Kiltwalk - Support The Magnificent Seven!
www.justgiving.com/homefundkiltwalk2023
There is no doubt that the “Orange Family” is like any other family. We are not perfect, we don’t always agree, we might live in different parts of the world, but like most families, when the “chips” are down, we are the first ones to help and encourage each other.
Friendships are made between our members across United Kingdom and indeed the World and between Ulster and Scotland the links are particularly strong. So many friends exists between Lodges, and District Lodges, across County Grand Lodges and beyond.
Sons of Conquerors L.O.L. 162 in City of Glasgow are one such lodge. As well as having bonds of friendship with other lodges in Scotland they have developed a particularly strong bond with Banbridge District in County Down, and some of its member lodges.
Brethren from L.O.L. 162 and members from Banbridge have shared a friendship that has lasted for many, many years. They have supported each other through all the things that families do. They have shared the happiness in new babies and weddings as well as the sadness and struggles of deep loss and they have shared so many memorial occasions and anniversaries as Orange Brothers. L.O.L. 162 and Banbridge District are well known for their fundraising for charitable efforts and this has included many joint ventures
Brother Colin Girvan from L.O.L.162 in Glasgow has been mad enough, once again to sign up for the gruelling 23 mile Glasgow Kiltwalk. Last year Colin found this venture to say the least “challenging” but along with his son Grant they made it to the end of the road, vowing “never again”.
Never say never, unbeknown to Colin some of his good friends from Banbridge in County Down had decided he was not to be let off the hook.
Solidarity, oh yes, 7 Brothers from within the lodges in Banbridge have registered to participate in this year’s Glasgow Kiltwalk to help raise awareness and funds for our own Scottish Orange Home Fund. Colin has been well and truly shamed into registering for this year’s event. Colin will not only be joined once again by his son Grant who is the current Worthy Master of L.O.L. 162 and 10 other members from across Scotland as well as the Magnificent 7 from County Down, Brothers David Miniss, Stuart Magill, Colin Adamson, Bob Wharton, Kenny McMahon, John McAdam and David Watson.
We are delighted to have the Magnificent 7 join our Home Fund Team. With Captain Colin at the helm we hope to raise money that will enhance our 2020 Challenge to replace one of our current facilities for one that will enable us to offer holidays and respite breaks to those members who have mobility issues or suffer from some disabilities.
The Magnificent 7
Seven brethren from Banbridge, Co. Down are excited to be travelling over to Glasgow at the end of April to join with Scottish brethren from Sons of Conquerors LOL 162 to take part in the annual Glasgow Kiltwalk as part of the Scottish Orange Home Fund’s team.
The seven of them are no strangers to a challenge, they have been heavily involved in several joint ventures with LOL 162 over the past 17 years. In that time a total of over £170,000 has been raised for several local Scottish, Northern Irish and National charities.
The challenges date back to 2006 when a group of avid adventurers scaled Slieve Donard, the highest peak in Northern Ireland, while raising money for Orphans in Ghana.
Two years later we headed to Fort William to tackle Ben Nevis in aid of the Cancer Fund for Children charity. In 2010/2011 we undertook a huge one, managing to get a lambeg drum from Brixham in England, right up to Scotland where the drum visited many lodges before travelling across the Irish Sea to Carrickfergus where we set about carrying the drum from William’s Landing place to the site of the Battle of the Boyne.
A 100+ mile walk which was completed in just over 30 hours with all money raised going to Help for Heroes. 2014 seen us again collect for the same charity however the challenge this time was very different, we ditched the two feet and went on two wheels as the team cycled from John O’Groats to Lands End. After a three year break we decided to pull the hiking boots back on and this time it was the 4 Peaks Challenge which saw us scale the four highest peaks in four days. We were delighted to raise money on this occasion for the Northern Ireland Childrens Hospice.
Meet the Team –
David Miniss – A PM of Banbridge Bible & Crown Defenders LOL 423 (40 years), Davy is the backbone of the team and always to the forefront when organising and planning the trips. If you have an idea, Davey’s the man to make it happen.
Stuart Magill – The current WDM of Banbridge District LOL No. 7, has been a member of No Surrender LOL 20 (24 years) and has been involved in some huge challenges, no later than early January this year when he and 24 Brethren scaled Mount Kilimanjaro while raising over £280,000 for 4 local children’s cancer charities.
Colin Adamson – PM of Mullaglass LOL 117 (37 years) Colin had been an ever present on all the challenges above and also successfully scaled Kilimanjaro. Colin is without doubt the team motivator, with a never give up attitude.
Bob Wharton (23 years) a member of Benagh LOL 302, a committed bandsman for many years, this will be Bob’s first experience of a challenge of this nature.
Kenny McCahon – the wise head of the group, current treasurer of Whitehill LOL 258 a lodge he’s been a member of for 46 years. A regular at most challenges and at 63 years young was the oldest member of the Hiking for little Heroes group who completed Kilimanjaro.
John McAdam – A 25-year plus veteran of the institution, with service split between Magherally LOL 58 and Banbridge Bible & Crown Defenders LOL 423. John has been on most of the challenges and was pivotal on the Carrickfergus to the Boyne walk, when the team had a dip in morale in the early hours John along with Colin dragged everyone through the dark by jogging while carrying the drum, lifting spirits and onwards to the Boyne.
David Watson – A proud PM of Banbridge Bible & Crown Defenders LOL 423 (24 years), PDM of Banbridge District LOL No.7. David has been a major player in the majority of the challenges and is delighted to be heading to Glasgow to join the Home Fund team for the Kiltwalk 2023. The above information was hard to gleam from them and is only a fraction of their life stories and their contribution to the Orange Institution and the wider community.
Stuart was recently awarded a Special Merit Award, and David was the recipient of The Grand Master’s Award at the recent Grand Lodge of Ireland Awards Night. The Scottish Orange Home Fund are delighted in welcoming them to the team. Last year the Home Fund team consisted of 2, this year we are delighted to have 21 on board.
The Glasgow Kiltwalk takes part on Sunday 30th April and there’s still time to register. For further details contact:
scottishorangehomefund@gmail.com to donate
www.justgiving.com/homefundkiltwalk2023
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