East Antrim BB Battalion hosts fundraising concert

L to R: (back row) Paul Briggs and Sheelagh Greer, Ballyclare Male Choir, John Fittis, Major Sinclair Memorial Pipe Band and Drew Buchanan MBE, president of the East Antrim Battalion and (front row) William Currie, Lee Moran and Oliver McIlwaine. INCT 09-701-CON. Photo by John Kelly.

The event at Holy Trinity Church, Carrickfergus, featured the Major Sinclair Memorial Pipe Band, with Pipe Major John Fittis and Ballyclare Male Choir, conducted by Paul Briggs and accompanied by Sheelagh Greer.

Drew Buchanan MBE, president of the East Antrim Battalion, welcomed the audience and thanked the band and choir members for providing an evening of great musical entertainment which concluded as choir accompanied by the band sang ‘Abide with me’. Members of the East Antrim Battalion executive served supper during the interval.

Mr Buchanan went on to outline proposals for the conference, training and residential centre at Culcavey Road, Hillsborough.

He said: “We have exciting plans to develop the site that will start a new era for BB in Northern Ireland. We are looking for past members to get in touch and to join us as a Friend of Newport and buying into the future of The Boys’ Brigade in Northern Ireland.

“If you were in BB and would like to help us, please visit our fundraising website at www.bbnewportfundraising.org where you will find information about the new centre and how you can support us.

“The estimated cost of completing the centre to its full potential is £400,000 and boys and leaders in almost 300 companies, comprising the 13 battalions of Northern Ireland, have been actively raising funds in a variety of creative ways.”