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Dalriada extra-curricular pic thumbnails

19520411 19520411 thumbnail This hardly qualifies to be included. Although perhaps a few of those present might have been at Dalriada prep at that time, it was later that most of us attended the main grammar school. It was taken at a birthday party in the garden of the other Carsons behind the premises of R & J Young in Market Street, on Friday 11th April 1952. I don't know which of the three residents was celebrating their birthday on that occasion. This was scanned from a print belonging to Myra Stevenson.
Standing, back row, L to R: Maire Carson, Rowland Carson (me), John Black, Patricia Campbell, Norma Brewster, John Maconaghie.
Sitting, front row, L to R: Ivor Boyd, Myra Stevenson, Judith McElderry, Fionnuala Carson, Ann Maconaghie, Helen Campbell, Penny Sanderson, Niall Carson.
19520614 19520614 thumbnail As with the previous picture, many of those here went on to attend Dalriada later. This is the party for my 7th birthday, on Saturday 14th June 1952 (2 days before my actual birthday) on the tennis court at Osmond House. This was scanned from a print belonging to Myra Stevenson.
Standing, back row, L to R: Ivor Boyd, Maire Carson, Rowland Carson (me, looking disgustingly proprietorial!), Bryce Curry, Richard Millar, Alan Moore, ?, Dierdre Compton, Malcom Elliot, ?, John Black, Betty Curry, ?, Victor McElfatrick, Lex Erskine, ?, John Wallace.
Sitting, front row, L to R: Maureen Erskine(?), Niall Carson, Elizabeth McElfatrick, Myra Stevenson, ?, Fionnuala Carson, Desmond Compton, Clifford Carson (note matching cardigan to Rowland).
Giants Causeway Giants Causeway thumbnail This scanned image was supplied by Alex Atkinson, who started at Dalriada 3 years earlier than me, in 1954.

L to R: Desmond Millen, Martyn Lewis, Alex Atkinson
Neg 042 neg042 thumbnail David Wallace (L) and John Pinkerton during the geography tour. I think the hat David's wearing belonged to me. I do not know what was in the bottle!
Neg 043 neg043 thumbnail "You'll always find Gallaghers Blues" - David Wallace (L) and John Pinkerton during the geography tour.
Neg 044 neg044 thumbnail Hilary McClelland & Martin Lewis enjoying the geography tour.
Neg 355 neg355 thumbnail During the geography tour I glanced out of the bus window as we headed towards Ballycastle and noticed that Knocklayde appeared to be erupting, courtesy of an odd-shaped orographic cloud formation. I didn't have a yellow filter, so the contrast in the sky is poor and my attempts to improve it have resulted in a rather "posterised" appearance in some browsers. This image is included specially for John Pinkerton, who, 40 years after, still remembered this bit of serendipity!
Neg 048 neg048 thumbnail Trevor Boyd (foreground) and Martin Neill hunkering down the Grey Man's Path at Fair Head on the Geography tour. Several of us went down this way to the foot of Fair Head and clambered over the huge rocks near sea level round to Murlough Bay where we met the bus again. The rest of the party went along the top of Fair Head.
Neg 061 neg061 thumbnail On the second day of the geography tour, the brakes on the bus failed and the driver went through the dike on a hairpin bend to stop it. We think this was in the Spelga Pass near the Silent Valley reservoir.
Neg 064 neg064 thumbnail The bus crash on the geography tour. For some reason, I have tilted the camera to bring the bus almost square in the frame. Note how far it is really tilted over, by reference to the figures on the right!
Neg 354 neg354 thumbnail Geography tour bus crash. David Wallace at left looking into the distance, near him Patricia Calvert with sleeveless jacket. David Holmes central with grey sweater walking L-to-R. Beyond him Martin Neill furthest away in dark sweater. Next right Douglas Cochran, grey sweater, then probably Mr Sinclair ("Lulu") with his back to the camera. Sam Harris extreme right. No-one was injured, although several suffered from shock. We were miles from anywhere and so hung around waiting for replacement transport. Strangely, it wasn't raining!
Neg 185 neg185 thumbnail During one Easter holiday a geography walk over Orra was organised. I don't remember if it went ahead despite or because of the snowfall! Roger Cromey at left, others unknown.
Neg 220 neg220 thumbnail School camp on Rathlin Island. Back row, squatting, L to R: Brian Baker, Dennis Martin. Front row, lying down, L to R: Philip Scott, John Strong, Colin "Mooshie" Boyd, Ivan Patrick, Dessie McLarnon, ?. The diagonal line is a tent-rope. This was one of the days that the sun shone!
Neg 224 neg224 thumbnail On one of the rainy days during the school camp on Rathlin, we walked all the way from the campsite (between the east lighthouse and Bruce's Cave) to the west lighthouse near Bull Point (and back!). Brian Baker is on the left with the beret. For some of us, this was one of those "Are we having fun yet?" experiences ...
Neg 173 neg173 thumbnail Rowland Carson & John Strong, either at the school camp on Rathlin or perhaps at a Scout camp somewhere else entirely.
Neg 249 neg249 thumbnail The Conspirators - according to the programme of the December 1962 Julius Caesar production there were indeed 8 of us, but someone seems to have gone missing. Like neg 250, this is an over-enlargement of the centre of the negative. L to R: 1, Sam Harris; 2, unknown 3, Roger McMullan; 4, Eddie Coils; 5, Malcolm Elliot; 6, David Ginn; 7, Rowland Carson (me). The other 2 names were Shaun Gillen and Peter Stewart, neither of whom I can associate with the blurred features of number 2.
