Lisburn Mayor helps to launch new book
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Former UDR Greenfinch Barbara Wilson pictured signing copies of her book
'A Quiet Courage' at the book launch in Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn on
Thursday evening November 25. Looking on are L to R: (back row) Amanda
Moreno (Curator of the Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum, Armagh), Lisburn Mayor
Alderman Paul Porter, Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson and |
Former UDR Greenfinch Barbara Wilson pictured with her mother May and brothers Gollan (left) and Brian (right) and her young nephew Mark at the launch of her book 'A Quiet Courage' at a Mayoral Reception in Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn on Thursday evening November 25. |
LISBURN Mayor Alderman Paul Porter hosted a civic reception for former Ulster Defence Regiment Greenfinch Barbara Wilson in the Chestnut Suite, Lagan Valley Island recently to mark the launch of her new book.
During the evening Barbara's book entitled, 'A Quiet Courage' the story
of an Ulster Defence Regiment Greenfinch was launched by Amanda Moreno, Head
of Collections and Museums for the Royal Irish Regiment. Special guests at
the Mayoral Reception and Book Launch included Lisburn Mayor Alderman Paul
Porter, Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson and Major John Potter, author of a
book entitled 'A Testimony to Courage' which charts the history of the UDR.
Barbara served in the 2nd (Co Armagh) Battalion, The Ulster Defence Regiment from 1980 until its amalgamation with the Irish Rangers in 1992 and then served a further eleven years with the Royal Irish Regiment.
For the past seven years, she has been employed as a personal assistant at the DUP Offices in Castle Street, Lisburn. Barbara felt that if no one else was going to put pen to paper to record the Greenfinches story she would have to do something.
She took three months unpaid leave to write her story which she describes as 'recorded from her own view' and hopes that others will now write their story too. Barbara's book, which includes a little family background at the beginning, is her personal story of her time as a Greenfinch and explains the jobs undertaken by the Greenfinches, who were front line soldiers, but were never armed.
In his foreword to the book, Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson writes: "The Greenfinches were every bit as courageous as the men they served with. Their contribution was vital to the effective operation of every patrol, every manoeuvre, every search and every engagement with the enemy. They were a key part of Regimental life and it is appropriate that their story be told."
Barbara's book is available from the DUP Offices in Castle Street, Lisburn and the Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum, Armagh or by emailing fieldsofconflict@btconnect.com.
Ulster Star
10/12/2010
