Past Members

Past Members Lunch held in Kill o’ the Grange Parish Centre on Saturday 22 October 2011.

Presentation to our new Vice Patrons AGM 3 September 2011

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The Past Members Association started in February 1963 with Representatives from 8 companies: -

• 1st Rutland Sq. (Abbey Presbyterian)
• 3rd North Strand Parish
• 4th St. Jude’s
• 5th Clontarf Presbyterian Church
• 8th Dublin Central Mission
• 10th St. George’s
• 12th St. Catherine’s
• 17th Mariners (Dun Laoghaire)

These eight are still represented today.

• 6th Holy Trinity Rathmines joined and then became 6th/7th (Charleston Rd Methodist)
• 14th Clontarf Parish still has a Past Members but not represented at present
• 16th St. Luke’s was represented for a number of years and glad to hear they are reforming.

The first thing they did was run a Bring & Buy Sale to raise some funds organised by Mrs Maisie Taylor (10th Co) in her own home. This became an Annual Event to raise funds for the Adelaide Hospital Society for many
years.

The main activities have been an Annual Dinner which was held for years in various hotels around Dublin and the Masonic Hall in Molesworth Street until 2006 when the cost of hotels was getting prohibitive as many of those who come are pensioners.

The Annual Advent Carol Service started in 1967 in St. George’s Parish Church the home of the 10th Dublin Co. and still continues today, held in various churches around the city.

In 1967 the Past Members’ prayer was introduced and said at our committee meetings:-

‘We commend to thy care, O Heavenly Father, all Past Members of the Girls’ Brigade.  Bless them we beseech Thee in their daily lives and grant that they may all learn to service Thee, and one another, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

The office of President was introduced in 1968 and was first held by Mrs Maisie Taylor, Past Member of the 10th Dublin Co. St. George’s.

Down the years the Past Members’ have helped the present Girls’ Brigade in the catering at functions like the Annual Sports Day and other activities.

In 1969 the Past Members held a Fashion Show in aid of St. Luke’s Cancer Research Fund.

In December 1996 Past Members took part in a musical melody on the Miss Millie Pemberton’s Centenary Show.

The Annual Dinner was changed to a Christmas Buffet in December 2007 by our current President Mrs Barbara Carson which was held in Holy Trinity Rathmines Parish Centre.  Each year since then the Christmas Buffet has taken place in Rathgar Presbyterian Church Hall.

Past Members Association Committee:

President: Mrs Joan Darling