Refrigeration engineering courses and their success

In the 1970s, Dad developed refrigeration engineering courses at the Cregagh Technical College in Belfast (now the Belfast Metropolitan College Castlereagh Campus). I remember Dad complaining he had to develop them from scratch because no-one else would do them. But like everything my Dad put his mind too, by all accounts, he made them a success and inspired those he taught.

Included in these courses were tasks that his students researched and were encouraged to apply the principles to workable applications.

One year a number of students compiled a detailed study on how waste heat from cookers in the college canteen could be used to warm the building. They won a place with seven other schools in the finals of the Department of Energy's schools energy saving competition.

Dad and his students attended the award ceremony in the Science Museum in London. As you can see from the photos, Dr Magnus Pyke, were among those who attended/

Dad also collaborated with the New University of Ulster (now Ulster University) enabling both from the college and the post-graduate students from the University to complete the refrigeration engineering courses.

The work included looking into ways of conserving energy in industries which use refrigeration plant.

Dad was responsible for the planning and operation of this unique course, along with Dr David Hughes from the New University.

Institute of Refrigeration

Among Dad's papers was an ornate certificate that states that Dad became a member of the Institute of Refrigeration Engineers. An achievement by all accounts, he was very proud of, since he had worked so hard not only with his doctorate but establishing the refridgeration courses.

There is no longer a Northern Ireland branch of the Institute of Refrigeration but from this article, you will see that it was active at one stage celebrating its first anniversary at the Park Avenue Hotel, Belfast.

Wendicote 20-inch reed table loom

Great Aunt Louise who lived in Halifax, Nova Scotia bought this Wendicote 20" reed table loom for her sister, my great Aunt Norah, who lived in Tandragee, County Armagh, Northern Ireland in November 1966. What care she showed Norah... telephoning (I assume) to order the loom from a Leicester company, Dryad Handicrafts, to have the loom delivered to Tandargee.

We found the loom at the back of the loft tucked away with bags of wool and found the original receipt elsewhere in the house.

Although some restoration will be required, in May 2021, the Ulster Folk Museum accepted it and they will use it for demonstration purposes. I think Great Aunt Louise and Great Aunt Norah would be delighted!

A kind of fridge in reverse... getting heat from the ground

This news article was in the Belfast Telegraph on 13 July 1976. It was titled "Ulsterman experiments in pumping heat from soil". Dad, while lecturing in mechanical engineering at Cregagh Technical College, he researched practical applications of the heat pump, namely, to get heat from the ground. His research led him to be awarded a MSc in 1976 and a PhD in 1982.

Louise Fearon's obituary, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Louise was born in Tandargee in 1891, County Armagh, Northern Ireland but immigrated to Canada in 1911 where she joined the Halifax School of the Deaf, in the invitation of her Uncle James Fearon, where she spent 52 years working with the blind-deaf children. She was a pioneer in this field of education and her students came from many parts of Canada for her instruction.

World War One medals

We believe these medals were awarded to Captain James Dick who came from Islandmagee and married into the Fearon family through marrying Mary Fearon.

Mercantile Marine War Medal was established in 1919 and awarded by the Board of Trade of the United Kingdom to mariners of the British Mercantile Marine for service at sea during the First World War.

British War Medal is a campaign medal of the United Kingdom which was awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial forces for service in the First World War. Two versions of the medal were produced. About 6.5 million were struck in silver and 110,000 in bronze.

In this link, I've written of how I found the multiple artefacts among Louise's treasure trove.

Christine attends CSSM at Portrush

I attended CSSM every year during my teens. It was held in Portrush beaches with numerous activities being organised during the week it was on. This article was in the newspaper in the summer of 1974. I would only have been 12 and a half. The photo marks me with an 'X' :-)

I eventually became a leader for one summer in 1980.

Letter regarding Ground Source Heat Pumps

Dad wrote this letter regarding Ground Source Heat Pumps to comment on a paper that was to be presented at the Institute of Refrigeration in City Conference Centre in London on 8 May 2007 on "Ground Source Heat Pumps in the UK". It gives an insight to Dad's research and his eagerness that this new research should be monitored in a way that can be exploited and recorded for posterity.

Bell tactile signing with pupil, Charlie Crane

Charlie was a deaf-blind child who was attending the School for the Deaf in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Alexander Graham Bell had a long connection with the School through the first principal, James Hutton and also through my Great Uncle, James Fearon, the second principal, during the years 1891 - 1918.

You can see Bell tactile signing using Charlie's hand. This was photocopied from the book "The School for the Deaf, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 100 Years of Service" that was written by James Fearon and published in 1956. Unsure of exact date of photograph.

Certificate to prove Margaret's qualification

This letter from Department of Education in Nova Scotia certified the Senior Grade certificate that my Great Aunt Margaret secured at Athlone in 1918 was equivalent to Nova Scotia Grade XII pass certificate.

Dated January 5, 1950... strange that this was requested so far into her career but the rules regarding employment of teachers must have changed and she had to confirm through this certificate that she had this qualification.

Confirmation of Annie Johnston

Nanny was confirmed in the Diocese of Clogher on 12 April 1921 by John O'Connor, Rector of Monaghan. Her first Holy Communion was on 15 May 1921.

Based on her birth certificate she would have been 17 at the time.

Confirmation of John Fearon

John Fearon was confirmed in the Diocese of Armagh in 1906 in the Parish of Ballymore and certified by Reverend William M'Endoo, B.D.

Letter from Norwich Union after John's death

Lavina Fearon received this letter after her husband's death, my Great Uncle John Fearon's. It was dated 4 March 1908 and was from the Norwich Union Life Insurance Society. The Society was requiring documents associated with his death.

Convert's declaration

Annie Johnston, my grandmother (father's mother), signed this Convert's declaration in 11 January 1931, after she had come to know the Jesus as her Saviour. Among the list of things she was earnestly urged to watch and pray, read your Bible, dress plainly, abstain from drink, tobacco and worldly amusement. It was something that new recruits of The Salvation Army could sign or you could belong to another Christian body.

Louise Fearon's Scroll of Honour

In recognition for my Great Aunt Louise Fearon's loyal and devoted service as teacher of The School for the Deaf, Halifax from 1911 to 1953, the Board of Directors awarded her this scroll of honour.

It was hand-written, extremely ornate. Louise went on to work in the school for another 7 years.

Louise Fearon's certificate of merit for 50 years of service

On the twelfth of June 1961, the Conference of Executives of American Schools for the Deaf and the Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf awarded Louise Fearon this certificate of merit on completion of 50 years of service as a teacher of deaf children.

It was nothing like ornate the certificate she received 7 years previously!

Telegram from Alexander Graham Bell

This telegram was sent to Lavinia Fearon, James Fearon's wife when Alexander Graham Bell heard of James' death in 1918. Bell was interested in James' work with the children in School for the Deaf, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Bell visited the school, where James was the principal.