## **The Not Forgotten Association Northern Ireland** 

**Patron** Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal **President** His Grace The Duke of Abercorn KG **Vice Presidents** Major B Lowry MBE Mrs E A Kirkwood MBE Mr D McCahon UD Mr J I Davies MBE **Chairman** Mr B Higgins BEM **Vice-Chairman** Mr G Woodcock **Hon. Secretary** Mrs J McCabe **Hon. Treasurer** Mr T Porter **Events Coordinator** Ms Y A Mulholland BEM **Principal Office** 21 Talbot Street, Belfast BT1 2LD **Bankers** Danske Bank, Belfast **Honorary Solicitors** Carnson, Morrow, Graham, 20 May Street, Belfast **Our motto:** NE OBLIVISCARIS  (Lest We Forget) 

Registered Charity: NIC100602 

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## **Origin, Role and Activities of the Association** 

The ‘Not Forgotten’ Association is a unique national tri-service charity which provides entertainment, leisure and recreation for the serving wounded, injured or sick (WIS) and for ex-service men and women with disabilities. We do this through a wide and varied programme of activities. 

The Not Forgotten Association was founded by the Late Miss Marta Cunningham CBE in 1920.  The organisation is a registered charity on the mainland operating through an office in Central London. 

The Northern Ireland group was formed in 1930 by Sir Frederick William Moneypenny (1859-1932), CVO, CBE, JP, who was a Civil Servant and former Army Officer. In 2015 we became a registered charity under the NI Charity Commission. 

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## **We provide:** 

- An opportunity to mix with like minded people in order to improve their everyday quality of life by integrating more fully into society through organised social interactions 

- To provide at no cost to the beneficiary a variety of different outings, including leisure and recreational activities which are aimed at giving individuals and groups something to look forward to and experience outside their usual routine. 

In addition to the above, Her Majesty The Late Queen graciously allowed the NF Association to hold a summer Garden Party in Buckingham Palace and a Christmas Tea Party in St James’s Palace, annually and we are delighted that her son, King Charles III, has kindly extended this incredible gesture during his reign. 

Please note that the Association is not empowered to assist spouses or Widower/Widows, or undertake welfare casework, but it enjoys the close co-operation of all the major Ex Service welfare organisations. 

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## **Chairman’s Report** 

This has been an extremely challenging year for the Not Forgotten Association Northern Ireland in this reporting period; Lt Col John Mateer, MBE who took over as Chairman from Mr J Davies, MBE was in post for a short period and had to resign due to taking up an overseas post and could not continue in his role as Chairman. I would like to thank Lt Col Mateer, MBE for all of the hard work that he put in as chairman and wish him well in his new role. We advertised the post of chairman on the Northern Ireland Veterans Support Office (NIVSO) website but we were unsuccessful in getting a suitable replacement. 

Ben Higgins as the vice chairman took up the role as interim chairman until the Executive committee of the association endorsed him to take up the post of chairman and he remains in the post to date and hopefully will have this appointment endorsed during the AGM on 18 May 2023. The executive committee have been extremely busy over the past year covering the following areas of governance: 

A full review of our constitution which will hopefully be adopted at our AGM. 

We have been working very closely with the Chief Executive of Not Forgotten, London and they have approved the use of the NF London Logo which is shown in the pop up banner and in the constitution with a time line of Mid - June 23 for the formal change of title from Not Forgotten Association Northern Ireland to Not Forgotten Northern Ireland. Notification of the change of title will be updated with the Charity Commission Northern Ireland. 

We have agreed that our policies, procedures and governance will mirror where possible with the main NF London office and we will both use the same publicity material etc with effect the changeover date. 

The executive committee endorsed the requirement that all of our NI based activities will be promoted utilising the NIVSO website, in addition to the Not Forgotten Northern Ireland website, to ensure that we have maximum coverage for all of our activities to the veteran community in NI. 

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The executive committee also endorsed that all of our events in each year will be approved by the executive in January and will list the area where the event is to take place and the overall budget to cover the costs of the event. That way we ensure that we are reaching out to all of the main areas where the veterans in NI reside and to ensure that we reach our main objective of reaching out to those veterans who are socially isolated. 

