Shortfall in funds for Blue Plaque for noted doctor

The Ulster History Circle has issued an appeal for donations to make up a small short-fall in the cost of erecting a Blue Plaque for a West African doctor who lived in Londonderry in the 1940s. The call was made at an event about life of Dr Raphael Armattoe held in The Verbal Arts Centre on Thursday evening. Treasurer of the Ulster History Circle, Patrick Devlin, who announced the Circle’s intention to erect a Blue Plaque later this year in honour of Dr Armattoe, explained “The plaque will be erected on the Northland Road building where Dr Armattoe lived and worked but although we have received a very generous donation to cover most of the cost, the initiative is still short about £300.”

One of the main speakers at the event was Philippa Robinson who has carried out extensive research into the life of the man she described as a medical doctor, a poet, an essayist and a anthropologist. Philippa remarked “I am glad that Dr Armattoe is getting the recognition that he richly deserves, and that this recognition helps mark our appreciation of the diversity that is in our community.”

The evening of short lectures, poetry readings and music was organised by the Holywell Trust’s City Walls Heritage Project funded by the heritage Lottery Fund and Trevor Temple of the Holywell Trust gave a short talk which set Dr Armattoe’s experience in the context of the contribution of other of immigrant communities to our city down through the years.

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One of the people who read extracts from Dr Armattoe’s writings and poetry was Kingsley Harrison Agoha , co-president of the Igbo Association of County Donegal and Kingsley explained the significance of having a Blue Plaque erected in Londonderry to a West African: “Dr Raphael Armattoe lived in Derry and left a lasting legacy for mankind, especially the Africans and other emigrants alike. We the new generations who migrated from Africa , can proudly and safely settle here and be part of this wonderful city of diverse cultural heritage.”

More information on Dr Armattoe can be found on http://www.ulsterbiography.co.uk/ Anyone wishing to help meet the shortfall on the Blue Plaque should contact Carol Wright at the Holywell Trust on 028 7126 1941.