The final meeting of the Bellaghy Historical Society for the 2005 – 2006 season took the form of an Annual General Meeting followed by a computer presentation of “The Picture Postcard” given by Mr David Lennox from Lisburn.

The speaker told of his fascination with old Postcards and how he had begun to collect them over the last twelve to thirteen years ending up with a collection of two and a half thousand. From these he selected a great variety of postcards of villages and towns in South Derry which gave a most interesting insight into fashions and customs of the last century.

Many of his postcards were over 100 years old and as he showed them he pointed out the historical information that could be learnt from them regarding clothing, business, country customs and buildings.

As he was brought up in Cookstown, Mr. Lennox had many cards depicting its famously long street and market stalls and from there took his audience on a trip to Magherafelt, Maghera, Kilkrea, Castledawson, Bellaghy and other surrounding areas.

Mrs Mary Breslin, Chairperson, thanked Mr. Lennox for showing such a wonderful selection of cards which had proved to be of the greatest interest to his large audience. She also thanked him for conducting the Election of Office Bearers which resulted in the following appointments. Chairperson: Mrs Mary Breslin. Vice-Chairperson: Mr. Seamus McErlean. Hon. Secretary: Mrs Patricia Lowry. Hon. Treasurer: Mrs Pat Henry. Committee members: Mrs Margaret Evans, Mrs Ena Hammond, Mr. Dermot Keenan, Mr. Ossie Leslie and Mr. Sam Overend.

In closing Mrs Breslin reminded members of the Annual Outing which was this year to take the form of a visit to the historic town of Armagh on Thursday 15th June asking them to telephone the Secretary at 7938 6413 if they had any queries or wished to bring a friend.

Mr David Lennox