FORMER PUPILS’ NEWS
2008 UPDATE
Darren Kirkland is at
present teaching in Kingspark Primary School, Lurgan.
Recent former pupils, Simon
Jenkinson and Grace Cuddy are
embarking on a church mission to South Africa. They are taking part in a
mission project of the Presbyterian Chaplaincy of Q.U.B. where Grace is
studying medicine and Simon accountancy.
Lloyd Griffiths has
opened his own optometry practice in Elgin, Morayshire. His sister
Rhonda has returned to live in Dungannon and
is teaching part-time in Dungannon Primary School.
Stuart Henderson is an
Accountant with Powerscreen. His brother Philip
a paediatrician is working in Australia.
Congratulations and best wishes to
Rodney McKirgan who has set up his own
mortgage business, Mortgage Angels, in Northland Row, Dungannon. Rodney
was formerly Mortgage Manager with nationwide and HBOS.
Roland Watt has been teaching R.E. in Omagh Academy.
Stephen Beattie
is a dentist in Crieff, Pertshire.
Trudi Reid (Lee) has
been appointed to the responsible position of Nurse in charge of infection
Control in Craigavon Area Hospital. Her sister
Trina, married to Alan Reid, teaches
Science in Coleraine Inst.
Lynsey Patterson is an
Epidemiologist in Belfast City Hospital. Her sister
Zoe is a solicitor with McAlpines in Dungannon.
Keith McManus, a partner
in the Belfast Accountancy firm of McGuire and Farry has been elected
President of the N.I. ACCA Network for a two year term.
Peter Allen is living in
Inverness where he is employed in the Scottish Tourist Board.
Claire Robinson is
working as a graduate surveyor with Warner Estates in Liverpool. In her
final year there studying Real Estate Management, Claire was awarded
Sports Personality of the Year, which will not surprise those who remember
her hockey prowess at school.
Lynne Holmes has taken
up her first teaching post in Cookstown Primary School.
Barry Hall has joined
the Staff of Aughnacloy College, teaching Geography.
Sammy Simpson a recent
Dilworth Tutor in Auckland is returning to New Zealand to do a placement
as part of his Civil Engineering course at Q.U.B. He will work with the
District Council near Hamilton.
Karen Moffett (Duncan) D.H.S.
a former nurse is Outpatient Manager at Fitzwilliam Cosmetic Surgery
Clinic in Belfast.
Judith McMinn is at
present working with Accenture in Newcastle-on-Tyne as a Senior Management
consultant. Her younger sister Alison is a
Registrar at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.
Chris Peyton is a doctor in the same hospital
and both ALISON and CHRIS hope to specialise in Surgery.
Sapphire Patterson-Zitouni
is working as an Occupational Therapist at Southampton General
Hospital. She is also writing for a magazine, interviewing pop groups and
has recently completed her Masters degree in Music.
Mark Edgar is
Biodiversity Officer with Dungannon District Council.
Congratulations to Alan Burke
former Environmental Health Officer with Dungannon District Council who is
at present acting Chief Executive.
Andrew Parkhill is going
to Leeds, University in September to do a course of study for a Master’s
degree in Film Writing.
Joanne Graham has been
made a partner in Boltburden’s solicitors in Islington, London.
Darren Clarke's many
fans were delighted when he won the Asian Open Golf Tournament in Shanghai
in April. We wish him good luck and many more wins in the future.
Kerry McCarter is now
teaching Science in Campbell College, Belfast after teaching temporarily
for a year in St. Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon.
Adrian Brodison is a
heart surgeon in Lancaster. His brother Nigel
is a vet in Larne. Nigel is married to Rachel
(Gamble).
Congratulations to Sarah
McMillan who with her husband, is returning from America where she
has been working as a solicitor, to take up a post as Law Lecturer in the
University of Aberdeen where she studied. Her boss in the Faculty of Law
will be R.S.D. Old Boy Professor Roderick Paisley
who was guest of Honour at last year’s Speech Day. Sarah’s brother
Angus McMillan is working in Glasgow with
Energy Watch, a government sponsored consumer service.
Amanda Cullen has taken
up employment with the Accountancy firm of Kennedy and Johnston in
Belfast.
Gareth McMullan has
opened his own Podiatry practice “Happy Feet” in Thomas Street, Dungannon.
We wish him much success in this new venture.
