John Pike

Bloody Sunday – A Personal Reflection…

John Pike on January 30, 2022, 8:00 am | Readers 3326

The day, the date, the unfolding news, seared on many memories. A shameful and seismic moment in our history. For younger people looking at these events, it might be interesting to know how this event was viewed by the Protestant community, and why. By the end of January 1972 there had been about 200 deaths and numerous explosions, so the NI public were getting used to death on a large scale. The average Protestant, I believe, did not really understand …

The Remarkable Story of Gladys Blackburne…

John Pike on October 2, 2021, 10:43 am | Readers 3661

In Palace Barracks Memorial Gardens there lies a memorial stone inscribed as follows: In Memory of Miss Gladys Blackburne “The Chuff Chart Lady” OP Banner She would walk into any army camp or police station Distributing her gifts and prayers She was respected with affection For her kindness and bravery This stone is dedicated to her memory By Veterans, Friends and Colleagues “Blessed in the sight of the lord Is the death of his saints” Psalm 116 v15 Who was …

From Belfast to Beirut: an appreciation of Robert Fisk

John Pike on May 12, 2021, 6:12 pm | Readers 2287

“My editor at The Times had safely received the whole report and duly printed it all except for one paragraph which recorded how Gavin (Hewitt) and I came across a tribesman outside Jalalabad standing on a box and sodomising a camel. This was a bit too much for Times readers he felt.” Such is the life of a foreign correspondent. Robert Fisk reported from the Middle East for 40 years during which time he earned a reputation as one of …

I’m a Rock Star… Get me Out of Here!

John Pike on December 27, 2020, 7:32 pm | Readers 1315

Stuck away in my garage are piles of vinyl LPs, singles and cassette tapes. The evidence of a lifelong interest in pop music. Some interesting stuff survives: Telstar by the Tornados with more crackles on it than what was originally put there in the studio. Sgt Pepper, mono LP. Worth a few quid if it wasn’t for all those scratches on it. I’ve always loved pop music but it’s not just the music, it’s everything that goes with it. The …