Latest news with #NormanIrwin
Leader Live
15 hours ago
- General
- Leader Live
‘Brilliant role model' and veteran ‘never imagined' being honoured at 106
Norman Irwin, described by his friends as inspirational and a brilliant role model, served in north Africa during the Second World War before going on to make a difference in his home town of Coleraine. He helped to form the Coleraine Winemakers Club, recalling initially using nettles and dandelions, as well as becoming one of the founders of the town's Rotary Club and the Agivey Anglers Association. Mr Irwin is the oldest person to be recognised in this year's Kings Birthday Honours, and is just one of three recipients over the last 10 years aged 106, as well as being Northern Ireland's oldest man. He said he was very proud to be recognised with a British Empire Medal (BEM), adding it had come as a big surprise, joking he was 'getting on a bit'. Born just a few days after the end of the First World War in 1918, Mr Irwin went on to serve in the Second World War, volunteering in April 1939 to join the Coleraine Battery of the Royal Artillery as a gunner. He described the battlefield in north Africa as stretching thousands of miles and getting chased across the desert by German troops in tanks. The sand presented a major challenge, he described, in terms of logistics, and he even engineered his own guns when they lost the tools to maintain them. 'We lost the tools for them in the sand, so we made our own – you learned to adapt to it very very quickly, you just had to get on with it,' he said. 'You do what you have to do in times of need. 'We were all volunteers here (in Northern Ireland), we weren't conscripted, so we all just went off en masse as our own decision. We never imagined what it was going to be like. 'People talk about the desert rats, but it didn't really get the same coverage as France. 'The First World War took a lot, and the Second World War took even more, terrible times.' Mr Irwin said the sheer distances involved in the conflict in north Africa is often what surprises people the most. 'People just didn't understand the distances when they talk about the Germans when they chased us back across north Africa, it was about 1,500 miles,' he said. 'They all think it's a small localised battle, but it wasn't, it was over a 1,500- 2,000-mile stretch. 'When they chased us back across the desert, they had tanks and we didn't have any, we couldn't cope with those, couldn't fight them, the only thing to do was to leave. 'Then we got reorganised and prepared, and we chased them back across again. The armoured divisions arrived once they realised what we were up against.' He went on to become one of the founding members of the new Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in October 1942 and he was soon promoted to sergeant. 'I was demobbed at the end of the war and came back home to Northern Ireland, and got a job as an engineer in a local factory and it all went from there,' he said. 'Everything that we did in the forces had an application in industry.' Back home, Mr Irwin helped form the Coleraine Winemakers club in the early 1960s. 'It was beer and wine, home hobbies at the time were quite the thing, and of course people would say to others, 'what do you think of my wine', so we formed a wine club had competitions for people who made wine out of nettles and dandelions, and all sorts of things we could find in the fields,' he said. 'It was quite potent. 'It moved on from that to a higher level, using grapes.' Asked about the held esteem he is held in, Mr Irwin responded: 'People say these things, I wouldn't put myself in that category. 'I enjoyed all those things as well, of course.'
The Independent
17 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
‘Brilliant role model' and veteran ‘never imagined' being honoured at 106
Northern Ireland's oldest man has said he had never expected to receive an honour from the King at the age of 106. Norman Irwin, described by his friends as inspirational and a brilliant role model, served in north Africa during the Second World War before going on to make a difference in his home town of Coleraine. He helped to form the Coleraine Winemakers Club, recalling initially using nettles and dandelions, as well as becoming one of the founders of the town's Rotary Club and the Agivey Anglers Association. Mr Irwin is the oldest person to be recognised in this year's Kings Birthday Honours, and is just one of three recipients over the last 10 years aged 106, as well as being Northern Ireland's oldest man. He said he was very proud to be recognised with a British Empire Medal (BEM), adding it had come as a big surprise, joking he was 'getting on a bit'. Born just a few days after the end of the First World War in 1918, Mr Irwin went on to serve in the Second World War, volunteering in April 1939 to join the Coleraine Battery of the Royal Artillery as a gunner. He described the battlefield in north Africa as stretching thousands of miles and getting chased across the desert by German troops in tanks. The sand presented a major challenge, he described, in terms of logistics, and he even engineered his own guns when they lost the tools to maintain them. 'We lost the tools for them in the sand, so we made our own – you learned to adapt to it very very quickly, you just had to get on with it,' he said. 'You do what you have to do in times of need. 'We were all volunteers here (in Northern Ireland), we weren't conscripted, so we all just went off en masse as our own decision. We never imagined what it was going to be like. ' People talk about the desert rats, but it didn't really get the same coverage as France. 'The First World War took a lot, and the Second World War took even more, terrible times.' Mr Irwin said the sheer distances involved in the conflict in north Africa is often what surprises people the most. 'People just didn't understand the distances when they talk about the Germans when they chased us back across north Africa, it was about 1,500 miles,' he said. 'They all think it's a small localised battle, but it wasn't, it was over a 1,500- 2,000-mile stretch. 'When they chased us back across the desert, they had tanks and we didn't have any, we couldn't cope with those, couldn't fight them, the only thing to do was to leave. 'Then we got reorganised and prepared, and we chased them back across again. The armoured divisions arrived once they realised what we were up against.' He went on to become one of the founding members of the new Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in October 1942 and he was soon promoted to sergeant. 'I was demobbed at the end of the war and came back home to Northern Ireland, and got a job as an engineer in a local factory and it all went from there,' he said. 'Everything that we did in the forces had an application in industry.' Back home, Mr Irwin helped form the Coleraine Winemakers club in the early 1960s. 'It was beer and wine, home hobbies at the time were quite the thing, and of course people would say to others, 'what do you think of my wine', so we formed a wine club had competitions for people who made wine out of nettles and dandelions, and all sorts of things we could find in the fields,' he said. 'It was quite potent. 'It moved on from that to a higher level, using grapes.' Asked about the held esteem he is held in, Mr Irwin responded: 'People say these things, I wouldn't put myself in that category. 'I enjoyed all those things as well, of course.'
