Class Notes 1970s
Dr David S H Bell, MB, FACE, FACP has been selected by the American College of Endocrinology to receive at the annual meeting on 14 May 2022 the Master of American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (MACE) Award.
The award is presented annually to an AACE Fellow who is recognized as a distinguished endocrinologist, role model for developing endocrinologists as well as contributing to the art and science of endocrinology and AACE.
In 2001, Dr. Bell received the Distinction in Endocrinology Award from AACE and is the first person to receive this award and MACE.
Dr. Bell is a retired professor from the University of Alabama Medical School who continues to be clinically and academically active. He graduated from Belfast Royal Academy and Queens University and completed his internal medicine and endocrinology training at the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast and the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada. He has held faculty posts at Temple University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Alabama. To date he has authored over 380 peer reviewed papers and books. (added 6 April 2022)
Ruth Kirby-Smith (née Brown), MSc Town Planning 1972 has written a book set in Ireland in 1910 when the issue of home rule was dividing the country. Entitled The Settlement it is due to be published in February 2021. (noted added 13 January 2021)
Geoff Hill, BA English 1979. Geoff has just published his 18th book, I could have been a stoker for a vertical wimple crimper, about his travels around Canada. Geoff has won multiple UK, European and World awards for his feature and travel writing, and his bestselling books include novels, accounts of epic motorcycle journeys, collected travel stories and collected newspaper columns.
You can see his books at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Geoff-Hill/e/B001K84YB2?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000 (updated September 2020)
Professor James Scott Brown, MB BCH BAO 1979, has taken up the post of Vice Chancellor at International Health Sciences University, a private non-residential university in Kampala, Uganda.
Ken Addley, MB BCh BAO 1979, MD 2000, was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Civil Division) in the Birthday Honours List 2015 for services to occupational health. For over 30 years Ken, who is a Visiting Professor to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, UAE, Al Ain has been an active promoter of employee health and wellbeing in Northern Ireland.
Peter Dickson, BA Psychology 1979, who now lives in London, has one of the most recognised voices in the UK. He is the voice of E4, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, The Paul O'Grady Show and a host of other entertainment shows on TV. He has been in Northern Ireland recently, filming a new comedy series for the BBC. Peter can be contacted at studio@peterdickson.co.uk.
Oonagh Ferrity, LLB 1979, is organising a 30-year Law Reunion on Friday 19 June in the Canada Room at Queen’s. For further information please contact Oonagh on o.ferrity@ntlworld.com.
James Galway, DMus 1979, joined BB King and Liza Minelli as one of the latest inductees to the Hollywood Bowl’s Hall of Fame in Los Angeles on 20 June 2008. A very special moment, as it is almost 30 years ago that Sir James made his US stage debut on the very same stage at the start of his solo career. Also, in August, Sir James hosted his international flute masterclass in Weggis, Switzerland for over 50 flutists from around the world.
Henry Hull, BD 1979, is married to Geraldine née Baker (BA French and German 1978) and they have four children. Henry was ordained into the Church of England but returned to Ireland in 2001 and is currently the Dean of Down, based at Down Cathedral, serving a group of rural churches in the Lecale area. Henry can be contacted at henryhull@downcathedral.org.
Peter Jack, LLB 1979, has completed nine Ironman competitions since 1990, an athletic event which involves 3.8 km of swimming, 108 km of cycling and then a marathon! Peter can be contacted at linda@rgconnell.co.uk.
Coleen Adams, MB BCh BAO 1978, retired this year. She moved to Toronto from Birmingham in 1985 to do a paediatric neurology residency and remained in Canada working as a paediatric neurologist. She married David Barker in 2004. Coleen can be contacted at coadams@shaw.ca.
Henry Elvin, BSc (Econ) 1978, joined Ulster Bank in 1989 and is now Head of Business Banking Northern Ireland. Henry leads a substantial commercial banking team, ten business centres covering Northern Ireland, and a dedicated corporate banking and property finance team based in Belfast and the North West. Henry can be contacted at henry.elvin@ulsterbank.com.
Liam Gallagher, BA Russian Language and Literature (1978), has lived in Brazil for over 40 years.
