There are several interesting photographs including one of Mrs Flora Shields handing over the medals her late husband, Major George Shields, to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers’ Museum. Major Shields medals had been stolen in 1964 when they were swiped from a shop during repairs. The turned up in 1980 in the East End of London. Mrs Flora Shields, the major’s widow, agreed to exchange the copies for the originals.
And there is also a photograph of Councillor Cedric Wilson launching the public petition demanding a full judicial inquiry into the Kincora Boys’ Home sex scandal outside the home on the Upper Newtownards Road in Belfast
See who you might see from days gone by.
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5.
Police musicians got into the swing of things in February 1982 when they paraded in new uniforms fore the first time. The special concert by the band of the Royal Ulster Constabulary marked the start of the organisation's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The new concert uniform was modelled on the RUC officers' mess dress. It had a red body and sleeves with black shawl collar, black rifle cuffs and black epaulettes. The finishing touches included white shirts, bow ties, green cumberbunds and black braided trousers. Women members wore white blouses and long black shirts. The programme for the concert at the Garnerville complex in Belfast had been selected by Superintendent Andrew Forbes, director of music of the band. Pictured above, the RUC band wearing new concert uniforms at the special concert held at RUC Garnerville in February 1982. Below, trombonists Christine Murphy, right, and Valerie Trimble, were the only women in the RUC band at that time. Pictures: News Letter archives
6.
Country music star Ann Breen from Downpatrick authographs copies of her latest album for canteen staff during her visit to Belfast's Mater Hospital when she broadcast to patients and staff over the hospital radio in February 1982. Picture: News Letter archives
7.
The High Sheriff of Belfast, Alliance councillor Mrs Muriel Pritchard, fulfils her last official function in February 1982 by launching the Pennies for Poland street collection in the city centre, with a donation received by Dr Jadwiga Procha Grimshaw, a representative of the Polish community in Northern Ireland. Picture: News Letter archives
8.
In February 1982 students pleaded with Northern Ireland MPs to bury their differences and unite in a stand again the government's policy on higher education. The call came as hundreds of students left their books behind and marches to the City Hall in Belfast in a mass demonstration against their “economic crisis”. The main speaker was David Aaronovitch, president of the National Union of Students, who said: “What we want now is for the MPs to lend their support and forget sectarian politics to fight an issue which is important to all students.” The main anger was directed at the government which was proposing to raise grants by four per cent, while inflation was running at 12 per cent. Mr Aaronovitch said that if the planned increase was effected the student grant would be at its lowest level since 1962 when it was first introduced.