EARLS FAMILY CHRONICLES
© Christopher Earls BrennenCHAPTER THIRTEEN
THE CHILDREN OF WILFRED BRENNEN AND MURIEL EARLS
Wilfred and Muriel Brennen had three sons and a daughter:
Christopher Earls Brennen was born on Dec.3, 1941 at Johnston House Nursing Home in Belfast. He went to the Rainey Endowed School in Magherafelt shortly after the family moved there. He won a scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford where he studied engineering, obtaining a B.A. and later an M.A. and a D.Phil. While a graduate student he married Doreen Kerr, the eldest child of Samuel Edward Kerr and his wife Sarah, nee MacDonald, of Dungannon, County Tyrone on the 29th June 1963 in Oxford, England. Doreen was born in Coalisland, County Tyrone on Dec.19, 1942 and attended the Dungannon High School for Girls. She later graduated from Queens University, Belfast with a B.A., the first in her family to do so. After his graduation, they moved to Shepperton near London where Christopher worked for the National Physical Laboratory for about two years. They then emigrated to Pasadena, California where he rose through the ranks at the California Institute of Technology to become a Professor of Mechanical Engineering (in 1978) and later the Richard L. and Dorothy M. Hayman Professor of Mechanical Engineering. He served as Executive Officer (Department Chair) during 1993-98. He was also active in student affairs serving as the Master of Student Houses (1983-87), as Dean of Students (1988-1992) and as the Vice-President for Student Affairs (1998-2002). As a researcher he authored over 200 papers and three books and served as chairman of the Fluids Engineering Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). He won a number of awards for these scientific publications and several awards for teaching including the 2005 Richard Feynman Prize. He was a technical consultant to many organizations including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and NASA. For NASA he was deeply involved with the development of the Space Shuttle Main Engine. Doreen and Christopher had three children described in the next chapter.
Michael David Brennen was born on July 27, 1943 at Johnston House Nursing Home in Belfast. He attended the Rainey Endowed School, Magherafelt, County Derry where he excelled both academically and at sports. He captained the school rugby team and was chosen to play for the Ulster School's team. Though he took the Oxford scholarship exams and could have attended Oxford University, he chose instead to study medicine at Queen's University, Belfast. By his means he eventually became a plastic surgeon, or more specifically a microsurgeon attached to the Ulster Hospital, Belfast. While still in high school he met Lesley Gregg who remained his girlfriend throughout his university career. Lesley became a nurse at worked in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. They were married in Magherafelt on Aug. 30, 1968 and had three daughters. In 1976/77 they spent a year in Melbourne, Australia where Michael worked in the St.Vincent's Hospital Microvascular Research Unit and where their youngest daughter was born. They returned from Australia to 40 Deramore Drive, Belfast and Michael continued to serve the community as a plastic surgeon in both public and private practice. Their children:
- Natasha Lynne Brennen was born in the Ulster Hospital,
Dundonald, Belfast, on Mar.18, 1971. She attended Victoria College, Belfast,
for both elementary and high school and graduated from medical school at
the University of Newcastle in England. After graduation in 1994, she worked in
various hospitals in Northumberland. On Aug.17, 1996, in Corbridge,
England, she married Roger Dykins, a doctor, born near London. They live in
Hexham where they are both doctors in general practice. They have two sons:
- Benjamin Michael Dykins, born in Hexham Hospital on Oct.19, 2001.
- Jaime Dykins was born in Hexham Hospital in Dec. 2004.
- Deborah Julie-Anne Brennen was born in the Ulster Hospital, Belfast, on Apr.28, 1973. She attended Victoria College, Belfast, for both elementary and high school and graduated in 1995 with a degree in Secondary Physical Education from the College of St.Mark and St.John in Plymouth, Devon, England. She lives in Belfast where she works as a physical education teacher, first at the Hazelwood Integrated College and later in the primary department of Methodist College. On Aug.4, 2005, Deborah married Innes Gray, a geography teacher at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. They live in Belfast.
- Kylie Victoria Elizabeth Brennen was born in Melbourne, Australia on Sep.21, 1977. She attended Victoria College, Belfast, and graduated in 2000 from Herriott-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, with a degree in electrical and electronic engineering. She lives in Whitehaven, Cumbria, England, and works for British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. in Sellafield.
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| Colin Johnston Brennen |
- Mark Alan Brennen was born in the Mid-Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt on Mar.10, 1972. He attended
school in Portstewart and at Coleraine Technical College, County Derry.
He graduated from Sheffield University with a degree in city planning
and worked as an estate agent for McAfee Properties in Ballymoney,
County Antrim. In 2000 he married Leeanne Moore, a beautician who
works in Coleraine. They live in Coleraine and have two sons:
- Joshua Lee Brennen was born in the Causeway Hospital, Coleraine on May 30, 2000.
- Baley Marc Brennen was born in the Causeway Hospital, Coleraine on Oct.31, 2005.
- Paul Brennen was born in the Mary Rankin Hospital, Coleraine, on Aug.22, 1975. He atttended
Coleraine Academical Institution in Coleraine and studied
law at the University of Newcastle in England. After graduation in 1996,
he studied for the bar in Belfast and became a barrister practicing in
Belfast. On Jul.3, 2008, at the Inch Chapel, Inch Island, County Donegal,
Paul was married to Laura Aileen McGill, a fellow barrister in Belfast.
Their children:
- Harry Patrick Brennen was born in the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, Belfast, on May 16, 2011.
- Thomas Joseph Brennen was born in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, on Jul.20, 2014.
- Jude Alexander Brennen was born in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, on Sep.29, 2016.
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| Paula Gay Brennen |
Christopher E. Brennen