Lisburn.com

 

Exiles Forum

Lisburn, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland
 
 
 
 

60th Anniversary of Sloan Street Girls� Brigade

A series of events were held from Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th May to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the formation of Sloan Street Girls� Brigade in 1945/46.  The founding Captain was Martha Brown and the Officers were - Maud McClure and Rita Fullerton, whose father was the then minister, the Rev. Andrew Fullerton.  For Joan McMullan, Winnie Norwood, Margaret Norwood, Gertie Maze and Lily Connor it was a special week of celebrations and congratulations as the five ladies were members of the company when it was formed sixty years ago and met in a hut in the park beside the church.

The 60th Annual Displays were held on Thursday and Friday evening.The present captain is Miss Margaret Megahey and the chaplain is the minister of Sloan Street Church, the Rev. John Keefe. The pianists were Jill Cassells and Doreen Miskelly.The Guest of Honour on Thursday evening was Mrs Morva Brown - Present Elect GBNI and the Guest of Honour on Friday evening was Miss Pearl Hassard - President GBNI.  Both Morva and Pearl congratulated the Captain, Officers and girls on a wonderful display and further congratulated them on reaching this important milestone in the history of the company. 

On Saturday night, members past and present met for a meal in the church hall and enjoyed a great evening of fun and fellowship, sharing many recollections of happy memories of 60 years of Sloan Street Girls� Brigade.

A Praise Service to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the formation of the Girls� Brigade was held in the Sloan Street Church on Sunday night, bringing to an end a week of celebration and fun.  The Rev. John Keefe led the service and Valerie Wiggam - Organist and a past members choir were the GB praise band, Margaret Megahey - Captain, Winnie Norwood - Vice President, Naomi Foster and Jill Cassells. In his message, John Keefe thanked the captains and officers for their sacrificial commitment to the Company but stressed that all the Praise and Glory was to the God of grace and mercy who had been so good to each girl associated with the Company in its 60 years.

Seniors and Brigaders pictured with Nicola Atcheson, Rev. John Keefe, Margaret Megahey - Captain and Catherine Shane at Sloan Street Girls� Brigade Display Friday 5th May.

Past Members pictured at Sloan Street Girls� Brigade Display on Thursday 4th May.  L to R: (front row) Yvonne Babcock, Anne McCoosh, Andrea Baxter, Anne Waterworth, Helen Alexander, Debbie Assink, Margaret Connor and Anne McFall.  (back row)  Ella Quinn, Daphne Hamilton, Anna Gallagher, Gloria Smyth, Gertie Maze, Muriel White, Iris Baxter, Hilary Thompson, Gwen Forsythe, Hazel Kirk, Grace Hanna, Francis Pitman and Carol Whiteside.

Pictured cutting the 60th Anniversary Birthday cake at Sloan Street Girls� Brigade Display on Thursday 4th May is L to R: Margaret Megahey - Captain, Rev. John Keefe - Chaplain, Joan McMullan and Winnie Norwood - Vice Presidents and Jill Cassells - Officer and her daughter.

Past Members Anne McFall and Iris Baxter all dressed up for �The Good Old Days� item at Sloan Street Girls� Brigade Display on Thursday 4th May.  Accompanied by Doreen Miskelly on piano, the ladies sang a great selection of well-known old songs including, �Follow the band� and �We�ll meet again�.

Pictured at a Praise Service on Sunday 7th May to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the formation of Sloan Street Girls� Brigade is L to R: (front) Joan McMullan and Margaret Norwood. (back row) Gertie Maze, Winnie Norwood and Lily Connor who were members when the company was formed in 1945/46. Included in the photo is the minister, the Rev. John Keefe (left) and Margaret Megahey - Captain (right).

Chaplain, Captain, Officers and Helpers pictured with some members of Kirk Session at a Praise Service on Sunday 7th May to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the formation of Sloan Street Girls� Brigade.  L to R: (front) Jill Cassells, Ivan Wiggam - GB Elder, Rev John Keefe - Chaplain, Margaret Megahey - Captain, Jim McDowell - Clerk of Session and Catherine Shane. (back row)  Gillian Alister, Nicola Atcheson, Alison Martin, Wilma Morrison, Beverly Cowan, Libby McCulla, Avril Hanna and Shirley McCauley.