Club President, Felim O’Neill, with Mr Roddy Hackett
The speaker on Wednesday 21st May 2025 was Mr Roddy Hackett reflecting on the life and times of the late Stephen McKenna, teacher, councillor and columnist. Roddy recalled that Stephen’s parents were both from Innisowen in Donegal and his father was a well-known footballer: they came to Omagh and lived initially in Castle Street. Stephen was educated at the local CBS School and later at Queens University, Belfast. At QUB he overlapped with poet Seamus Heaney and with Phil Coulter founded the Glee Club. He even made an appearance on University Challenge. He was intensely interested in the local history of Omagh and became well known for his weekly Raymond Na Hatta column in the Ulster Herald. Stephen was an inveterate traveller taking many vacations in Europe and trips as far afield as Texas.
Club President, Felim O’Neill, with Mr David Kyle-Ewing
The speaker on Wednesday 14th May was club member Mr David Kyle-Ewing, who entitled his talk “My Travels and memories of a lifetime”. The fact that David’s focus was on his early life as an apprentice engineer in Nestle, Omagh and then his service as a marine engineer in the merchant navy took nothing away from a very interesting talk. David acknowledged his path in early life had been influenced by his elder brother Bert who had been in the merchant navy and travelled the world. He shared his sense of adventure and a desire to explore new horizons.
Supported by his mother David took the Board of Trade Exam for entry to the merchant navy and shortly afterwards was offered a position with the Headline Shipping Company based in Belfast. His first voyage was across the Atlantic to Canada and up the St Lawrence seaway into the Great Lakes. Later he joined Frank C Strick & Co Ltd, affectionately known as the “Chevron Line” due to distinctive red, white and blue chevrons on the funnels of its ships. With them David embarked on a trip that took him right round the world calling in South Africa, the Middle East, the Far East, Australia, San Francisco and back to the UK via the Panama Canal. It was on this 16-month voyage that he celebrated his 21st birthday and encountered a tsunami – a terrifying wall of water that engulfed his ship. It made him think that perhaps employ on dry land was a better option and shortly afterwards he left the sea to marry his childhood sweetheart and continue his thirst for travel, camping on the continent and touring Europe in his motor home.
The guest speaker on Wednesday 7th May was Miss Audrey Hodge talking about a recent visit to her niece in California. Having introduced her family to club members – husband, wife and six children – Audrey spoke in general terms about their lifestyle in Thousand Oaks, a city some 40 miles north of downtown Los Angeles and 12 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. The children are home schooled – something not uncommon in their community; they follow an approved curriculum and progress is monitored. University education in California is eye-wateringly expensive, as are most things in California when compared to prices in the UK.
During her visit Audrey celebrated “Thanksgiving” with the family and was treated to some unlikely food dishes, one being sweet potato with marshmallow. A highlight of her stay in California was a visit to the Ronald Reagan Library which at the time was hosting an exhibition of Dead Sea Scrolls. These have fascinated Bible scholars since their discovery in 1947. Most of the Old Testament books are present in one form or another, albeit in fragments. One of the most intact scrolls contains a copy of the Ten Commandments. Audrey illustrated her travels with photographs and clearly has some very happy memories of her visit, but for all that she saw and experienced she would not like to live in California.
The guest on Wednesday 30th April was Mr Don Heaton, a street entertainer originally from Canterbury now residing in Irvinestown. Don regularly brings his guitar and sound system to Omagh where he plays on the High Street. It was on one such visit that club member Jim McBain, impressed by Don’s busking skills, invited him to perform for the Probus club at one of its weekly meetings.
Don readily accepted the invitation and put together a programme of golden oldies well remembered by those present. His playlist included songs by Johnny Cash, John Denver The Everly Brothers, Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan to name but a few.
Between renditions Dons talked about his early life in the Royal Navy aboard HMS Ark Royal where he first picked up a guitar. He did not try his hand at busking until he retired from the post office. His hometown of Canterbury proved to be a good place to start because the city is visited each year by large numbers of tourists generous in their support of street entertainers who are seriously good.
Family ties brought him to Northern Ireland where he now lives and performs in local towns, just for fun, and the joy it brings to those who stop to listen.
Photo below: Mrs Florence Caldwell with Club President, Felim O’Neill.
Wednesday 30th April was the last opportunity for the Club to show its appreciation to Florence for all the support and help she has given the Club during her 39 years employ in the Golf Club. When there were problems with lighting and sound systems, heating and seating, tea, coffee and vending machines to mention only a few of the issues that cropped up from time to time, Florence was always on hand to sort it all out quickly, quietly and efficiently. She will be much missed on any Wednesday morning when new batteries are needed in the microphones! Members offered Florence warm good wishes for a well-earned retirement and presented her with a token of their appreciation.