Finny O'Sullivan, Trevor Neill, Lorraine Wallace, Brian Heading, Chairperson Olive Campbell, Mayor & Mayoress James and Margaret Tinsley, Dr Samuel Semple, and BriansocietyMackey at the Irish Linen Centre for the society's dinner night US4807-406PM Pic by Paul Murphy

IT was a case of deja-vu for founding members of Lisburn Historical Society as they gathered to mark its 40th anniversary last Thursday, A celebratory dinner in honour of the occasion was held at the Assembly Room of the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum - the same venue at which the Society held its first meeting exactly four decades earlier. Founding members Dr. Samuel Semple, Mr. Trevor Neill and Mr Sam Dickson were joined by more than 70 guests including the Mayor and Mayoress Councillor James and Mrs. Margaret Tinsley and the Chairman of the City Council's Leisure Services Committee Councillor Brian Heading.

In his speech Dr. Semple recalled how as Secretary of Lisburn Chamber of Commerce, he had been encouraged to write to the then Town Clerk, Mr Harry Duff, to request the Council give 'sympathetic consideration to the establishment of a civic repository to house items of historical interest, some of which could be donated by citizens.'

From this promising start, he added, Lisburn Historical Society came into being with a programme of activities which included monthly lectures and summer outings as well as its historical collection.

Mr Trevor Neill, long time chairman of the Society, paid tribute in his speech to those who had helped with such activities in the early years.

The Mayor paid tribute to all the committee holders during the past four decades and praised the Society's sustained interests and activities, including the publication of its Journal which is now in its 10th volume.

Following the speeches, a former chairman of the Society, Mr Finny O'Sullivan, presented a small gift to the 2007-08 Chairman, Mrs Olive Campbell, in acknowledgement of her longstanding membership and contribution to the Society over many years.

The dinner guests were also able to admire a specially selected display of some artefacts presented to the Museum by the Society together with some information panels prepared by staff on the origins and progress of the organisation. This display will remain in the Assembly Room until the New Year.

The Societys historical collection which had hen built up under the curatorship of Mr Fred Kee and latterly Mr Sam Dixon, was formally handed over in 2000 to the Council for safekeeping by Lisburn Museum.

The next meeting of Lisburn Historical Society will take place at 7.30pm on Wednesday (December 5) in Lisburn Museum. A talk will be given by Clive Scoular on Lissadell, the Sligo home of the Gore-Booth family. All members and new friends will be made very welcome.

The three founder members of the Lisburn Historical Society Samuel Semple, Trevor Neill, and Sam Dickson at the Irish Linen Centre for the society's dinner night US4807-405PM	Lisburn Mayor James Tinsley and Lisburn Historical Society's Chairman Olive Campbell at the Irish Linen Centre for the society's dinner night US4807-404PM Pic by Paul Murphy
Past chairmen Fred Rankin, Dr Semple, Trevor Neill, Dr John Press, and Stanley Bell at the Irish Linen Centre for Lisburn Historical Society's dinner night US4807-406PM Pic by Paul Murphy

Ulster Star
30/11/2007