Christmas lunch with the Lisburn Group
15 December 2009
From Annan in Scotland last week to the charming village of Glenavy in Northern Ireland yesterday at the invitation of the Lisburn Group, I've certainly been putting the miles in to celebrate Christmas this year.
Flying into Belfast International Airport in the morning, I was collected by Northern Ireland CSRF Co Ordinator Beverely Allen and before lunch we headed to Antrim to pay a visit to Maud Hamill. Maud, for those of you who had read the Winter issue of avanti was the super member whose 100th birthday was celebrated in September. Shortly after her party she voluntarily chose to move into a nursing home and far from taking it down a gear or two she's been out and about since then with a busy social schedule. Last week, she was the guest of the Mayor of Antrim when she switched on the town's Christmas lights.
Leaving Antrim I headed for the small village of Glenavy, a few miles outside of Lisburn to join the Lisburn Group's Christmas lunch which was for the third year taking place in McGeowns Pub & Restaurant in the heart of the village. I had been invited by Group Chair Ann Allen and Secretary Helen Fletcher.
Switching into my usual mode of paparazzi photographer I greeted all the members with a photocall as they arrived suitably decked out in a pair of reindeer antlers (which remained fixed to my head throughout the lunch) before sitting down to a lovely lunch which consisted of garlic mushrooms, traditional turkey and ham and a fruit pavlova. The restaurant did a terrific job with service considering they were suffering from a number of staff absences due to illness.
A lot of time and effort had been put into this lunch by the members of the group (each place had a token Christmas present) and it was a lively and sociable occasion. When the lunch wound up (just before 3pm) everybody headed home full of seasonal spirit (mine was sponsored by Gordons Gin!!).
I've been lucky enough to visit all of the Northern Ireland groups during 2009 and every single one of them have shown me considerable warmth and hospitality. Under the calm and organised eye of Bev Allen, they have all seen their memberships grow due to her hard work and commitment in helping them source community grants and funds. I am already looking forward to visiting the groups again in 2010 to see how they have put their funds to good use.
Report filed by avanti Editor David Tickner
For more pictures of the Lisburn Group Christmas lunch visit the photo gallery area of the website
Flying into Belfast International Airport in the morning, I was collected by Northern Ireland CSRF Co Ordinator Beverely Allen and before lunch we headed to Antrim to pay a visit to Maud Hamill. Maud, for those of you who had read the Winter issue of avanti was the super member whose 100th birthday was celebrated in September. Shortly after her party she voluntarily chose to move into a nursing home and far from taking it down a gear or two she's been out and about since then with a busy social schedule. Last week, she was the guest of the Mayor of Antrim when she switched on the town's Christmas lights.
Leaving Antrim I headed for the small village of Glenavy, a few miles outside of Lisburn to join the Lisburn Group's Christmas lunch which was for the third year taking place in McGeowns Pub & Restaurant in the heart of the village. I had been invited by Group Chair Ann Allen and Secretary Helen Fletcher.
Switching into my usual mode of paparazzi photographer I greeted all the members with a photocall as they arrived suitably decked out in a pair of reindeer antlers (which remained fixed to my head throughout the lunch) before sitting down to a lovely lunch which consisted of garlic mushrooms, traditional turkey and ham and a fruit pavlova. The restaurant did a terrific job with service considering they were suffering from a number of staff absences due to illness.
A lot of time and effort had been put into this lunch by the members of the group (each place had a token Christmas present) and it was a lively and sociable occasion. When the lunch wound up (just before 3pm) everybody headed home full of seasonal spirit (mine was sponsored by Gordons Gin!!).
I've been lucky enough to visit all of the Northern Ireland groups during 2009 and every single one of them have shown me considerable warmth and hospitality. Under the calm and organised eye of Bev Allen, they have all seen their memberships grow due to her hard work and commitment in helping them source community grants and funds. I am already looking forward to visiting the groups again in 2010 to see how they have put their funds to good use.
Report filed by avanti Editor David Tickner
For more pictures of the Lisburn Group Christmas lunch visit the photo gallery area of the website
