The Officers, Brethren and members of the above lodge and band deeply regret the passing of their esteemed member Bro Sidney and also former band member; and wish to express their deepest sympathies to his family and the entire family circle. Since I couldn’t dance, I thought it might help me in my quest to make an impression to take up a musical instrument. So, I joined a pipe band. With hindsight, I’m not entirely sure I was motivated by music. No, my school friend, Wesley Kane, encouraged me. Wesley, it has to be said, arrived at school every day as if his mum had rushed out the day before and bought him a brand-new school uniform.

Whilst the rest of us looked like we had already worn out our new school uniforms on the first day, from the tip of his perfectly polished shoes to the peak of his perma-cleaned cap, Wesley was always impeccably turned out. In Wesley’s campaign to recruit me for his pipe band, I think he was doing his best to boost the ranks of teenage pipers in the band. Any reluctance I might have had was very effectively overcome when he “suggested” that Margaret Hutchinson (think of Brigitte Bardot but with a Mid-Ulster accent) was going to be joining during that particular recruitment period. To put the final nail in the coffin of my ambition to learn to play the bagpipes, it soon became clear that my mum made a much better cup of tea anyway. Glen’s tag of ones to watch is well earned, with O’Rourke racing them lightly through the group stages before Ryan Porter’s conditioning programme cranked through the gears when the business end neared.Prior to his appointment in 1985 as Vice Principal in Magherafelt High School, he was Head of Mathematics in Maghera High School for many years. He was an able and talented teacher and he was also responsible for the development of the curriculum and timetabling until his appointment as Principal in 1989. He was the type of man who would have time for anybody and a trip to the shop would always take him an hour or two due to the amount of people he would stop to talk to and have a bit of craic. On behalf of our President Reverend Ruth Murray, Committee and Members, we deeply regret the passing of Mrs Elsie Clarke, our Vice President for many years. In a wee dance hall in Rasharkin, I was introduced to a whole new world of musicians, guitars, saxophones, microphones and the volume-sensitive, magic-eyes of the amplification equipment. It was all there, up close and personal. I have to admit that, during that particular evening, I was so preoccupied witnessing for the first-time music being created live on stage, I completely forgot the whole point of being there. McEvoy could well be pushed onto Emmett Bradley around the middle - allowing the in-form Danny Heavron more freedom to roam - with Dan Higgins an aerial match for Glass in the same sector. Up top, Shane Heavron has been shooting the lights out.

The WM, Officers and members of the above Perceptory regret to learn of the passing of Mrs Elsie Clarke, mother of Sir Knight Colin Clarke and wish to extend their deepest and heartfelt sympathy to his immediate family and the entire family circle. ONCE you have climbed those steps to collect the Seamus Mac Ferran Cup, there is no escaping the eyes of Ulster the following year. Talking about the guitar and letting Bert Weedon down, I’ve recently taken comfort in the fact that there was at least one other person, apart from myself, in Bert’s two million followers who didn’t succeed… Having edged past neighbours Slaughtneil in a war of attrition two weeks ago, their season starts now.The Officers, Brethren and members of the above lodge and band deeply regret the passing of Jennifer, wife of our highly esteemed member David and also loyal band member. We wish to convey our deepest sympathies to him, his family and the entire family circle. Others have taken to social media to pay tribute to David saying that he was a "true gentleman" who would be sorely missed by his former colleagues and pupils. At this sad time, we wish to convey our sincere sympathies to the McIntyre family and assure them of our thoughts and prayers." On the way across to the rural dance hall, my mate Seamus Mitchell had talked me through the whole ritual of what I needed to do. My task, if I chose to accept it, was to blag the last dance from my preferred dance partner, before anyone else had a chance to muscle in and steal my thunder. Sadly, maybe ‘steal my whisper’ would have been more accurate. Even then, when Seamus and his girlfriend spotted that my priorities lay elsewhere, the lady in question persuaded her younger sister, Maureen, to take me on a few circuits of the dance floor.

