Celebrating 50 years of St Hilda’s Lads’ and Girls’ Brigade

Monday March 23rd 2009

At a Regimental Parade and Service celebrating 50 years of St Hilda’s Church Lads’ Brigade and Church Girls’ Brigade are L to R: Colonel Daryl Hewitt (Regimental Commander), Captain Robin Mack, Rev David Boyland (Rector), Major Edgar McIlroy (First Captain), Martin Gillespie, Major Albert Mack and Major Margaret McCabe (Battalion Commander). A Regimental Parade and Service in Kilmakee Parish Church (Seymour Hill) on Sunday March 15 celebrated 50 years of St Hilda’s Church Lads’ Brigade and Church Girls’ Brigade.

The Rector, the Rev David Boyland conducted the service assisted by the Very Rev Robert Townley (Regimental Chaplain), the Rev William Hoey (Battalion Chaplin) and the Rev Canon Alex Cheevers who gave the address.

Members of St Hilda’s CLB and CGB led the prayers. Alan Yarr presided at the organ and led the congregational hymns that included ‘Seek ye first the Kingdom of God’, ‘One more step along the way I go’ and ‘Fight the good fight’.

92-year-old Major Edgar McIlroy, the founder and first captain of St Hilda’s Church Lads’ Brigade and Church Girls’ Brigade, is congratulated on 50 years service by his grandson Martin Gillespie. The founder and first captain of St Hilda’s CLB and CGB, Edgar McIlroy (1959-1978), was followed in turn as captain by Albert Mack (1978-2005) and his sons Gary (2005-2006) and Robin (2006-present).

During the service, 92-year-old Major McIlroy took part in the dedication of a window celebrating 50 years of St Hilda’s CLB and CGB. Originally from Sandy Lane, Tullynacross, Edgar joined Lambeg Jubilee Company in 1935 and after getting married in 1939 he moved to Glenburn Road, Dunmurry.

During refreshments, which followed the service, members past and present enjoyed a chat with Edgar as he recalled his long service at St Hilda’s and memories of just green fields prior to the building of the Seymour Hill housing Captain Robin Mack and the Colour Party pictured at a Regimental Parade and Service at Kilwee Parish (Seymour Hill) celebrating 50 years of St Hilda’s Church Lads’ Brigade and Church Girls’ Brigade. estate in the 1950s and the present modern church, which was consecrated in December 1970.