Old Boys' Newsletter 2015

Old Boys’ Association Newsletter April 2016 President’s Welcome and Report

Welcome to the fourth edition of the Belfast Royal Academy Old Boys’ Association Newsletter. I am the third President to be elected from the Grammar School first form intake of September 1955 with previous Presidents being John McGimpsey and Geoff Simon. This may be some reflection of our school days and the fine works of our form master the late Mr J. A. Paul who taught history and was also responsible for the cricket team of that year.

The under 14 cricket side photograph of 1957 (below) contains all three future Presidents along with Mr Paul and memories of an extremely well organised side with John McGimpsey as captain are still fresh in my mind. On one occasion a victory in Downpatrick was well celebrated when Jimmy Paul bought ice cream for the entire team and scorer! This was deeply appreciated by all concerned on a fine sunny day.

Continuing on the cricket theme it is with great pleasure that I remind members of the success of the Andrew Forbes first eleven in winning the Ulster Bank Schools’ Cricket Cup in the June of my year. This unique occasion was reported in the Belfast Telegraph by Ian Callender who is one of the Province’s most eminent sports reporters and at the time of writing he is in India reporting on the Cricket 20/20 World Cup. He is also responsible for one of this year’s articles from Old Boys.

Golf News

Picken Cup at Malone G.C. Thursday 18th June 2015 – Winner: Sheldon Coulter Iain Knox's Captain’s Day at Royal Belfast G.C. Friday 11th September 2015 – Winner: James Beattie Ferguson Cup for best aggregate score over two outings – Winner: Adrian Brown Provisional dates for 2016 competitions are: Thursday 16th June 2016 at Malone GC and Friday 9th September 2016 at Royal Belfast GC To book your place, please contact Ken Knox: e-mail ken@cd-group.com or Iain Knox iainknox@cd-group.com

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Old Boys’ Association Newsletter 2016

Ian Brick

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It is with deep sadness that I mention the passing of Ian Brick.

I first came into contact with him on the School trip to Paris in 1959 when Ian was an accompanying Prefect and one of the “older boys”. The visit was in the capable hands of teachers Perrins, Davies and Snowball and their fine arrangements were expedited by some senior boys including Ian who kept the less mature travellers in order in a way that was appreciated by all concerned. It was not realised at the time that Ian was only a few months older than the major body of the group!

Ian was also an excellent rugby player and although kept out of the hooking position in the first fifteen by the very talented “Spike” Turney he went on to Captain a second fifteen that played fourteen, won eleven, drew three and lost no games in the season 1958-59. This was probably the most successful second fifteen ever and the school magazine of the time described the team as “unique” and “I. Brick led the forwards intelligently by example and vocally.” This was a rugby year that had two future Internationals in Ken Houston and Sam Hutton in the ably lead first fifteen under the ubiquitous Eddie Hilditch. It was only Ian’s amazingly early entrance to Queen’s University Belfast that prevented him from further advancement in the School Rugby Club.

His subsequent success in business and life is well noted and sincere condolences are offered to the entire family circle. The following obituary appeared in the Belfast Telegraph on 13 July 2015: Dr Ian Brick died on July 5 aged 72 after a long battle with cancer. Dr Brick was born in Belfast, in 1942, to humble beginnings in a two-up, two-down house with an outside toilet in Rosebery Street. He was the son of an insurance salesman and grandson of an east Belfast joiner, who worked in the shipyard and on the construction of Parliament Buildings at Stormont. In 1959, at the remarkably young age of 16, he went to Queen's University, Belfast, initially to study medicine, but later transferring to physiology, graduating with honours in 1964 and gaining his PhD in pharmacology in 1967.

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Ian and his wife moved to England after their wedding in 1968 and lived there for 10 years, while Ian rose rapidly through the ranks of ICI. In 1977 the family moved to Dublin and Ian started work for ICP. A career opportunity with the company took the family to the United States in December 1984.

They lived in Connecticut for two years until Ian began working in Nashville in 1987, which became their home base. In 1990 Ian founded the company Pharmaceutical Laboratory Services (PLS) in Baltimore, Maryland, which he eventually sold in 1994 and began an early retirement. After many years of hard work, Ian and Katherine began travelling and meeting friends in every country. They became very involved in the Nashville community, helping to twin Belfast and Nashville as sister cities in 1996.

Ian was also a founding member of Queen's University's Foundation Board, where he worked to raise $160m and remained active with the university until Katherine's untimely death in 2008. In 2011, Ian was honoured for his service to Northern Ireland education services by being appointed an officer of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire.

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It is as president of the Students' Union that 'Brickie' is best remembered and it was then that he met his beloved Katherine. He later donated $1million to Queen's to renovate the Students' Union, and the union bar, Brickie's, was named after them.

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Old Boys’ OldAssociation Boys’ Association Newsletter Newsletter 2016 3 2016 3

IanIan Callender Callender 1971—1976 1971—1976

Having Having ‘sailed ‘sailed through’ through’ primary primary school school – one–of one theofbest thein best theinclass! the class!