The executive committee also endorsed that with effect from Jan 23, that for all events in NI, the Veteran Champion for the council area where the event is taking place will be invited to attend and to give a short presentation to the guests. Therefore, increasing the interaction between the veteran champion and the veterans in their electoral area and at our first event at the Royal Hotel in Cookstown, Mr Mark Glasgow the veteran champion for Mid Ulster Council gave an excellent presentation and met all of the veterans who attended the lunch. I very much see this as the way forward for building up relationships with the veteran’s champions and view this as a win – win situation, good for the veterans and the same applies to the veteran champions reaching out to veterans. I would like to thank Mr Bobby Gillespie who has recently taken up the role of the Veterans Champion Coordinator within the NIVSO office for his support to the association to date and we will continue to work closely with him over the coming months and years. 

We are working closely with NF London to help develop how they will support the devolved regions for entertainment events coordinated and arranged from the London office in order to reduce costs and to increase our reach within NI. 

I am extremely grateful to the executive committee, Graeme Woodcock, my Vice Chairman, Joan McCabe our secretary, Tom Porter the finance officer and lastly our events coordinator, Yvonne Mulholland, BEM who arranges all of our events and the administration for the veterans selected to attend the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace and the Christmas Party at St James Palace and we are extremely grateful for the amount of time that she spends on making all of the events a success. I am also grateful to our general committee members for all of the support and amount of time that they give us at events throughout the year and to welcome 2 new 

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committee members, Mr Alan McCullough who will take up the role as our webmaster and Ms Lorna Smyth who will take up the role as our social media platforms coordinator and both of them will work closely with Ms Janette Loughlin from the NIVSO. 

As I stated in my opening paragraph this has been a challenging year for us in many ways, we still have post Covid fallout with some of the older veterans still reticent to take part in events at large public venues. Other risks that we have identified are the cost of living increases in heating, lighting etc coupled with food inflation are all impacting on us and the association has noted a sharp increase in the costs of function room hire rates and the overall costs for a 2 course lunch and are here to stay. We have also noted a small dip in sponsorship. A full review of our finances is listed in our annual report. 

I would like to thank all of our sponsors listed in the financial statement of our annual report for the continued support that they provide for us and hopefully this will continue over the coming years. In particular, we thank the UDR Benevolent Fund, Leopardstown Park Hospital Trust, Dean of Belfast, Santa Sit Out Appeal, Mr Chris Box, Managing Director of Hydrocert Filtration who cover the costs of transport for our London trips, 74 Regt RE and Lastly to Mr David French of Reid and Black Solicitors, Belfast in addition to the many veterans who have supported us in this FY who are listed in the main financial report. 

Quite simply, we cannot operate in isolation and we are grateful for the support that we receive from a variety of organisations AAVS, Blind Veterans, BLESMA, SSAFA NI, RBL NI, Somme Nursing Home, Veteran Commissioners secretariat, Northern Ireland Veterans Support Office staff, Liz Browne, Fiona Sinclair and Janette Loughlin, UDR and R IRISH Regimental Associations and lastly the newly formed Veterans Welfare Service (Northern Ireland) and we hope to strengthen these bonds over the coming years. 

_Ne Obliviscarris._ 

**Mr B Higgins BEM, Chairman The Not Forgotten Association Northern Ireland** Ben Higgins 

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## **Activities Report** 

Thankfully, despite Covid 19 virus pandemic still with us at a lower level, and with the assistance of vaccines and our brave NHS, we managed to organise or participate in a small range of events which are listed below. 

## **MAY 2022** 

**AGM** Our calendar of events began on **Thursday 5th May 2022** with the Annual General Meeting in the Somme Nursing Home. We were especially pleased to have our President The Duke of Abercorn KG, David Cowley OBE National Chairman of The Not Forgotten, London. As our guest speaker, we were honoured to have the Veterans Commissioner, Mr Danny Kinahan, give a presentation and we congratulate him on an extension of his role for the next 3 years, and look forward to working with him and his secretariat. 

At the AGM our President presented Certificates of Appreciation to: 

## **Mr D Keith TD        Mr R Morrow TD** 


PC award to Mr D Keith TD 


PC award to Mr B Morrow TD 

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Mr Alan Hailes receives a retirement gift on his departure from his Volunteer role after 30yrs sterling service. 

We also presented the outgoing 

Chairman, John Davies MBE, with a few bottles of wine to enjoy his easier life as a NFA NI Vice President.  John, who has been a volunteer since 1992, became Chairman in 2014 and stood down from the role after eight years of sterling service. 

Antrim Roadshow **7th May:** Thankfully after a two year delay due to Covid pandemic, we finally got our Lunch 

Roadshow event in Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim with a lunch for fifty disabled veterans and their carers. After a lovely meal we were entertained by Magician Paul Gomac and Piper Francis Strain, and ending with a raffle which had an Amazon Ipad as the top prize. A very successful event where a range of Tri Service veterans and their carers enjoyed a lovely lunch meeting up with old acquaintances and making new friends. 

