In this section we hope to reflect the range of people who live, and have lived in Groomsport, over the years. We also want to represent events – community events and family events that have occurred.
We are very grateful to Perry Moore who has given us permission to use images from his extensive collection of photos and from his Groomsport Generations Facebook page.
This photograph is thought to date from 1900s
0063 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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The girls are identified as Storeen Niblock, Maureen Oughton and Patsy McDowell
0064 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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The children have been identified as: Kitty Niblock, Nellie Waterson, Charlie Waterson, Ellen Bryan and wee John Waterson.
0065 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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The Rocket House, which contained lifesaving apparatus, such a breechers buoys was on Main Street, beside the second National School.
Included are James Russell, John Mackintosh, Fred Waterson, Gordon Murdoch and Hugh Bell.
0066 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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0068 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Five ladies who grew up together in Groomsport. From the left: Edith (French) Weiss, Moya (Bullock) Gibson, Roberta Waterson Fraser, Maureen Waterson Erskine and Marilyn Waterson Potter.
0102 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Roberta Waterson Fraser has identified the children as follows: Front row: Johnny Wilson, auntie Marie, Eileen Savage and Sammy McDowell.Back row: Unknown, Harry Savage, George Bell, Patricia McDowell and Bobby Dunbar.
0071 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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0103 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Ruth Fee has provided this description.
This is a photo of my Nanny Betty Moulson, and my Mum Susan Moulson (as was) and it would have been taken in the Spring of 1945 as Mum was born on 27th June 1944. She looks around 10 months old in this picture.
Nanny is sitting on a wall with the old cottages on Main Street behind her that were knocked down to build the old shelters. She was facing into where they were living at the time, Providence Place on the Hill in the village, in her Granny Heyburn’s cottage. Nanny and Mum lived in Providence Place until Grandad Arthur was demobbed in December 1945, arriving back in Groomsport on Christmas Eve.
0101 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Jane and William lived in Main Street.
0070 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Information from Ann Blachford, her niece:
Fanny Waterson (1907-1990) lived in Groomsport all her life. As far as I know, she left once, in 1949, to travel to London to visit her sister Nellie, brother-in-law, Harry Green, and their daughter, Ann.
0104 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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0105 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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0108 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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0120 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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0107 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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The Longs lived in Virginia House.
0114 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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The marriage took place at Groomsport Parish Church on 9th January, 1947.
0111 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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James and Roberta are pictured on the steps of the old First national School which, after it closed in 1895, was adapted for housing.
0112 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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0113 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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The GVA distributed EU butter and beef to senior citizens. The photograph, which is a cutting form the County Down Spectator, shows Pearl brown, chair of GVA, hading over some butter. Also in the photo are Mrs Huddleston, secretary, and Mrs Meehan and Mrs Emberson, GVA committee members.
0110 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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0111 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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These children and leaders took part in the South Eastern Education and Library Board’s summer scheme.
0117 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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The sisters are pictured at a Pony club gymkhana at Belvedere Riding Centre.
Cutting from the County Down Spectator.
0118 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Meehan Family, date unknown
0121 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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0122 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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0127 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Harry Rea and Max Moore re outside the phone box. Roy Rea is in the phone box and Rachel Orr iswaiting to use the phone. (Information from Roberta Waterson Fraser)
0129 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Arthur and Betty were married on 1st December 1941. Arthur was stationed at Groomsport House with the Royal Engineers and the couple met in July 1941.
0124 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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The staff are Mrs Dempster, Mrs Fitzsimmons, Mrs Mawhinney and Mrs McKechnie.
0125 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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0087 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Bertie Murphy had a shop in Main Street, Groomsport.
0096 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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This picture of Betty and Arthur Moulson was taken in 1941, sitting on the grass verge beside the Private Walk on the ‘third beach’ (Cove Bay). Arthur Moulson, from Old Swan in Liverpool, was a Royal Engineer and was stationed at the Groomsport House Hotel. Betty Heyburn first met Arthur on the 11th July 1941 when out for a walk with her friend, who had asked Betty if she had met any soldiers. She replied she had not, but there was “one coming along here I quite like the look of”, and that was Arthur Moulson. They got married on 1st December 1941, with Arthur being demobbed in December 1945. They had two children, Susan (1944) and Deborah (1953). It was a marriage filled with love, and they lived most of their married life in Springwell Crescent, Groomsport.
Description provided by Ruth Fee, their granddaughter.
0072 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
This cutting from the County Down Spectator reported that Elaine, a teacher at Carrowdore Primary School was travelling to New Zealand on a teacher exchange scheme.
0128 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Jeffrey was in Australia for 40 years.
0093 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Roberta Waterson Fraser identified the following, sitting on the steps of the First National School, which was later converted into six housing units. “Billy Dunbar, great auntie Nora, auntie Marie and uncle Charlie, Marilyn, Alfie and me.”
