Rest in peace Archie Girvan

It was with deep regret that I learned Friends of the Waterworks treasurer Archie Girvan (pictured on the right along with Mark McCutcheon and Joanie McGuinness) died this week.

I met Archie some years ago through the Waterworks and for me he was a great man, always friendly, courteous and kind.

Archie has played an invaluable role in North Belfast. 

In today's Belfast Telegraph there are heartfelt messages of sympathy expressed from a range of community organisations including the North Belfast Employment Centre; Westland Community Group; North Belfast Partnership Board; Friends of the Waterworks; North Belfast Community Support Group (NBCSG) and the North Belfast Play Forum.

Archie was a member of all these groups at one stage or another in his lifetime and he achieved great results along with his team members in getting the job done, building up partnerships and promoting North Belfast.

I've included a great photo of Archie taken as far back as 2001, if computer date records are to be trusted, and it features Archie, in his role as member of the North Belfast Play Forum, on the unfinished site of the Waterworks multi-sports arena. 

The pitch has turned out to be one of the biggest success stories of this city and is used by sporting enthusiasts of all ages, from all communities. Midnight Soccer tournaments are even hosted regularly its that popular.

Brian Mullan who is secretary of the NBCSG and chairman of the Waterworks group said he was devastated by Archie's death.

He paid tribute to Archie and his unwavering cross-community efforts saying he will be missed by many. 

It's very true. The gap left in this community by this gentle soul will be hard to replace.

water lily action

As everyone knows the top pond of the Waterworks is being choked with water lily so it was good news to finally hear that Belfast City Council (BCC) are finally going to get the finger out and spray the plants with some sort of eco-friendly but not fish-friendly herbicide.

It's going to take several years to complete as the work will be carried out in stages because "there is a risk of small scale loss of fish" the council said.

This week BCC's elected representatives held their monthly meeting and during that emotionally charged meeting where incinerators and a civic reception for soldiers coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan was debated, DUP councillor Ian Crozier demanded that the council foot the bill for any dead fish and replace them instead of the Fishing Waterworks club.