Father’s Day treat for alderman

DUP councillor Graham and his wife, Kim, were preparing to celebrate Fathers Day and their seventh wedding anniversary at their Newbuildings home, when their second child decided to make it’s debut in the world - about a week early.

Instead of a quiet family meal and cozy evening together, Graham and Kim barely had enough time to welcome their eight-year-old daughter Katelyn home from a weekend sleepover with her grandma Jeanette Warke in Castlerock, before heading to Altnagelvin maternity unit, where, at 10.30pm, the couple welcomed a baby boy into the world.

Ollie David Warke weighed a healthy 7lbs 7oz and is the first boy to be born in the Warke family for 16 years.

He is only the second grandson to be born to Jeanette Warke’s family. The first grandson is 16-year-old Alex, who is the son of Trevor and Janice Warke who also live in Newbuildings.

“Our daughter Katelyn chose the name Ollie and we chose David after my late father,” said proud dad, Graham.

“We knew we were having a boy but kept it to ourselves until Christmas, when we told Katelyn and then the rest of our family and friends.

“There was great excitement when Katelyn got home on Sunday and discovered she was about to become a big sister. We literally had to run out the door and Katelyn had to stay with her grandma.

“The family has been waiting a long time for another male addition to the family. There are five granddaughters and Ollie’s birth means we now have two boys in the family.

“My mother is over the moon to have a new grandson to keep the family name going. Ollie is proving to be a great baby.

“He is sleeping well and is the image of Katelyn when she was that age.”