HRH sees proposals for activity centre upgrade

HRH sees proposals for activity centre upgrade

13 February 2013

THE Earl of Wessex has made his second visit within a year to a centre on Newcastle’s Bryansford Road.

His Royal Highness’s tour of a chilly Ardaluin Outdoor Activity Centre yesterday afternoon coincided with the welcome announcement of a £150,000 funding package to continue developing the 19th century facility.

Ardaluin aims to provide affordable self-catering residential accommodation and outdoor learning opportunities for the development of young people, particularly those from disadvantaged communities or backgrounds.

Prince Edward’s visit follows on from his tour of the Shimna Valley Holiday House less than a mile away in February last year.

On arrival he was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of County Down, Mr. David Lindsay, Ardaluin staff and local dignitaries, including South Down MP Margaret Ritchie, Down Council chairman Mickey Coogan and Down Council chief executive, John Dumigan.

Quickly confirming his reputation as the most affable Royal on tour, Prince Edward apologised for his late arrival to the young Duke of Edinburgh participants he met outside the house, and for not being able to see all the grounds as planned.

“I hope you’re not too blue-lipped,” he said to Orlagh Thompson, from Crossgar, a Gold award winner, who later said the prince was “lovely, very pleasant and friendly”.

“I’m a bit disappointed he didn’t get round everything but it has been good fun”,” she said.

Joking with the young people demonstrating the climbing wall outside the house, Prince Edward went on to decline an offer from one of them to take to the ropes.

“I don’t think I’m really dressed for it,” he said. “Otherwise it would have been a different story.”

Speaking afterwards, Margaret Ritchie said she spoke to the prince at some length on “tourism and Saint Patrick’s Country” during her introduction. Councillor Mickey Coogan, attending his first Royal visit since becoming an independent councillor, said he didn’t chat for long but noted the prince was “easygoing”.

Moving inside Ardaluin House, Prince Edward met members of the Belfast Activity Centre (BAC) and the Ardaluin Regeneration Trust Board and watched a short Mourne themed musical and drama piece entitled ‘Memories of Ardaluin’, enacted on the staircase by a number of young people from the Fortwilliam Musical Society.

Accompanied by BAC Ambassador, Dawson Stelfox, he then took a short tour of the centre and viewed one of the refurbished dormitories, hearing how Ardaluin House was originally acquired by Ballygomartin Boys Secondary School in 1971 before Ardaluin Trust formed a partnership with Belfast Activity Centre to regenerate the facility in 2010.

Going on to view slides depicting the first part of the regeneration, the Prince heard how practical measures such as the removal of asbestos, fixing the roof, refurbishing dormitories adding ensuites and installing new central heating in the house, which dates from 1859, had already been completed.

He then heard of the vision for the future of Ardaluin House from Stephen Dickson, chief executive of Belfast Activity Centre, and of the £150,000 grant to complete the restoration, which was announced by the Department for Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland MLA.

“In the last decade we have seen unprecedented changes for young people in Northern Ireland, particularly those in our most disadvantaged communities,” said Mr. McCausland. “Dramatic transformations in family structures, work patterns and mobility have all contributed to pressure on young people, which is why places such as this are so valuable.”

Chairman of Ardaluin Regeneration Trust, Mr. Tom Scott OBE, thanked staff, volunteers and funders for their dedication to Ardaluin, before going on to thank Prince Edward for his “personal confidence, encouragement and support”, as an extension of a relationship that has existed with Belfast Activity Centre throughout the past 24 years.

After being invited to unveil a plaque to commemorate the visit, Prince Edward addressed those gathered.

“It is fantastic to bring old buildings such as this one back into full use again,” he said.

Jack Dickson, aged five, then presented the Earl of Wessex with a gift of a wood turning by local craftsman, Paddy Brannigan, before the Prince signed the visitors’ book.