Civil servant memoir: ‘As 1974 rolled on, SDLP became keen on activating the Council of Ireland’

In the fifth part of SINCLAIR DUNCAN’S memoir, he recalls working as private secretary to Brian Faulkner
By Alex Kane
Published 6th Nov 2020, 13:21 BST
The first official meeting of the new power sharing executive of 1974. (From left) Paddy Devlin (SDLP); Oliver Napier (Alliance Party); Brian Faulkner (Unionist) chief minister; John Hume (SDLP); Basil McIvor (Unionist); P.A. Sythes, assistant secretary; Ken Bloomfield, secretary; John Baxter (Unionist); Austin Currie (SDLP); Herbert Kirk (Unionist); Gerry Fitt (SDLP), deputy chief; Roy Bradford (Unionist); and Leslie Morrell (Unionist)The first official meeting of the new power sharing executive of 1974. (From left) Paddy Devlin (SDLP); Oliver Napier (Alliance Party); Brian Faulkner (Unionist) chief minister; John Hume (SDLP); Basil McIvor (Unionist); P.A. Sythes, assistant secretary; Ken Bloomfield, secretary; John Baxter (Unionist); Austin Currie (SDLP); Herbert Kirk (Unionist); Gerry Fitt (SDLP), deputy chief; Roy Bradford (Unionist); and Leslie Morrell (Unionist)
The first official meeting of the new power sharing executive of 1974. (From left) Paddy Devlin (SDLP); Oliver Napier (Alliance Party); Brian Faulkner (Unionist) chief minister; John Hume (SDLP); Basil McIvor (Unionist); P.A. Sythes, assistant secretary; Ken Bloomfield, secretary; John Baxter (Unionist); Austin Currie (SDLP); Herbert Kirk (Unionist); Gerry Fitt (SDLP), deputy chief; Roy Bradford (Unionist); and Leslie Morrell (Unionist)

(See below for links to earlier sections of this memoir)

There was some gamesmanship in running a private office.

I had been delighted to be offered the post of principal private secretary to Brian Faulkner, the chief minister in the new power-sharing executive of January 1974.

Sinclair Duncan’s role was behind the scenes but here he is seen in the background of a 1972 BBC clip of Brian Faulkner, who later became his bossSinclair Duncan’s role was behind the scenes but here he is seen in the background of a 1972 BBC clip of Brian Faulkner, who later became his boss
Sinclair Duncan’s role was behind the scenes but here he is seen in the background of a 1972 BBC clip of Brian Faulkner, who later became his boss

On one occasion, where there was a massive bomb explosion in Royal Avenue in Belfast, Brian Faulkner happened to be in Birmingham on a private visit.

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We knew that the secretary of state would feel obliged to visit the scene.

We assumed so would the Lord Mayor and the press.

The first flight from Birmingham came in to Aldergrove quite early so Chris McCabe managed to intercept Mr Faulkner there and got him down to Royal Avenue first.

Sinclair Duncan, a retired civil servant, pictured at his Holywood home last week aged 95. Picture by Stephen Davison, PacemakerSinclair Duncan, a retired civil servant, pictured at his Holywood home last week aged 95. Picture by Stephen Davison, Pacemaker
Sinclair Duncan, a retired civil servant, pictured at his Holywood home last week aged 95. Picture by Stephen Davison, Pacemaker

Being a private secretary is not only a fascinating but a hazardous job.

One has to anticipate his political master’s wishes and likely reactions.

In short, you punch above your weight.

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So, you telephoned a more senior civil servant and suggested ...

“I don’t think the chief would be too happy ...”

“Would you think of re-wording ...”

“I think the chief would hardly go as far as ...

Years later, when the private secretary has gone back into the mainstream, someone whom he has offended may catch up with him to his detriment.

One piece of information came to me by way of a petrol station.

Older readers may remember Stewart Johnston’s garage on the Belmont Road.

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That was where the official cars normally refuelled, as I also did.

John, the pump attendant chatted to all his customers.

One Monday morning he remarked on a mud-spattered car which would normally have been in immaculate condition.

The driver told him that they had only got back from Dublin at midnight the night before.

John mentioned it to me a short time later and I realised the car had been used by an SDLP minister, which was obviously of interest to Brian Faulkner.

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While we had three private secretaries in the Faulkner (chief minister) Office, Gerry Fitt (deputy chief) had only one, Alex Ireland.

Such was the trust between our two political masters that when Alex went for his lunch break, one of us would move next door to cover for him.

If Alex happened to be having lunch with his boss, it could be a long break!

As 1974 rolled on, the SDLP became more insistent on the activation of the Council of Ireland, that has been agreed in the Sunningdale talks in 1973, and the unionists more apprehensive about its implementation.

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At one stage Mr Faulkner urgently needed to speak to Gerry Fitt, the deputy chief minister of the power sharing government, who had taken refuge in the Irish Club in Dublin.

Alex Ireland, Gerry Fitt’s private secretary tried twice to contact him, only to be told by Mary Joyce, the Club receptionist, that Mr Fitt was having a bath.

In desperation Alex, whose office was next to mine, asked if we could try, with a fresh voice.

I tried, same response, same bath.

One of my colleagues tried. Ditto.

As the four calls were spread over two hours, poor Gerry must have been completely waterlogged!

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As the year progressed and opposition to the power-sharing executive continued, we came to the Workers’ Council strike in May 1974.

• Sinclair Duncan was in the NI Civil Service from 1949 to 1985. He worked in the ministries of Education, Finance and Agriculture, the Cabinet Office, Office of the Executive, NIO and the Department of Environment. The rest of this memoir will be published daily in the News Letter this week

• Part one: My memories of Stormont Castle in the turbulent days of the early 1970s

• Part two: I was aware that the new direct rule ministers thought everything was rotten in the state of Northern Ireland

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• Part three: ‘Angry calls came thick and fast on news of Whitelaw’s meeting with IRA’

• Part four: ‘Irish Americans were reminded that they had confiscated lands too, more brutally and successfully’

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Related topics:SDLPBirminghamBelfast