Girls Brigade

 

22nd Company Girls’ Brigade
 
22nd Company Girls’ Brigade
 
 
Following all the 50th year celebrations in April and an action packed weekend in Carlingford Adventure Centre back in June, we are looking forward to the forthcoming year, especially as we welcome our new Captain, Nola Lambert, on board.  As many of you know, Nola has been an officer with the 22nd Company for many years but stepped in to the captain's shoes in April following Sandra Chapple's retirement. We open on Tuesday 8th September 2009, and girls from 3 years and over are welcome. For further details please contact Nola on (087) 688 9845.
 
Finally if any one has a couple of hours free on a Tuesday to play the piano for the company we would be delighted to hear from you.
 
Many thanks
 
Louise Syms
Officer
 
 
 
What a weekend the 3rd – 5th April turned out to be. First we had our 50th Annual Display on the Friday evening. The School Hall was filled to capacity with parents, grandparents, friends, Past Members and invited guests, including the three former Captains of the Company, Bertha Marsh, and Hazel Evans who travelled from Tralee for the weekend and Sharon Dawson. The girls all performed really well and put on a great show. Many thanks to the Past Members, Alison, Lynda, Jean, Karen, Melanie and Lynn who joined with the current Leaders for an item and to the other Past members who joined in the Drill Down. At the end of the evening as is usual all the girls received prizes and badges. As some of you may know I have decided to retire as Captain and I would like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement over the years and for the fabulous photo book, flowers and gift cheque I received this year. Just before the Display was due to start one of our own Officers, Nola Lambert, said that she had decided to take on the Captaincy and so I was absolutely thrilled to be able to announce the same at the end of the evening. I am sure she will do a brilliant job and I would ask you all to support her in the coming session. On a sadder note Hazel Young, one of our brilliant pianists for 20+ years has also decided to retire and we thank her for her contribution to the Company in so many ways over the years and wish her all the best in the future.
 
On the Saturday evening we had a Reunion supper in the Parish Hall and whilst the numbers were low everyone agreed that it was a super night where all could chat and renew acquaintances in a relaxed atmosphere. Many happy times were recalled with the aid of countless photos that had been mounted for all to see. Many thanks to Alison Wilkie (Cox) for co-ordinating the evening.
 
We were up early on the Sunday morning for a rehearsal with the girls at 9.00 a.m. before the Thanksgiving Service! Unfortunately our numbers in the Tiny Tots Section were quite depleted but they sang very well and the Juniors performed a drama of the song “Who put the Colours in the Rainbow”. Again it was lovely to be joined by so many past Leaders and Members. Many thanks to Ian and Cathy for all their help with the Service and to the parents for providing tray bakes for refreshments afterwards.
 
We still have a few events to look forward to as under:-
Saturday 9th May: Sports Day in Greenlanes National School from 12.00 noon for girls aged 5 and up.
Wednesday 13th May: District 2 Annual General Meeting in Tallaght at 7.45 p.m.
Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th June: Junior/Senior/Brigader Outing to Carlingford Activity Centre.
 
As always new members are welcome when we re-commence in September and if you would like any further information please do not hesitate to contact either of the undernoted.
 
Sandra Chapple: Tel.: 289 6448 / (087) 284 7190 or Nola Lambert: 285 2132
 
 
 
We opened in September with 58 girls which is down on last year but we were delighted to welcome some ‘new’ girls and we hope they are enjoying their time with us. We also welcomed the return of Louise Syms and Cathy Lewis who is in the Parish for a year on the ‘Jump’ programme and we were thrilled to hear of her previous  involvement in GB.
 
Each week the girls participate in P.E., Teamwork,  Singing,  Skipping, Marching and Modern Dance as well as working on their Badgework which is under a four-fold programme of Spiritual, Physical, Educational and Service. For Badgework the Explorers have done craft, went on an outing to Cabinteely Park and drew a picture of their visit and have learnt how important it is to have friends. The Juniors, Seniors and Brigaders baked most weeks coming up to Christmas thanks to Melanie, are working on the set Bible Course,  the Juniors have also designed T-Shirts on the theme of saving the environment as part of a competition are also doing Music Making and the Seniors First Aid.  None of this would be possible without the willing assistance of so many people - weekly Nola Lambert, Sandra Faulkner and Cathy Lewis look after the Tiny Tots, Gaynor Crosbie, Cathy  and myself help with the Explorers and Melanie Wright, Lesley Williams, Sheena Chapple, Sharon Dawson, Clare Black, Rachel Crosbie and Cathy teach the Juniors, Seniors & Brigaders.  We must not forget our wonderful pianists Hazel Young and Esther Girvan who play for the Explorers and Tiny Tots respectively. Whilst most of the older girls PE work is now done to CD’s piano music is still a very important part of the work for the younger girls and we can’t thank Hazel and Esther enough for their continued commitment and dedication. 
 
