70th Anniversary for Cairncastle GB and BB.
Cairncastle Girls Brigade (55th NI Co) and 1st Cairncastle Boys Brigade celebrated their 70th Anniversary on 23rd and 25th October, 2015.
A Reunion Evening on 23rd October in the Halfway House Hotel, Ballygally was followed by a Thanksgiving Service combined with the Enrolment of the two companies on Sunday 25th, October .
If you would like to find out more about these special events, come back to this page soon for updates!
Moments of Memories – GB
…click to enlarge this picture
The late Rev A E Anderson BA was ordained and installed in the congregation in 1945 and was responsible for the commencement of the Companies and he became the Chaplain.
When the organisations commenced in 1945, the Second World War had just ended. As electricity had not yet reached Cairncastle, heating was by one coal fire on the platform and lighting provided by two tilley lamps in the hall which was less than ¾ of the present day size. Also in these early days there were no toilets, kitchen, store rooms or water.
The girls either walked or came on bicycles as motor cars were scarce, as the country was still short of so much in the aftermath of the war.
There were no record of number at the beginning but in May 1949 there was the Captain, three (possible four) Lieutenants, 43 girls and 15 cadets. The Cadets was formed after the original company – possibly 1946.
The Cadets were 6 – 10 years, Juniors 10 – 13 years, Seniors 13 – 16 years and Pioneers were 16 years and upwards.
A typical Wednesday night was from 8pm: Fall in (in sections), Sang Hymn; Prayer by Chaplain or Captain; Repeat GLB law, GLB Promise and GLB Aim. Roll Call – each girl answered “Present Sunday” as all were expected to be at their own Church or Sunday School each week. Inspection – for cleanliness and neatness by Officers and points awarded and totalled for prizes. Collection given (possible 1 old penny). Fall Out.
The Company then usually split into three sections, each doing something different eg PE in Hall, handwork on Platform and Educational eg First Aid, Child Care, Bible Study in the Vestibule and stairs of the Church and then all would change over.
For Maze Marching or Folk Dancing two or three sections would join together.
Just before closing all the Company joined in of their popular games.
Then it was Fall In, Sang Vesper, Prayer, Dismiss and home.
Mrs J R Clarke was the first Captain followed by Beth Morton, Eileen McCarey (Mrs Peoples) and then Mrs Phyllis Robinson.
Mattie Moore and Bea McKay (Nee Forbes) were the first Lieutenants followed by Florrie Brady ( Mrs Johnston), Hilda Morton (Mrs Stewart).
The Company met on Wednesday nights from 8pm to 9.30pm.
Uniform and Badges
The uniform was a navy dress with long sleeves and a collar. The collar and sleeves were trimmed with narrow red braid and a tie was dark and light blue striped. The hats were of cloth with turned up brim.
The Cadets wore white blouses and home made black short skirts. Uniform was worn every night.
The various subjects were all marked for badges. These badges were circles of felt with the subject illustrated in colour in the centre.
At the Display each year the finale included something to depict the Spiritual side of GLB. There was always an Inspecting Officer from another Company or a representative from Headquarters present at the Displays.
On two occasions the HQ Officer requested that an item from Cairncastle Display go to the Divisional Display in the Grosvenor Hall in Belfast.
One year it was showing what we learned for First Aid and Child Care Badges. Girls in various groups were demonstrating the correct way to make a bed; the correct way to apply various bandages and slings and the proper procedure when bathing a baby etc.
One of the Pioneers went round each group and gave a commentary on exactly what was being done.
Another year we did “The Bells of St Marys”. The best singers were chosen as Bride and Groom and, as this was performed a few times, the soloists varied.
The sailors uniform and the brides dress were borrowed and sometimes the bridesmaids had dresses and some were borrowed.
The four bouquets were crepe paper flowers (roses, carnations and daffodils) and were all made by the GLB, as this had been done for badges too. A Guard of Honour was formed by Seniors and Pioneers.
Another item was Folk Dancing but the problem was finding suitable outfits, as clothing was in short supply. Flour bags were obtained (flour was bought in cotton ten stone bags), washed and bleached, then unpicked the seams and got them ready to sew. Any girl with a sewing machine helped.
The skirts were then dyed red, green and blue with black or white trimmings. The black material was the blackout curtains of Mrs Clarkes (Captain) house and this material also made the skirts worn by the Cadets.
Mrs Clarke and her son Sam lived with her Mother-in-Law (known to all as Nanny Clarke), who was the widow of Rev SB Clarke who was Minister of Cairncastle.
Nanny Clarke did a lot of work behind the scenes for GLB at their home at Brookfield, Old Glenarm Road and she just loved to see the girls and boys at their house.
The paper flowers and skirts were made at Brookfield (not on a company night) and Nanny sewed a lot of the skirts.
Parties were held for the GLB and BB sometimes in the Lecture Hall and at times in Brookfield Barn.
Mrs Clarke was a wonderful woman and a great Captain, who loved all the girls and counted them all as her big family. Everyone in GLB treated her with respect at all times.
Fundraising
In 1945 the GLB and BB held a Variety Sale which raised £15 12s 6d (each getting half of the proceeds to buy uniforms).
