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Mr. Joe Kennedy was able
to name a number of the people in the 1938 picture.
Front row from left - Jim Smyth; ? Fleeton; ?; ?
Courtney; J. Todd; W. Marks; ? Taggart; Tom Marks; ?
Henderson; ? Hall; ? Martin; A Dawson; Joe Kennedy; Jim
Hanna; ? McClatchey; Walter Allen. He was also able to
name some of the teachers - from left - M. Patterson; ?;
Mr. Craig; Miss Graham; Mr. Anderson; Miss Strothers;
Mr. Waring; Miss Kerr; Mr. Cecil Webb; Miss Jefferson;
Mr. Robinson; Miss Bowden; Mr. McCormick; Miss Fletcher;
Mr. Downing; Mr. Colin Webb. Other faces he recognised
include D Sergeant Bruce; William Cowan; Ivor McCormick;
Carson Simpson; F. Morgan; ? Elliott; K. Maze; Kathleen
Megarry; Roberta McBride; Ina Bryans.
The photograph was originally supplied to the Star by
Mr. Cecil Corken of Alanbrooke Avenue. US36-701 SP. |
THE pictures of staff and students at Lisburn College in
the late 1930's which appeared in the Star two weeks ago have
brought memories flooding back for a number of people who
feature in them.
The 1938 photograph caught the eye of both Mr. Joe Kennedy
(one of the students) and Mrs. Agnes Adams, formerly Miss
Graham (one of the teachers).
Mr. Kennedy who now lives in Lisnagarvey Drive is fourth
from the right in the front row.
He began his career at the college in 1938 when he was just
16 and at that stage had no idea he would not finally leave
the Castle Street building until his retirement in 1982.
Miss Graham was already a teacher at 'The Tech' as the Second World War loomed and in later years Mr.
Kennedy became one of her professional colleagues.
He explained he completed his junior examinations and was
starting work on more senior qualifications when the beginning
of the conflict provided the opportunity to use machines in
the college for the war effort.
Mr. Kennedy was one of seven students who took part in this
scheme and was paid seven shillings and six pence per week.
"We were making parts for Harland and Wolff's, Shortt and
Harland's and Ferguson's factory out at Moira," he explained.
"These included mechanical parts for ships, parts for
aircraft and parts for anti-aircraft Beaufort guns."
After the war ended Mr. Kennedy was asked to stay on at the
college.
He became a full time member of the teaching staff and
remained so until his retirement 36 years later.
"I've been 22 years retired and I'm now 82 but I can say I
thoroughly enjoyed my time at the College," he added.
Mrs. Adams is fourth from the left in the second row of the
same picture.
She explained she taught at 'The Tech' for six years before
leaving to have her two daughters.
She returned after 12 years and was eventually invited to
move to Fort Hill Girls High School when it opened in the
early 1960's.
"I looked after business studies and then careers as well,"
she recalled.
"I also became a counsellor at the school and I can
honestly say I had a very happy teaching career." Miss Graham
came originally from the Dromara area and drove every day from
her father's farm to her post in Lisburn as her mother was not
happy at the prospect of her staying in the town.
She became Mrs. Adams when she married Mr. William Adams
who returned to Northern Ireland after managing a factory in
England which employed 1,000 women.
The couple brought up their two daughters in Clonevin Park
before moving to Belsize Road.
She now lives at Duncan's Road and is the mother in law of
local architect Mr. Des Clayton.
Although aged 90 she enjoys good health and is still able
drive her Subaru car, which she uses to visit the centre of
Lisburn and to attend her place of worship in Hillsborough.
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