Members of the Pride of Glenavy Accordion Band outside Glenavy Orange Hall, July 12 1983. Back Row - Left to right - Janet Haddock, Ian Sloan, Sidney Sloan, Gordon McClay, Ivan Harbinson, George Henry, Trevor Sloan, Trevor Harbinson, Lorraine Haddock. Middle Row - Left to right - Gail Morgan, Elizabeth Bell, Arlene McClay, Adeline Lowry, Carol Harris, Avril Lowry, Noreen Sloan, Elma Brown, Angela Sloan. Front Row - Left to right - Aaron Harbinson, Alison Close, Jacqueline Scott, Vivien McClurg, Fiona Hamill, Avril Harbinson, Colin Johnston.

THE Pride of Glenavy Accordion Band will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary with a special dinner for current and past members in Brownlow House, Lurgan on Friday May 2.

It will certainly be a well deserved celebration as the band has managed to survive a half century of life's up and downs, and over those 50 years has built a legacy that cannot be measured in material possessions, but rather the friendship and fellowship that has been created.

The band was formed when members of the Pride of Glenavy LOL 618 decided to get together to form an Accordion Band and with the help of the Ladies Committee a number of fund raising events were held in order to raise some money to

buy instruments. They then went on to parade on the 12th of July that year wearing second hand uniforms. The Band has had numerous conductors over the years including, Bob Matthews, Jim McClurg, Vivien McCullough, Robert Aikenhead, George Usher and the present day conductor Adam Wilkinson.

Anyone wishing to attend the anniversary dinner, which is for past and present members, both old and young, can contact Alison Bell on 07809 115263, Jennifer Kennedy on 07882 093589 or Vivien McCullough on 07718 160578 to find out more information about tickets. Anyone interested in learning the accordion or joing the band can attend practice every Monday night from 8.00pm to 10.00pm.

Ulster Star
25/04/2008