Carrickfergus Greenisland Islandmagee Kilbride Larne Mullaghdubh Raloo Whitehead
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East Antrim Battalion Handbook Session 2016 -2017 Celebrating 50 years Ballyclare Ballyeaston Ballylinney Ballynure Cairncastle Carrickfergus Greenisland Islandmagee Kilbride Larne Mullaghdubh Raloo Whitehead www.boysbrigadeni.org.uk/eastantrimbattalion [email protected] 11 Glenburn Manor Carrickfergus BT38 7TX August 2016 Dear Fellow Officers, It is a pleasure to write to you all at the start of the 50th Session of the Battalion. I send greetings in the name of the executive wishing all companies God’s blessing on whatever your plans are this session. At the start of our Golden Jubilee celebrations it’s only natural that we look back and give thanks for the work of those 50 years. To officers and boys, many who are now officers, we thank you for your contribution to the work of the Battalion in advancing Christ’s Kingdom among boys. 50 years ago in Northern Ireland the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association was founded. Myrina is launched from the Musgrave Yard slipway at Harland and Wolff, the first super tanker and largest ship built in the United Kingdom. Taoiseach Jack Lynch and Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Terence O’Neill meet for talks at Stormont. So as we look forward to celebrating 50 years, we are thankful to Donald Blair, who has been in Greenisland Boys’ Brigade for over 50 years, for agreeing to record the history of the Battalion in words and pictures. We will celebrate further with dinner on Thursday 27th April 2017 and we will hold our tri-annual AGM that night and we look forward to new talent coming through to fill the posts. Mr David Blevins, the Northern Ireland District President and Mr Jonathan Gracey, the Director of BB in Northern Ireland have agreed to attend. We look forward to them sharing their vision for the future. This year we again have a selection of events both sporting and social events and I encourage officers to attend and to encourage the boys to enter the competitions. Newport- The renovation of the classrooms into accommodation and the building of the extension as stage 3 and 4 of the project will be commenced soon. The Battalion has been at the forefront of fundraising and have donated over £15,000 to date. Brigade Council Belfast 2016 will be the Assembly Building Conference Centre. The Battalion has again continued to function with fewer meetings but hopefully still communicating with officers via the website, quarterly newsletters and Face book and Twitter. If you don’t receive this information like us on face book and register your e-mail on the website. Please remember we still hold two meeting per session and you can find the dates in another part of this handbook. The website continues to be our main communication tool and we have had over 520,000 hits in the last year and averaging 3000 visitors a month. Please make sure you keep up to date by visiting the site regularly and if you are involved with competitions or events please email a report to [email protected] so that the site is kept up to date. I would like to express my appreciation to all officers who worked at District, Company and Battalion level throughout the last session. So at the start of a new session can I encourage you to get involved more with your Company. Give that little bit extra and collectively we can achieve our object of Advancing Christ's Kingdom among boys. May this Golden Jubilee be a real success in all sections, in all companies, building on the foundation already laid and may be go forward in Our Lord’s Service. God bless you in this new session. Yours sincerely Drew Buchanan MBE Battalion President. 2 Dates for Session 2016/17 September Wednesday 7th Executive 2nd Larne October Sunday 2nd Annual Church Parade 2nd Larne & Officers’ Dedication October Wednesday 12th Battalion Councils Training 5th Carrick December Friday 5th Anchor/Junior Carol Service February 2017 Wednesday 8th Executive 1st Kilbride April 2017 Thursday 27th Battalion AGM and 1st Ballylinney 50th Anniversary Dinner ================================== 3 Office Bearer - Session 2016 - 2017 Honorary Vice-Presidents Miss Sarah Gardner, 8 Magee Park, Larne BT40 1PP Mr Brian. P Smyth, 26 Castlerocklands, Belfast Road, Carrickfergus BT38 8FJ Mr Frank Picton, 12 Regent Avenue, Carrickfergus, BT38 7TY Mr Ken Hogg, 22 Craigowen Road, Carrickfergus, BT38 7NE Rev Colin McClure, 154 The Roddens, Larne, BT40 1PN President Drew Buchanan MBE , 11 Glenburn Manor, Carrickfergus, BT38 7TX Tel. 028 9336 5620 Email [email protected] Vice- Presidents (CS) Colin Bell 10 Raloo Road Larne BT40 3DR Tel. 028 2826 0805 Email [email protected] (JS) David Hoy 8 Hamlet Grove Ballyclare BT39 9GF Tel.028 9334 2092 Email [email protected] (AB) Margaret McAdoo, 202 Ballyrobert Road, Ballyclare, BT39 