Family join veteran in marking his 100th birthday

A SECOND World War veteran celebrated his 100th birthday with a surprise party in Coleraine at the weekend.

Norman Irwin, a father of four, grandfather of five and great-grandfather of six, was joined by 120 friends and family members who helped him to mark the momentous occasion.

After the war, Norman returned to Coleraine where he worked at Benger’s factory site (now Kerry Foods). It eventually changed hands to Heinz subsidiary Pickering’s Foods, where Norman was engineering manager until his retirement. The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Councillor

Brenda Chivers wishes a very happy birthday to 100-year-old Norman Irwin at his surprise party. Included are family members

David, Joy and Elizabeth

Ulster Hall

THE Ulster Orchestra, under the baton of the distinguished young conductor Daniele Rustioni, continued its successful 2018-19 season with music by Busoni, Mozart and Schubert in a well-filled Ulster Hall.

The overture Lustspiel by Ferruccio Busoni set the tone for the evening with its exuberant tunefulness, but the centre piece was Mozart’s Violin Concerto No 3, played by the highly talented Francesca Dego, who happens to be the partner of Daniele Rustioni. Their joint interpretation captured the essence of yet another Mozart masterpiece, with the soloist giving a most sensitive performance of the blissful Adagio, which is one of those