Pictures from Mid Ulster BB's 70th annual camp at a sunny Prestatyn in North Wales

Since the first camp in 1955, the Battalion has visited some twenty-two camp sites throughout the United Kingdom, as well as in Ireland and Guernsey in the Channel Islands.

Prestatyn has been the most frequently visited site, and this year was the sixteenth time to camp on the well-situated and well- equipped site.

The main party arrived in the afternoon on Saturday, July 18, and a total of over 60 boys, officers and friends enjoyed a marvellous week’s fun and fellowship with the addition of some very good weather.

Eight companies from the Battalion were represented: 1st Aughnacloy & Ballymagrane, 1st Caledon, 1st Castlecaulfield, 1st Castledawson, 1st Cookstown, 1st Culnady, 1st Magherafelt, and 1st Moneymore. They were again delighted to be accompanied by two members from the 1st Tamlaght O’Crilly Company.

This year saw one of the campers, Walter Mullan from 1st Stewartstown, create what is most likely to be an unequalled achievement. Walter has attended every one of the Battalion’s 70 successive camps since 1955, the only years missed being 2020 and 2021 due to the global pandemic. To acknowledge this remarkable achievement, a gift was presented to Walter by the C.O., Gordon Watterson, and we all enjoyed a celebratory cake.

The various inter-tent competitions were all taken seriously, although great sportsmanship was evident throughout the week.

The prestigious Tent Inspection Competition resulted in a very high standard all week. Tent A emerged as eventual winners and tent commander Harry Coalter (1st Caledon) collected the J.I. McMenemy shield which was presented by Gordon Watterson. The other tent members were Luke Fulton (1st Castledawson), Rory Irvine (1st Magherafelt), Leo Allen (1st Magherafelt), Daniel Ferguson (1st Cookstown) and Sam Agnew (1st Caledon).

Tent A also won the football competition, where the personalities were Luke Graham (1st Magherafelt) and Adam Bolton (1st Culnady). These awards were presented by Chloe Farley.

The Volleyball competition was won by Tent C under the command of Kyle Lennox (1st Moneymore). The other victorious members were Thomas Hutchinson (1st Magherafelt), Andrew Trimble (1st Castlecaulfield), Luke Graham (1st Magherafelt), and Charlie Wilson (1st Caledon). The Volleyball personalities were Wiktor Przybsz (1st Magherafelt) and Jack Hanthorn (1st Caledon), and the awards were presented by Helen Farley.

Tent B under the command of Jake Chambers (1st Moneymore) won the Table Tennis competition. The other tent members were Isaiah McElnea (1st Aughnacloy & Ballymagrane), Robin McClay (1st Magherafelt), Daniel Hood (1st Magherafelt), Ryan Tener (1st Castlecaulfield) and Jack Brown (1st Caledon). The Table Tennis personalities were Matthew Glasgow (1st Magherafelt) and William Eakin (1st Caledon), with the awards being presented by Helen Farley.

The best Orderly Tent this year was Tent D led by Andrew Lennox (1st Moneymore). The other tent members were Jack Kelso (1st Tamlaght O’Crilly), Harry Davidson (1st Magherafelt), Lee Tener (1st Castlecaulfield),

Danny McDonald (1st Aughnacloy & Ballymagrane), and Wiktor Przybsz (1st Magherafelt). The best individual orderlies were deemed to be Sam Davidson (1 st Magherafelt) and Isaiah McElnea (1st Aughnacloy & Ballymagrane) and the awards were presented by Lynn Mullan.