We congratulate Laura Lambert one of our Brigaders on coming 2nd in the Feis and Maya Baum and Hannah Fleming who were highly commended in their respective sections. At Christmas the Explorers and Tiny Tots had a visit from Santa at their party, and the Juniors/Seniors/Brigaders went to see Rebecca Blake (one of the Seniors) in Sleeping Beauty in Clonkeen College. Towards the end of February the Juniors/Seniors will be doing the set Scripture Test and in early March we  hope to enter the Explorer Hoops, Junior Clubs and some Solo Skippers in the District Competitions and we wish them all well. 
 
The weekend of 3rd April to 5th April we will be celebrating 50 years of GB in Kill. In all that time there have only been 4 Captains – our founding Captain, Bertha Marsh, Hazel Evans, Sharon Dawson and myself. Our 50th Annual Display will be held on Friday 3rd April 2009 in Kill National School Hall at 7.00 p.m. and you would be most welcome to come and support the girls. Then on 4th April we will be having a Re-Union Supper in the Parish Hall for all past members and friends and on Sunday 5th April there will be a Thanksgiving Service in Kill Parish Church at 10.00 a.m. If you are a past member and you have not received details please contact me on 087-2847190.
 
 
 
 
March
 
The weeks are flying by and the Display will be upon us shortly. In the meantime the girls are busy finishing off badgework and preparing the items for the Display. The Juniors submitted three T-Shirts on the theme of “Saving our Environment” to HQ for a recent competition. The Junior Sunday 5th April s/Seniors will sit their Scripture Exam on Tuesday 3rd March. The Explorer Modern Dance and Hoops Teams and the Junior Clubs Teams are busy practising along with some skippers for the District Competitions to be held in Kill National School on Saturday 7th March from 10.00 a.m. Our company judging will be held on Tuesday 10th March and then we will have a day off due to St. Patrick’s Day being on a Tuesday.
 
The details of our celebratory weekend are:-
Ø Friday 3rd April       50th Annual Display in Kill National School at 7.00 p.m.
Ø Saturday 4th April    Reunion Supper in Kill Parish Hall at 8.00 p.m.
Ø Sunday 5th April      Thanksgiving Service at 10.00 a.m.
 
We have notified as many past members as possible of this weekend but if you have not received a letter please feel free to contact me and I will send you one. Rehearsals for the Past Members item will commence on Tuesday 3rd March at 8.30 p.m. when we hope to have a full quota – please volunteer and don’t wait to be persuaded!
 
Looking forward to our weekend and renewing many acquaintances.
 
Sandra Chapple (Captain) Tel.: 289 6448 or (087) 284 7190
 
 
 
November
 
 

 

We started in September and as usual we said farewell to some girls but we also welcomed eight new girls and one Leader, and we hope they are enjoying their time with us.   Our new Leader is Cathy Lewis who is in the Parish for a year and we were thrilled when we heard she was in GB in Larne. Cathy helps with all ages so she has a busy day and the Explorers
 
Six of our girls participated in the recent GB Feis. They all sang beautifully and we were delighted when Maya Baum and Hannah Fleming in the Under 6 and Explorer sections were Highly Commended and Laura Lambert one of our Brigaders came second.
 
Our Enrolment Service was held on Sunday 16th November. Many thanks to Ian, Cathy and Wendy for their help in organizing this service. Thanks also to all who participated – Charlotte O’Kane lit the candle, Zoë Baker and Sophie Roe O’Leary read the lesson, the Juniors did a drama and the Under 6s sang a song (both thanks to Nola). Katie Bell, Zahra Dry and Emma Lambert read the prayers, Amber Kinlan and Claire Dawson collected and Rebecca Blake and Holly Daly made up the Colour Party with Louise Syms. It was a very proud moment when we had 3 Officers and 5 Sub-Officers (with apologies for 2 others) enrolled as well as all the girls. After the service we all went into the hall for some photos and then our founding Captain, Bertha Marsh, helped cut a cake to mark the start of the 50th year of Girls’ Brigade in Kill O’The Grange Parish.
 
 
Our next event is a Fun Weekend in Taney Parish Church and Centre and we hope to have some girls participating in the quiz on the Saturday evening; Sophie Faro will be reading a prayer and Clare Black will be in the National Colour Party at the Carol Service on the Sunday.
 
We will close for Christmas on Tuesday 16th December when we hope to have a visit from Santa for the Tiny Tots and Explorers and a surprise for the older girls!!
 
Sandra Chapple, Captain (Tel.: 289 6448)