North Wales Chronicle
17 hours ago
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
‘Brilliant role model' and veteran ‘never imagined' being honoured at 106
Norman Irwin, described by his friends as inspirational and a brilliant role model, served in north Africa during the Second World War before going on to make a difference in his home town of Coleraine. He helped to form the Coleraine Winemakers Club, recalling initially using nettles and dandelions, as well as becoming one of the founders of the town's Rotary Club and the Agivey Anglers Association. Mr Irwin is the oldest person to be recognised in this year's Kings Birthday Honours, and is just one of three recipients over the last 10 years aged 106, as well as being Northern Ireland's oldest man. He said he was very proud to be recognised with a British Empire Medal (BEM), adding it had come as a big surprise, joking he was 'getting on a bit'. Born just a few days after the end of the First World War in 1918, Mr Irwin went on to serve in the Second World War, volunteering in April 1939 to join the Coleraine Battery of the Royal Artillery as a gunner. He described the battlefield in north Africa as stretching thousands of miles and getting chased across the desert by German troops in tanks. The sand presented a major challenge, he described, in terms of logistics, and he even engineered his own guns when they lost the tools to maintain them. 'We lost the tools for them in the sand, so we made our own – you learned to adapt to it very very quickly, you just had to get on with it,' he said. 'You do what you have to do in times of need. 'We were all volunteers here (in Northern Ireland), we weren't conscripted, so we all just went off en masse as our own decision. We never imagined what it was going to be like. 'People talk about the desert rats, but it didn't really get the same coverage as France. 'The First World War took a lot, and the Second World War took even more, terrible times.' Mr Irwin said the sheer distances involved in the conflict in north Africa is often what surprises people the most. 'People just didn't understand the distances when they talk about the Germans when they chased us back across north Africa, it was about 1,500 miles,' he said. 'They all think it's a small localised battle, but it wasn't, it was over a 1,500- 2,000-mile stretch. 'When they chased us back across the desert, they had tanks and we didn't have any, we couldn't cope with those, couldn't fight them, the only thing to do was to leave. 'Then we got reorganised and prepared, and we chased them back across again. The armoured divisions arrived once they realised what we were up against.' He went on to become one of the founding members of the new Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in October 1942 and he was soon promoted to sergeant. 'I was demobbed at the end of the war and came back home to Northern Ireland, and got a job as an engineer in a local factory and it all went from there,' he said. 'Everything that we did in the forces had an application in industry.' Back home, Mr Irwin helped form the Coleraine Winemakers club in the early 1960s. 'It was beer and wine, home hobbies at the time were quite the thing, and of course people would say to others, 'what do you think of my wine', so we formed a wine club had competitions for people who made wine out of nettles and dandelions, and all sorts of things we could find in the fields,' he said. 'It was quite potent. 'It moved on from that to a higher level, using grapes.' Asked about the held esteem he is held in, Mr Irwin responded: 'People say these things, I wouldn't put myself in that category. 'I enjoyed all those things as well, of course.'
