An Integrated Few Days...

I’ve had a very integrated few days. Thursday evening at Stu Bailie’s book launch “The Song is Nearly Over”, a celebration of the best of his journalism covering punk, Britpop and thereafter. Then came Terri Hooley’s last performance (perhaps!). I reminisced to myself about Shaun Robinson’s punk assembly and was very pleased to meet up at the event with Shirley, our erstwhile Alternative Chaplain. Then came Friday and daring to make my first visit to the newly re-opened Anchor to meet up with wonderful former colleagues. Remembrance Day cropped up in the conversation, and we had an eye-opening exchange of family experience of war, of Troubles, of feelings about poppies, about Integration and being there for each other’s events, especially the ones we don’t share. And we only called in for a pint….

I was very unusually dress for the pint, in me skirt and jewels. That was because I was heading to an awards night in support of OldScholar Rory Doherty’s fascinating and shortlisted organisation, Voicing the Void. VtheV creates opportunities for restorative story telling, and I think that’s what we had done that afternoon. At the awards night I got into conversation with a man whose children were at Lagan, but who had no idea of how integrated schools had happened, of the motivation and inspiration that created them. It was revitalising to experience his very real appreciation for how the schools have come about, and to hear him joining the dots between the founding story and the ethos of equality and acceptance which had made him, and his children choose Lagan. Then came Saturday, and a Gaza march. On the march were: the principal of one of our feeder primaries from Specialist School days; Caoimhe marshalling us; Maya on the big banner; Sara carrying a symbolic baby; Mikey somewhere there as always – and lots of other OldScholars too; a Shimna architect; past and current parents; an OldScholar police person minding us. No way to see everyone in the crowd.

Then today, back to almost the same spot, to the Cenotaph, for Remembrance Sunday. Danielle, Cameron, Lily May and the heroic Nicole, the principal, Robbie, Derek; the great wee All Children’s representatives; best neighbour ever, Myrtle and plenty of Shimna representation among Girls and Boys Brigades and Scouts. Great discussion at the tea and crepes afterwards about the relationship between responses to Gaza and conflation with our own divided opinions here. Best ever few days in a good while!

And then, my Facebook page turned up this Memory – a brilliant reunion evening last year, with OldScholars and former staff across the ages. A very happy memory indeed.