Hillsborough Castle for young people who have achieved the Gold Standard in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.


Wednesday, 5th September: The Princess Royal, President, UK Fashion and Textile Association, this morning visited Mourne Textiles, Rostrevor, County Down, and was received by Mrs Fionnuala Cook OBE, (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of County Down).

Her Royal Highness, President, Royal Yachting Association, afterwards visited Portaferry Sailing Club, Portaferry, County Down, to mark its Fiftieth Anniversary, and opened Portaferry Recreation Hub, and was received by Mrs Amanda Brownlow DL.

The Princess Royal later opened Lakeland Dairies' new Packing Hall, 46 Belfast Road, Newtownards, County Down, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Down (Mr David Lindsay).

Her Royal Highness later opened the Northern Ireland Prison Service Memorial Garden, Hydebank Wood Secure College, County Down.

Saturday 11 August 2018

New DL

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANT

Dr Angela Garvey, Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Londonderry, has been pleased to appoint
Mr Zola Sipo MZIMBA MB ChB
Londonderry
County Londonderry
To be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County Borough, his Commission bearing date, the 1st day of August, 2018.

Dr Angela Garvey
Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough

Friday 27 July 2018

Guards Insignia


The cap badge of the Irish Guards and the bearskin plume are both based on the star and sky-blue sash colour of the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick.

The Princess Royal is pictured presenting the Regiment with shamrock.

The badge consists of a star, within which is a shamrock with three crowns on its leaves (the historic kingdoms of England, Ireland and Scotland), the shamrock being placed on a cross of St Patrick.

The centre is surrounded by a circle which bears the legend QUIS SEPARABIT ~ who shall separate ~ and the Roman numerals MDCCLXXXIII ~1783 ~ the year that the Order of St Patrick was established.

First published in November, 2009.

Friday 6 July 2018

Vice Lord-Lieutenant

APPOINTMENT OF VICE LORD-LIEUTENANT


Mrs Alison Millar, Lord-Lieutenant of County Londonderry, with the approval of Her Majesty The Queen, has been pleased to appoint

Mrs Stella BURNSIDE OBE DL
Londonderry
County Londonderry

To be Vice Lord-Lieutenant for the said County, her Commission bearing date the 28th day of June 2018.

Signed: Lord-Lieutenant of the County

Tuesday 19 June 2018

KG Appointment


It was most gratifying to see the Viscount Brookeborough installed by Her Majesty The Queen as a Knight of the Garter at St George's Chapel, Windsor, on Monday, the 18th June, 2018.

Lord Brookeborough's grandfather, the 1st Viscount (the third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland), was himself appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1965.

In 1997, Her Majesty appointed Lord Brookeborough a Lord-in-Waiting.

He has been Lord-Lieutenant of County Fermanagh since 2012.

The family seat is Colebrooke Park, County Fermanagh.

The only other Knight of the Garter living in Northern Ireland is His Grace the Duke of Abercorn.

Tuesday 12 June 2018

Prince of Wales in NI

The Prince of Wales has begun a two-day visit to Northern Ireland.

His Royal Highness was greeted by the Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast, Mrs Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle CBE.

Prince Charles's first duty is an event at Carlisle Memorial Methodist Church in the north of the city.

At the heart of one of the most troubled parts of Belfast, the congregation shrank rapidly during the late 1960s and 1970s.

It closed in 1982 but has been brought back into use by the Belfast Buildings Trust.

Later, His Royal Highness will visit the Ulster University in Coleraine, County Londonderry.

On Wednesday, 13th June, HRH will visit County Tyrone.

Friday 1 June 2018

New Lord-Lieutenant

The Queen has been pleased to appoint Mrs Alison Millar DL as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for the County of Londonderry to succeed Sir Denis Desmond KCVO CBE when he retired on 11 May 2018.

New DL

Mrs Alison Millar, Lord-Lieutenant of County Londonderry, has been pleased to appoint

Lady GIRVAN
Portstewart
County Londonderry

To be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County, her Commission bearing date the 26th day of May, 2018.

