Bobbie Hanvey facts for kids
Bobbie Hanvey, born on October 31, 1945, is a well-known photographer and radio host from Northern Ireland. He won the top photography award in Northern Ireland for newspaper photographers three times: in 1985, 1986, and 1987. He also won an award for the "Best People Picture" in 1985 and 1987. These were the only years he entered the competitions. His amazing photographs have been shown at the Down County Museum. You might have seen his pictures in The Sunday Times, and he writes a weekly column with his photos for the Down Recorder newspaper.
Early Life and Awards
Bobbie Hanvey was born in Brookeborough, County Fermanagh. His book, The Mental, shares stories about everyday life in Fermanagh during the 1950s. It also talks about his time working as a nurse at the Downshire Hospital in Downpatrick in the 1960s. Today, he lives in Downpatrick and has three children: Steafán, Ciarán, and Sarah Ann.
His Radio Show: The Ramblin' Man
Since the late 1970s, Bobbie Hanvey has hosted his very popular radio show, The Ramblin' Man, on Downtown Radio. Many interesting people have been guests on his show. These include important police leaders like Sir John Hermon, Sir Hugh Annesley, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, and Sir Hugh Orde, who led the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and later the Police Service of Northern Ireland. He has also interviewed people involved in Northern Ireland's history, like Gusty Spence and Joe Cahill. Other guests have included famous writers such as Eugene McCabe, Maurice Leitch, and J. P. Donleavy, as well as soldiers, sailors, and travelling people.
Books and Photography
Bobbie Hanvey is considered one of Ireland's best photographers. His first photography book, Merely Players, features portraits he took since the 1970s. These pictures show a wide range of people, including poets, playwrights, religious leaders, and politicians. Some of the well-known people in his book are Brian Friel, Danny Morrison, Gerry Adams, Sammy Duddy, and Seamus Heaney.
His most recent photography book, The Last Days of the RUC, tells the unique story of how the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) police force changed into the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Bobbie Hanvey's autobiography, "The Mental," also gives readers a look into life in Fermanagh in the 1950s. It shares his experiences as a psychiatric nurse at the Downshire Hospital in Downpatrick during the 1960s.
