After a particularly fine week, the weather broke just hours before the start of the double event -

• The announcement of a substantial Heritage Lottery Fund grant to the Ulster History Circle, and
• The unveiling of a blue plaque to the novelist Charles Lever

The rain did not dampen the proceedings too much and indeed it kindly ceased briefly during the ceremony, only to return in time to drench this photographer in the execution of his duties.

Heritage Lottery Fund

The Heritage Lottery Fund's awarded grant of £49,200 to the Ulster History Circle is to carry out a five-year programme of activities designed to boost awareness of the contribution made by men and women associated with Northern Ireland who have distinguished themselves in their fields.The grant will fund six activities - 1. Additional blue plaques, principally in areas outside the main population areas of Belfast and County Down. 2. Revising and updating the Dictionary of Ulster Biography, and making it available on the world-wide web. 3. An outreach project to raise awareness in local communities and schools. 4. Publication of a Blue Plaques Guide containing information about each plaque and a range of leaflets about the Circle and individuals 5. With the Tourist Board and other organisations, promoting the plaques as a social and cultural asset for the community and visitors 6. Development of the Circle's website as an easily accessible resource

Sean Nolan, Secretary of the Circle, said: "We are delighted that the Fund has provided us with the means to carry through our plans. While we will continue to depend on City and District Councils and others to grant aid individual plaques, this grant will allow us to expand our activities to increase awareness, both regionally and internationally, of the contribution that eminent men and women have made to history of the province, the nation and the world, and to the richness of our heritage."

Commenting on the award Caroline Marshall, HLF Committee Member, said: "Education projects like this one are a great way of making sure that as many people as possible can benefit from lottery funding and learn about the heritage that exists all around them and is part of their lives today."

Charles Lever

A famous Victorian novelist and a contemporary and rival of Dickens, Charles Lever was born in Dublin in 1806. In 1832 took a post of dispensary doctor in Portstewart where he married and settled down for the next five years. His literary career began during his student days when he wrote for literary magazines. In 1837 he began serialising The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer in the Dublin University Magazine. Lorrequer was a string of rollicking stories. Lever, who had written them late at night after the serious business of the day was over, was astonished at its success. "If this sort of thing amuses them, I can go on for ever." And go on he did, producing a long list of similar publications over the years.

Councillor Barbour said "The Causeway Museum Service Advisory Forum had identified Lever as a strong contender for a Blue Plaque through their 'Famous Sons and daughters of the Causeway' project. We are delighted that the Ulster History Circle has agreed to install a Blue Plaque in honour of Charles Lever and I would like to extend thanks to the Ulster History Circle, Heritage Lottery Fund and Coleraine Museum for progressing this project and to Paul McElhone for kindly agreeing to the plaque being installed on the building.'

Sean Nolan said, "I would like to thank Coleraine Museum, Coleraine Borough Council and The Heritage Lottery Fund for sponsoring this plaque. Charles Lever was a towering literary figure of his era, and Portstewart can be proud of its association with him." Caroline Marshall, for the HLF said, 'The Blue Plaque will draw attention of passers-by to one of our foremost literary talents. I hope that this prominent plaque will encourage the public to look further into the history of such a prolific figure in our heritage.'

After the ceremony, performed jointly by Cllr Barbour, Tony Barekam and Ashleigh Kirkpatrick, the company was treated to refreshments provided by the Borough Council.