Neg 250 neg250 thumbnail The Romans - a selection of the boys associated with the Julius Caesar production, some with authentic haircuts. Taken by someone else, who didn't get close enough (so this is only a small central section of the negative). Despite this, maybe you can decipher a few faces - some of the following identifications are tentative. Standing, L to R: 1, Chris Dyer; 2, Archie McKeeman; 6, Roger Cromey; 7, Sam Harris; 8, Rowland Carson (me); 9, Malcolm Elliot; 12, William Kyle; 17, Roger McMullan; 19, Aldwyn Calderwood. Squatting, L to R: 1, George Harris; 4, Elmer Andrews; 6, David Blair. Note the affectation of my blazer buttoned only on the bottom button, and the black crew-neck sweater. The latter was a variation on the school uniform allowed during the production. I think it was really only the stage team who were entitled to this relaxation, so as a cast member I was pushing my luck, but I thought it looked so cool.
Neg 252 neg252 thumbnail Either setting up or taking down lights etc for the Shakespeare play in the Assembly Hall. Mr McGivern is holding the stepladder, and Alan Reynolds is to the right in the white coat.
Neg 040 neg040 thumbnail The Guitar Group outside the school gate. L to R: Rowland Carson (electronics), Pete Colgan (lead guitar), David Wallace (bass guitar), Robert Rock (drums), Aldwyn Calderwood (rhythm guitar). They had performed in the school concert earlier in the evening, but after the stage appearance, we had a jam session in the music room which was audible over later acts, and we got a severe telling-off from Jim Magowan.
Slide 007 slide 007 thumbnail The School trip to Paris, July 1963, was the first time I'd been outside the UK. I remember the cost of the whole trip was 30 pounds. Most of the pictures from that trip, taken with my new 35mm Agfa Silette on 160ASA High-Seed Ektachrome, are the usual tourist scenes, but a very few have members of the School party visible. We travelled by train & boat, and across London by coach. I can't remember doing it, but apparently we covered some of the tourist traps en-route, as here are plenty of Dalriada uniforms outside Buckingham Palace. Among the left-hand bunch of girls appears to be teacher Billy Nicholl (glasses & bald head).
Slide 022 slide 022 thumbnail During School trip to Paris, July 1963, while crossing London by coach. More Dalriada uniforms outside Buckingham Palace. Brian McIlroy at left, centre right looks like the back of Sam Harris's head, and I recognise but can't name the girl on the right.
Slide 017 slide 017 thumbnail During School trip to Paris, July 1963. Enjoying the sunshine and bracing breeze on the cross-channel ferry. This was the outbound trip; the ship's wake with the white cliffs in the background, and the direction of the sun are good cues; but I clearly remember that the weather on the return crossing was much less pleasant than this! Left is Colin "Mooshie" Boyd and beyond him I think Philip McGivern.
Slide 021 slide 021 thumbnail During School trip to Paris, July 1963. "Voulez-vous buvez avec moi ...?". Teachers Pat Gillespie and Don Wright sharing a simple repast on one of the trains. The shape of the bread and the fact that the drink is wine, not tea, makes me think that this train was in France, not England or Ireland! Note Pat's STS badge - the trip was arranged through Schools Travel Service.
Slide 002 slide 002 thumbnail During School trip to Paris, July 1963. Taken in the dining room at the boarding school where we stayed. That's me on the left, with my face almost hidden while drinking a glass of water. In the foreground, pulling a face, it looks like Brian McIlroy.
Slide 006 slide 006 thumbnail During School trip to Paris, July 1963. Taken in the dining room at the boarding school where we stayed. Patricia Calvert, dark hair, centre. Was my reputation as a photographer really as fearsome as the other girl's reaction seems to suggest? On the right with the handkerchief, is Philip Stevenson.
Slide 019 slide 019 thumbnail During School trip to Paris, July 1963. Taken in the dining room at the boarding school where we stayed. Philip Stevenson bottom left; teachers Pat Gillespie and Don Wright central a couple of rows away, both looking to the left. I recognise but can't put names to any of the other faces.
Slide 001 slide 001 thumbnail During School trip to Paris, July 1963. This was taken either at the boarding school where we stayed or perhaps at one of the places we visited. Here I recognise teachers Don Wright (centre with sunglasses) and Pat Gillespie (dark hair, white dress, 3rd from right), but can't remember any other names.
Slide 020 slide 020 thumbnail During School trip to Paris, July 1963. This was taken either at the boarding school where we stayed or perhaps at one of the places we visited. Left of centre, arms akimbo in the blue shirt, is French teacher Warnock Robinson. Just visible over his shoulder is Rosemary Page. Teacher Billy Nicholl (grey jacket, balding, glasses) is striding away towards the right and at the extreme right is teacher Don Wright.
Slide 024 slide 024 thumbnail During School trip to Paris, July 1963. Students of French culture will be able to tell me where this is; I surmise it's something to do with Napoleon & Josephine. Almost the only visible face is Elizabeth Holmes, far right.
Slide 015 slide 015 thumbnail During School trip to Paris, July 1963. Re-fuelling at a pavement cafe. This demonstrates again my knack for capturing unrecognisable aspects of people. The face on the right with the French bread and the orange I know; but as she was in a class junior to mine her name would have been unfamiliar to me, even at the time. She also appears (again with a white headband) in one of the dining-hall shots.
Slide 023 slide 023 thumbnail During School trip to Paris, July 1963. Teachers at a pavement cafe. This appears, from the chairs, to be the same establishment as the previous picture. Music teacher Katie Tomlinson appears in profile with the orange and brown striped dress, Don Wright is half-hidden behind a hand, and Billy Nicholl is almost invisible extreme left. The young woman in the centre also appears in one of the earlier group shots; she might have been a student teacher.
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