More information on Old Tech

Many have got in touch to provide new information on pictures published. One such person, Ivan McIntyre, has written the following:

SIR, Read with interest the article in the Ballymoney Times and looked back with fond memories at the photographs shown.

I live in Newcastle, Co Down and happened to be visiting my sister-in-law and brother at the weekend. I appear in two of the photos shown.

The first is of a group - it was taken in May 1957 in the grounds of the old Tech and is those students doing as it was called in those days the commercial course. I appear in the second row on the extreme right.

In those days I was in my third year at the Tech amd remember quite a few of the names of the students around me especially the boys. Eight of the boys including myself went on to teach in other schools in N Ireland.

The bottom picture is of a group which appeared in a one act play at Ballymoney Drama Festival in 1957. The play was called The Countesses Pearls. It won a cup which is proudly displayed in the front row. This was taken I think in late March 1957. I appear third from the left in the back row.

In the back row are four members of staff - Mrs. Moore who taught elocution Mr Compton woodwork Miss McLeod dressmaking and Mr Taylor woodwork. They helped in the production of the play.

Sadly I no longer remember the names of the girls in the front row. In the back row beside Mr Taylor is David Lavery from Portrush and beside him is Roy McMeekin from Ballymoney. The chap on the extreme left is called either Boyle or O’Boyle.

The girls in the middle photo is from a dressmaking class run by Miss McLeod. It must have been taken in and around the same time because I recognise some of them. Sixth from the left is Clair Blair who late went on to teach in Magherafelt Tech and married Tommy Shaw who taught PE in Ballymoney long after I left the area.

I remember my days in the Tech with great pleasure. The teachers were excellent and the grounding we got served me in good stead in my life in teaching.

Hoping this helps a little.

Ivan McIntyre

Meanwhile, Mrs. Eileen Wallace (nee Clinton) has contacted the office to provide us with the names in a recent picture (RIGHT) :

They are: from left, Iris Hume, Sadie Hill, Margaret Carmichael, Anna Barr, Irene Knox, Claire Blair, Georgina Stack, Kathleen Christie, Netta Mitchell, Eileen Clinton, Kathleen McIntyre, Olive Hemphill, Margaret McIlhatton and Mary Faulkner.