Initially working in banking, since 2006, he has been a freelance translator and interpreter. In 2016, he fulfilled a promise to himself by resuming his studies of Russian. Recently Liam received a certificate of proficiency at B1 level from the University of Saint Petersburg.
He has also just been appointed President of the newly-created Irish Business Network Brazil whose aim is to promote relations between the two countries.
Further details at www.ibnbrazil.com or by emailing contact@ibnbrazil.com. (updated 30 October 2019)
Hazlett Lynch, BD 1978, was ordained into the Christian Ministry in 1979. After lecturing for a period, he jointly founded the West Tyrone, Voice, victims' group. Now as Director of that organisation, Dr Lynch has represented victims in many countries around the world, and directs the activities of the West Tyrone Voice self-help group. He is also actively involved in the setting up of a European-wide network of innocent victims' groups, whose purpose is to raise awareness of human rights legislation as a tool for protecting victims against terrorism and of achieving justice for them. Hazlett can be contacted at hazlett_lynch@yahoo.co.uk.
Dr Gabriel Scally, MB BCh BAO (1978), was appointed in May 2018 to conduct a preliminary Scoping Inquiry into the cervical cancer controversy arising out of the CervicalCheck programme, which rocked Ireland’s health system in 2017/18. Dr Scally has already published two interim reports; his final report was expected to be completed by September (after The Graduate went to print). Born and raised in Belfast, Gabriel specialised in general practice and subsequently public health while at Queen’s. He was a prominent member of the Students’ Union and advocate for the development of public health services in campaigns organised by the Union of Students of Ireland.
John Weaver, MB BCh BAO 1978, is happily settled in Bellingham, Washington and working as a physician. He is married to Sue with two grown daughters. He is looking forward to an Irish golf trip despite his handicap! John can be contacted at jhweaver@hinet.org.
Stephen White, BSSc Business Admin 1978, MSc Management 1989, is now the Head of Mission for the European Union's integrated rule of law mission for Iraq - "EUJUST LEX", after a 26 year career in policing. With offices in Brussels and Baghdad he heads a team of European experts who design and provide training opportunities all over the EU and in the Middle East for high level members of the Iraqi judiciary, penitentiary and police services. He has planned and led this unique intervention since its inception. The Mission is part of the "European Union's Security and Defence Policy". Stephen can be contacted at stephen.white@consilium.europa.eu.
Ian Dornan, BA 1977, is alive and well and working from home for the past four years as a representative in Spain and Portugal of OAG Worldwide, the British Aviation database company. Married with two children, Kevin and Paula (14 and 10) Ian is just about recovering from the pleasure of seeing Spain win the recent Eurocopa! Ian can be contacted at comber@telefonica.net.
Alistair Duncan, MB BCh BAO 1977, emigrated almost 30 years ago, spending time as a GP before completing a residency in Calgary in Anaesthesia. After being a Consultant and Clinical Assistant Professor there for over a year he moved to Vernon BC to work, ski, play soccer and squash, and raise 3 children - Andrew 26, Sara, 23 and Fiona 21. He has been married to Debbie 27 years. They live on 3.5 acres, have 2 tractors and board horses and tend to a big garden! Alistair can be contacted at jalistairduncan@gmail.com.
John Fox, BSc Biochemistry 1977, PhD (1983), after eight years in Dublin, John has moved back to Somerset and home is now in Bath. He is working with a number universities to facilitate commercialization of medical research, but spending more time running, cycling or hiking. John can be contacted at johnsfox@aol.com or via Linkedin (http://www.linkedin.com/in/john-fox-90365213).
Dr Thomas Geehan, BSc Colour and Polymer Science 1977, retired from Schlumberger after 31 years’ service in January 2015. A keen cyclist, Thomas has been racing in his age group for over four years.
Leslie Hamilton, MB BCh BAO (1977), is a past President of the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery and former member of the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons.
Leslie recently chaired the review commissioned by the General Medical Council ‘Independent Review of Gross Negligence Manslaughter / Culpable Homicide’ the report of which was published in June. (updated 30 October 2019)
Paul Murray, BA French and Spanish 1977, is currently Head of Modern Languages at Saint Peter's Catholic High School and Sixth Form Centre, Gloucester. Ten years ago he completed the 800 km Camino de Santiago pilgrimage on foot from Saint Jean Pied de Port in the French Pyrenees to the shrine of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela in Spain. He has since spent two summers as a warden in a pilgrim hostel on the route. Paul can be contacted at portnoo@blueyonder.co.uk.
