Glarryford Young Farmers dedicate hall as heartfelt tribute to Club stalwarts

The dedication on February 10 of the building in memory of James A and Rita Gregg MBE acknowledged the couple’s outstanding contribution to Glarryford YFC from its inception to their passing.

In the difficult war years Rev Robert Lennox gave his blessing for the young people of the locality to meet in Clough Church Hall to socialise and learn about rural life and, in 1943, Glarryford Young Farmers Club was born and James A was one of the founding members.

James took part in the Public Speaking competitions and in 1945 represented the club at the Northern Ireland finals. But it was as a dairy judge that he excelled.

He reached the Northern Ireland dairy finals every year except one and in his final year of competing, he was on the team that won the Northern Whig trophy – Glarryford’s first dairy cup.

James also won a competition which was similar to the Ulster Young Farmer competition and as a result a photographer came out to the farm to take his photo for the Young Farmers’ magazine – a rare occasion in the middle of last century!

Early on Mrs Lennox started the club on the drama trail and James was involved there too. Indeed from 1950 to 1952 James was the Club Leader and shared the position in 1953.

Before his competition years ended he started coaching Dairy judging to encourage the younger members and he continued to do so for over 30 years. - Interestingly, the next Northern Ireland Dairy cup to come to Glarryford was won by James’ daughter Audrey and the next by his son Robert.

James knew his dairy cows and if James placed a ring ABYX, you could be sure that was correct. If you went into James without much knowledge of how to give your reasons, James was quietly able to put you straight and give you the expertise to do better next time. Little wonder, the television series ‘A Rare Breed’ on a Monday night is featuring the herd which James spent his working life developing.

In 1953 Glarryford YFC bought Glarryford Creamery which was renovated and opened in 1961 as Glarryford Farmers’ Hall. From the opening of the main hall until his passing, James was a member of the hall committee – a committee which had the foresight to build on the minor hall in 1975 and maintain the halls to the present standard – no mean task when you think of the financial cost involved.

There is no doubt that part of the success of Glarryford YFC is due to the fact that the Club have their own facilities and that is in no small measure due to stalwarts like the Greggs.

James was the 3rd Patron of the Club and in that role he gave the club much support and encouragement. On his own James was a force to be reckoned with, but as a couple they supported each other in their work for the club

Rita Stewart joined Glarryford Young Farmers’ Club in September 1953 and within a year became Secretary, a position which she held for 4 years. Rita loved Public Speaking and reached the county and Northern Ireland finals on numerous occasions.

Rita enjoyed Young Farmer competitions and in the late 1950’s started to coach Public Speaking and Group Debating. On one occasion she brought Mr William Finney (who was known as the Father of the Public Speaking Competition) to Glarryford to make sure that she was doing the job right. On another occasion the group debating subject was about the EU or Common Market as it was known in those days. Not feeling confident with the subject, Rita brought an MP to a Glarryford Practice so that the competitors would get the best chance. Of course many members also competed in the Road Safety Public Speaking Competition and Rita coached them for that.

But Rita’s first love was drama and whether it was a sketch she wrote for Parents’ Night, a 1 Act play or 3 Act – Rita was in her element.

Rita would read a dozen plays just to get the right one for Glarryford and over the last number of years, she and Mervyn spent their winter nights at Glarryford preparing the cast for their opening performances in January, their tour of the 6 counties and then the adjudication and final nights at the end of March.

But Rita didn’t just reach January and then send the cast to the 6 counties on their own – No, James and Rita went to most performances – even if it was in the back of beyond.

Now how many producers do you know, who convert their attic into a full scale wardrobe of costumes for any and every occasion? Not only did Rita dress the players but people came from near and far to borrow some of Rita’s attic costumes. Rita and Mervyn gained great success for their 3 Act plays winning best producers, best set, best play, best actor and best actress on many occasions.

In 1978 Glarryford Junior YFC was formed and in 1983 Rita became their President, a position she rightly held until her passing. Rita was a hands on President, at practically every club meeting and providing the advice and support that young teenagers needed. She encouraged members’ participation in competitions, knowing that, that way they would get the most out of the organisation. She particularly loved and encouraged Floral Art and the Choir and she and her sister Rosemary would be there at most Choir Competitions.

Rita’s treasure hunts were legendary. She and James would comb the roads around Glarryford to produce a good hunt so that the Junior Club would have funds for the rest of the year.

Nowadays we talk about people multi-tasking but Rita was the embodiment of multi-tasking. Not only was she giving 2/3 nights a week to Glarryford but she was also training the GB for Public Speaking, doing Public Speaking in the WI, writing a sketch for the PW and teaching Sunday School.

Not surprisingly, Glarryford members were thrilled when Rita was honoured by the Queen with an MBE for services to the young.

At the recent dedication ceremony, William Wilson, current President of the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, stated how James and Rita were not just Glarryford supporters but stalwarts of the association. They both were involved in judging in the wider area and their support of the movement was invaluable.

To identify the newly named hall a plaque was revealed by Joan Sterritt (nee Gregg), Robert Gregg and Wallace Gregg.

Memorabilia of how they had contributed to Glarryford YFC during their lifetime was displayed and refreshments were served during the evening which also raised £400 for Chest, Heart and Stroke.