Clonlee Resident Fred Harrison Says Thanks To Parkhall Integrated College with Special Gift

In December 2023 Parkhall Integrated College entertained residents of some local care homes in the college. Among them was Ballymena man Fred Harrison and resident of Clonlee Private Nursing home.

He was so impressed with the students he met that he wanted to record his thanks. The college principal Mr Owen and teacher Mr Martin decided to visit Fred in Clonlee and he handed over a framed pencil drawing he had made some years ago of the celebrated flautist Sir James Galway.

This was based on a photograph taken by Fred’s late son John Harrison MBE who had started his career as a photographer in the Ballymena Guardian before establishing his own PR picture agency. John’s genial and engaging way with people from all walks of life, mixed with his undoubted photographic ability and discretion, led to his involvement with the Northern Ireland Office as their photographer of choice when they need pictures to record for posterity major meetings and discussions between Northern Ireland political figures, top political players and heads of state from around the world.

John’s results were always guaranteed technically, but it was his ability to lighten tense moments and put subjects at their ease that saw him heading off to the Oval Office in Washington many times over the tenure of three successive Presidents — Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama.

Fred asked the teachers to tell the students that Sir James had come form Belfast and was now a musician of international repute and that we can all achieve in different ways.

A BIG THANKS to Nurse Manger Pepsi Latta for setting up this special visit Clonlee story.