The above club deeply regrets the passing of their member Tom and wish to express their deepest sympathies to his wife Myrtle, daughters and the entire family circle including fellow club member and son-in-law Tom Moore. The Worshipful Master, Officers and Brethren of the above Lodge deeply regret the passing of Mrs Elsie Clarke, mother of our member Colin and sister of our member Robert McClure. KENNEDY (nee Selfridge) – Precious memories of a loving sister-in-law, aunt and great-aunt, fondly remembered by your brother-in-law William and his family. “Your restless days are over, your sleepless nights are past. God put his arms around you and gave you peace at last.” Tributes have been paid to a beloved father, husband and fondly remembered former principal at a Co Derry High School.Throughout his teaching career he took a keen interest in the continuing development of the lives of his students. I was very relieved to discover “a dance” meant you were allowed to enjoy the company of your chosen partner for the duration of a three-song dance set. God help you, however, if the three songs in question were ‘Hey Jude’, ‘House of The Rising Sun’,and ‘American Pie’ and your partner cold-shouldered you at the beginning of the first song, rebuffing your well-rehearsed opening line of, ‘Do you come here often?’ and following it up very speedily with a negative to your request for the last dance. The Officers and Brethern of the above Lodge, deeply regret the passing of Eileen, wife of our much esteemed long serving member Bro Roy Stewart and also mother of Bro Nigel Stewart, Secretary. David McIntyre, former head teacher at Magherafelt High School passed away this week bringing much sadness to his family, friends and those who knew him. MILLER- The officers and members of the above lodge deeply regret the passing of Mrs Margaret Miller and wish to convey there sympathies to Bro Geordie on the death of his mother, Bros Craig and Derek on the death of their grandmother, Bros William and Cecil on the death of their sister and the wider Brown and Miller family circle.

MILLER (Nee Brown)- called home July 6 2023, (peacefully) at Antrim Area Hospital, Margaret Jean, dearly loved wife of the late Thompson, 40a Carmean Road, Magherafelt, much loved and devoted mother of Margaret and George, dear mother-in-law of Desmond and Dorothy, loving grandmother of Valerie, Derek, Angela and Craig, cherished great-grandmother of Jolene, Charlene, Kyle, Scarlett and Amber-Rose and dearest sister of Roberta (Weir), William, Cecil and the late Tommy. Funeral service was held in Calvary Free Presbyterian Church, Magherafelt on Saturday 8 July followed by burial in the adjoining graveyard. Donations in memory, if desired, for Let The Bible Speak and Dementia NI payable to Garvin’s Funeral Service (Donations A/c). Lovingly remembered by her family and the entire family circle. “Thou shalt be missed because thy seat will be empty” 1 Samuel Ch 20 V 18

Now that was much more enjoyable, and I was so relieved to become acquainted with what subsequently became my signature dance-step. KENNEDY (nee Selfridge ) – October 23 2023 (peaceful ly ) at Antrim Area Hosp ital, Jennifer, 15 Park er A venu e , Castledawson, dea rly beloved wife of David, much lov ed and de voted mother of David and Elizabeth (Libby) , lovin g granny of Gracie, Sam and Jimmy , dear mother-in-law of Glenda and John, dear est sister of Alan, Eunice, Mill y, Linda , Ann, Harriet and the late Mavis, F reddie , Etta and Iris and also a dear sister-in-law . Funeral was held on Wednesday 25 October in Christ Church , Castledawson followed b y burial in Castledawson Presbyterian Churchyard. Do nations in memory, if desired, for Christ Church Castledawson Mustard Seed Project payable to Garvin ’ s Funeral Service (Donations A/c). Will always be loved and remember ed by her family and the entire family circle . “ Safe in the arms of Jesus ” Conor Glass offers a calm assuredness that can draw the sting from any storm, while the tactical cuteness of O’Rourke and the experience of emerging from the trenches unscathed makes them formidable opposition for anyone. This ability to smoothly go from one chord to another, unreachable by me, was what really impressed me about another mate of mine, Vince McCusker. Vince was a future song-writing partner in the band we called Fruupp – he wrote the music and I wrote the lyrics. Vince was also a very fine guitarist. His fingers could instinctively find their positions and he could also smoke a cigarette, drink a cup of tea, unwrap and eat a Kit Kat and continue to talk to me as he did so.