Tannagh Hill Rural Development Associatlon Report of the Chalr, year, May 2023 to April 2024 We meet tonight for our A.G.M. after our first full year of activity after the Lockdown. The Wednesday Club continues to be the mainstay of the association, so it is good to see that nonnality has returned fully after the Lockdown period. In May saw the first Bus Trip we have organised since the lockdown. This was a shorter and closer to home trip than usual for us. It was to Brownlow House, Lurgan for a very informative tour of the House by David Martin, followed by a Buffet Lunch provided by the in-house Caterers. After Brownlow House there was time for a few hours shopping in Rushmere Shopping Centre, Craigavon. In September was rnore like our usual Bus Trip. Our first stop was at the Ulster Scots Centre, Reivers House in Kilkeel where we heard about their work in the Kilkeel area and were entertained to some Highland dancing, fifing and lambeg drumming. Then it was onto a breezy but dry Newcastle for the afternoon. Our very enjoyable Evening meal was provided by Warrenpoint Golf Club. The Club meetings for the season started in October with Sarah Milsop from Armagh County Museum giving us a reminiscence session using some old household items which some members had some memory of using. In November we had Stanley Burrows show old photographs of Armagh shops. Again, members could see the changes that time has brought to Armagh.
OurAnnual Carol Service was held in the Orange Hall on Sunday afternoon the 11 th December. Revd Bill Atkins officiated as Revd Matthew Hagan, Chaplin to the Hospice was unable to attend. Our best ever collection for the Southern Area Hospice saw the Association being able to fomard a cheque to the Hospice for £750. Our December Club meeting took the fomi of a soup lunch with dessert. The food was supplied by Diamond catering in Aughnacloy but served by the members themselves. We had the unusual format of two different speakers after the Lunch. Craig Neville from the uls.ter Scots Agency spoke on Lambeg drum making and John Proctor from Portadown spoke on stamp collecting and showed some of his extensive collection. In January was our four course New Year Dinner, supplied and served by Diamond Catering Aughnacloy which was enjoyed by all present. After dinner entertainment was by Sharon Whitcroft. In February we had a very interesting and informative speaker, local man Mark Dougan who is a Paramedic. Mark told us about his training and what he could encounter on duty any day. He told us that having to deliver a baby was the scariest duty he has ever had to perform. In March our speaker was the recently installed Rector of the Parishes of Tynan, Aghavilly and Middletown, Revd Derek Kerr who is a mind of information on the Royal Family. His talk was both informative and witty. He also brought some of his Royal memorabilia which members enjoyed seeing up close.
Our final meeting of the season was in April where we again had a soup and desert lunch served by the members. Our speaker was no stranger to the Club, Stephanie Rock, the Senior Citizen Officer from A.B.C. Council. Stephanie brought us up to date with the Councils strategy for older people in the Council area. During the year the Association obtained funding from; The Ulster Scots Agency DAERA C.AC.D. Markethill, re the Cross Border Circle of Learning programme of workshops which Ivan and Roy attended. On a sad note we lost one of our long standing club member's when Cilla Jackson passed away in February after a short illness. Once again l as Chair and on behalf of the committee would like to thank the staff of C.A.C.D, Markethill for all their help and advice throughout the year which we could not do without. Finally, a word of thanks to all of the committee who work for the benefit of the association and particularly those who work closely with the Wednesday Club. Ladies and Gentlemen it gives me great pleasure to present this report. Ivan White, Chalr, Tannagh Hill Rural Development Associatlon. Wednesday 12th June 2024.