Probus Remembers 13 November 2024

Omagh Probus Club, Wednesday 13 November 2024
Speaker: Mr Richard Scott, Topic: Remembrance

Each year on the Wednesday closest to Remembrance Sunday, Omagh Probus Club invites a speaker with a connection to those who served their county and who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The guest of Honour on Wednesday 13 November 2024 was Mr Richard Scott, MBE, one of the founders of MAPS [Military and Police Support] Omagh. As an ex-police officer in both the RUC and PSNI and former Chair of Omagh British Legion, Richard has a long association with families affected by conflicts recent and past.

His own experience of the being on duty on the day of the Omagh Bomb in August 1998 has shown him that traumatic memories are a constant presence in the minds of those who have had to deal with traumatic events.  Often such feelings are better expressed in poetry than prose and he recited some verses written by Club President Felim O’Neill to tellingly make the point.

MAPS is a voluntary organisation supported by some 30 volunteers who daily, lend a listening ear to those who drop in, because talking helps to quell the demons that disturb sleep and rob the innocent of peace of mind.  Maps has helped over 1000 persons since its formation and has won recognition and awards [MBE’s for its founders] and in 2017 The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award, crowned this year by the NI Veterans Group of the Year Award 2024.

Richard was thanked for his memorable contribution to the Club on a day when members looked back at the service and losses of friends and family.