– passing – passing the the 11+11+ waswas always always seenseen as a as formality a formality so BRA, so BRA, my nearest my nearest grammar grammar school, school, waswas alsoalso going going to betothe be place the place of my ofsecondary my secondary level level education. education.

After After that, Ithat, I mustmust confess, confess, it allitwent all went downhill downhill fast. fast.

It was It was certainly certainly no fault no fault of the ofteachers the teachers at theatAcademy; the Academy; ratherrather it wasitmy waslack my lack of application. of application.

If not If interested not interested in a subject, in a subject, I wasI invariably was invariably left behind left behind and toand to thisthis day,day, for example, for example, I findI find Science Science a bore! a bore!

Fortunately, Fortunately, I wasIalways was always good at good at Mathematics Mathematics and and English English Language; Language; with with the latter the latter ensuring ensuring I haveI been have able been able to make to make a career a career out of outjournalism. of journalism.

From From BRA BRA I went I went to the to College the College of Business of Business journalism journalism pre-entry pre-entry course, course, thanks thanks to a to last-minute a last-minute pull pull out. out.

ThereThere was an was intake an intake of 12of back 12 in back 1979 in (the 1979 (the mostmost famous famous was,was, one,one, Eamonn Eamonn Holmes) Holmes) and apparently and apparently I wasINo. was13.

No.It13. It proved proved lucky lucky for me for because, me because, five five days days before before the first the day firstofday term, of term, I received I received a a callcall inviting inviting me onto me onto the course. the course.

It was It was the most the most enjoyable enjoyable year year of my oflife. my life.

I loved I loved everyevery minute minute of every of every coursecourse and always and always remember remember being the being the firstfirst one one in and in and my task my task was was to collect to collect the papers the papers from from the nearby the nearby newsagent newsagent every every morning. morning.

I read them I readvorathem voraciously, ciously, always always starting starting at theatback the back with with sportsport – cricket – cricket and football and football my first mylove. first love.

I don’t I don’t think think anyone anyone was was guaranteed guaranteed a jobaatjob theatend theofend theofcourse the course but anyone but anyone who wanted who wanted one, I believe, one, I believe, got got oneone and and a week a week afterafter my last my day last in day Brunswick in Brunswick StreetStreet I wasIsitting was sitting in thein Carrickfergus the Carrickfergus Advertiser Advertiser as Sports as Sports Edi- Editor. tor.

TheThe titletitle waswas grander grander thanthan the job the–job I was – I the wasonly the only person person writing writing sport sport – but from – but day from one day it was one it mywas taskmy to task fill to fill the the three, three, sometimes sometimes fourfour (!) sports (!) sports pages. pages.

Under Under the editorship the editorship of theof brilliant the brilliant John Rooks, John Rooks, who had who forgotten had forgotten more more about about reporting reporting thanthan I would I would ever ever know, know, it wasitthe wasperfect the perfect start for start any forwould-be any would-be journalist. journalist.

As the As weekthe weekly paper ly paper to the to Newsletter, the Newsletter, it proved it proved a natural a natural progression progression to Donegall to Donegall StreetStreet and three and years three later yearsI later joinedI joined the the NL NL StaffStaff as a as sub-editor a sub-editor in theinnews the news department. department.

FourFour years years later,later, I gotI my got dream my dream movemove to thetosports the sports desk desk and, by and, 1989, by 1989, I was Icricket was cricket correspondent, correspondent, covering covering Ireland’s Ireland’s matches matches at home at home and, and, whenwhen expenses expenses and cover and cover on theon‘desk’ the ‘desk’ allowed, allowed, away. away.

My My firstfirst overseas overseas trip was trip was to Zimbabwe to Zimbabwe in 1991, in 1991, a three a three week week tour with tour my with most my vivid most memory vivid memory dictating dictating copy copy oneone Friday Friday evening, evening, via an viaoperator, an operator, on a on crackly a crackly landline landline from from one public one public phonephone at the cricket at the cricket ground.ground.

My 400My 400 words words report report mustmust havehave takentaken half an halfhour! an hour!

I haveI have no idea no who idea paid whofor paid thefor call! the call!

HowHow times times havehave changed changed in theinlast the 25 lastyears.

25 years.

Now Now you never you never speakspeak to the to sports’ the sports’ desk; everything desk; everything is doneisbydone e- by emailmail or text or text and,and, fromfrom Ireland Ireland playing playing five or five sixorgames six games a yeara and yeargoing and going on touronevery tour every three or three fouroryears, four they years, they are are nownow playing playing up toup40togames 40 games a year, a year, with with moremore gamesgames in ourinwinter our winter than summer than summer all around all around the world. the world.

