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Sir
George White Memorial are continuing our partnership with Diabetes UK in
2010. So far this year we have raised a superb £1000
from our annual Charity Concert in Clough Glasgow Rangers Supporters
Club and a Table Quiz in the Thatch Inn, Broughshane.
We would like to take
this opportunity to thank everyone who has donated to this very
worthwhile cause in any way, and we hope to hold more fund-raising
functions during the remainder of the year.
The
band are now looking forward to one of the busiest periods of the
marching season, which will begin on the first weekend of July with the
annual pilgrimage to New Cumnock in Ayrshire, Scotland. As always it is
the band's privilege to lead Afton Lily LOL and Daughters of Ruth LLOL
on their annual demonstration, which this year takes place in Greenock.
The band always looks forward to the excellent reception which we
receive in New Cumnock, and hopes that this years' trip will be as
memorable as all the others over the years.
On
Wednesday July 7th, the band will participate in the annual Orange Fete
in our home village of Broughshane - more commonly known as the
'Mini-Twelfth', before on Monday the 12th of July we head to Antrim to
lead Youngs Temperance LOL of the Sixmilewater District, Ballyclare. The
band and lodge have formed a very strong bond in recent years, and once
again hope to have a very enjoyable parade and day out.
The band have recently unveiled their new
uniform, which has been purchased at considerable cost after many months
of fundraising. The uniform, based on the Irish Guards and finished in
our trademark orange, made its' debut appearance quite fittingly in our
home village of Broughshane on May 1st, at a parade organised by Pride
of the Valley Flute Band, Teenies. There were many comments from the
public and fellow bands as to how well the new outfit looked on the
night, and the band was most certainly looking splendid on the night. It
has since also got an airing in Antrim at Ballycraigy's parade as well
as a couple of outings in Ballymena and Coleraine.
The band would like to thank everyone who
contributed in any way towards the new uniforms, especially band member
Brian Douglas who was the driving force behind it all and put many hours
into finalising the design and manufacture of it. Also, The Thatch Inn
in Broughshane for kindly supplying new branded suit covers to keep
everything in perfect order.
After
the untimely death of our Honorary President Eric Russell in August
2008, the band members wanted to honour his memory as a tribute to
everything he and his family had done for Sir George White Memorial.
Eric had first been introduced to our band by then band-master, Chris
Thompson, as they both worked in Morton’s Mill, so it was somewhat
fitting that Don Thompson (Chris’s brother, and founder member) proposed
the idea of adopting
Diabetes UK
as our chosen charity in Eric’s memory. Knowing that Eric and
a few of his immediate family were diabetic and with funeral donations
going to that charity, Don felt it would be a fitting way to keep Eric
in our thoughts. After being granted permission by Eric’s wife Betty and
family, the band wrote to Diabetes UK, who accepted gratefully and we
now hope to raise as much money as possible.
The band has held a number of events and collection since March in
support of the charity, and would like to thank everyone who has
contributed to our fundraising.
Previous Cheque total = £1250
Collection In Afton Lily Social Club, New Cumnock = £114.69
Collection in Thatch Inn, Broughshane, 13th July =
£90.74
Donation from Sir George White Memorial
= £44.57
Donation from Ballymena & Harryville Apprentice
Boys of Derry Club
= £50
Raffle at Band BarBQ on 11th September
= £424
Auction of signed N. Ireland Football Top
= £60
Donation from Sir George White Memorial
= £16
Cheque
Total = £800
Total for 2009 = £2,050
The members of the
band would like to thank everyone who has donated in any way towards
this magnificent total, and we hope to continue our fund raising for
Diabetes UK into 2010. This will begin with our now annual Charity
Band Concert in Clough Rangers Club on Saturday 27th February.
The first one is taken
outside St. Patrick's Church in Broughshane circa 1949/1950, whilst the
other two were taken on Coronation Day 1953. The first of these is where
the Beechvale housing development now stands, and the second is outside
Broughshane Orange Hall. On this day the Band President J Clyde
presented the band with their new uniforms. We have also attached the
names of those in the pictures. Some of these are still unknown, and it
would be fantastic if anyone out there could put names to some of those
faces. Please send any information, or any comments or memories to
info@sgwmfb.co.uk
Click on each photo to enlarge, and
on the appropriate link to view the names
St. Patricks Church 1949/1950 -
Click
For Names
Beechvale 1953 -
Click For
Names
Broughshane Orange Hall 1953
On
15th November 2008, Sir George White Memorial Flute Band held a function
in the Adair Arms Hotel in Ballymena to celebrate the 30th anniversary
of the band. This proved to be an exceptionally successful event, with
the 190 people attending being well above our initial estimations.
Current members, past members and founding members were all present, as
well as representatives from the many organisations and groups who have
encouraged us and been associated with us since the formation of the
band. This included a group from New Cumnock in Scotland, where the band
parades each year, who made the long journey over to join us on our
special night.
There were the customary speeches and presentations from faces
representing all 3 decades of the band, and the night was adjudged to
have been a massive success by all concerned.
The
members of Sir George White Memorial FB,
Broughshane gathered on 4th March 2008 to unveil
their newly purchased
Peter Worrell Flutes.
In total
25 "B" flutes, 5 ‘F’ Flutes and 2 piccolos were on s
how, costing nearly £13,000.
The band’s President, David
Black Snr welcomed all,
saying that it was of great personal pride to him to see the band in such
a
strong position. He continued “What we see here is a genuine first. The
1st set
of Worrell flutes to be manufactured and it’s a sign of how the band
wants to
progress and improve". Included in the launch photo on the left are band
office bearers, representatives from County Antrim County LOL, and
representatives from local Broughshane businesses who helped finance the
purchase.
The driving force behind the new flutes, which were purchased to replace
our old
and no longer available Miller Wicks, was band member Brian Crossett.
Read Brian's Story
Here
Click Here for full
Press Release