9RL Tel. 028 9332 4911 Email [email protected] Secretary Alan Miles, 47 Brook Avenue, Carrickfergus BT38 7TE Tel. 028 9336 8821 Email [email protected] Treasurer Drew Buchanan, 11 Glenburn Manor, Carrickfergus, BT38 7TX Tel. 028 9336 5620 Email [email protected] Battalion Chaplain Reverend Cameron Jones, 1 Coates Gardens, Carrickfergus ,BT38 7XA Tele: 02893355139 Mobile: 07742617224 Email: [email protected] Under 26 rep Philip Ross, 60 Greenland Crescent, Larne, BT401H Tel.07970984020 Email [email protected] Representative to NI District Executive Drew Buchanan MBE, 11 Glenburn Manor, Carrickfergus, BT38 7TX Tel. 028 93365620 Email [email protected] Training Officer Dr John Cathcart 13 Baird Avenue Carrickfergus BT38 7XH Tel. 07710745030 Email [email protected] or [email protected] 4 Public Relations Officer Drew Buchanan, 11 Glenburn Manor, Carrickfergus, BT38 7TX Tel. 028 9336 5620 Email [email protected] Served by website at www.boysbrigadeni.org.uk Section Representatives Anchors: Claire Hull, 14 Princess Gardens, Larne, BT40 1RQ Tel. 028 Email [email protected] Junior: Lorraine Bell 10 Raloo Road, Larne, BT40 3DR Tel. 028 2826 0805 Email [email protected] Company: Andrew Wilson, 97 Knockagh Road, Carrickfergus, BT38 8QF Tel. 07414 478808 Email [email protected] Battalion Committees Finance Drew Buchanan (convenor) and Colin Bell Training John Cathcart (Convenor), Niall McConkey, plus Section Reps Publications Alan Miles and Drew Buchanan C. Education Alan Miles Honorary Auditor John Richardson, J.P. Anchors Council Chair Margaret McAdoo, 202 Ballyrobert Road, Ballyclare, BT39 9RL Tel. 028 9332 4911 Vice Chair Andréa McDowell, 1 Hampton Court, Carrickfergus, BT38 9DT Tel. 028 9336 4435 Secretary Elaine Smith, Tel. 028 Rep NI AB Andréa McDowell, 1 Hampton Court, Carrickfergus, BT38 9DT Tel. 028 9336 4435 Training Officer Liza McIlwaine, 49 Barn Mills, Carrickfergus BT38 7GZ Tel. 028 Junior Section Council Chair David Hoy 8 Hamlet Grove Ballyclare BT39 9GF Tel.028 9334 2092 Vice Chair Vacant Secretary Darren Houston, 15 Village Hill, Straid BT39 Tel. 028 9334 0070 Rep NI JS Wesley McGill, 1 Gordonvale Drive, Larne BT40 Tel. 028 2827 6674 Training Officer Vacant Company Section Council Chair Colin Bell, 10 Raloo Road, Larne, BT40 3DR Tel. 028 2826 0805 Vice Chair Stephen Lindsay, 17 Tern Crescent Carrickfergus Tel. 0289335 0462 Secretary Jim Brown, 33 Broadlands Drive Carrickfergus BT38 7DJ Tel 02893 36 0241 Rep NI CS Colin De Leeuwe, 6 Sandringham Court, Carrick BT38 9BQ Tel.07548668213 Training Officer John Cathcart 13 Baird Avenue Carrickfergus BT38 7XH Tel. 07710745030 Drill Committee Michael Crooks and John Cathcart Queens Badge Walter Lambe, Michael Crooks, and Colin Bell Advisors D of E Award Advisors Nicholas Irwin, Gregory Lorimer and Alistair McGruggan 5 THE ANNUAL EXECUTIVE REPORT 2015 -2016 FOR EAST ANTRIM BATTALION As we come to the end of another season of BB we must give thanks to Our Lord and Saviour for all the goodness that He has bestowed upon us in East Antrim Battalion during this season. The Executive would like to express thanks to all the Officers, Leaders and Helpers who work hard each and every week within the Battalion, the Executive appreciates the loyalty and work that is carried out with the aim of the Boys’ Brigade, the Advancement of Christ’s Kingdom amongst boys, being the centre of this work. The Executive would also like to express thanks to all those involved in duties at NID level. A special thank you goes to all the Officers who work tirelessly with the young men at Queen’s Badge level, Duke of Edinburgh level and at KGVI levels. The Executive would also like to express thanks to all those Officers, Leaders and Helpers who stood down or are standing down this session and in particular William Swann, Captain of 1st Larne Company. The Executive wish God’s Blessing in whatever they do. Without Officers Leaders and Helpers, Companies would have difficulty operating. The Executive would also like to thank Dr. John Cathcart the Battalion Training Officer for organising the Grade 111 Leadership course and would also like to thank those in 1st Whitehead and 1st Ballyclare who held these two courses. On Sunday 4th October 2015 we held our Annual Battalion Church Parade and Officers Dedication Service in the town of Carrickfergus. The Deputy Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Council along with other Councillors attended the Church Service. We were again blessed with wonderful weather and an attendance of 16 out of 22 Companies being represented, it was very rewarding to witness 1st Carrickfergus Methodist Church filled with boys and Officers from all over the East Antrim area. There were over 400 members on parade, a truly wonderful sight. Congratulations to 1st Larne Junior Section who were awarded the Fitzell Trophy and 8th Carrickfergus Company who were awarded the McCune Trophy.