Parents’ Night hears of 60th anniversary success

Club Secretary Christopher Gill presented the Annual Report for the club and told those present of activities and achievements throughout what had proved to be a very busy past year.

Notable among these was the ongoing successes of members in YFCU competitions, fundraising activities in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research and the dinner-dance last November to celebrate the club’s 60th Anniversary. A special word of congratulations went to Alexander Sleator who was named Most Efficient Club Leader in County Down, a well deserved recognition for his past three years’ service in this role.

Nicholas Parker presented a photo slideshow capturing a glimpse of life in Hillhall YFC.

The presentation of the prizes and awards followed with Rebekah Dunne being named Best New Member. Philip Poots won the President’s Cup for Public Speaking for another year and Molly Simpson and Alexander Sleator did particularly well with several trophies. Club Patron (and incoming President) Andrew Simpson (Senior) congratulated all the members on their successes and praised the club for its efforts throughout its anniversary year.

Musical interludes throughout the evening were performed by Philip Poots who sang Molly Malone, Rhinestone Cowboy and When I’m Cleaning Windows.

Comic sketches followed with Robert Preshaw playing a bewildered cosmetic surgeon who, with the help of his receptionist (Michael Porter), had to figure out the odd requests of his country clients. As it transpired placing an advertisement in the wrong newspaper was responsible for Christopher Gill, Andrew Simpson and Christine Sloan enquiring about unusual image enhancement procedures for their livestock. Next followed the ‘World’s Ugliest Man’ in which Rory Hulatt presented Robert Whitten to the crowd with the result being girls running screaming in all directions. Finally, Alexander Sleator acted as an exasperated telephone operator in a motor recovery firm who just couldn’t understand precisely where Molly Simpson had broken down: Watt Street, Ware.

One of the highlights of the evening was a video parodying the McCulla Arctic Challenge, an event run in conjunction with the YFCU and McCulla (Ireland) Ltd. the previous year. Hillhall members had been involved in the day and after thoroughly enjoying it, some decided to produce a movie ‘prequel’. Michael Porter set out to give young recruits hints and tips on how to succeed in HGV driving and let everyone in on some of Ice-Road Andy’s most closely guarded secrets. The video can be found on YouTube by searching ‘McCulla Arctic Challenge Training Manual’.

The evening concluded with supper and left members eagerly anticipating the summer programme of events.