MR. IAN Burns, administrator at Castle Coole for the National Trust, who has recently retired, and his wife, Dot, were honoured by friends and colleagues during lunch at the Killyhevlin Hotel.

The Earl of Belmore and the new administrator at Castle Coole, Miss Emma McNiece, were among the gathering of about two dozen people, including administrators and officials from National Trust properties at Florence Court and other parts of the province.

Opening the proceedings, Hugh Devlin, regional land agent for the Trust, began by saying that in his term at Castle Coole, Mr. Burns had had to face a fair share of challenges. Mr. Burns’ association with the Trust went back a long way, as he had been involved with Florence Court earlier.

“I can say that we were always confident that Castle Coole was in a safe pair of hands when you had charge of it,” he told Mr. Burns. “Your memorial will live on.”

Other tributes were paid to Mr. Burns, and afterwards Mr. Burns was presented with a handsome blackthorn walking stick and other gifts.

Returning thanks, Mr. Burns assured everyone that Dot and himself had thoroughly enjoyed their nine years at Castle Coole. working with wonderful people. He felt that they all made a contribution in their service to the Trust. Mrs. Burns also expressed gratitude for the support she had received for her “little projects” at Castle Coole.