Old Boys’ News
Please send any Old Boys’ News to either the News Editor Peter Barr or the Alumni Office at the Academy.
Our warmest congratulations to Iain Henderson who has been awarded an Honorary Degree from Queen’s University, Belfast
BRA plaque donated to the WWI Ulster Memorial Tower at Thiepval.
For the past few years the School has organised 20, 30, 40 and 50 year reunions. See the gallery below for photographs from these very successful occasions. More reunions are planned in 2025. For further details please contact the Alumni office at the School.
Our very warmest congratulations to OB Professor Ian White CBE, DL, FREng on his appointment as CBE in HM The King’s Birthday Honours.
University of Bath’s Vice-Chancellor appointed CBE
Photographs from the 2024 Edinburgh dinner can be found here
Photographs from the 2024 London dinner can be found here
Unveiling of the World War II Memorial
The unveiling of a new memorial to mark the thirty-three Academy pupils who died in World War II took place on Friday 10th November 2023. After the war, the School was unable to get anyone to tender for a memorial at an acceptable cost during a period of post-war austerity. The original memorial was designed by Mr Leslie Baxter, an Art teacher who later became Head of that department.
The new plaque unveiled by Philip McKenna was commissioned by the Old Boys’ Association. It was designed by former Head Girl and graduate of Oxford University, Joanna McClurg and created by sculptor Darren Sutton.
We were pleased to have in attendance at the ceremony today, Form 1 pupil Richie Craig and his father Jonathan, who is the great-nephew of Trevor Boyd, named on the memorial.
The School is indebted to the Old Boys’ Association, represented today by President, Mr Philip McKenna, who very generously funded this memorial.
“𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒐 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆, 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒚, 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒕𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒘, 𝒘𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚.”
The original carved wooden World War II Memorial
We thank the School for the photographs of the occasion and for the text [November 2023]
Introducing Dr Caroline O’Kane:
Dr Caroline O’Kane is the new Communications & Development Manager in Belfast Royal Academy, taking over from Mrs Joanne Harvey, who left the school during the summer to pursue a new job opportunity.
We wish Joanne the best of luck and thank her for her hard work over the years.
Caroline’s email address is cokane586@bfsra.belfast.ni.sch.uk – please add this address to your ‘safe list’ to make sure you don’t miss any Alumni communications coming from her account.
[September 2023]
Ulster Public Schools’ Golf
A clean sweep for Belfast Royal Academy Old Boys' at the Ulster Public Schools’ Golf!
The Team included Richard Martin, Steven Minford, Tim Weir, Iain Knox & Greg Henry.
On the day the team won the Best Team Nett Trophy, Best Team Gross Trophy, Best Individual Nett, Best Individual Gross.
A great day out at Royal Belfast GC playing alongside 7 other Schools.
Photo has the last two men standing at the end of the night!
The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla
It was great to see OB Lord Eames OM feature in the Coronation representing the Order of Merit.
Lord Eames OM is a former Archbishop of Armagh.
Please tell us if any other Old Boys were involved in the Coronation.
The Edinburgh Dinner was held on Friday 21st April 2023. Photographs of this most enjoyable evening can be found here.
In Memoriam:
We record with sadness the death of two past Presidents of the Old Boys’ Association, Professor Henry Halliday MD FRCPCH and Professor Robert McIlhagger. Professor Halliday was President in 2008 - 2009 and Professor McIlhagger was President in 2018 - 2019
A short appreciation of Henry Halliday’s life and work can be found here and on the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health website here.
A short appreciation of Robert McIIhagger’s life and work can be found in the OB’s Newletter from 2018.
We send our deepest condolences to their respective families and friends.
[1st December 2022]
Congratulations:
We send our very warmest congratulations to Professor Stephen Smartt CBE FRS on his appointment to the Philip Wetton Chair of Astrophysics at the University of Oxford.
[20th October 2022]
On Friday 24th June 2022 a very enjoyable Old Boys v School XI Cricket Match was played at the Castle Grounds - a report and photographs can be found here.
We warmly congratulate Professor Stephen Smartt on the award of a CBE in HM The Queen’s Birthday Honours 2022.