PRESIDENT METHODY COLLEGIANS
Judith Cochrane (Reynolds)
Judith attended Methody from 1987-1994 and fully participated in College life.
Secretary of Sixth Form Committee, Prefect, Hockey, Badminton, Chapel Choir, Senior Girls Choir, Duke of Edinburgh and won the Yearbook Award for 'Most Dedicated to MCB'
Judith is married to a Coleraine Inst boy and has 2 daughters - one at university, and the other in sixth form.
A former MLA and Local Councillor, Judith is the current Commercial Director at Staffline Ireland but still finds the time to organise Class of 1994 school reunions and other #TeamMCB get togethers and is a member of Belfast Harlequins Ladies Hockey Club.
Judith is always happy to receive feedback on what Methody Collegians are doing right/wrong and also to hear ideas on how we can engage more Collegians. She can be contacted on [email protected] or 07971 155975.
HONORARY SECRETARY
Gerry Beamish
Gerry has been Honorary Secretary since the amalgamation of the Od Boys and Old Girls Associations.
He completed his studies at Methody in 1963, and began a career in Public Service before setting up his own Management Consultancy, Beamish Associates International before retiring in 2016.
HONORARY TREASURER
Anne Millar
Anne.........
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
Joanne Mehaffy (Blayney)
Joanne joined the college in P1 attending Fullerton House, and then Methody and left in June1991.
Was she an exceptional student? Far from it, BUT she loved her time at school, enjoying all the opportunities she was given and her teachers spent a lot of time asking her to 'not talk so much'. She made life long friends at school (many from P1) and met her husband Gareth (another class of 1991 alumna), although he was more academic and sporty (athletics and 1st XV) than her. She is passionate and enthusiastic about the school, and hopes to see Methody Collegians flourish into a vibrant alumni network.
She organised her 'Class of '91' 25 year reunion along with 2 classmates and is likely going to be doing the 35th reunion (we missed our 30th as it was a Covid year!).
Her daughter Megan followed her in footsteps, attending both Fullerton and Methody. She has since graduated with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and is currently studying for a PGDE in Primary Education at Dundee University.
All her working life has been spent in the voluntary/charity sector, much of it in business education work and she is passionate about developing young people and preparing them for the world of work. In September 2024, after over 17 years of working for Business in the Community as the Work Inspiration Programme Manager, she left the organisation and is very proud of supporting 60,000 school students to have an experience of work during that time.
Joanne, is membership secretary and also supports the social media for the Council. She can be contacted on [email protected] or on [email protected]
COUNCIL MEMBER
Richard Finlay
Richard attended the College between 1959 and 1965. He was one of seven, all of whom went to Methody and this was followed with 12 of the next generation also attending.
Richard's career spanned 50 years and focused on growing a family men's & boy's clothing company to become the largest organisation of it’s type in Ireland. His brother Donald and nephews, Adam and Michael (all fellow Methody Collegians), have continued running the company which will celebrate it’s centenary this in 2024.
COUNCIL MEMBER
June Jordan (McCorry)
June attended Methody from 1955 (Fullerton House) to 1969, following in the footsteps of her older brother, father, and his older siblings. Her grandfather taught for 17 years at Methody, before entering the Church of Ireland Ministry.
Prefect, Netball, Senior Choir
June is married, with one son who is a University Lecturer
As a retired Northern Ireland Civil Service professional specialist, June's portfolio life now includes both ongoing voluntary and casual paid work in a variety of areas, putting her work and life experiences to positive use in new arenas.
Initially supported by work, she continues to deliver Primary Young Enterprise (the business charity) sessions in schools, not only because it is useful, practical learning for children presented in a fun way, but because she enjoys it.
COUNCIL MEMBER
Brian Kennedy
Brian comes from a strong Methody family. He attended Downey House and subsequently Methody and left in 1980. Most of his relatives attended the College with his uncle serving as Head of History for many years and his Mum was in the very first class of Downey House in 1933.
After a short and unfulfilling career in banking and retail management, Brian went to work for the Government of Northern Ireland for 31 years, retiring in 2014. He then set up a small one man video marketing business, creating video assets for organisations and entrepreneurs, an arena in which he still dabbles from time to time, when he can be bothered.
Apart from thoroughly enjoying the freedom of choice that retirement brings, Brian also works part time for Life Like Media Marketing Ltd., founded by his 2 sons, Paul and Jack. Brian also has a daughter, Sarah, and two grandchildren,
Brian is passionate about fitness, biohacking, online marketing and content creation. He’s also deep down the rabbit hole of AI and stays on the cutting edge of all things ‘new tech’. Additionally Brian is an avid ‘tinkerer’, ‘fixer upper’ and auction goer.
COUNCIL MEMBER
Stephen Lindsay
Stephen left Methody in 2001 and went to Loughborough University to study Sports Science & Mathematics. He returned to Methody as a Mathematics Teacher in 2009.
As a part of a Methody Schools' Cup winning squad in 2001 he has continued his enjoyment of rugby by assisting Nick Wells in coaching the 1st XV.
