Opinion

How love triumphed after 40 years

WEDDING will take place in Belfast this week and how it has come about reads like a tale from a story-book. But this is a true story - the romance of Miss Margaret Brady of Whitehouse and Mr Peter Thompson of Harrogate (and formerly of Belfast) - a romance begun in Belfast around 1900.

Forty- three years ago Miss Brady and Mr Thompson were to have been married but Miss Brady's grandmother, with whom she lived, objected and the wedding was called off. Mr Thompson shortly afterwards went to England and worked in Manchester until recently when he retired to Harrogate. He was a widower and he thought he would get in touch with some friends in Belfast to see if - by any possible chance - his former sweetheart, Margaret, was still alive.

Not only did he find to his great joy that she was alive, but also that she had never married. He wrote to her at once, proposing marriage, and after a slight hesitation Margaret accepted.

They are both about 70 years of age but Mr Thompson said yesterday that 'Margaret is still the same girl as when I met her first'. For over thirty years Margaret has worked as a tailoress with the Belfast firm of clothiers, Messrs P Leopold and Son, Limited, Upper Donegall Street. And it was a happy gathering of over sixty workers, together with their employers, that assembled in the workshop yesterday to do honour to their colleague.

Mr S Leopold presided at the function and a substantial cheque was handed to Miss Brady by the head of the firm, Mr P Leopold, with the best wishes of employers and staff for her future happiness.

Sitting proudly by Margaret's side was Mr Thompson. He answered on her behalf, stating that he 'had never forgotten his first love'.

Incidentally, Mr Thompson's proudest possession is an old photograph of Miss Brady and himself, taken nearly forty- five years ago in 1902.

It was a big occasion in the workshop yesterday and the female workers provided tea for everyone. Following the presentation there was a sing-song and many old songs were rendered; perhaps the most appropriate was one that concludes with the words: 'We will build a sweet little nest Somewhere out in the West, And let the rest of the world go by.'

Belfast RUC man weds in Ballymena

THE marriage was solemnised in All Saints' Church, Ballymena with Nuptial Mass celebrated by the Rev D McBride, CC of Sergeant James F Shortt, RUC, Hastings Street barracks, Belfast, and Miss Kathleen Veronica Robinson, daughter of the late John and Mrs Robinson, Cushendall Road, Ballymena. Mr Shortt is the sixth son of Mrs M Shortt and the late Mr Thomas Shortt of Carrickamone, County Armagh.

The reception was held in Adare Arms Hotel, Ballymena and the honeymoon is being spent in Scotland.

Edited by Eamon Phoenix e.phoenix@irishnews.com