Michael Wilson, LLB 1977, is a senior partner in Elliott Duff Garrett, a Belfast-based commercial law firm. He is also President of the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal for Northern Ireland. Michael can be contacted at michael.wilson@edlegal.com.
Dari Dadgar, BSc Chemistry (1976), MSc Analytical Chemistry (1977), PhD Analytical Chemistry (1980), currently serves as President and Scientific Director at KCAS, LLC, having been Vice President of Bioanalytical Operations at ZeeCRO Inc. (AAIPharma Inc). Dr Dadgar’s career includes spells at universities in Ireland and a number of clinical research organisations in the United States and Canada.
Ann Kearney, BEd (1976). Ann got in touch to advise that all five members of her family are Queen’s graduates – husband Terry, BEd (1976), and children Stephen, BA English and Drama (2005), Marie-Claire, BA Drama and Music (2008), MA Drama and Performance (2009), and Conor, BSc Environmental Planning (2011), MSc Spatial Regeneration (2013)!
Stephen is Head of Drama in Glasgow, Marie-Claire is teaching in an international school in The Hague and Conor is managing a waste recycling facility in Abu Dhabi.
Ann was a school principal for 22 years while Terry taught for almost 30 years. The family members are all proud of the “start that Queen’s gave us” and “fly the Queen’s standards across the globe”. Ann added: “Queen’s has always been a beacon of hope in our city and has given so many opportunities to its citizens.”
Alan McGonigle, BEd 1976, received the Tailltean Award for services to Schools' Athletics in Ulster at a reception in Dublin in November 2007. The Award was made by the Irish Schools' Athletics Association. Alan can be contacted at barneymcgonigle@hotmail.com.
Nick Oakley, BSc Aeronautical Engineering 1976, went on to study Industrial Design at the Royal College of Art. After working for assorted design companies in the UK and US, he now lives in Portland Oregon, and works for Intel.
Walker Rainey, Bsc (Econ) 1976, fell into the international insurance/reinsurance world while on holiday in Bermuda in 1979 and has remained in that business ever since. He spent all of the 1980s in Bermuda and since 1990 has worked for Bermuda companies in the IFSC in Dublin. He is married to Gillian with two kids, Caitlin (21) and Jack (18). Walker can be contacted at raineyjw@iol.ie.
Peter William Hawthorne, MB BCh BAO 1975, has been working for the Cunard Line for the past 8 years as a sea-going doctor. He has served on Queen Elizabeth 2, Queen Mary and most recently was appointed Principal Medical Officer on Queen Victoria from its launch in December 2007. He has lived in Spain for 23 years with his German wife and international family but returns to Northern Ireland on a regular basis to visit friends and family. Peter can be contacted at tropidoc@doctors.org.uk.
Colin McLeod, BSc Mechanical Engineering 1975, has been promoted to Senior Executive Engineer of Cork City Council Housing and Community Directorate. Colin can be contacted at colin_mcleod@corkcity.ie.
J Alan Webb, BSc Electrical & Electronic Engineering 1975, PhD 1986, was appointed Associate Head of School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, (recently re-designated the School of Engineering), at the University of Ulster, in June 2007. He completed a year in office as Northern Ireland Network Chairman of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) in October, 2007. As a chartered engineer, a fellow of the IET and a fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), he is one of nine UK Subject Centre Associates (3-year term) with the HEA Engineering Subject Centre, based at Loughborough. He is a member of the Engineering Policy Group for Northern Ireland (EPGNI) and a director on the NI Engineering Training Council. He is also a Methodist lay preacher and is married to Linda (née Cummings), a biology teacher at Sullivan Upper School, Holywood and has three children who are graduates in law (Trinity Cambridge), pharmacy (Queen’s) and economics (St Andrews). Alan can be contacted at jac.webb@ulster.ac.uk .
