John Hume 1937 - 2020

[Padraig]

I would like to add my own small tribute to John Hume. I knew him, often spoke with him, but I was not a close acquaintance. I first met him in 1948 as a first year college pupil. He was a year too young to start college after passing the Qualifying Examination so was put into a special class. I observed his class during study periods and I noticed this young fellow whose hand was the first up when a question was asked. It was 'Johnny Humes'. Our paths seldom crossed again until we were both teachers in the 50s/early 60s. I met John outside the City Library and we swapped notes about our respective schools. He once greatly impressed me with his enthusiasm for a French language school magazine he was producing and his plans for its development - a novel idea at that time. First hand up, again! Gradually John found a new enthusiasm during the sixties which I with many others shared in my own limited way. I admired him as a boy, as a teacher and as a statesman. There will be plenty more to be said in the next few days, but I think the following clip says a lot about what he was like in real life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsuiuMPwu0Y

[french frank]

Thank you for the reminiscence, Padraig. He achieved more than most of us can hope to do.

[Serial_Apologist]

He came to prominence at a time any kind of middle ground was difficult, nay impossible to balance, and in the end was proved right, even as he became more marginalised in favour of those who had played the most prominent roles in the Politics of The North.

[johncorrigan]

I would like to add my own small tribute to John Hume. I knew him, often spoke with him, but I was not a close acquaintance. I first met him in 1948 as a first year college pupil. He was a year too young to start college after passing the Qualifying Examination so was put into a special class. I observed his class during study periods and I noticed this young fellow whose hand was the first up when a question was asked. It was 'Johnny Humes'. Our paths seldom crossed again until we were both teachers in the 50s/early 60s. I met John outside the City Library and we swapped notes about respective schools. He once greatly impressed me with his enthusiasm for a French language school magazine he was producing and his plans for its development - a novel idea at that time. First hand up, again! Gradually John found a new enthusiasm during the sixties which I with many others shared in my own limited way. I admired him as a boy, as a teacher and as a statesman. There will be plenty more to be said in the next few days, but I think the following clip says a lot about what he was like in real life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsuiuMPwu0Y

Thank you, Padraig. He was a man I very much admired. A voice of reason among the extremes and a man who took his ideals and made them a reality. Rest Peacefully.

[eighthobstruction]

Thank you, Padraig. He was a man I very much admired. A voice of reason among the extremes and a man who took his ideals and made them a reality. Rest Peacefully.

....yes thank you Padraig