The Goudie sisters from Raphoe who attended the Royal & Prior School Past Pupils Association 50th anniversary reunion at Harvey’s Point Hotel. Included are Olive, Pauline, Heather and Liz.
The Past Pupils Association of the Royal and Prior Comprehensive School celebrated 50 years in existence on Saturday 21st May in Harvey’s Point Country Hotel, Lough Eske.
The Association incorporates past pupils from the old Royal School in Raphoe, the Prior School in Lifford and the present Royal and Prior Comprehensive.
Almost 200 people attended, including past pupils, friends and invited guests, some having travelled overseas to be present.
Founding members John Carlin, cut the cake at the Royal & Prior School Past Pupils Association 50th anniversary reunion.
The Association was founded in 1966 and three of the founding members were in attendance, Ms Roberta Campbell, (née Davidson), Mr John Carlin and Mrs Evelyn McCandless, (née Stewart) and all three did the honours of cutting the jubilee cake before proceedings got underway.
Mr Lowry Craig, the fourth founding member, living in South Africa, was unable to attend but sent an email wishing the Association well, on their anniversary, and shared some wonderful memories that he had of days in the Old Royal School and of his time in Trinity College, Dublin.
Hazel Brown (nee Buchanan), Ann Robinson (nee Buchanan), Jean Curran (Nee McElhinney) and Carol Porter (nee McKinney) at the Royal & Prior School Past Pupils Association 50th anniversary reunion.
The President of the Association, Mr Aubrey Oliver, welcomed those present and Rev. Canon John Merrick said Grace before dinner.
After dinner toasts were proposed by Dr Howard Welch, Principal of the Royal and Prior to the Past Pupils Association. Mr Aubrey Oliver responded on behalf of the Association and proposed a toast to the invited guests, (Mr Tom Galbraith, Armagh, Mr Keith MacLean, Dungannon, Mr Stephen Richmond, Portora and Mr Richard Johnson, RBAI).
John Robinson, Drew Corry, Mitchell Patterson, Trevor Long and Tommy McKean at the Royal & Prior School Past Pupils Association 50th anniversary reunion.
Then Mr Desmond West, former Principal of the school replied on behalf of the invited guests.
Rev. Canon David Crooks shared memories of his schooldays in the Old Royal School and Ms Marian Thompson, (née Reilly) reminisced about her days in the Prior School in Lifford. Master of ceremonies was Mrs Jean Curran.
Memorabilia from all schools was on display. Mrs Jennifer Vance played the harp while people arrived and music was provided after the meal by “Jazz Gazette”. All present agreed that it was a wonderful evening and the organising committee would like to thank Donegal County Council, Fáilte Ireland, and IBP Insurance for their generous funding which ensured that the event was a huge success.
Trevor Long, Geraldine West and Jillian Long at the Royal & Prior School Past Pupils Association 50th anniversary reunion.
Marion and Ken Sayers at the Royal and Prior School Past Pupils Association 50th anniversary reunion.