Signed: Alison Millar, Lord Lieutenant of the County

Sunday 27 May 2018

The Tarte Tatin

I have posted this picture of my sumptuous pudding at The French Rooms for a loyal reader, who inquired about whether I'd had dessert at The French Rooms.

Here it is in all its splendour.

Saturday 26 May 2018

The French Rooms

I've been spending a few days at Portballintrae, County Antrim, on Ulster's north coast.

The weather has really been very good, mostly sunny in fact.

I explored Ramore Head and the headland at Portstewart, places I was unfamiliar with.

On Friday evening I dined at The French Rooms, a restaurant, café and artisan shop in Bushmills.

Bushmills, probably my favourite village in County Antrim, is a mere hop, skip and jump from Portballintrae.

It usually suits me to dine early, so I had reserved a table for six-thirty.


On arrival I was shown to a lovely little table, directly opposite the bar counter, which happened to have particularly comfortable leather chairs.


In fact I quipped to the waiter at the time that they were reminiscent of some ancient Bentley or Daimler.

The staff here are engaging and courteous.

Having perused the excellent menus, I opted for Spicy Prawn Pot on Spicy Leaves as a starter.


The trusty nose-bag was donned and I tucked in to a dainty little pot of prawns, dressed in a kind of seafood sauce.

I had motored in to the village, so simply had iced water with the meal.

After a short interval my main course arrived, viz. Cajun French Sea Bass, oven-baked and drizzled with a dill-infused rapeseed oil dressing.

I also had creamed purée potatoes and roast beetroot and cherry tomatoes with it.

The sea bass was delicate, moist, mild, boneless, and complemented my vegetables famously.


I seldom indulge in three courses; the fine list of puddings, however, seduced me, as it were.

Tarte Tatin, the traditional Gallic apple dessert, with toffee sauce and fresh whipped cream, proved to be irresistible.

The thinly-sliced apples almost literally melted in the Belmont mouth.


The layer of pastry underneath was barely discernible, though complemented it perfectly.

During the course of my dinner I chatted with the waiter, recounting tales of The Ugly Ducking in Corralejo, Canary Islands, which was so outstanding and popular that it had to turn away most passers-by.

Another restaurant across the street gained the extra business.

This was the case with The French Rooms last night, so it is advisable to book ahead for dinner.

I had the iPad and headphones with me, the plan being to settle self in the Bushmills Inn a few doors up, so I approached the counter to settle my bill.

To my utter astonishment the staff apprised me that my bill had been paid for by an American couple.

They had been seated at a table twenty or thirty feet away, though I never caught their eyes or even encountered them.

I still have no idea who they were or where they were staying.

This was an opportunity for another good turn, so I gave the staff a good tip instead.

I don't think I've enjoyed myself so much at a restaurant for years.

Thursday 24 May 2018

Heritage Apple Trees

THE APPLE TREES WE PLANTED AT BALLYQUINTIN ARE NOW ALMOST FIVE YEARS OLD. WE REVISITED THE SITE ON WEDNESDAY, 23RD MAY, 2018.

HERE IS THE ORIGINAL POST FROM 2013.

I spent today at Bar Hall, a property of the National Trust close to Ballyquintin Point, on the Ards Peninsula, County Down.

We all met at the old Mount Stewart estate schoolhouse, from where the trucks were loaded with spades, stakes, mulch sheeting and, of course apple saplings.


We have established a new orchard at the side of a sheltered field near the entrance to Ballyquintin Farm.

The little apple-tree saplings are not ordinary ones. They are heritage varieties, including Bloody Butcher, Lady's Finger of Offaly, Ballyvaughan, Ballyfatten, Ross Nonpareil, Widow's Friend, and Kemp.

Eighteen saplings were planted and they cost about £200.


Therefore, unsurprisingly, we devoted the day to planning the layout, planting at appropriate distances, ensuring that no same varieties were planted together; and stakes were hammered in at a 45-degree angle.

There was fresh manure in the field, which we put to good use.

The mulch sheets will protect the little trees from long grass and weeds, thereby fostering growth and providing them with the best chance of flourishing.

Published in November, 2013.