Once again, BTW Shiells whose Managing Director is
Keith Shiells, has been the Winner of the
Property Deal of the Year. His firm has now merged with the Eric Cairn’s
Partnership.
As a result of participating in the Great North Run
in Newcastle-on-Tyne in September 2007, Melvin
Hetherington was able to present cheques to MacMillan Cancer
Support and leukaemia Research. Well done Melvin!
Alison Burnside has been
appointed a Director of FPM Accountants at their newly expanded Dungannon
Office.
Philip Hall son of
former RSD pupils Rev. Kenny and
Stephanie Hall (Kerr) undertook, as part of
his medical studies, a six-week elective in Nairobi, an area at the centre
of violence and upheaval. He raised money towards providing a much needed
ambulance and X ray machine.
Dean Burnside a Design
Engineer and Malcolm Spence, a Mechanical
Engineer have joined Powerscreen International in Dungannon.
David Pollock was named
Vodafone Ulster Young Player of the Year at the 2007 Guinness Rugby
Awards. David captained Ireland Under 20s to the Grand Slam title.
Dungannon Captain Paul Magee won the First
Trust Club Player of the Year.
Allen Clarke, former
Ulster Assistant Coach has left Ravenhill after almost three years to take
over as manager of the IRFU Elite Player programme. This is more of an
organisational role than his former post.
David Parkhill is The
Youth Development Officer at Dungannon Rugby Club.
Andrew Hughes has been
appointed Coach of Armagh Rugby Club for the incoming season.
Nigel Brady has been
part of the Ulster Rugby squad this season and has been given a further
two year contract.
Joel Kerr is a Graphic
Designer with Charles Hurst Motors in Belfast. His sister
Judith is a physiotherapist in Omagh.
Former D.H.S. pupil Jennifer
Irwin (McCrea) was named the N.I. ITV Carer of the Year in 2007.
Jenny has four children who suffer from a rare genetic condition of the
nervous system. She has also been one of the key people involved in
setting up a Children’s Hospice Support Group.
Rev. Norman Cardwell who
formerly ministered in Irvinestown and Cork is now in charge of Bessbrook
Methodist Church. He is also Superintendent of the Newry Methodist
Circuit. He was welcomed by the Rev. Dr. David
Clements, himself an Old Boy of RSD and Chaplain in the Boarding
Department. DR. Clements has now moved from
Dungannon to become minister in Edenderry Methodist Church, Portadown.
Desmond Morrow a Phd.
Pharmacy Student from Q.U.B., working with two doctors has helped come up
with a revolutionary way of treating skin cancer patients – photodynamic
therapy.
Waqar Ahmed has joined
the Campbell Medical Practice in Dungannon, as a G.P. succeeding his
father who has retired. His sister Aasia is
a doctor in Nottingham and Sazia, his younger
sister is a Pharmacist in Glasgow.
Heather(Millar) and Alan
Stevens (Deputy Head Girl and Head Boy RSD 1986-87) recently spent
a year at Yale University. Heather, a Law graduate, won a World
Fellowship to study global issues and possible solutions. Alan did
research into child behaviour management strategies. Currently, Alan is
assistant Headmaster at Trent College, Nottingham, having formerly been
Head of History at Campbell College, Belfast.
Congratulations to the following former members of
RSD teaching staff who have achieved fame and possibly fortune since
leaving RSD.
Well-known botanist Ronnie
Irvine who, in addition to being a regular contributor to Radio
Ulster’s “Your Place and Mine” was featured on BBC1 TV recently. In the
programme “Off the Beaten Track” he led reporter Darryl Grimason on a walk
along the North Coast from Dunseverick Castle to Port Bradden, giving a
very able commentary on the way.
Mrs. Isobel Holmes M.B.E.
was honoured by being chosen as one of the recipients of the Maundy money
distributed by the Queen in Armagh in March 2007.
Dr. James Napier
has recently had a book published - Teach Yourself Genetics . He already
has several biology text books to his credit.
A former pupil Keith Johnston
who studies at the university of Ulster has been awarded a prize for
excellent academic performance, the Alummi Fund Academic Excellence Award.
This award is made annually to the student who has achieved the best
overall academic performance in each of the University’s five faculties.
Rev. Paddy McKee
enjoyed his recent visit to RSD where he addressed the sixth form
assembly. He commented on how he received a warm welcome, and took
pleasure in reminiscing of his happy times as a pupil in RSD during a tour
of our new building.
