Ullans Centre Ballymoney

Friday, 4 May 2012

Monreagh Ulster Scots Centre Language Course

I spoke with Kieran about running a six week language course at the Monreagh Ulster Scots Centre in Donegal. Kieran was very keen on the idea and arranged for 2 schools from the area to attend the centre on Wednesdays.

The classes started as planned on the 22nd February. Attending were pupils from Monreagh p.s. and Glenmaquin p.s. There were 18 pupils in total.

We introduced everyone to each other and then went through The Ullans Alphabet. Some of the children were familiar with a lot of the words from the Ulster Scots language and took pleasure in telling me how their Granny/Granda etc used them.

In week two we had a recap of the words from week one and then moved on to practice some Ulster Scots phrases. They found this enjoyable. Also in week two I introduces the children to an Ulster scots poem ‘The Protta Getherin’ and asked them to a read at it during the week.

To my amazement they turned up the following week able to recite the complete poem without looking at it! I had plans at the end of six weeks to record them so week three consisted of repeating the poem till it was perfect.

During week four we had a run over ‘The Protta Getherin’ and became familiar with the body parts in Ulster Scots.

So in week five I brought the producer from ‘A Kist O Wurds’ radio ulster along and we recorded a bunch of very excited children reciting an Ulster Scots poem and talking about how they liked the language. They had told me most of them were in pipe bands so I got them an activity book an they all designed their own tartan and named it using their surname. I also gave them another poem ‘Yin tae a Hunner’ to learn for the last week.

So during the last session in week six i recorded the finale poem the children learned.

Totally rewarding and hope to start a adult class soon at Monreagh. Just a note: Though the setting up of these classes the children from Monreagh p.s. and Glenmaquin became very friendly and got to spend both their lunch times together at Monreagh p.s. on Wednesdays.

Anne Morrison Smyth

Ullans Centre Development Officer

Ullans Alive May Newsletter

Ullans Alive Newsletter May12

Monday, 9 April 2012

Wilfred Seward - Ballymoneys Titanic Survivor

One of the survivors of the RMS Titanic sinking was a man named Wilfred Seward who came to live in Ballymoney in 1954. wilfred was born in 1887 in shoreditch London and first appears om the 1891 census. His mother was Alicia, brother Colonel and sister Sarah Anne.

1891 census

10 years later on the 1901 census Wilfred now 14 is listed as living in Middlesex as a visitor and this is the first time we see his as a ship stewart.

1901 census

In 1911 Wilfred has moved yet again this time to Southampton when his address is 5 Shirley Road and listed as a boared. He is also a ship steward by occupation.

1911 census

One year after this census was taken, Wilfred boarded the Titanic as a 2nd class pantry stewart. On the night the Titanic hit the iceberg, Wilfred said "he felt a shudder and moments later another crew member alerted me that we had hit an iceberg".

Seward at once jumped from his bed and rushed to the boats deck were he found that its was all calm. moments later the order came to load the lifeboats and abandon ship.

As a crew member Wilfred was expected to help load the passengers into the lifeboats. He was asigned to lifeboat 3, but as it was lowered into the water it capsized according to Wilfred and all the occupants were thrown into the cold sea. This storie however differs from that Wilfred told to the british inquiry were he does'nt mention it and some passengers only recall the lifeboat getting into trouble. However the storie goes Wilfred was saved by the Carpathia and was taken to New York.

Crew Particulars & Wages

You would think like so many of the other survivors that suffered for the rest of their lives as to what they seen on that fatefull night, that Wilfred would lead a quite, non-exciteing life but not Wilfred. Bravely 2 years after Titanic sank Wilfred joined the army as Private 3443 and prepared to go to war. He joined the 10th Battalion (Scottish) The Kings Liverpool Regiment on 29th August 1914.

Old records show his Military history as been very short with only 4 weeks actually been spent at war. another record shows his discharge being due to Rheumatism with cause and reason due to 'sinking of the Titanic'. Wilfred did recieve a pension from the army of 4s8p (about £13 in todays money)

Wilfred Military Records


Wilfred Military Records

You would think that after surviving the Titanics sinking and going to war that Wilfred would settle for a job that didn't risk his life but not Wilfred. He went back to what he knew best, working on ocean liners even sailing the same route as the Titanic did.

Crew List - Saved/Lost

Finaly in 1954 Wilfred retired and moved along with his wife to Ballymoney, Co-Antrim were he lived a quiet life till his death in 1963 at the age off 77 in his daughter Doris house on the Newal Road in the town.

Wilfred and his wife are buried in an unmarked grave in Ballymoney Cemetery, soming i hope the council will make right soon.

I would like to finish by going back to the 15th April 1912, the day the Titanic sank. Wilfred along with all the other crew members were discharged/sacked by white star line. This is backed up by records kept by the company as seen below.

At the time where the crew needed their employers support the most, they were abanded many of them in a country not their own.