Junior bows out of office at annual meeting

Junior McCrum performed his last civic duties as Chairman of Banbridge District Council last week, a role he described as being ‘a wonderful adventure’.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Jun 2013, 13:54 BST
Banbridge District Council Chairman Cllr Junior McCrum gives a timely reminder of the Chairman's Charity Concert in Banbridge Leisure Centre on 27th April in aid of the Mandeville Unit, Craigavon Area Hospital © Edward Byrne Photography INBL14-208EBBanbridge District Council Chairman Cllr Junior McCrum gives a timely reminder of the Chairman's Charity Concert in Banbridge Leisure Centre on 27th April in aid of the Mandeville Unit, Craigavon Area Hospital © Edward Byrne Photography INBL14-208EB
Banbridge District Council Chairman Cllr Junior McCrum gives a timely reminder of the Chairman's Charity Concert in Banbridge Leisure Centre on 27th April in aid of the Mandeville Unit, Craigavon Area Hospital © Edward Byrne Photography INBL14-208EB

Speaking at the council’s AGM on Friday, Councillor McCrum listed some of his highlights in office and thanked his wife and family for their support.

“Following my election as Chairman of Council on 15 June last year, I embarked on a truly rewarding, memorable and wonderful adventure,” said the DUP councillor.

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“It has been my great honour and privilege to represent the Banbridge district at so great a variety of engagements that I couldn’t begin to list them all.

“My own personal highlights have included Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations in Enniskillen and also the Golden Jubilee Garden Party at Stormont, the Cuban Olympic boxing team showcase event in July and of course the Chairman’s Charity Concert in April, which I’m pleased to report has so far raised over £4,000 for the Mandeville Unit at Craigavon Area Hospital.

“Being Chairman has allowed me the opportunity and pleasure of meeting numerous community groups and many wonderful local people who give so willingly of their time and effort to make a real difference in the Banbridge district.

“These tirelessly hard-working people go largely unrecognised and I feel it is important to publicly acknowledge and praise their contribution to our community.”

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Councillor McCrum said that he was “ honoured” to have been invited to attend and take part in a huge variety of local events, including schools’ speech nights, sponsored walks, litter-picks, teddy-bears’ picnics, coffee mornings, community and sporting awards presentations, to name but a few. He also congratulated three citizens of the district on reaching 100 years old and a local couple on their Diamond Wedding Anniversary.

He added, “Now, as my term of office draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks to my Vice-Chairman, Councillor Ingram, fellow Councillors, the Chief Executive and his staff for the immense help and support offered by each and every one, which has undoubtedly made my year in office such a pleasurable one.

“Finally, I would like to congratulate our incoming Council Chairman and Vice-Chairman on their election and to wish them both a very successful and enjoyable year in office.

Councillor McCrum opened his speech with two Psalms. Psalm 121 v 1-8: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”

Psalm 92 v 1: “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

Related topics:CouncilElizabeth II