Royal Garden Party **12th May:** A small group of NI beneficiaries with two escorts, enjoyed a few days in London participating in the Not Forgotten Royal Garden Party where HRH The Princess Royal was in attendance. Thankfully a bright dry day and many celebrities for our veterans to meet. 


Summer RP in Buckingham Palace 

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## **JUNE 2022** 

On **Sunday 5th June** Belfast City Council offered us a complimentary table of 8 at their Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Community Lunch held in the City Hall, Belfast.  The invite was for ‘representatives of all levels of our organisation’ therefore some Committee members and beneficiaries attended this special event. 

## **20th June:** Mr John 


Mateer MBE MA and Mr Tom Porter represented us at the Flag Raising Ceremony in the Civic Centre, Lisburn to honour our veterans as part of Armed Forces Week. 


Armed Forces Day with the Mayor 

## **JULY 2022** 

Two Committee members represented us at the Somme Memorial Service in City Hall, Belfast. Mr John Mateer MBE MA and Mr Bobby Morrow TD. 

## **AUGUST 2022** 

On **Saturday 13th August** we celebrated Founders Day in the Malone Lodge Hotel, Belfast with a finger buffet and a brief talk by Robbie Butler MLA, plus entertainment by Sammy O and Piper Mark Smith. 

## **SEPTEMBER 2022** 

**Saturday 2nd:** We provided the residents and carers of the Somme Nursing Home with matinee show tickets for the Belfast Tattoo. 

**Friday 8th:** The world received the devastating news that Queen Elizabeth II had passed away. Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her death.  She was Queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and was Head of State of 15 realms at the time of her death. Her reign of 70yrs and 214 days was the longest of any British Monarch, and the longest verified 

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Co Tyrone Drive In concert 2022 - entertainers 

London Xmas RP in St James’s Palace 

Local Xmas party - Somme Nursing Home Residents Mr & Mrs Doherty - oldest veteran at the local Xmas party 

of any female monarch in history. A letter of condolence was sent to our Patron on the loss of her beloved mother. 





**Thursday 21st September:** Our annual Drive In concert was held at Baronscourt, courtesy of our President, the Duke of Abercorn.  Another wonderful event with approximately 60 in attendance. We enjoyed a hog roast with salad, traybakes and refreshments; Singo bingo and King & Queen games, with entertainment by Annie Riley and her team of entertainers which included Tribute Acts Freddie Mercury and the most popular tribute Act on the day was Cher who was adored by many, particularly the males in the audience ! 

Our President and Richard Walker OBE, the new CEO of Not Forgotten London, were presented with Blackthorns containing a Not Forgotten badge in the handle. 

Our sincere thanks to Rosie Thompson and her Team for organising and bringing the event over to Ireland and to our President for allowing us to use part of his distinguished estate.  While in Ireland the NF London team also did concerts in the Somme NH and Leopardstown Park Hospital Trust in Dublin. 

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## **NOVEMBER 2022** 

As always, we had representatives attend and lay a wreath at the Opening Ceremony of the Field of Remembrance, in the City Hall, Belfast (Mr Bobby Morrow & Mrs Joan McCabe). 

## **DECEMBER 2022** 

A small group of 5 beneficiaries escorted by Tom Porter, travelled to London on the last day of November for the Royal Christmas Tea Party in St James’s Palace on **1st December 2022** . 

Then on **Saturday 3rd December** we held our local Christmas Party in Shandon Park Golf Club, Belfast for 96 veterans/carers and WIS personnel, with Special Guest, Mrs Joy Guthrie, Trustee of Leopardstown Park Hospital Trust and some residents/staff of the Somme Nursing Home. Both Christmas parties were very successful and ended the year on a high. 

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## **FEBRUARY 2023** 

Dean’s Christmas Sit Out – We were delighted to be a beneficiary of the very successful Community collection during December, and our Treasurer attended St Anne’s for the Cheque Presentation. 

**Saturday 25th:** Cookstown Lunch and roadshow in the Royal Hotel for forty tri service veterans/carers.  David Currie of Stella Voice, entertained us singing and playing the keyboard. A very successful event and probably the best lunch we have ever experienced in a beautifully decorative function room. 