Thursday 17 May 2018

Princess Royal at Balmoral Show

The Princess Royal, President, this morning attended the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth's Annual General Meeting, Royal Ulster Agricultural Society Show-ground, Balmoral Park, Maze, Lisburn, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast (Mrs Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle CBE).

Her Royal Highness this afternoon visited Royal Ulster Agricultural Society's Balmoral Show.

Saturday 5 May 2018

Belfast DL


APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANT


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

SELLAR, Very Rev Dr Francis Paul
Belfast

To be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County Borough his Commission bearing date the 30th day of April 2018


Signed : Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle CBE, Lord Lieutenant of the County Borough

Monday 30 April 2018

New DLs

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANTS

Mr David Lindsay, Lord-Lieutenant of County Down, has been pleased to appoint


  • Miss Amanda Fiona C BLACKMORE, Greyabbey;
  • Mr Noel LAMB, Downpatrick;
  • Mrs Sara Caroline P C McCORKELL, Dromore;
To be Deputy Lieutenants of the County

David Lindsay
Lord Lieutenant of the County

Castle Saunderson Visit


I paid a fleeting visit to Castle Saunderson on the 22nd July, 2013.

It reminded me somehow of Crom Castle in neighbouring
County Fermanagh.

Wasn’t it designed by the same architect?


The mansion is roofless and ruinous, alas; once the nucleus of a great estate in County Cavan.


The Saunderson arms adorn a section of the wall.


First published in July, 2013.

Saturday 28 April 2018

BBC iPlayer Abroad

Regular readers shall be cognizant that I seldom broadcast my opinion via the medium of this blog nowadays.

An issue, however, has caused me some irritation, viz. the ability, or inability, of BBC Licence Fee Payers to watch BBC iPlayer abroad, legitimately.

Of course we have VPNs.

I am well aware of them.

I do think it would be gracious of the Corporation to afford the reception of  their iPlayer abroad to licence fee payers.

They have been telling us for ages that they’re working on it.

Well, Lord Hall, get a ruddy move on!

Monday 23 April 2018

Joyous News

Today has been one of those special days in the British calendar of events, viz. the safe birth of a healthy new Prince of the United Kingdom; and two new appointments to the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

I am naturally overjoyed for TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; Her Majesty, who has another great-grandson; and the Royal Family as a whole.

Of course I had no idea that Alan, 3rd Viscount Brookeborough, would be appointed to the Garter.

His grandfather, Sir Basil Brooke Bt, the 1st Viscount, was installed as a Knight of that Most Noble Order  in 1965.

Now we have two Knights of the Garter resident in Northern  Ireland, namely James, Duke of Abercorn, and Lord Brookeborough.

I send cordial congratulations to Lord Brookeborough on what is the highest order of chivalry in this kingdom.

The Abercorns and Brookeboroughs have a distinguished and honourable record of dedicated service to sovereigns and the crown.

Friday 13 April 2018

The Wooster Style

Any readers who zealously or otherwise follow the Belmont narrative shall doubtless be aware of my regard for Sir P G Wodehouse's fictional character Bertie Wooster, and his valet Jeeves.

The 1980s television series Jeeves & Wooster portrays Bertie as sartorially subtle and generally understated (when Jeeves lays his clothing out for him at the end of the bed).

In town Bertie invariably wears subtle grey or dark blue chalk-stripe, double-breasted, three-piece suits.

Although the shirts appear white, they are far more subtle than pure white.

On closer inspection, they have feint stripes of vague greys, or a colour that matches the suit.

The ties, too, are hard to describe, because they are usually patterned, though the pattern is quiet, unfussy, and complements the other clothing.

Breast pocket handkerchiefs or pocket squares are invariably white.

The hats and gloves, and the Albert Strap all make distinctive individual accessories.


In the country Bertie generally wears shades of brown or green: country tweed jackets, sleeveless, v-neck jumpers, cable-knit perhaps; woollen patterned ties; flat caps.

Apparel like this may well be unpopular today, though to my mind true Fashion is timeless.

So Bertie's apparel is generally never loud or bold; always quiet and unfussy.

Unless, of course, he chooses to disregard Jeeves's counsel.