Another good friend has left us, Dr John Robb who died this
week.
John belonged proudly to a great Presbyterian liberal tradition. In his writing and
conversation he shared so many ideas about medicine, education, politics. His
vision of the life we could enjoy together was brilliant and always mindful of
the potential all our people have for making such a vision normal for everyone,
developing and enlarging our potential for greatness.
An example of quiet courage, courageously shown when we so
much needed it, John sponsored the Mac
Bride Principles of Fair Employment along with Inez Mc Cormick and Brian Brady
and thus enabled Oliver Kearney and
other courageous people to hasten the creation of fair employment laws for
everyone.
We used to meet in the Olio Restaurant , not far from the spot
where courageous Presbyterian merchants in Belfast long ago threw
out in disgust a proposal for Belfast to make money by organising its own slave trade. John Robb, Victor Hamilton, another friend
who remembered his liberal Presbyterian tradition with pride and hope, historian
and scholar in many languages, one of those citizens who helped us to hope that
Belfast would be recognised once again for its humanity and learning, and Terry
Donaghy who would visit different places of worship - and places of different
worship - week by week in grateful recognition of this shared inheritance of ours
. Terry died near the City Hall at the end
of a walk for peace.
Terry and Victor and John have been good to us and we are
grateful.
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