Paul Boreland, BSc 1974, was awarded the Institute of Biology (IoB) President's Medal for meritorious service to the IoB. At the award ceremony, which took place on 10th July in London, the President, Professor Raymond Dwek, FRS, presented Paul and two other recipients with the silver-gilt medals, remarking that in this way the IoB was able to formally express its gratitude to the recipients, whose long service, energy, dedication and enthusiasm have stood out and made invaluable contributions to the Institute and its work. Paul can be contacted at Paul.Boreland@setrust.hscni.net.
Pete Bryan, BSc Geology 1974, moved to Wales over 18 months ago and is enjoying the wilds and freedom in the foothills of the Black Mountain. Pete worked for Leicester City Council as a Principal Arts Officer for almost 20 years. After leaving in 1998 he set up a consultancy and now fundraises for charities and community organisations. Pete’s wife is a professional potter, and exhibits internationally. Pete can be contacted at pbryan5294@aol.com.
Lowell Courtney, BA Modern Languages 1974, has recently retired from his second career (FE lecturer) and is now running an all-Ireland tour company. He is happily married to Carol Fletcher from the same class and year. Lowell can be contacted at info@lynchpintours.com.
Rosamund (Roz) Goldie, BSSc Social Studies (1974), PhD Law (2008) launched her novel – The Missing Tenant – at Queen's University in October 2015. Set in Belfast, it tells the story of independent radio producer and hapless amateur detective, Veronica Pilchard, who takes digs in a house behind the university in Belfast.
When she’s not writing books, Roz’s research interests are in the law, governance and the politics of equality and good relations. She taught public service management at Queen’s and evaluated projects funded by the Big Lottery and the Atlantic Philanthropies until 2014.
Her career includes academic research, broadcasting and programme production and management in the public and voluntary sectors.
Professor Ken Grattan OBE, BSc Physics 1974, PhD 1979 DSc, CPhys FInstP CEng FIEE FInstMC, Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair at City, University of London, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours list for services to the science of measurement.
Professor Grattan has provided outstanding service to City, University of London, for nearly 35 years as a leading researcher. Holder of a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair, the George Daniels Chair and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Ken is one of City's most cited academics. He is the author of 700 peer-reviewed journal papers, author or editor of 18 books and the recipient of more than 100 competitive research grants.
Ken's research is of great practical value to the UK economy. He led the creation of a spin-off company Sengenia Ltd, which has traded successfully for 10 years, to provide consultancy and support services on innovative fibre optic sensors and novel instrumentation, particularly for structural engineering.
A long-serving Head of City's Electrical Engineering Department, and later Dean of the Schools of Engineering & Mathematical Sciences and of Informatics, Ken developed City's Engineering School into one of its major centres of research excellence.
For the past five years, he has been the first Dean of City's Graduate School, championing the cause of postgraduate students at City. Ken has also supervised 60 PhD students to completion.
Commenting on the honour, Professor Grattan said:
“I am delighted to be honoured by Her Majesty with this award which recognises my contribution to the science of measurement. City has provided me with the highest level of support, enabling me to excel in my field of research over many years. This has allowed me to work closely with researchers both in the UK and internationally and to serve industry and the wider measurement community. I would like to thank the many colleagues with whom it has been a pleasure to work and who have contributed to achieving this recognition.”
Ken's extensive service on professional bodies over many years has promoted the exchange of research ideas between industry and the academic community. Ken is currently President of the International Measurement Confederation [IMEKO], a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a past President of the Institute of Measurement and Control.
Ken's work has a strong international dimension: he holds four visiting chairs at Chinese Universities and leads collaborations with them, including one with the Shandong Academy of Sciences. This project will deliver high quality research into high tech products which support safety in industry and is part funded through the UK government’s aid programme and part by matched funding from China. It builds on Ken’s earlier work for the British Council in promoting cooperation with countries such as India, Ghana and Malaysia.
Ken has a long history of service on government committees, including 7 years membership with the UK’s Department of Trade and Industry panel of experts on standards, quality and measurement. Most recently, Ken was appointed to serve on the Defence Scientific Advisory Council expert panel.
Ken also serves as a Charity Trustee for three Christian Trusts, Elmfield Housing Trust (organises low-cost housing for those involved in Christian service on low salaries and working in London), The Weald Trust (promoting Christian objectives through working with young people in Harrow) and Oak Hall Trust (supporting local church administration).
