GLORIA BECOMES A FREEMAN
Yesterday was special. Before Gloria Hunniford OBE were around 150 of her guests invited to share in her ceremony of the conferment of the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon. It was a very grand affair and yet a most personal gathering in the Palace Demesne in Armagh. The ceremony was very official, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Councillor processed in through the tables to trumpet fanfares and the platform party was resplendent with the dignitaries in their scarlet robes and Gloria in the middle in a beautiful turquoise and green dress and coat. It was a moving ceremony after which we had a very lovely meal, I understand courtesy of the Seago Hotel, wine flowed as did lovely Armagh apple juice. Then came Gloria being interviewed by Gerry Kelly although she steered the story of her life with little interruption such is her professionalism. She also announced that she is gathering together a one woman show which will be a hit when she takes it round the UK. Singer Brian Kennedy brought the evening to a close with his beautiful voice rising to the evening sky which was streaked with shades of red and orange.
Gloria and I were teenagers together and grew up with our families sharing the joys and the heartaches so now, with another feather in her cap, she can parade her sheep through the streets of the borough – I don’t think Gloria’s head will be turned with this latest honour nor will her feet leave the ground!
There was singing and dancing, good craic and good food at the re-opening of the Cellar Restaurant and the launch of the new catering partnership with Crumlin Road Gaol and their catering organisation. A lovely day and from the ballroom packed with almost 200 guests a panoramic view of Belfast and the Lough and the Irish dancers even managed to get some of the guest up to do a mini River Dance. It’s a busy year for staff of this Belfast City Council property as they celebrate 90 years since the castle was gifted to the city by The Earl of Shaftsbury on 26 July 1934. Details of events on the Castle’s web site.
Strutting his Stuff
Gentlemen. If you were approached by an attractive woman asking you if you’d like to become a male model, what would you say? Not just any gentleman but one well built, good looking and six foot plus with a waistline.
If Maureen Martin spots a likely lad she will invite them to audition for her model agency. She admits stopping the car and chasing a prospective client, explain about her agency and such is her winning personality, no one to date has taken offence! “When I give them the facts they are very friendly and sometimes willing to give it a go, if not we leave with a shake of the hand and a smile. If suitable, as a photographic or fashion model you don’t make a fortune it’s pocket money so most men and women also have a day job.”
She was very successful with Derek Dubery who came to Northern Ireland 20 years ago when working for the Civil Service. He was transferred here and settled well, and with a modelling back ground, took up acting in his free time and since working with Maureen he has graced many campaigns and shows in Ireland and the UK.
Derek is 58 and handsome. He was born in Kent and went to university in London studying ancient and medieval history. He obviously was one of the ‘in crowd’ judging by his tattoos, Punk is emblazoned across his neck but even I have to say they are interesting and attractive. Does this not inhibit his choice of career? “I can apply makeup if necessary and once a well known bank asked me to pull my shirt cuffs down over my hands but in general they are accepted.`’
Fascinating Backgrond
As we talk over lunch his story turned from the Civil Service, to modelling and acting, especially on film and television. He appeared in Game of Thrones and remember the brilliant BBC comedy Soft Border Control and the ignorant English MP who hadn’t a clue? Davis Butterworth was played by Derek Dubery.
I asked him all the usual questions, – careful with his diet, keeping fit, fending off fans? A modest smile: “There’s a certain reaction and excitement in a female audience at fashions shows!”
And talking of male fashion how do we compare with England: “Older men are stuck in a time warp, in general there isn’t the same interest, traditional rather than trendy.” Now that the older mannequins are in vogue, both male and female, he continues to demonstrate a more up to date fashion sense, “If you notice men on television don’t go grey, they think tinting their hair keeps them young looking but just look at George Clooney to see how attractive going grey can be.” Derek has been every colour under the sun and has now settled for a silvery short back and sides, a neat beard and a swirling moustache.
Boy Biker Beats The Bullies
As we talk he tells me more about himself and his stable of motor bikes, two wives and six girlfriends left behind in England for a new life in Northern Ireland. There’s plenty of work apart from the day job, mostly with campaigns and commercial work. But one campaign became the most important as he explained: “From the age of two I wore glasses for a stigmatism and throughout my school days I was terribly bullied. I was ‘specky four eyes’, I was the Milky Bar Kid or I was called the puppet Brains from Thunder Birds, I had no role model who wore glasses. It had a very negative effect on my self confidence and that has lasted in some respects to this day, hence I find relationships difficult.” So, despite no longer needing glasses to the same degree, when the Spec Savers ran a competition for the the Spectacle Wearer of the Year 2016 he entered and won over the 12.500 who entered and the six finalists. “In the initial interview I talked about my growing up and the need for someone to look up to and I think they took notice of that especially as the competition was in aid of the anti bullying charity Kidscape. Eventually £88,000 was raised. Held in Westminster Embassy Rooms It was a star studded event including Ryland, Twiggy, Denise van Outen, Louis Walsh, my prize was £10,000 in cash, a holiday in New York and £1000 vouchers for Spec Saver!” As well as that he became a role model thanks to promotional videos for the chain of shops and today glasses have become a fashion item and worn especially by men as a statement, no longer a stigma as it was 50 years ago.
So handsome gentlemen, watch out for Maureen Martin.
More at www.maureenmartinmodels.co.uk
Sympathies to the Friers family on the death of their lovely mother and grandmother at the grand age of 100. Yvonne was the wife of Rowel, a famous artist renowned for his painting and cartoons so many of them political. Not only was Yvonne his loving partner but also his right hand man when it came to running the administrative side of his work, which was a complex business. She also had her own responsibilities as she ran Brookside Nursery school in Holywood for thirty years where today’s men and women, including actor Jamie Dornan, can credit her for a positive and imaginative start to life. She came from her birthplace in Co. Tyrone by pony and trap and always had a great love of horses so it was appropriate that last Wednesday she was carried to St. Philip and St. James Church in Holywood Co. Down in a horse drawn carriage where a large congregation gave thanks for her fascinating life.