Cookstown Luncheon - Bobby Gillespie, NIVSO Veteran Champion Coordinator addressing the attendees 

## **MARCH 2023** 

- 9th Executive meeting 

- 11th Talk to KOSB Association, Holywood 

- 15th FiMT/NIVCO Conference In Tullyglass Hotel, Ballymena 

- 23rd Full Committee meeting 

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## **Bereavements** 


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**THE ‘NOT FORGOTTEN’ ASSOCIATION NORTHERN IRELAND** 

Registered Charity: NIC 100602 

## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE** 

for year ended 31 March 2023 

|**INCOME**<br>**2022/23**<br>**Bank B/Fwd**<br>£22,029.00<br>Donations<br>9,737.60<br>Roadshows<br>1,325.20<br>Bank Interest<br>27.95<br>**£33,120.15**|**EXPENDITURE**<br>**2022/23**<br>Roadshows<br>6,552.60<br>St. James Palace<br>2,034.00<br>Royal Garden Party<br>1,865.70<br>Admin Expenses<br>430.26<br>Somme Nursing Home 400.00<br>Committee Expenses<br>356.75<br>AGM Brochures<br>345.00<br>Belfast Military Tattoo<br>205.50<br>Wreaths<br>71.00<br>Bank Charges<br>34.05<br>**Balance**<br>**c/fwd 22/23**<br>20,825.29<br>**£33,120.15**|
|---|---|



In my opinion the accounts for The Not Forgotten Association (Northern Ireland) 2022/23 are drawn up to exhibit a true and accurate view of the Fund’s affairs according to the best of the information and explanations given and as shown by the books of The Not Forgotten Association (Northern Ireland). 

Signed: 

Mr T B Porter, Honorary, Treasurer Date: 3rd April, 2023 

I have examined the receipts and payments and confirm the Income and Expenditure Statement is a true record of these accounts. 

Signed: Mr David Keith, Auditor Date: 3rd April, 2023 

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## **Appreciation** 

Our sincere thanks to the following who are some of the contributors supporting us during 2022/23, allowing us to meet our purpose in offering “comfort, cheer and entertainment” to our Tri Service beneficiaries which includes the WIS of the Armed Forces, BLESMA and Blind Veterans: 

The Armed Forces Covenant Scheme Hydrocet Filteration 

St Anne’s Cathedral – Dean’s Sit Out Christmas Appeal 

Bereavement Donations – The Late D Robertson 

The Ulster Defence Regiment Benevolent Fund 

The RE Assoc (74 Engineer Regiment) 

The Leopardstown Park Hospital Trust 

Reid & Black, Solicitors 

Mr D Keith TD 

Mr P Rodgers & Friends 

Mr K Boyd 

Mrs S Faloon Mr T Foster 

Mr & Mrs A Hailes Mrs S Frew 

Ms A Mulholland 

We would also like to acknowledge our appreciation for the support given to us by the following: 

The NI War SSAFA NI Memorial Council NIVCO The Somme NIVSO Nursing Home AAVS RBL NI 

The UDR/R Irish Aftercare 

Also, a huge thanks to all those veterans and organisations who have supported us with the provision of Raffle prizes at our functions, and to those who came along and entertained us. 

## **Supporting NFA NI** 

If you would like to support our Association’s work through a financial donation or sponsorship, please speak to our Treasurer, Mr Tom Porter. 

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## **Tribute to…** 


**The Late Bridget (Betty) Rachel McMurray MBE (1925-2022)** 

Sadly our new year began on a very sad note with the news that our Vice President Betty McMurray MBE had passed away on the last day of December 2022.  At the age of 97yrs, Betty died in Grange Nursing Home in Hedge End, Southampton where she had spent the last five years of her life. 

Betty was born to Justin & Maggie Friel in Londonderry, the eldest of three siblings, Molly and Harry.  On 10th April 1950 Betty married Wilfred Rodney “Mac” McMurray and together they had three children, Peter, Pat and Jane.  Sadly, Betty was predeceased by her husband in 1977 and her son in 2017. Mac was a former RE Army Officer and a civilian employee with the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), and Peter her son, was also Army, and a Volunteer with The Not Forgotten in London. 

Betty had been with the NFA NI for around 32 years and held the position of Secretary and Events organiser for those years.  She represented the NFA NI at various events in NI and the mainland. She worked closely with the various local Service organisations such as The Burma Star Assoc, the Disabled Ex Servicemen’s Assoc, the RAF, the RN, and Disability Action on trips to the Edinburgh Tattoo. 

In the 1990s Betty was awarded an MBE for her Service to the NFA NI and then in 2015 awarded The NF National Certificate of Commendation for her total dedication and tireless work on behalf of beneficiaries in The Not Forgotten. 

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