0097 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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This cutting from the County Down Spectator shows Neil Granger of Combat Cancer presenting a certificate to Groomsport Combat Cancer Group which had raised £2,000 through a sponsored walk form Groomsport to Bangor. Receiving the certificate were Ian and Keith Carmichael, proprietors of the Groomsport Inn.
0130 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Billy Dunbar (on the right), and his colleagues are wearing uniforms supplied by the owners of yatchs which they crewed. The others are Larry,from Belfast and, in the middle, George McDowell from Donaghadee.
0098 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Extract from the County Down Spectator.
0084 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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0100 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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0089 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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The tin soldiers, bunnies, the cow and other characters from ‘ Babes in the Wood” which was performed at the Walter Nelson Hall.
0085 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Roberta Waterson Fraser described this photo:
“Elsie Beattie with her mum, Sadie, sister-in-law Lily, nieces Pamela and Karen and their children”
0090 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
If you have more information about this photo please contact discovergroomsport@gmail.com mentioning the four digit number above.
Extract form the County Down Spectator
0088 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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0099 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Members of the Community Centre are pictured at a tea party and dance in the Boathouse. Cutting from the County Down Spectator.
0106 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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William Waterson was a fisherman and, possibly, also a member of the Lifeboat crew. He is pictured outside his cottage on Main Street.
0049 Photograph supplied by Roberta Waterson Fraser and reproduced with permission.
Find out more about the Waterson family at:
https://discovergroomsport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Watersons-version-2.pdf
0091 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
If you have more information about this photo please contact discovergroomsport@gmail.com mentioning the four digit number above.
0092 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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0093 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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The “Kinnegar Flyer” has a full load of passengers. The Watch House can be seen in the background.
0143 Photograph supplied by Rev Dr David Irwin and Mrs Maureen Irwin
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The marquees were provided by the Army.
0146 Photograph supplied by Rev Dr David Irwin and Mrs Maureen Irwin
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One of the stalls in one of the marquees.
0142 Photograph supplied by Rev Dr David Irwin and Mrs Maureen Irwin
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In the early 1970s, Dr James Martin, inventor of this seat for pilots, opened the village Fete. He had been in the Bible Class of Rev James Legate of Raffrey, before Rev Legate was called to serve in Groomsport.
0144 Photograph supplied by Rev Dr David Irwin and Mrs Maureen Irwin
Mrs Maureen Irwin arriving in style to open the Village Fete. On the left is Rev Dr David Irwin. On the right is Rodney Kinnaird, the owner of the 1922 Rolls Royce Silvercloud.
0145 Photograph supplied by Rev Dr David Irwin and Mrs Maureen Irwin
As part of the Presbyterian Church’s fundraising to re-roof the church, money was raised form collecting waste paper which was reprocessed into egg boxes.
From left to right, outside the Walter Nelson Hall, are Guiler Kennedy, Mr McCullough, Mr McKay (with Rev Irwin’s daughter, Mandy, aged 3, on his shoulders), Mr William Andrews, Mr Bob Martin (with Gillian Irwin, aged 5, Mr Derek Johnston and Mr James Russell.
0147 Photograph supplied by Rev Dr David Irwin and Mrs Maureen Irwin
A fun day cycle ride to Donaghadee and back was held to raise funds for the Presbyterian Church. The cyclist are pictured outside the Walter Nelson Hall.
0151 Photograph supplied by Rev Dr David Irwin and Mrs Maureen Irwin
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This photograph was taken just before the school closed in 2007.
0168 Photograph supplied by Linda Mehaffey
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Find out more about Groomsport’s school at:
https://discovergroomsport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Primary-School-A5.pdf
and
https://discovergroomsport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/National-Schools-v1a.pdf
This photograph was taken outside 3 West Hill on 11th September 1948.
Back row: Billy Gardiner, Campbell Gardiner, Rory Greer, Shaun Alexander and Robbie Martin.
Middle row: Moira Conroy, Brenda Hill, Mary Davis and Lesley McBratney.
Front row: Billy Garrett, Johnny Davis, Sean Manning and Moya Bullick.
0189 Photograph supplied by Rory Greer
Providence Place was a row of houses on The Hill that were demolished in the 1970s when Groomsport Presbyterian Church was extended.
In the photograph are members of the Curry family from Belfast who spent weekends and holidays in one of the houses in Providence Place.
0177 Photograph supplied by Maureen Erskine
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Also included is Molly Bullick (née Anderson). The photograph was taken on West Hill.
0190 Photograph supplied by Rory Greer
This photograph of the “High Sheriff of Groomsport” was taken on West Hill.
0191 Photograph supplied by Rory Greer
Rory is sitting on the horse of John Murdock, the “vegetable man’, near Rory’s home in West Hill. Rory was celebrating Victory In Europe (VE) Day.
0188 Photograph supplied by Rory Greer
0261 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore.
