Old Pupils’ Association Committee

Life Membership of the Association is £15 (£10 if joining within one year of leaving school).
The annual magazine subscription is £5 (including postage).
Old Pupils’ Association ties (costing £10) may be obtained by contacting Hiliary Taylor at the Academy.

Old Pupils’ Association Committee Letter

December 2009

Our 60^th Annual Dinner Dance was held in Galgorm Manor on Saturday, 7^th March, 2009.  In her opening remarks the President, Mrs. Ann Laughlin, extended a warm welcome to everyone present, particularly our guests at the top table – Mr. and Mrs.  J. Perry and Mr. and Mrs. R. Hassard.  She was also pleased to welcome a group of Sixth Formers representing the Senior Prefects, Sixth Form Committee, 1^st XI hockey and 1^st XV rugby, along with some past pupils from the class of ’79.  Ann set the tone of the evening as she spoke warmly of her on-going association with the school and referred to the many and varied successes of current pupils.  One of her first official duties as President was presenting a cheque to the 1^st XI hockey team to recognise their achievement in reaching the final of the Ulster Schools’ Senior Cup.  She offered a special word of congratulations to goal-keeper Ashley McIlroy, who was named Player of the Match, and wished the girls every success in the Kate Russell All-Ireland Schools’ Championships in Dublin.  Ann also congratulated the U.14 girls’ hockey team on reaching the semi-final of the Junior Schools’ Cup and wished the 1^st XV rugby every success in the final of the Schools’ Subsidiary Shield.  She also assured Sam Law of our best wishes in the 2009 Dublin International Piano Competition.  Ann thanked all those who had contributed to the success of the evening, especially the string quartet, who had played as guests arrived.  On behalf of the Association she was also pleased to present Hiliary Taylor with a bouquet to recognise her retirement after 37 years on the teaching staff.  In her concluding remarks Ann was delighted to advertise an historical DVD, produced by Walter Cameron, focusing on the Fullerton and Bell eras at Ballymena Academy.  Everyone then enjoyed a delicious meal, which was most efficiently served by the hotel staff.  Dancing to the music of The Untouchables brought a most enjoyable evening to a close.

The Boxing Day Old Pupils’ Hockey and Rugby matches were an outstanding success.  Both games were played in a truly competitive spirit, with the results mattering more than might have been thought – there was a lot of pride at stake.  The hockey match ended with a 4 – 2 victory for the school 1^st XI, while the U.23 rugby XV eked out a narrow 12 – 5 win against the over 23XV.  To round off an excellent morning of sport, refreshments were provided in the Sixth Form Centre and we are indebted to Jane Allen for her top class catering.  Our President, Mr. Alistair Gibson, then presented the trophies to the winning captains, Laura Robinson and Mark Connaughty and thanked former pupils Diane McNeill and Raymond Rainey for umpiring and refereeing respectively.  Thanks were also extended to Peter Reid and Mark Connaughty whose brainchild the rugby match had been, to Peter Crabbe and David Allen for managing the over 23 team and to Ian Headden for all his work behind the scenes.  Arrangements  for  this  year’s hockey and rugby fixtures are well under way and we would welcome your support at 10.15 a.m. on Boxing Day.

Friday, 26^th June saw our inaugural Tag-Rugby Tournament and Twenty20 Cricket Match, held in the school grounds on a balmy summer’s evening.  Friendly rivalry was the order of the day on the rugby pitches, while the cricket match was played at a more leisurely pace.  A barbecue, followed by presentation of awards in the Sixth Form Centre, brought a most enjoyable and successful evening to a close.  We look forward to repeating this venture in June, 2010.  Details will be posted on the school’s website.

Members of the Old Pupils’ Golfing Society competed for the Bailie Cup at Ballymena Golf Club on Friday, 10^th April, 2009, when the winner was Ciaran Corbett, 2^nd Ian Simpson and 3^rd Jonathan Kennedy.  Portstewart Riverside Course was the venue for the Swann-Hanna Cup on Friday, 8^th May.    On this occasion the winner was Jack Harper, with Robin Dick in 2^nd place and Peter Dick 3^rd.  President’s Day was held at Shandon Park Golf Club on 21^st August.  The winner was James Kennedy, 2^nd Clifford Anderson and 3^rd Gary Finnegan.  The visitors’ prize was won by Michael Dallas and the team competition went to Michael Rainey, Jimmy Fullerton, Jack Harper and Alex Richardson.  Portrush Valley Course was the venue for the Public Schools’ Old Boys’ Society Competition on 15^th May, when we finished 2^nd in both the Nett Shield and Gross Cup.  The Golfing Society is always keen to attract new members and anyone interested should contact Taylor Erwin (Tel. 028 9446 3364 or 028 2588 2034).

The Past Pupils’ Lady Golfers’ Association enjoyed three outings during 2009.  The first was held on 18^th May at  Killymoon Golf Club, when the winner was Dorothy McCaughey, 2^nd Hilda Wallace and 3^rd Maureen Clements.  Edenmore Golf Club was the venue for the second outing on 20^th July, when the winner was Dorothy McCaughey, with Margaret McCaughey in 2^nd place.  Hilda Wallace won the front nine holes and Maureen Clements won the back nine.  Captain’s Day was held at Portstewart Golf Club on 24^th August.  The winner was Wilma Simpson, with Margaret Stockman in 2^nd place.   Any past pupils interested in joining the lady golfers should contact Margaret McAdoo on (028) 9181 4762.