Christopher McCrudden, LLB 1974, was elected as a Fellow of the British Academy in July 2008. Christopher can be contacted at christopher.mcccrudden@law.ox.ac.uk.
Bernard MacLaverty, BA (1974), has recently published his fifth novel, Midwinter Break, 16 years on from his previous major book! Now living in Glasgow, he has written five collections of stories and four other novels, including Grace Notes which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won the Saltire Scottish Book of the Year Award.
The former medical laboratory technician and mature student at Queen's has been Writer-in-Residence at the Universities of Aberdeen, Liverpool John Moores, Augsburg and Iowa State.
Jim Owens, BSc Computer Science and Maths 1974, survived his three-year articles in charted accountancy but then gravitated to the ICT industry. In 1994, Jim, his wife, Marion, and son Andrew, emigrated to Perth, Western Australia. A few years later he became a Project Manager and has managed projects all over Asia and Australia. His day job is Financial Coordinator and Project Coordinator with the Health Corporate Network but he is also Vice-President of PMI WA Chapter (Project Management Institute), Honorary Secretary of ACS (The Australian Computer Society), curriculum IT advisor to Edith Cowan University and editor of the ACS Offline magazine. He also trains several hundred Project Managers per year in his spare time! One of his current projects is to finally begin a PhD. Jim can be contacted at jim_owens@acslink.net.au.
Ailbe Beirne, MB BCh BAO 1973, is retiring on his 60th birthday in May 2009. He hopes to continue working part-time at the Foyle Hospice, where he has been a trustee for 25 years. He also hopes to continue to work as a Performance Procedure, GMC Associate and to remain a member of the NI Consultants Committee and the NI Council. He has two grandchildren aged 2 and 3 who live nearby. Ailbe can be contacted at ailbebeirne@hotmail.com.
Brew Atkinson, MB BCh BAO 1973, MD 1980, DSc 1993, is still working as Professor of Endocrinology at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. He is married to Hilary and they have four sons and one grandson, so trips to Edinburgh to see their two married sons are as frequent as possible. He is still doing a bit of running but is even slower than when he was playing rugby! Brew can be contacted at brew.atkinson@belfasttrust.hscni.net.
Gerard Ennis, BA 1973, moved to Dublin in 1973 with his wife, Mairead (nee Doherty) who graduated in the same year, and worked in various positions until he was seconded to the Irish Permanent Representation in Brussels as EU Budget Attaché in 1996. In 1999 he joined the Estonian Ministry of Finance helping them prepare for Estonia's entry to the European Union. In 2003 he transferred to the private sector as a development aid consultant and since then has been living with Mairead in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Gerard is currently employed as an adviser in the Ministry of Finance in Sarajevo where preparations are underway to have the country classified as a candidate country for EU accession. Life has moved on a lot since their time at Queens but Gerard and Mairead look back to those days with great fondness and appreciation. They can be contacted at ennisg_2000@yahoo.com.
Premnarine Misir, BSSc 1973, has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Fiji. Holding degrees from a number of UK universities, he also has a Postdoctoral degree in Public Health from Columbia University (NY). Prior to his new role Professor Misir was Executive Director of the Health Sector Development Unit at the Ministry of the Health, Government of Guyana. The one time Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, he also served as Professor of Public Health at the University of Central Lancashire. He has intensive publications to his credit in international journals, books and book chapters.
Peter Tonkin, BA English 1973, MA 1974, is currently Head of Law at The Wildernesse School in Sevenoaks but plans to retire next year. He married, Charmaine May, in March 1980 and they have two teenage sons, Guy and Mark. He published his first novel, Killer, in 1978 and since then has published another 27, with a new one out in August 2008 and another due with his publisher in September. They vary from spy stories and horror, to action adventures with an international maritime background, and a series of historical murder mysteries set in Shakespeare's London - the subject of his Master's thesis all those years ago! Peter can be contacted at petertonkin@tesco.net.
Hilary Caldwell, BSSc 1972, is currently programme manager at Lisburn City Swimming Club. Hilary can be contacted at hilaryidzi@btopenworld.com.