If you have more information about this photo please contact discovergroomsport@gmail.com mentioning the four digit number above.
In the left foreground are Mary Waterson with her daughter, Roberta (holding a ball). Also in the photograph are Marie Waterson and her son, Alfie.
0176 Photograph supplied by Maureen Erskine
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0178 Photograph supplied by Maureen Erskine
The names of some of the band members are listed on the back of this photograph.
In the back row are: J Orr, N Murdock, R Murdock and T Watterson.
Others listed are: B Dunbar, H J Waterson, Alex Spears, J Waterson, H Waterson, J Gunning, A Conroy., J Waterson, G Conroy, Arthur Waterson, Billy BryanD Gunning, J Hamilton, Hugh Bell, W Savage, Henry Waterson and J Tosh.
0185 Photograph supplied by Ann Blachford
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Those in thsi photograph are thought to be as follows.
Top. Left to right. John Waterson (aged 6), Henry Waterson, John Waterson, unknown
Standing: Unknown, “Wilty” Waterson (holding his daughter, Kathleen Maud Waterson, with his daughter, Annie, standing behind), Jimmy Waterson, John Alexander (“Jander”) Waterson, Tom Waterson (in white top), two unknown boys, Robert Waterson and Billy Niblock (holding basket).
0179 Photograph supplied by Maureen Erskine
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This certificate was issued to Frederick Waterson in 1920. Masonic Lodge 337 has met in the Maxwell Hall (now part of the Parish Halls) since 1911.
0216 Photograph by John Gunning
0206 Photograph supplied by Julie Keith
If you have more information about this photo please contact discovergroomsport@gmail.com mentioning the four digit number above.
Fire broke out in the roof of the Primary School on the night of 20th / 21st July 1996. Despite extensive damage, leading to part of the school being demolished, the school re-opened in September that year.
This photograph shows the damage to one of the corridors.
0195 Photograph supplied by Margaret McCreedy
For more information about Groomsport Primary School, go to:
https://discovergroomsport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Primary-School-A5.pdf
Fiona McCreedy has identified those in the photograph, which shows the Maxwell hall in the background.
Thomas Russell is holding the horse. The others are Henry Waterson, Violet Waterson and Susannah Russell.
0241 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore.
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Robert and Mary were married in Sunderland in December 1939. Robert was an Able seaman in the Royal Navy.
0249 Photograph supplied by Maureen Erskine.
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Annie Waterson is pictured in her house at 24 The Hill (now number 37).
0184 Photograph supplied by Ann Blachford
0251 Photograph supplied by Ann Blachford.
If you have more information about this photo please contact discovergroomsport@gmail.com mentioning the four digit number above.
0252 Photograph supplied by Maureen Erskine.
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0246 Photograph supplied by Ann Blachford.
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The couple were photographed on their honeymoon in Plymouth.
0250 Photograph supplied by Maureen Erskine.
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Robert was the coxswain of Chapman, the last lifeboat based in Groomsport
0181 and 0182 Photographs supplied by Ann Blachford
George and Eileen were married on 5th September 1946. Beside the couple are Marie Waterson and Eileen McDowell. The older girl is Maureen McDowell.
0210 Photograph supplied by Julie Crawford
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Jane and, Richard, who lived on The Hill, launched a business supplying plaques which, among other things, could be used as prizes for competitions and in heraldry.
0224 Supplied by the Groomsport Parish Archive
The end of the houses in Providence Place are on the right of the photgraph.
0233 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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Rory and Roberta are standing outside Steenson’s shop on Main Street in December 1987.
0234 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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From left, in the back row are: Mildred, Janette and Maria Conroy. In the front are Robert Angus and Maureen Waterson. The children are standing outside the door to the dwellings that were created in the building of the First National School which was immediately behind the Presbyterian Church.
0248 Photograph supplied by Maureen Erskine.
If you have more information about this photo please contact discovergroomsport@gmail.com mentioning the four digit number above
0264 Newspaper extract supplied by Perry Moore.
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Extract from the County Down Spectator.
0094 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
If you have more information about this photo please contact discovergroomsport@gmail.com mentioning the four digit number above
0235 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore
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This photograph appeared in the County Down Spectator.
0277 Newspaper extract supplied by Peter Gibson
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The group had been entertainedby comedian Roy Walsh (at right of table) at an event in the Boathouse.
0254 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore.
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A celebratory dinner was held at The Stables by the founder and committee menbers.
Mrs Edith McIlwiane, President, is sitting fourth from the left.
0253 Photograph supplied by Perry Moore.
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Nellie Green is pictured with her daughter Ann Blachford (on the left) and granddaughter, Ruth Bennett. Ellen (“Nellie”) was the daughter of Robert Waterson, the last coxswain of the Groomsport lifeboat, and his wife, Annie Graham. Nellie died in 2015, in her 103rd year.
0279 Photograph supplied by Ann Blachford
