Author: OPC

Wednesday, 4th October 2016:  Mr Mark Lusby: Old Derry

Using old glass plate photographs Mark gave members an illustrated talk on the city in the years during and immediately after the Second World War.  He began by showing rare aerial photos of United States army and navy installations along the Foyle. The main camp for US Servicemen was located on land now occupied by Springtown Industrial estate.   The grounds of the Beech Hill House Hotel was the site of several Quonset [Nissan] Huts, barely visible from the air among the trees.  A large Communications Centre existed where Altnagelvin Hospital now stands and Du Pont occupies the site near Lisahally Docks where Atlantic Convey escort vessels were repaired and made ready for further patrols.   Throughout the war and in the years immediately following farming was the mainstay of the local economy.  There was a thriving market for local produce with considerable quantities being exported by ship and train.   Several old photos showed scenes of activity long since gone from the city, such as “The Beast Market” outside Butcher’s Gate.  Derry’s walls are the largest ancient monument in state care and the only city walls ever to have been fortified twice.  His old photographs recorded that during the troubles access to the walls was restricted by barbed wire entanglements and sand bagged observation posts. Recent photos show how things have moved on.

Wednesday 7 June 2017: Annual Club Outing:  Visit to Londonderry

On a bright sunny morning with the promise of fine weather, 25 members of the Men’s and Ladies Probus Clubs boarded a coach at Omagh Golf Club bound for a day out in Derry.  First stop on arrival at the maiden city was the Warehouse Coffee shop for refreshments before a conducted tour of the Guildhall and the Tower Museum, led by informed and entertaining guides.    This was followed by an “open top” bus tour of the city through the Waterside, over the Foyle Bridge and back to Guildhall Square via the Bogside.   The on-board commentary through the headphones drew attention to many of the landmarks of the troubles including memorials and gable wall artworks.   In the afternoon the party was given an informative talk on the history of the city while walking the walls with a knowledgeable guide.   This included a look inside St Augustine’s Church – “the wee church on the wall”.   Back on the coach the party moved on to Beech Hill Country House Hotel where they learned something of the role played by the house as an garrison for US Forces based in Derry during the Second World War, before sitting down to an enjoyable evening meal.  Thanks were expressed to Club President John McCandless for organising and arranging such an interesting visit to his native city.

Wednesday, 31 May 2017: Desmond Smart: Some Old Words

Club member, Desmond Smart, is a collector of “Old Words” , writing down words that were in common usage in our parents’ and grandparents’ time but little used today.   The meeting had a simple but entertaining format; Desmond would call out a word and Probians would respond by saying if they had ever heard it or used it.  Among those more readily recognised were NEB [beak or nose], OXTER [Armpit], WHEEN [small amount], GIRN [to pull a face] GULDER [shout or roar], BESOM [a broom].   Some words evoked childhood memories, for example BROO [riverbank] on which many members remembered playing and fishing.  SNED was readily associated with the trimming the green tops off turnips – as in snedding turnips and some recalled sitting on a SLIPE [sledge] being pulled along by their grandfather’s horse.  All could recount the stinging bite of CLEGGS [horseflies] and PLOUTERING through GUTTERS wearing WELLIES.   However buried in the vernacular were some unflattering terms for persons such as an untidy girl [a CLART], a contemptible boy [a SCUT], a big stout fellow [a SWAD] and a rough course woman [a HASK].    Other words evoking memories included COOM [turf dust],  SPANG [leap],  STOON [pain], TRUMPERY [bric-a-brac] and DAYLIGONE [twilight]