Boyd McCleary, BA German 1972, joined the Northern Ireland Civil Service after graduating and worked for a few years in the Department of Agriculture. In 1975 he applied for a job on secondment to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as Agricultural Attaché at the British Embassy in Bonn. He enjoyed the work and the lifestyle and was able to transfer full-time to the Diplomatic Service and has been with them ever since, serving in Seoul, Ankara, Ottawa and Dusseldorf. Since summer 2006, he has been in Kuala Lumpur, as High Commissioner. One interesting aspect of his work has been helping to facilitate the links between Queen's and Malaysia. Boyd can be contacted at boydmccleary@btinternet.com.
Jonathan Scott, BSc Zoology (1972). Wildlife photographer, zoologist and host of BBC’s Big Cat Diary, Jonathan’s new television series Big Cat Legacy for Animal Planet – a follow-up to the 1999 series – is due to be aired across five 48 minute programmes at the end of October 2018.
Dr. Garland (Gary) Brooks, PhD Psychology 1971, is a Professor Emeritus of Psychology.
He began his academic career at Mount Allison University and earned a Ph.D. from Queen’s University Belfast. In 1971, he joined the Department of Psychology at St. Francis Xavier, where he taught for over thirty years, including serving as Dean of Arts. During his time as a professor and academic administrator, Dr. Brooks emphasized the importance of teaching and mentorship. Since retirement, he has volunteered extensively with groups devoted to the arts, education, health care, and LGBTQ2 equality. He currently serves as both President and Archivist of the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts Association and sits on the Complaints Committee of the Board of the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia. As a gay man, Dr. Brooks is committed to diversity and deeply aware of the role the justice system plays in enunciating and protecting fundamental rights.
Dr Brooks was Appointed by the Government of Canada as a Public Representative to the Judicial Advisory Committee: Nova Scotia in April 2017.
James Hodgkinson, BSc 1971, has finished 35 marathons, hiked Incan Trail and Grand Canyon rim-to-rim, and completed an Adirondack 46er. He has written an unpublished novel about ‘The Troubles’ and is Coordinator of Doane Stuart Middle School in Albany, NY. James can be contacted at dannyconor@aol.com.
Sam Kernohan, BA 1971, has just finished writing his memoirs about the grand fun he had during the 36 years he spent in the Argentine pampas. The Mourne Observer, a County Down newspaper, published 18 articles extracted from the original script last year. Sam can be contacted at samkernohan@payubre.net.
Colin J S McClatchie CBE, BSc Economics (1971), formerly the Managing Director (Scotland and Ireland) of News International Newspapers, Public Interest Member for the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland (ICAS), and Chairman of Scottish Opera, has published his memoirs.
Entitled A Musing, the book is both ‘hard hitting and naturally highly amusing’ and a ‘warts and all’ reflection on his life and in particular on his successful career working for three of the 20th century ‘press barons’ – Roy Thomson, Robert Maxwell and Rupert Murdoch.
Copies of the book can be ordered by visiting www.colinmcclatchie.com or from William Anderson & Sons Ltd on 0044+ 141 440 2881.
Ron Nicol, BA Arts 1971, attended Queen’s in the 1960s, left early to enter the professional theatre, and completed his degree in 1971. He’s now an established playwright published in the UK, the USA, and the Netherlands. His plays have been performed world-wide. Ron can be contacted at ron.nicol@live.co.uk
Bernard O'Kane, LLB (1971), Professor of Islamic Art and Architecture at the American University in Cairo in Egypt, where he has been teaching since 1980, has published Mosques: The 100 Most Iconic Islamic Houses of Worship. A visiting professor at Harvard University and the University of California at Berkeley, Bernard has authored a number of works on Islamic art and architecture.
Charles Sell, BSc Chemistry (1970), MSc Organic Chemistry (1971), is a retired Fragrance Chemist, now living in England.
“My career as a natural products chemist began at Queen's and ended with my doing research into the sense of smell, employed by the world's leading manufacturer of perfumes.
“After retirement, I qualified as a volunteer guide at Canterbury Cathedral.