Alongside teaching Maths and coaching rugby he is responsible for building relationships with past, present and future Collegians & showcasing all that the College has to offer.
Married to Emma, whose first date was the MCB Formal in 2001, with 3 children Miriam, Charlie & Norah
COUNCIL MEMBER
Karen McCrea (Robb)
Karen left Methody in 1983, having followed in her father’s footsteps. She spent her time as a boarder in McArthur Hall, and still maintains the close friendships she made there.
She has worked since graduating as a physiotherapist, mainly in the area of musculoskeletal and sports medicine within the NHS.
She is proud to have been former president of Methody Collegians from 2018 to 2021, being especially honoured to share joint presidentship during the 150th year celebrations of the College in 2018.
COUNCIL MEMBER
Cheryl Trigg (Magookin)
Cheryl attended Methody from 1980 to 1994, enjoying her time at both Downey House and the senior school.
She was a member of the Senior Girls’ Choir, Chapel Choir and Band and was an enthusiastic spectator (rather than active participant) at various school sporting events.
Cheryl is married with two children, both of whom attend Methody. Thankfully, her children have inherited their hand/eye coordination from their father and are therefore able to contribute to the college’s sporting activities!
A chartered accountant by profession, Cheryl began her career in London, spending a few years in Australia before returning to Belfast. Since moving home, she has enjoyed re-connecting with friends from her Methody days.
COUNCIL MEMBER
Verena Wallace-Grzymek
Verena boarded at Methody for nine years arriving from Sierra Leone where her parents were Methodist missionaries.
In 1971, despite the Troubles, which added restrictions to school life and boarding, various relatives had been to Methody and there were much loved grandparents (guardians) in Bloomfield and Bangor, so it was off to Methody with a head full of tales of Malory Towers and the Chalet School.
Verena started in P6 in Downey before moving to the ‘big school’. She possibly enjoyed school a bit too much as the less said about her A’ levels the better! She was a prefect, member of the Sixth Form Committee, dabbled in various sports (including for some reason, the javelin), and managed a bit of piano, singing, Venture Scouts and Duke of Edinburgh.
An enthusiasm for adventuring took her on Operation Raleigh after school and subsequent jaunts around the world. She’d say that exploring spark was nurtured in the then unheated school cottage, stomping about in the beauty of the Mournes trying to use a compass and a map.
A lifetime later, Verena is married to Brian and is delighted to have three great step-children and so far, two step-grandchildren. None went to Methody, but there’s still time!
Verena’s a former President of what is now Methody Collegians and one of three ‘Class of ’80’ members of this current council (with Peter and Brian). She serves on the Board of Governors of MCB, again one of three ‘Class of ’80’ members (with Niall and Richard). Along with Anne Millar, Verena’s on the Board of Governors for McArthur Nursery in East Belfast, where the historical link is that the school was founded a group of young women who had been boarders at MCB. She was part of the small team that coordinated Class of ‘80s first reunion held in the Long Gallery in Stormont.
As Chair of the organising committee (aka working group) for the College’s 150thcelebrations over the school year 2018/19, she spent several years planning with a small, enthusiastic, hard-working and generous team. Highlights were the gala dinners in Belfast City Hall and Titanic Belfast, the celebratory service in St Anne’s Cathedral and the Principal’s epic walk from Malin to Methody, commemorating Sir William McArthur whose drive and substantial gifts laid the foundation for Methodist College Belfast.
After Methody, Verena’s career has involved working as a midwife in three of the four UK countries and doing lots of study as a mature student. After senior clinical, managerial and leadership roles in England and Northern Ireland, she now works as Senior Midwifery Adviser (Policy) for the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the independent regulator for >825,000 professionals in the UK.
COUNCIL MEMBER
Peter Wilson
Peter attended Methody from 1966 (Fullerton House School) until 1980 and was preceded at the College by his mother and uncle and succeeded by his son.
Friendships formed during his years at Methody continue to this day with some dating back to Fullerton House. Though his school years were not marked by great academic or sporting success he counts those friendships as the most important successes of his schooldays.
An active member of the Class of ’80 he has been involved in organising 2 reunions (20 years and 30 years) attracting attendees from across the globe and along with a few chums runs the Class of ’80 Facebook Group.
Peter is semi-retired after a successful career in public procurement where he ran the procurement and logistics services for Health and Social Care Northern Ireland for 12 years leading them through Brexit and Covid-19. Prior to his retirement in March 2022 Peter was the Executive Director of Operations at HSC Business Services Organisation, the shared services provider to Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland. In this role he was responsible for the HSC Procurement and Logistics Service, the HSC Family Practitioner Service, the HSC Pension Service, the HSC Counter Fraud and Probity Service and the HSC Small Business Research Initiative.
Enjoying his retirement, he is active in a number of groups and activities and is currently enjoying reliving his 6th Form years with a renaissance in playing table tennis though he admits at a much slower pace!
Peter is married with 3 children, 6 grandchildren and a Border Collie so nowadays if he’s not walking the dog or playing table tennis he’s probably to be found doing the school run.