1947 A Variety sale raised £14 10s 6d and the GLB held a Variety Entertainment night raising £4 19s 6d.
1948 GLB Variety Concert raised £23 and Carol Singers raised £3 while in 1950 £45 4 s 7d raised at a Variety Sale with half of the proceeds donated to War Memorial Fund.
In 1950 there was a Youth Rally in Larne when all the youth organisations in Larne and surrounding area took part. Assembly point as Larne Market Yard and all paraded to the Town Park where each company did an item.
Cairncastle Company and Cadets did Folk Dancing.
NCO Weekends were held at Child-Haven, Donaghadee for training for the Winter Programme and then when they became Officers there was a one week training course (every night) held in Belfast. Beth, Eileen and Phyllis attended these for some time.
GLB Golden Jubilee was celebrated in May 1952 with a week of celebrations in London.
Beth, Eileen and Phyllis went to London for this week. They went to Belfast City Hall where the Lord Mayor met all GLB members who were travelling to the celebrations.
The Jubilee Rally and pageant was held in the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, May 17, 1952. There were two performances on Saturday and many were disappointed as tickets were all sold long before then. On Sunday 18th May att 11am the Golden Jubilee Parade Service was held in the Methodist Central Hall and the preacher was Rev Dr W B Sangster MA. These were very enjoyable and moving functions.
In 1954, Cairncastle Company joined the Larne Companies for a week Camp in Portrush and a good time was had by all. On Sunday they all paraded to a Church Service in Ballywillan Church where Rev Cowper Lynas was then minister.
Each year the Enrolment Service was held in the Church and the company also were present at the Evening Service on Children’s Day.
In 1955 the GLB and BB formed a Guard of Honour for the Moderator of the General Assembly when he dedicated the Irwin Window on the 6th March, 1955. He was the Rev Dr John Knowles.
In May 1961, Mr and Mrs J O Henderson, Ballygally presented the first Colours to Cairncastle Companies. At this time Mrs Henderson was President of the GLB and Mr Henderson President of the BB.
In 1965 the 21st Birthday was celebrated in the McNeills Hotel, Larne.
Change
Times moved on and in 1965 the GLB became known as the Girls Brigade and by 1968 1st Cairncastle Company became known as 55th Northern Ireland Cairncastle Presbyterian Company.
Uniforms changed to blazers, tunics, shirts and ties and sections changed to Explorers, Juniors, Seniors, Brigaders, Associates, Sub-Officers and Lieutenants.
At this time there was also a transformation of the Badges, Programme and Motto.
There were many displays, district church parades and camps in the following years. Camps took the members to Ballycastle, Isle of Man, Ayr and Edinburgh (going back on occasions to the same destination).
Highlights
In 1977 Cairncastle GB took part in the Queen’s Jubilee Parade held in Larne.
Also in 1977 there was another memorable event for both the GB and BB – the Wedding of Phyllis Finlay and Jack Robinson (captains respectively).
In 1990 another Royal occasion when Cairncastle GB attended was the opening of Carnfunnock Country Park when youth organisations provided a Guard of Honour for the Duchess of Kent who performed the official opening.
In 1993, Cairncastle was represented at the Girls Brigade Centenary Jubilee Service in St Annes Cathedral, Belfast; Presbyterian Church House and other churches) where there were 7,500 members on parade.
In 1995, the Golden Jubilee of the GB and BB in Cairncastle was celebrated in the Drumnagreagh Hotel at which over 200 past members and friends gathered.
In 2004 the GB organised the very successful and much talked about Flower Festival and Art Exhibition to which many people contributed to in many ways. £7,500 was raised for the Church Building Fund at this event.
In 2006 the Church Halls had a make over, with a new hall built (McFerran Hall) which replaced the School, extension and additional rooms to the Lecture Hall. This was a new life to the members as there was so much additional space and it enabled various classes continuing at the same time.
2009 saw a camp site set up in the back garden of the Church Manse. Tents erected and settling down for the night, up came a storm and heavy rain. No 1 tent flattened so all girls crowded into No 2 tent which didn’t last much longer. With frightened girls, the campers finished off the remainder of the night in Rev Anne’s bedroom.
An adventure overnight camp in 2010 at Portaferry was a highlight with Clear Sky Adventure. The girls were involved in archery, bouldering orienteering and to end the day with panic attacks for the leaders when the girls went “mattress surfing” (Mattresses with girls on top sliding down the stairs.
The Company continues to meet on Wednesday evenings, continuing with badge work under the sections of Spiritual, Physical Educational and Service, having fun and fellowship while striving to help girls Seek, Serve and Follow Christ.
We have had various educational and entertaining trips – RNLI, Larne Fire Station, Ardclinis Adventure Centre, We Are Vertigo, Pamper Nights, Bowling and Pantomimes on numerous occasions. Displays are now known as Parents and Friends Evenings. Fundraising continues both for the Company and for the Church by having Harvest Teas, Ceilidh’s, Concerts, Fireside Quizzes to name a few.
The Company of today takes great pride in knowing they are continuing in the footsteps of the leaders and officers of years gone by and had it not been for the Rev A E Anderson, Mrs Clarke, Beth Morton, Eillen Peoples and Phyllis Robinson, serving the company with many officers over the years there would be no 70th Anniversary of the Girls Brigade in Cairncastle in 2015.