Dignitaries turn out at Carrick school for wartime project finale

Downshire School hosted the finale of the Heritage Lottery Fund Churchill Tank Project on Friday.Pictured is Mrs Boyd and Mr Kirker with Bethan White and Alex Montgomery, original members of Downshire School's "Tank Team". INCT 04-659-CON

Downshire’s “Tank Team” has been part of the four-year project from the beginning and has engaged in a variety of activities including building a full-sized replica of the tank from cardboard, developing educational resources for use by other schools and visitors to Carrick.

The team also represented the school at a host of events including the Conferment of the Freedom of Carrickfergus on the North Irish Horse Regiment.

Guests including Lord O’Neill, MPs Sammy Wilson and Danny Kinahan, Mayor Audrey Wales, Gordon Lyons MLA, Cllr Billy Ashe, representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund, members (past and present) of the NIH regiment, Downshire School governors and visitors from Eden Primary School.

Principal Jackie Stewart outlined how much benefit Downshire pupils and staff had gained from their involvement in the project including a better awareness of war history and technology, building links with the regiment and the social opportunities this created for all involved.