Thank you Dom for giving this opportunity to share memories of Laurence

I was a surprised 6 year old when Laurence was born in 1953 in Belfast, a delight for a baby-loving big sis, big brother Barrie was 9, perhaps not so excited! His earliest years were spent in close loving contact with grandparents, aunt & cousins, all living in the same street. When he was 3 years old our family moved to Dublin to be near our Dads work. He loved Clontarf where his earliest memories would be, and on the whole he enjoyed Greenlanes Primary School. In 1959 we had a brief move to live in Gloucester for 6 months with our new baby sis Paddie.

Laurence loved Dublin and the Irish language which he burst into at every opportunity.

The family moved back north in 1965 as Barrie & I started our careers in policing & nursing. Finaghy became his home and Wallace High his school, where he particularly enjoyed history & drama. From there he launched into his career in the police, for a short time in Northern Ireland & then to Hong Kong in early 70s.  The Far East interested Laurence from childhood when he first heard the story of the trail blazing Gladys Aylward. He was enthralled when he heard her speak in Dublin so powerfully & from such a tiny frame!!  A combination of policing, the Far East & the sea seemed the ideal life for him, but that is all another story!!         

I miss my wee brother greatly.  We always enjoyed remembering the good old days of our youth. He always kept me right on facts, dates and the pronunciation if his beloved Gaelic, which I heard he introduced to Dominic!! 

My last conversation a few days before he left us was so encouraging and happy, he was feeling better, brighter, we enjoyed reminiscing & shared our thoughts on faith in Jesus.  A very precious memory for me. 

I have put a couple of photos from Laurence's youth in the gallery, as a 2 year old with his binoculars & a 6th former!