Archive (138 life histories found)
'Bowling knows no class or creed, it is a big happy family, and that family extends right across the world in the many countries where the game is played.
Despite living in Glengormley and having a very busy working week, I always looked forward to my Saturday afternoon game of bowls, played between April and September, representing the Carrickfergus Club which I joined in 1951. In those days, bowls…
'It's never too late to shine. Reach for your own personal star,it's worth it.'
I was one of the first to sit the dreaded 11 plus exam,which I failed,even though I was on the borderline to pass. This affected me deeply as I thought I had let my parents down. However,it also motivated me to work hard and take an interest in…
Tags: 11plus exam, courses, driving tests, family, marriage
'I thought I was the star of the silver screen and dreamed my dreams of becoming a famous film star.'
Our house was always full of people at weekends. My granny had four sisters,mother,Maggie,Rachel and Lucy who all lived locally and congregated in gran's to catch up with the local gossip. The night usually ended with a sing song,as everyone in the…
'A lesson for life: Never point a gun or rifle at anybody, especially yourself, unless you mean it.'
There ends a short version of my life. There are many things that I remember. My oldest brother,my uncle Franz,whom I last saw in the concentration camp,both of them perishing in the gas chamber? (assumption). No records were available after the war.…
'Imagine trying to sell Newry as a shopping destination at the height of the troubles! '
All my life I have been involved with various organisations covering cultural, charitable and business. On the business side, I spent almost 20 years with Newry Chamber of Trade holding the posts of PRO and President. Imagine trying to sell Newry as…
'I am often asked 'wouldn 't you have loved a boy?' and my reply is always 'I wouldn 't swap one of them for 10 boys!!' '
As I look back on my life, or on that part of it that I have lived up to now, I believe that I have been blessed. I have been blessed with good health and we all know that 'your health is your wealth'. I have one or two small irritations associated…
Tags: Carlin Records, family, Family Business, Health, marriage, travel
'I have tried my best to live my life according to these standards and to pass them on to my children. '
Honesty, integrity, respect, reliability, good manners - these are the values that were instilled in me from an early age. First of all by my Parents, then at school and, as I grew up, by the teachings of the church. I have tried my best to live my…
Tags: family, Good Manners, Honesty, Intergity, Reliability, religion, Respect, school
'Growing up we were taught that pride was a sin or that 'pride comes before a fall ' but I don 't believe in that all now. '
Growing up we were taught that pride was a sin or that 'pride comes before a fall' but I don't believe in that all now. I think we should take pride in our achievements while at the same time acknowledging that our talents come from God. I am really…
'We thought we were very sophisticated and 'pretty cool ' but our waitress saw through us right away and said 'you 're on your honeymoon ' '
Women are usually better at answering these questions than men, but I do remember a lot of the wedding day. At my mother's insistence, all the men were in morning suits, top hats, tails, gloves - the whole works. Although Joan and I resisted, we…
Tags: family, Fashion, food, Foodball, friends, Gordon Banks, Hillman Imp, Honeymoon, Music, Pre-Wedding Course, religion, Showbands, Troubles, wedding, World Cup
'I had education from the university of 'hard knocks ' '
In April, 1961 - just before my 16th birthday - my father opened his own retail business. I went in to help in the shop after school, on Saturdays and during that year's summer holidays. I never went back in September. I just loved working in the…
Tags: Education, family, Family Business, Retail, work