With doubt for so many this week has been dominated by the tragic death of actress Julie Maxwell Lewis. Only 36 years of age she died suddenly and was buried on Friday surrounded by her family and friends. Her husband Rhodri Lewis was by her side when precious life was snatched away and it’s hard to imagine how deep his sorrow must be. Parents don’t expect to loose a daughter let alone one of such a young age and her theatrical family are stunned. I didn’t know Julie personally but I admired her talent on stage be it as an actor, a writer or a director. She was hilarious in BBC Soft Border Patrol but then anything she turned her hand to was a success. Shirley Valentine which opens in the Lyric Theatre on 11th September will be dedicated to Julie and promises to be a night of emotion and yet, in the tradition of theatre, a night of celebration of a friend well loved and respected.
Fellow reviewer Simon Fallaha wrote the following heartfelt tribute:
“I am sitting here and remembering a smile. A smile on a corner of a Belfast High Street which would remind you that you weren’t alone, and also in the presence of a great woman and a uniquely gifted actress. Unique would be one of the many best possible words to describe Julie Maxwell in and out of the arts community, a force on and off the stage. Transcending the dependable to the warm and memorable came so naturally to her wherever you were. No one who saw her in Mydidae, The Ladykillers, Soft Border Patrol, those Christmas shows at the Theatre At The Mill and many more besides will forget that physicality, those expressions and that surprisingly endearing sweetness that went into just about every role. Or that person in the theatre foyer, on the street or at the bar who you always sensed would have your back. Who’d brighten your day. Who’d be there for you. And she was there for us. Every single time. It is beyond devastating and unbelievable that she’s not here anymore. My sincerest condolences to Rhodri and her family. Julie’s contribution to the lives of her friends and the audiences who saw her can never, ever be forgotten.”
Via Facebook, her loving friend, actress and writer, Caroline Curran thanked all those who came to the funeral to celebrated the life of “our Jules” and friends who helped her over this weekend. “From people who gave me hugs, messages phone calls, to the wonderful friends who gave our Julie Lewis the send off she deserved.Thank u to the amazing Lyric staff and to Jimmy Fay who literally gave their everything even though they were feeling it too. To the friends who traveled from near and far, thank you. And to Rhodri Lewis, Elaine and Jim McCann and Stacey McCann thank you for letting me be part of your family❤ Ride on mucker?
And let’s not forget the audiences who were impressed with this young woman’s professional performances full of passion and often of humour. We too send our love and sympathies to Julie’s family and friends.
LOVE AND POSITIVE THOUGHTS
LOVE TO WRITER AND JOURNALIST COLIN MCALPIN WHO IS IN HOSPITAL AT THE MOMENT, NOT VERY WELL HOWEVER IN THE HANDS OF THE EXPERTS AT BELFAST CITY HOSPITAL. HE MUST BE HAPPY WITH YESTERDAYS CRUSADERS RESULT! AN ENTHUSASTIC IN EVERYTHING HE DOES OR SUPPORTS.
REMEMBER THE LIFEBOATS
SECRETARY OF THE ARDARA, GLENTIES, PORTNOO BRANCH OF RNLI, SUSIE HAILES HARKIN (CENTRE) RECEIVES A CHEQUE FOR €1570 FROM FUNDRASING EVENTS HELD BY MEMBERS OF THE TRAMORE CARAVAN PARK IN ROSBEG, COUNTY DONEGAL. THE PRESENTATION WAS HELD AT DAWROS BAY HOTEL IN ROSBEG AND MANY OF THE GENEROUS SUPPORTERS ATTENDED THE HAPPY HANDOVER.
LEO HITS THE BOOK STORES AGAIN
Leo Convery grew up in a cottage in Rocktown along the Kilrea Road towards Clady. Times were hard and he had many chores to do, he hated having to crawl into the foul smelling duck house to collect the eggs, his fear was that some day the door would snap shut behind him trapping him in the dark for ever. He carried the heavy water buckets from the stream, filled the creel with turf and had to watch one evening as his pet pig, who’d grown big, was slaughtered as he looked on.
