All of these photographs date from September 1982, so they are over 40 years old.
The first of our photographs shows Lord O’Neill, chairman of the Northern Ireland Regional Committee of the National Trust, pictured in September 1982 when he officially opened the new National Trust shop and information centre at Botanic Avenue in Belfast.
He is pictured with Mrs Dorothy Conway, the shop’s manageress. He told the News Letter: “What we want to do is to spread the good word about the what we [the Trust] do for the province.”
He described the new shop as a “brave venture”.
Another of our photographs shows Sammy Close from Forthriver Road, Belfast, strumming the unemployment blues and hoping to hit the right notes that would land him his first job in four years He is pictured outside Belfast City Hall in September 1982.
He was hoping to emulate the success of a Londonderry man named Michael McCarron whose sit-down protest at the Guildhall had got him a job.
Sammy told the News Letter: “I have tried everything else. I have applied for hundreds of jobs. I went to England and then to Dublin but there was nothing there. I did a bit of busking to get my fare back to Belfast.”
He added: “People have been great – they have come over and talked to me, and even though I’m not collecting for myself, they have stuffed money into my pocket."
And one of the photographs from the News Letter's sporting archive shows Jim McIlwaine (Carrickfergus) drives off at the fourth tee at Malone during the Ulster final of the Barton Shield in September 1982. Included are Michael Hoey and his brother Brian (Shandon Park).
If you have any old photographs that you would like to share with News Letter readers, email [email protected].
He is pictured with Mrs Dorothy Conway, the shop’s manageress. He told the News Letter: “What we want to do is to spread the good word about the what we [the Trust] do for the province.”
![Glentoran player Ron Manley, who was selected player of the month by East Belfast Constitutional Glentoran Supporters' Club, receiving his award from club member Jack Dougan ahead of a game against Larne in September 1982. Also included is Harry Black, club treasurer. Pictures: News Letter archives](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjhkNTNiZWExLTk4OWQtNDM0ZS05ODcxLWUyYTM5ZjY1ZDJiYTo5MzI1ODhjOC1hMmVlLTQxYmQtYjE4YS03MzYxNjE0ZTQ0M2Y=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
5. Player of the month chose by East Belfast Constitutional Glentoran Supporters' Club
Glentoran player Ron Manley, who was selected player of the month by East Belfast Constitutional Glentoran Supporters' Club, receiving his award from club member Jack Dougan ahead of a game against Larne in September 1982. Also included is Harry Black, club treasurer. Pictures: News Letter archivesPhoto: News Letter archives
![William McKillen of Tullymar Agency discussing veterinary equipment at the pig fair in September 1982, with Jim Grant, Aghalee, and his sons, Thomas and Nigel. On the right John Neillis of Fisons. Picture: News Letter archives](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmFlMDk3YzQzLTM3NDItNGM3ZS1iODJiLTE2NTY3ZjkzMTBkZDoxNjEwYjIwMy0wNzRhLTRjMDYtOTAzNC0zODQ5NDkyMTljNzc=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
6. Greenmount pig fair
William McKillen of Tullymar Agency discussing veterinary equipment at the pig fair in September 1982, with Jim Grant, Aghalee, and his sons, Thomas and Nigel. On the right John Neillis of Fisons. Picture: News Letter archivesPhoto: News Letter archives
![Tom McKenna from Ballymoney selling a pen of sheep to William Leonard from Pettigo, Co Fermanagh, at a sale at the Oul Lammas Fair at Ballycastle, at the end of August 1982. Picture: News Letter archives](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjNhZjU1OWMzLTkyN2QtNDA0My1iOGUwLWU0ZGY3MjI3MDEzMzo1OTExNWI3Yy00YmE3LTQyNDgtOGFjNC02ODA4MWM5Y2RiMmI=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
7. Catching up at the Oul Lammas Fair
Tom McKenna from Ballymoney selling a pen of sheep to William Leonard from Pettigo, Co Fermanagh, at a sale at the Oul Lammas Fair at Ballycastle, at the end of August 1982. Picture: News Letter archivesPhoto: News Letter archives
![Hubert Gabbie, Crossgar, right, pictured in September 1982 at a pig fair at Greenmount, with Neill and Richard Jordan from Portadown. Picture: News Letter archives](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjUxN2NiOTA2LWNjZGItNGFiZi1hMTRmLTRjYjdkZmM4ZTU5ZToxYWFmMDA3OC03YzBiLTQwNDYtOTc1Mi1mYjk0MGE5NThjYTE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
8. Pig fair at Greenmount
Hubert Gabbie, Crossgar, right, pictured in September 1982 at a pig fair at Greenmount, with Neill and Richard Jordan from Portadown. Picture: News Letter archivesPhoto: News Letter archives