Counting the pennies had become child's play. And it was all thanks to Super Shopper, a computer based resource package which had been devised for Northern Ireland primary schools. A team of boffins from the Consumer Council and the Northern Ireland Centre for Computer Based Learning at Queen's University had drawn up the ingenius game. And in October 1989 two teams of whizz kids from Whitehead and Bangor Central primary schools gave adults a lesson or two in its use. Pictured is Paul Moore who is trying out the new Super Shopper watched by friends Peter Darragh, Suzanne Wallace and Alison, also in the picture is Professor John Fulton and Mrs Anne Dickson. Picture: News Letter archivesCounting the pennies had become child's play. And it was all thanks to Super Shopper, a computer based resource package which had been devised for Northern Ireland primary schools. A team of boffins from the Consumer Council and the Northern Ireland Centre for Computer Based Learning at Queen's University had drawn up the ingenius game. And in October 1989 two teams of whizz kids from Whitehead and Bangor Central primary schools gave adults a lesson or two in its use. Pictured is Paul Moore who is trying out the new Super Shopper watched by friends Peter Darragh, Suzanne Wallace and Alison, also in the picture is Professor John Fulton and Mrs Anne Dickson. Picture: News Letter archives
Counting the pennies had become child's play. And it was all thanks to Super Shopper, a computer based resource package which had been devised for Northern Ireland primary schools. A team of boffins from the Consumer Council and the Northern Ireland Centre for Computer Based Learning at Queen's University had drawn up the ingenius game. And in October 1989 two teams of whizz kids from Whitehead and Bangor Central primary schools gave adults a lesson or two in its use. Pictured is Paul Moore who is trying out the new Super Shopper watched by friends Peter Darragh, Suzanne Wallace and Alison, also in the picture is Professor John Fulton and Mrs Anne Dickson. Picture: News Letter archives

THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: From the News Letter of January 1951

Influenza epidemic ‘at its peak in Northern Ireland’, says top doctor
By Darryl Armitage
Published 22nd Jan 2021, 08:00 BST

The Medical Superintendent Officer of Health for Belfast, Dr Samuel Barron, expressed the opinion during this week in 1951 that the epidemic of influenza in the city had reached its peak, and that in the course of another week it would be on the downward trend.

The News Letter reported that there had been 34 deaths from influenza, but that many old people had died of pneumonia.

In Londonderry, too, the epidemic was reported to have passed its peak, both among children and grown-ups.

Five Londonderry schools were closed but one was expected to reopen later that week.

In Omagh the epidemic had also reached its peak at the weekend.

Several schools had been closed because of the epidemic in the locality, reported the News Letter.

In one school only two pupils out of a possible 78 turned up at the school.

In Tyrone County Hospital so many nurses were off sick that Omagh Red Cross detachment was still providing volunteer nurses.

The John Perry Memorial (Abercorn) School in Strabane had been closed for two days because of the epidemic.

Meanwhile, Caledon petty sessions had to be postponed as the resident magistrate was ill.

Liverpool’s high death rate from influenza

The medical officer of health for Liverpool, Professor W M Frazer, stated during this week in 1951 that during the week ended January 6, that there had been more than 600 deaths in Liverpool compared with approximately 200 in the same period other years.

More than 400 of those who died had been were those of elderly people over 65.

“A considerable proportion of these deaths,” he said, “was due to the effect of the influenza epidemic.”

In Londonderry, too, the epidemic was reported to have passed its peak, both among children and grown-ups.

Well-read: A delegate at the Ulster Unionist conference in October 1989. Walter Lilburn, chairman of the party's councillors' association told the conference that there should be no question of opting out of the democratic process. He told delegates: “We have been led down to many blind alley by the DUP.” Picture: News Letter archives

5.

Well-read: A delegate at the Ulster Unionist conference in October 1989. Walter Lilburn, chairman of the party's councillors' association told the conference that there should be no question of opting out of the democratic process. He told delegates: “We have been led down to many blind alley by the DUP.” Picture: News Letter archives

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