“During my professional life, I published a number of books on chemistry as applied to the fragrance industry. I have now combined my two loves by writing a book entitled Perfume in the Bible which contains many photographs of the medieval windows of Canterbury Cathedral.”
The book was published by the Royal Society of Chemistry in July 2019 and copies can be ordered from http://pubs.rsc.org/bookshop/ (updated 30 October 2019)
Professor Roy Taylor, BSc (1971), was recently elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. A professor of Ultrafast Physics and Technology at Imperial College London, Roy is from Carrickfergus and was educated at Larne Grammar School before going up to Queen’s in 1967 to study physics.
Professor Taylor is widely acknowledged for his influential basic research on and development of diverse laser systems and their application. His many and diverse contributions have been recognised by the Ernst Abbé Award of the Carl Zeiss Foundation, the Thomas Young Medal of the Institute of Physics and the Rumford Medal of the Royal Society.
Denis Christie, BSc Mechanical Engineering 1970, has spent most of his life living and working in England. From 1966 to 1969 he was a member of the Queen’s University Air Squadron and learned to fly De Havilland Chipmunks. The six aircraft in the fleet were based at Sydenham, now George Best Belfast City Airport. Recently, by chance, Denis found out that a Chipmunk being used in the Midlands to tow gliders was one of those from his time at Queen’s. The registration number is WP788 which Denis says will bring back some happy memories to his fellow airmen from those days. In July this year, Denis managed to get to fly in the aeroplane again nearly 50 years after he first flew it.
Brian Downie, BSc Civil Engineering (1970), is currently serving as the 116th President of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE).
Born in Ireland, Brian attended Queen’s in the late 1960s where he had an interest in rowing and dabbled in student politics, before immigrating to South Africa in the early seventies. He is married to Linda – whom he has known since their school days in Northern Ireland – and has two daughters.
A consultant with Royal HaskoningDHV, Brian has held a variety of positions over the past 37 years in the Transport and Planning fields.(updated 30 October 2019)
Ivor Greer, BSc (Econ) 1970, has been the UK Operations Director of a Christian Development Charity working in Cambodia for the last ten years. In 2003 he took up a challenge to run the Angkor Wat Half Marathon to raise funds for Cambodia. Since then he has run several half marathons (including the Great North Run twice) and this year completed his first full Marathon in Edinburgh raising more for the work in Cambodia. Ivor can be contacted at ivorgreer@hotmail.com.
William Hagan, BSc Aeronautical Engineering 1970, retired from BA as a pilot in 2002, and since then has been flying for eastjet based in Glasgow. Bill was involved in the Nairobi incident in December 2000, which resulted in the recommendation that the cockpit doors of all UK aircraft are locked. The events of September 11th made this recommendation mandatory. Bill enjoys keeping in touch with his alma mater and was pleased to be invited to speak at the Aeronautical Engineering Department's 50-year Reunion, he is also a regular attendee at events organised by the Scottish Graduates’ Association. Bill can be contacted at bill_hagan@btinternet.com.
Dr RM Raja Harun, BSc (Hons) Botany 1970, BAgr Agricultural Botany 1971, PhD Agricultural Botany 1974, was awarded an Honorary MBE at Hillsborough Castle on 30 April in recognition of his services to commercial horticulture in Northern Ireland and the local community in Belfast.
Brian McCann, BSc 1970 Chemistry 1970, is Managing Director of Clarehill Plastics employing 70 staff in Moira. They manufacture plastic oil tanks for the British and Irish markets. Brian can be contacted at brian.ccann@clarehill.com.
Roger McCune, BSc Chemistry 1970, began a teaching career in 1976 which he ended in 1984 as Head of Chemistry in Ballyclare High School. For six years he was with the Northern Ireland Science and Technology Regional Organisation (NISTRO) and then moved to the newly established Northern Ireland Curriculum Council (NICC). He is still working; now as Accreditation Manager within the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA). Along the way he undertook a number of professional development courses, including the Diploma in Advanced Studies in Education (DASE) at Queens. Roger can be contacted at rmccune@ccea.org.uk.
Ken Newell, MTH 1970, retired on 21 September 2008 after almost 33 years of service in Fitzroy Presbyterian Church, University Street, Belfast. Ken can be contacted at ken.newell@ntlworld.com.