Cathedral Youth Club celebrate at gala night

Members past and present, young and old, enjoyed the get together, and among the guests was guest speaker, Liam Curran, Youth Officer at the Western Education and Library Board, who praised the leaders of the club for the many innovative projects they had run over the past four decades reflecting the local history, the Protestant identity and culture in the Fountain estate.

Mr Curran said it was of “paramount importance” that young people were aware of their history and background, and that they learned how to process both in a positive and constructive way.

In a light-hearted speech, Mr Curran recalled how, in the 1970s he was a member and volunteer youth worker at Long Tower Youth Club, and recalled Frankie Campbell and Peter McGowan, both now deceased, talking to CYC founder David Warke, about the newly founded WELB, and what grants were available to pay leaders, buy equipment and help with the costs of buildings: “There was no persuading David to apply for the funds, indeed, it was Frankie Campbell who then asked the Divisional Youth Officer at the time, Frank McGinley, to approach David. David’s approach was that Cathedral YC was self-sufficient and that remains the case to this day,” he said, before going on to pay humorous tribute to Jeanette Warke for her dogged determination to find funding for all manner of imaginative projects she has run.

“I have directed funds to Jeanette’s many cross-community and cross-cultural projects, because it is also of paramount importance that young people are aware of other histories, backgrounds and cultures, and that they learn how to accept diversity and understand what has shaped the world around them,” he said, adding: “Cathedral Youth Club has been a home to both of these types of learning, from the 1970s to this day. Cathedral Youth Club has played a crucial role in society during the turbulent years of trouble. it is hard to enumerate the number of young people who were diverted from harm, risk and imprisonment by virtue of their involvement with the youth club,” he said.

The Dean of Derry, Very Rev Dr William Morton, said the anniversary was a “significant, important and historic anniversary” and paid tribute to his predecessors, Dean George Good and Dean Cecil Orr for the commitment they showed when it came to the club.

The official welcome to the gala night was performed by Jeanette Warke, current CYC manager, and following a buffet supper the Belfray Show Team performed and there was dancing to the band The Spangles.

l See Pages 4, 21, 22 and 23.