District Lodge elects officers

FOR the ninth successive year James McCorkell has been elected to serve as the Worshipful District Master of Limavady District LOL No6.

He was returned to the post at the quarterly meeting of Limavady District Loyal Orange Lodge, which was held in Limavady Orange Hall on Thursday evening last, January 20, under the auspices of Limavady Purple Heroes LOL 657, and there was an excellent turnout of members for the first meeting of the New Year.

Those present were welcomed to the meeting by WDM McCorkell and Bro Stuart Scott, Deputy Master of the host Lodge.

Special words of welcome were extended to Wor Bro George Duddy, Deputy County Master, County Londonderry Grand Orange Lodge, Wor Bro Ivan Kelly, Past County Grand Master, County Londonderry, Wor Bro Rev John Noble, Deputy City Grand Chaplain, City of Londonderry Grand Orange Lodge, and visitors from Blaugh LOL 256, Coleraine District LOL No.2 and Macosquin LOL 310, Macosquin District LOL No.8.

Congratulations

A number of items of business were dealt with including a report on the successful dinner held in the Radisson Hotel on November 19. Reference was also made to the Grand Lodge meeting held in Ballykelly earlier in the month and the congratulations were extended to Rt Wor Bro Rev Alistair Smyth, of LOL 984, on his election to the post of Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, as well as to WDM McCorkell on his election to the post of Assistant Deputy Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.

members were informed that Dungiven LOL 2036 had announced plans to mark their 50th Anniversary of the formation of the Lodge.

Following the conclusion of the business the WDM asked Wor Bro Ivan Kelly to conduct the election of officers, assisted by Wor Bro George Duddy.

The following officers were installed: WDM, Wor Bro James McCorkell, LOL 997; Deputy DM, Wor Bro Mark Smyth, LOL 984; Secretary, Wor Bro Jonathan Holmes, LOL 650; Treasurer, Wor Bro Keith Thompson, LOL 2036; Lay Chaplain, Wor Bro David Carmichael, LOL 2036.

Committee: Wor Bro Ernie Clyde, LOL984; Bro Alan McAleese, LOL 656; Bro Roy Nicholl, LOL 254; Bro Oliver Martin, LOL 255, and Bro Mark Robinson, LOL 905.

The new DDM is a nephew of the new Deputy Grand Master of Ireland, Rev Alistair Smyth.

Thanks

Upon conclusion of the installation of officers, Wor Bro Kelly thanked the Brethren for their invitation to conduct the installation and brought greetings from Macosquin District LOL No8 and Articlave LOL 1017, while Wor Bro George Duddy also thanked the District for their invitation and brought greetings from County Londonderry Grand Lodge, Coleraine District LOL No.2 and Blaugh LOL 256.

Presentations were made to Bro David Carmichael who had stepped down as Deputy District Master and Bro Cuthbert McKeegan who had served as District Secretary for 20 years.

There being no other business the WDM Bro McCorkell brought the meeting to a close after which those present were treated to an excellent supper by the Brethren and Ladies of LOL 657.

This year marks the 200th Anniversary of Limavady District Lodge and the Brethren will be celebrating this by, among other things, holding a District Awards Night in October.

This year will also see most major demonstrations being hosted in Limavady, including the Apprentice Boys of Derry Easter Monday demonstration, the North Londonderry Twelfth demonstration and the County Londonderry Black Saturday demonstration.