It was an unhappy time for the little boy, one of seven children whose mother died when he was only two. Because it was difficult for his father to cope with a young family, the boy was farmed out to Aunt Matilda along the way but he sorely missed his brothers and sisters.
Now Leo has brought all his childhood memories together in his book ‘The Island Boy’ and without doubt Leo is a modest but talented man whose writing is both sad and joyful. It’s straight forward and he paints a picture of a tough life in idyllic surroundings and later the happiness of being reunited with his family on the small farm called The Island in the townland of Tyanee. His growing up meant catching rabbits and hare which were cooked in a big pot of water hung over the turf fire, homemade fishing lines, trapping wood pigeon and peasants in a web pegged to the field where the birds would feed, helpless when their feet caught in the woven fabric but essential when it came to putting food on the table. Eels were less of a delicacy and more of a necessity and they were abundant in the stream at the back of the house as they swam towards the River Bann.
Leo’s love of wild life and the environment was born in his youthful days of learning the ways of animals and the beauty of spring flowers. “The Mayflower shone like gold coins sitting on top as their green leaves spread out over the stream. It was magic to our eyes, an invitation to come and spend some time with the wonders of nature”
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FOUR INCHES LONG.
In ‘The Island Boy’ Leo takes the reader on a journey through Portglenone up the Clady River and down the Kilrea line, of growing sweet William and orange lilies fresh for the banner on the Twelfth of July parades.
He left school at 14, worked in a fish and chip shop then got a full time job with Martin-Bakker Aircraft Co. Limited at Langford Lodge Crumlin.
“I had various engineering roles before I started my own business – my new enterprise was a garden centre.”
And he succeeded in his chosen business not only with his plants of all sorts but also with his advice. Since he told me ivy is a major threat to gardens, hedges and buildings, I’ve kept a close eye on this ever present danger!
Convery’s Island Nurseries is still a thriving business but it’s not the end of this story which goes back to Sunday 21st June 2009, a day he says he will never forget. It was in his mind to write his story.
“I came in from 9 am mass, I took off my good clothes and changed into casual ones. The wife started to make a fry as is her Sunday routine. I got out a new A4 writing pad with 300 pages. Then I started to search for a pen, but something in my mind said, not any old pen, one that you will be content with.” And so, the age of 70 Leo joined Portglenone creative writing group, contributed to their 2016 publication ‘Starting Out’ and his special pen has flowed ever since. Despite his dyslexia which makes every word a struggle, ‘The Island Boy’ is a gentle stroll in the countryside looking at its beauty through the eyes of a child.
Details: www.facebook.com/Converys-Island-Nurseries
THEY ARE AT IT AGAIN!
It’s grand the way maturity brings with it a desire to expand life experiences. Like Leo and his writing, members of Engage with Age are tackling new adventures, they are taking to the dance floor to enjoy The Slipped Disco. This charity is dedicated to combating social isolation and loneliness amongst older people and they do this by having a lot of fun.
Tomorrow, from 7.30 until 10pm, the Black Box in Hill Street Belfast, will be alive with the sound of music from the 60s and 70s and the DJs know it by heart, they grew up with it.
DJ Groover (John Bradbury) and Nick Menhinick (above) will be manning the decks, John is a former advice worker and his talents and activities have blossomed in later life to include history talks, promotion of Ulster’s Linen Heritage and becoming a disc jockey. Nick Menhinick is a volunteer and trustee with Engage with Age and one of the people helping to put on the Slipped Disco. Nick is involved in the charity and encourages people to get out and about and meet people. He’s active with voluntary groups in Belfast including Men United, Volunteer Now and he’s a fervent supporter of the Campaign for Real Ale! He notes that there’s a full bar and a free raffle!
As one dancer said after the last Slipped Disco: “I hadn’t been to a disco in years. I really enjoyed getting out, it was like giving me a thousand pounds. I’ve been very lonely so it was a really good feeling to get out amongst company.”
A wide welcome is extended to older people to get their dancing shoes on, get down to the Black Box and have fun! Although admission if free booking is essential, you can do this by telephoning (028) 9073 5696 or email martin.towers@engagewithage.org.uk
Don’t forget, September is the national month of not buying new clothes but going to charity shops and raiding their rails instead! Good luck with that.