DAVID SCOOPS GONG AT ORANGE ORDER AWARDS 2009 - Saturday
31 January 2009
A member of the Orange Order from Culmore - who has defied serious injury,
has received an award at this year's Orange Community Awards.
He is David Nutt, who was nominated by Colin Campbell from Newbuildings
Victoria LOL 1087, and the nomination was in recognition for continued dedication
to his Lodge.
David was involved in a serious car accident in the early 1990s which resulted
in him
being confined to a wheelchair and communicating via the use of an alphabet
card.
Despite this David regularly attends Ballyarnett Presbyterian Church and
his monthy lodge meetings. With the help of his friend, George Keys Jnr,
David has remained a very active member of his Lodge over the last 25 years
and the highlight of his term was as Worshipful Master when he brought his
lodge, Culmore True Blue LOL 1866 to Ayr in Scotland for The Twelfth.
He continues to be supported by George who takes him to his lodge meetings
each month.
More than 200 people attended the fourth annual Orange Community Awards,
in Coleraine Townhall on Saturday night.
The Grand Master, Robert Saulters, told the audience the awards were the
Orange Order's opportunity to thank people for their efforts to create a
better society.
"These awards are about recognising effort, commitment and dedication
to both the Orange Institution and the communities in which we live,"
he said.
"I want to congratulate everyone who was nominated for an award and
the winners of all the categories."
Among the main guests were the Culture Minister, Gregory Campbell, MP, MLA,
and the Mayor of Coleraine, Councillor David Barbour.
One of the main awards of the evening was the Best New Banner for 2008.
It was won by Spa LOL 620, Co. Down, for a banner depicting King William
of Orange on one side and the portrait of murdered lodge member Corporal
David Brian Brown, QGM, a dog handler with the Ulster Defence Regiment,
who was killed in May 1986 when searching for an IRA bomb in Kilkeel. The
banner was painted by William Magowan, of Garvagh.
The award was presented to lodge members and to the Corporal's widow, Mrs
Florence Brown.
Banbridge Bible and Crown Defenders LOL 423 were selected as the best charity
fund raising lodge. The lodge raised £1400 for Cancer Research and also
raised £7,200 for the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children by carrying
a lambeg drum to the top of Ben Nevis in Scotland.
The Individual Community Award went to James McClean of Carnlea Crimson
Banner LOL 961, Co. Antrim, for over 40 years service to his lodge and his
community. He is heavily involved in the credit union movement and has been
a lifelong member of High Kirk Presbyterian Church, where he has been an
elder since 1997. Mr McClean has many other active roles in various other
community organisations.
Source: Londonderry
Sentinel
