Times Gone By : Derry

The Derry Juniors who were selected for the Northern Ireland team which competed at the Junior International Ten Pin Bowling Tournament at the Stillorgan Bowl in Dublin. At front, from left, are Brona Stewart, Tara Lynch, and Aine Dunne. At back are Noel McLaughlin, Christopher McMonagle and Kate Carlile, NI team coach.

Guitarist graduates from college

A young Derry man who left school without a single qualification to his name has just become the first Irish man to graduate from the world famous Royal Academy of Music with an honours degree in classicial guitar.

Brian O’Doherty (26), from Eskaheen View, Waterside, is a self-taught guitarist who turned the education system on its head by being offered places at three prestigious London schools of music - the Guildhall, Trinity and the Royal Academy - despite his lack of educational qualifications.

Hundreds of people queue outside the Rialto at the opening of the Children's Film Bonanza.

Brian’s success as a musician is all the more amazing given the fact that he didn’t start playing classical guitar until he was seventeen.

Now he is set for a glittering career as a professional musician and counts internationally renowned classicial guitarists, Julian Bream and John Williams, among his friends.

Milkman has ‘gotta lotta bottle’

A popular Derry milkman made his presence felt during a recent holiday in the Portuguese resort of Madeira when he took the bull by the horns and invited movie star Brigitte Nielsen down to his pool-side table for a drink.

Local kids with some of the illustrated binlids which were produced at a workshop hosted by the Derry-based 20/20 Vision group. The binlids were carried at a march in Belfast to commemorate the 20th anniversary of internment and the 10th anniversary of the Long Kesh hunger strikes.

It all happened when Adrian Clifford, from Kingsfort Park, was sitting quietly by the pool with some friends.

Suddenly, a surprise guest appeared on the scene surrounded by an entourage.

“It’s Brigitte Nielsen,” declared someone. “Aye, that’s Stallone’s ex-wife,” cried another.

Within seconds, Adrian was on his feet, striding confidently over to the star and, bold as brass, asking her to join him at his table and she was happy to oblige.

Derry City striker Jonathan Speak scores his side's second goal despite the close attention of Finn Harps' defender, Terry Leake, during a League Cup tie at Brandywell.

Oakgrove PS opens doors

A little bit of local educational history will take place soon when Derry’s first integrated primary school, Oakgrove, opens its doors to pupils.

It’s understood seventy pupils have already enrolled.

From Derry Journal of August 1966

Staff of the newly-opened McLaughlin's Menswear outlet at Great James' Street. From left are Joe Brown, Mark Sharkey (manager), Liam Deery, Brian McLaughlin and Amanda Miller.

No Christmas presents - grocers

Members of Strabane Grocers’ Association have decided to end the practice of giving Christmas presents to customers.

This action was taken in view of the financial squeeze, imposition of the pay-roll tax and increased costs generally.

Some members said that the practice involved them in expenditure of up to £300 per year.

It was agreed to seek the co-operation of grocers in surrounding districts in the move and to hold a further meeting at which, it is hoped, grocers from the entire North Tyrone area will be present.

No reprieve for ‘Scotch Boat’

Laura Doherty (8), Rosemount Avenue, Derry, who was runner-up in the Little Miss Northern Ireland competition at Waterworld, Portrush.

The Belfast Steamship Company has turned down an appeal by Derry Harbour Commissioners to reconsider its decision to close the passenger service between Derry and Glasgow next month.

The Commissioners, in their letter to the company, recalled that the Heysham service to Derry was withdrawn in 1963 and, in 1965, the Liverpool service was scrapped.

The withdrawal of these services from the port, said the Commissioners, meant a considerable loss of revenue and, with the discontinuance of the Glasgow passenger service, a further decline in revenue would be experienced.

Derry mum, son win Butlin’s title

Sally McCandless, of Foster’s Terrace, Derry, and her eight year old son, Jim, have been crowned winners of the ‘Mother and Child’ competition at Butlin’s holiday camp at Mosney.

It is the second year Mrs McCandless has been successful in the same competition. Last year, she won with her daughter, Jennifer.

Record catch by Derry angler

While fishing in the Moville Sea Angling Festival, Tom Le Feuvre, Swilly Gardens, Creggan, boated a fish whose weight, if accepted, broke the existing Irish record.

The fish, a mackerel, weighing 3lbs. 5.5oz., has been sent to the Irish Specimen Fish Committee for verification.

The existing record is 3 lbs.