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
106-year-old WW2 veteran among those on King's Honours list
A 106-year-old Second World War veteran from Coleraine is the oldest person on the King's Birthday Honours list. Norman Irwin has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for a range of voluntary work in his home town in County Londonderry, including at a cross-community club for retirees. A total of 69 people from Northern Ireland are honoured on the list which celebrates the public service of individuals across the UK. Road-racer Michael Dunlop, 36, has been made an MBE for services to the sport. The record-breaking Isle of Man TT winner said: "This is a wonderful honour for me and for my family. I am humbled to be awarded this honour from the Palace." Among the others from Northern Ireland to be recognised are the former permanent secretary at the Department of Health, Peter May, and the chairwoman of the recent Urology Inquiry, Christine Smith KC, who are appointed CBE. The founder of the Belfast Community Gospel Choir, Dr Marie Lacey, has been made an MBE for her work in the arts sector. The choir brings together people of different faiths, races, sexual orientations and socio-economic backgrounds. Dr Lacey said: "I can not put into words what this honour means to me. "To think back to that little girl on the Newtownards Road in Belfast to now receiving this recognition is beyond what I could have dreamed for myself." "Seeing joy on our audiences' faces has always been my privilege, and so to be recognised and honoured for that is pretty overwhelming." Also made an MBE was Joanne Currie, principal of Cairnshill Integrated Primary School in south Belfast. "It means a huge deal to me," she told BBC News NI. "I am just an 'ordinary Joe', just working on a daily basis. To get something like this is, is an honour and it's very humbling." Among those in the business community who received honours was Jo Bamford, the owner of Wrightbus, who was made a CBE for services to innovating the clean hydrogen economy. Vicky Davies, the chief executive of Danske Bank, was made an OBE. "I feel privileged to receive this honour, and I very much see it as a reflection of the everyday dedication and hard work my colleagues put in to serving the banking needs of local people and businesses," she said. James McGinn, managing director of Hastings Hotels, has been made an MBE for services to hospitality and tourism. Richard Taylor, a governor in the Northern Ireland Prison Service, has been made an OBE, as has Terry Pateman, the chairman of the Northern Amateur Football league. Seven birthday honours were awarded to members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, including Insp Richard Brown who has more than 40 years of service. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: "I am incredibly proud to see the dedication and bravery of our officers and staff members recognised. "These honours reflect not only individual accomplishments, but also the dedication and professionalism that define the PSNI." Communities Minister Gordon Lyons paid tribute to those from the sport, music, arts, charity, housing and voluntary and community sectors who were recognised. "Each recipient has made a positive and lasting impact on our society and are an inspiration, I would like to thank each of you." Click here for a full list of those named in the Kings Birthday Honours list. The commonly awarded ranks are as follows: Companion of Honour - Limited to 65 people. Recipients wear the initials CH after their name Knight or Dame CBE - Commander of the Order of the British Empire OBE - Officer of the Order of the British Empire MBE - Member of the Order of the British Empire BEM - British Empire Medal READ: Guide to the King's Birthday Honours King's Birthday Honours: How does the UK honours system work?
South Wales Guardian
17 hours ago
- General
- South Wales Guardian
‘Brilliant role model' and veteran ‘never imagined' being honoured at 106
Norman Irwin, described by his friends as inspirational and a brilliant role model, served in north Africa during the Second World War before going on to make a difference in his home town of Coleraine. He helped to form the Coleraine Winemakers Club, recalling initially using nettles and dandelions, as well as becoming one of the founders of the town's Rotary Club and the Agivey Anglers Association. Mr Irwin is the oldest person to be recognised in this year's Kings Birthday Honours, and is just one of three recipients over the last 10 years aged 106, as well as being Northern Ireland's oldest man. He said he was very proud to be recognised with a British Empire Medal (BEM), adding it had come as a big surprise, joking he was 'getting on a bit'. Born just a few days after the end of the First World War in 1918, Mr Irwin went on to serve in the Second World War, volunteering in April 1939 to join the Coleraine Battery of the Royal Artillery as a gunner. He described the battlefield in north Africa as stretching thousands of miles and getting chased across the desert by German troops in tanks. The sand presented a major challenge, he described, in terms of logistics, and he even engineered his own guns when they lost the tools to maintain them. 'We lost the tools for them in the sand, so we made our own – you learned to adapt to it very very quickly, you just had to get on with it,' he said. 'You do what you have to do in times of need. 'We were all volunteers here (in Northern Ireland), we weren't conscripted, so we all just went off en masse as our own decision. We never imagined what it was going to be like. 'People talk about the desert rats, but it didn't really get the same coverage as France. 'The First World War took a lot, and the Second World War took even more, terrible times.' Mr Irwin said the sheer distances involved in the conflict in north Africa is often what surprises people the most. 'People just didn't understand the distances when they talk about the Germans when they chased us back across north Africa, it was about 1,500 miles,' he said. 'They all think it's a small localised battle, but it wasn't, it was over a 1,500- 2,000-mile stretch. 'When they chased us back across the desert, they had tanks and we didn't have any, we couldn't cope with those, couldn't fight them, the only thing to do was to leave. 'Then we got reorganised and prepared, and we chased them back across again. The armoured divisions arrived once they realised what we were up against.' He went on to become one of the founding members of the new Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in October 1942 and he was soon promoted to sergeant. 'I was demobbed at the end of the war and came back home to Northern Ireland, and got a job as an engineer in a local factory and it all went from there,' he said. 'Everything that we did in the forces had an application in industry.' Back home, Mr Irwin helped form the Coleraine Winemakers club in the early 1960s. 'It was beer and wine, home hobbies at the time were quite the thing, and of course people would say to others, 'what do you think of my wine', so we formed a wine club had competitions for people who made wine out of nettles and dandelions, and all sorts of things we could find in the fields,' he said. 'It was quite potent. 'It moved on from that to a higher level, using grapes.' Asked about the held esteem he is held in, Mr Irwin responded: 'People say these things, I wouldn't put myself in that category. 'I enjoyed all those things as well, of course.'