Indeed, Indeed, suchsuch was was the exponential the exponential rise in rise Ireland in Ireland matches matches that before that before the 2007 the World 2007 World Cup finals Cup in finals the West in theInWest Indies,dies, I took I took redundancy redundancy fromfrom the News the News LetterLetter – they– had theyjust hadmoved just moved from Belfast from Belfast to Carn toand, Carnno-way, and, no-way, was I was I going going to travel to travel 75 miles 75 miles a daya –day and, – and, in another in another goodgood break,break, was immediately was immediately appointed appointed cricketcricket correspondent correspondent for the for Belfast the Belfast Telegraph Telegraph on a on freelance a freelance basis.basis.

TheThe move move has has allowed allowed me to mereport to report on the onsuccessful the successful Ireland Ireland team at team eight at world eight world cups –cups the most – therecent, most recent, the the World World Twenty20 Twenty20 in India in India in March, in March, my third my third visit despite visit despite my dislike my dislike of theof food! the food!

My passport My passport also shows also shows visits visits to Australia, to Australia, NewNew Zealand, Zealand, South South Africa, Africa, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bangladesh, UAE,UAE, Canada, Canada, Namibia, Namibia, Kenya,Kenya, Barbados, Barbados, JaJamaica, maica, Trinidad, Trinidad, Guyana Guyana and closer and closer to home, to home, the Netherlands, the Netherlands, SpainSpain and ,even, and ,even, Cyprus.

Cyprus.

It’s It’s beenbeen a wonderful a wonderful journey journey and, and, with with Ireland Ireland now on now theonway theto way possible to possible Test Cricket Test Cricket status,status, it is a journey it is a journey which which stillstill has has far to farrun. to run.

Maybe Maybe it’s it’s just just as well as well that that I always I always enjoyed enjoyed watching watching cricket cricket more more than playing than playing it, andit, those and days thoseofdays scoring of scoring matches matches at BRA at BRA havehave not been not been entirely entirely wasted. wasted.

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4 Old 4 Boys’ Old Boys’ Association Association Newsletter Newsletter 20162016

REUNIONS REUNIONS 1966 1966

On On Friday Friday 8th 8th April, April, a 50a 50 year year Reunion Reunion of of leavers leavers fromfrom 1966 1966 tooktook place place in School. in School.

Including Including some some staffstaff from from the the 1960s, 1960s, over over 70 70 people people were were prepresent,sent, withwith many many travelling travelling from from places places outside outside Northern Northern Ireland Ireland such such as England, as England, Scotland, Scotland, KenKenya and ya and Singapore.

Singapore.

Those Those attending attending assembled assembled in the in the afternoon afternoon in in thethe Library, Library, where where lively lively conversation conversation was was accompaaccompaniednied by music by music from from thethe School School String String Quartet.

Quartet.

Following Following a short a short speech speech from from thethe Headmaster, Headmaster, the the attendees attendees enjoyed enjoyed a School a School tour, tour, an an evening evening reception reception in the in the Library Library andand a buffet a buffet supper supper in in thethe Jackson Jackson Suite.

Suite.

There There waswas a marvellous a marvellous atmosphere atmosphere throughout throughout the the dayday andand the the Reunion Reunion proved proved to be to be a wondera wonderful occasion, ful occasion, thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed enjoyed by by allall who who were were present, present, some some returning returning to School to School forfor thethe first first timetime in 50 in years!

50 years!

1995 1995

OnOn Saturday Saturday27th 27thJune June2015, 2015,the theclass classofof’95 ’95held held their their 2020year yearreunion. reunion.Around Around60 60former formerpupils pupils gathered gatheredatatthe theschool schoolfor forananice icecream creamreception, reception, followed followedbybya ashort shorttalk talkbybythe theheadmaster. headmaster. Off Off wewe allallwent wentonona aschool schooltour tourand andofofcourse courseitit seemed seemedlike likeonly onlyyesterday yesterdaythat thatwe wewere werewalking walking thethe very verysame samecorridors corridorsgoing goingtotoclass. class.

After After reminiscing reminiscingatatthe theschool schoolwe weheaded headedinto into Belfast Belfasttoto2121Social Socialfor forsome somemore morerefreshments refreshments and and anan inter-house inter-housequiz, quiz,won wonby byCairns.

Cairns.

The The stories storiesand andmemories memorieskept keptflooding floodingback backlate late into into thethenight. night.Looking Lookingforward forwardtotothe the25th 25thReReunion union inin2020!

2020!

AA bigbig thank-you thank-youtotoallallwho whoattended attendedororsent senttheir their best best wishes wishesfrom fromother othershores. shores.Thanks Thanksmust mustgo goto to Claire Claire McGimpsey, McGimpsey,Michael MichaelBennett, Bennett,Michael Michael McDowell McDowelland andGeorge GeorgeArmstrong Armstrongwho whohelped helped organise organisethe theday dayand andofofcourse courseLouis LouisCampbell, Campbell, who who helped helpedususgreatly greatlyjust justlike likehehedid did20 20years years ago! ago!

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