The Old Pupils’ Badminton Club continues to meet regularly from September to April in the School gymnasia at 7.30 p.m. on Monday and Thursday evenings.  May we take this opportunity to invite any Year 12 - 14 pupils, past pupils, parents and friends to join the badminton club and enjoy the excellent facilities provided. 

Still on the theme of sport we are pleased to report that ten pupils gained representative honours.  The U.13 girls’ table tennis team won the Ulster Schools’ Cup and finished runners-up in the All-Ireland Competition.  The 1^st XI hockey reached the final of the Senior Schools’ Cup Competition and qualified for the All-Ireland Finals, while the U.14A XI were semi-finalists in the Junior Schools’ Cup Competition.  On the rugby field the 1^st XV won the Subsidiary Shield Competition.  The girls’ Intermediate ‘A’, Junior ‘A’ and Year 8 tennis teams won their leagues, with the Intermediate and Year 8 teams also reaching the Semi-Finals of their Schools’ Cup Competitions.  At the District Cross-Country Championships the Junior Girls’ team gained 2^nd place and the Senior Girls were 3^rd.  Provincial and national sporting successes were also achieved by individuals in athletics, swimming and cross-country.

Academic successes during the past year are once again worthy of note.  In ‘A’ level examinations 45 pupils each gained at least three grade As and 71% of pupils achieved three or more grades A – C.   Places in N. Ireland were awarded as follows:-  Laura Bateman, joint 1^st in Chemistry and 2^nd in Biology; Chesney Craig, 3^rd in Health & Social Care; Amy Ferguson joint 1^st in Biology; Andrew Hoy joint 2^nd in English Literature; Judith McComb, 3^rd in Music; Ross McQueen, 1^st in Music.  At G.C.S.E. 10 pupils each gained nine A* grades and a further 43 pupils each gained eight or more A*/A grades.  Places in N. Ireland were awarded as follows:-  Sheenagh Aiken, 2^nd in Biology and Physics and 3^rd in History; Andrew Gordon, 1^st in Construction; Kathryn Hamilton 2^nd in Double Award Science; Charlotte Kane, 1^st in Double Award Science; Jenna McCammon, 1^st in Spanish and 2^nd in French; Kerri McIlroy, 1^st in Single Award Science.  We offer our warmest congratulations to all these pupils on their outstanding achievements.

In recognition of outstanding achievements, Old Pupils’ Association Medallions were awarded to Laura Bateman, Heather Carson, Amy Ferguson, Andrew Gordon, Andrew Hoy, Charlotte Kane, Jenna McCammon, Kerri McIlroy, Ross McQueen and Jack Neeson.

We send our warmest congratulations to Mr. David Patton, who received an M.B.E. for services to the Construction Industry.

The School Magazine, published annually in June, gives a comprehensive report of all the school's activities.  The cost is £5.00 (including postage) and members wishing to receive a copy should apply to the Hon. Treasurer.  The Editor of “The Braid”, Mrs. Rosemary Coulter, would welcome any information you may have about the activities and successes of all former pupils.  You can e-mail us at info@balacademy.ballymena.ni.sch.uk.

During the past year 31 former pupils joined the Association.  Life Membership at present is £15 (£10 if joining within one year of leaving school).  

We would like to take this opportunity to advertise some very attractive Old Pupils’ merchandise.  The Association Tie (£10) and a new Rugby Tie (£10) may be purchased through the School Office.  An Old Pupils’ Scarf (£20) may be purchased from Wallace’s (Tel. 028 2565 2577) and a Ladies’ Brooch (Silver - £55), (Gold - £175) is available from Caldwell’s Jewellers (Tel. 028 2565 2810).  To view these items, please visit the O.P.A. section on the school’s website at www.ballymenaacademy.org.uk.

To help keep our database of Old Pupils’ addresses up to date, we would appreciate it if you would inform us of any change of address. 

Greetings and Good Wishes.

Yours sincerely,

Hiliary Taylor and John Healy (Hon. Secretaries)

Old Pupils’ Column

David Humphries was inducted into the IRUPA Hall of Fame, in recognition of his achievements.

Mr Maurice O’Neill received an OBE in recognition of 50 years’ service in journalism.

Mr John Harrison received an MBE for services to photography in Northern Ireland.

Former pupil, Blane Millar, was hailed as a hero by Conservative leader David Cameron, after the two met in Afghanistan, in September.

Rosalind Ellis was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland and at her graduation ceremony was awarded the Sir Eoin Higgins Memorial Prize for the Top Bar Trainee of the Year. Shortly afterwards she received the 1^st Prize Scholarship from the Honourable Society of the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland.

Alan Graham received an Academic Progression Award from the School of Business, Retail and Financial Services at the University of Ulster.

Jonathan Longman is now practising as a criminal barrister with De Montfort Chambers, a specialist criminal set in Leicester.