Drumbeg Community Association

Drumbeg News

Volume 8 Issue 1 Spring 2011 Online Edition

After six and a half years of opposition we can finally report to you that we have received confirmation in a letter dated 28 April 2011, from Belfast City Council, that " the Council no longer has any interest in developing a cemetery at any location in the Drumbeg area."

This was a long campaign to achieve this result. At this time it would be remiss of me not to recognise the contribution made by the small group of our community who made up the opposition group. Richard, Robert and Sandra Abbott, Sean Gallagher, Roger and Irene MacWilliam and I suppose I should mention myself.

For the first couple of years this group met fortnightly in Bob Stewart's pub and we would wish to thank Mr Jack Gilmore who supplied us with coffee as we tried to work our way through this process.

We very much appreciated the support of our elected representatives in particular Jeffrey Donaldson MP and Trevor Lunn MLA. Jeffrey Donaldson has been unwavering in his support for us including raising our opposition to the proposal on the floor of the House of Commons.

When we started our campaign we set up a fighting fund and we will now be arranging to return the remainder of the funds to those who contributed. We hope to have this finalised by the time of the AGM at the end of October or early November when a comprehensive report will be made to the meeting on how we achieved the result and hopefully that all remaining funds have been returned.

DRUMBEG PLAYGROUP

Drumbeg Playschool is run by a local ex-primary school teacher. Now approaching the end of its second academic year, Drumbeg playschool has been delighted to welcome through its doors children from both the local and the wider Lisburn community.
The playschool offers structured pre-school education. It provides a high quality of learning for up to twenty four children of all backgrounds, abilities and beliefs from approximately two years and nine months.

The playschool runs five mornings a week, (term time only), and has three highly qualified staff who have many years of experience of working with children of all abilities.
Our aim at Drumbeg Playschool is to provide a safe, secure, stimulating and fun learning environment that extends from the home background. Our location provides a tranquil, bright, colourful and non-denominational environment for children to play, socialise, learn and prepare for school.
We are currently enrolling for the academic year 2011/12 and warmly invite you to come and look around. Be warned though, places are limited! For further information or to visit the playschool phone Ashley on 07715046226 or simply call in!

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Sunday 12th June
Time 11.00 am
Everyone in the community is very welcome.
Guest Speaker - Rev Chris Bennett
Chaplain to Titanic Quarter

EVENTS IN THE DRUMBEG AREA
At our annual AGM held on 4th November 2010 a new committee for the Drumbeg Residents’ Association was elected.
President - Beryl Dean.
Chair . Hugh Crookshanks
Vice Chair - Peter McBrien
Secretary - Robert Dunlop
Treasurer - Sue Wilton
Committee
Michael Shannon
Irene MacWilliam
Brain Marley
Alan Leckey
Brian Bloomfield
Margaret Hegarty
Tony Hegarty
Jane Steele
June Martin
Suzanne Reid
Brendan McClean
Elvira Tulip

Please feel free to approach any of them if there are community issues you would like them to take up.

DRA FUND RAISING
The Table Quiz night held last autumn was a great success and raised £400 for funds. The Rev. Devenney was a marvellous host and quizmaster. We hope to hold another this Autumn.
The Residents’ Association received two grants from Lisburn City Council to help with our activities.
A team from QUB asked a group of residents to take part in research on meat quality. Committee members happily took part and the group was paid £250 for participating.

ANNUAL SHOW
The Annual Show in September was opened by Dame Mary Peters who presented the awards. She posed with every award winner for a photo; these can be seen on our website, together with photos of some of the exhibits. The Crescent Jazz Band was greatly enjoyed. The entries for the baking and craft sections were exceptional however some sections were poorly supported. There are a few changes in the categories for the 2011 show.

SWITCH ON OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS



It was a bitterly cold night but very seasonal with all the snow but there was a good turn out for the carols and switch on of lights by Basil McCrea MLA. People then went into the hall and were entertained to singing by the local playgroup children. Santa Claus appeared after which there was soup and sausage rolls.

COFFEE MORNINGS
A coffee morning was held on 1st September with Irene MacWilliam bringing along some historical pieces for discussion.

22 people attended the December coffee morning in spite of the snowy and icy weather. Old unusual items were handed round for people to guess their purpose.

In February we had photos of old Drumbeg. Hugh brought along a Lisburn Star of 1962, which featured Drumbeg. You can read the article on our website.

For the March meeting a number of those present had brought along an old toy and explained to us why they meant so much to them.

Two members of the Neighbourhood Policing Unit came to our April morning and gave a short talk to those present.

We hope to resume the coffee morning s in October. Watch the website for date.

BULB PLANTING



On a grey morning in October about 30 residents and Lagan Valley Regional Volunteers gathered in the car park. They were given 1000 mixed daffodil bulbs to plant in the area. After the hard work and in some cases it really was hard work breaking through stony ground which was dumped after road works, the WI provided us with tea and coffee and wonderful home baking, scones, pancakes and a variety of buns and biscuits. Michael Scott invited us to tour his tree collection which consisted of unusual trees from around the world and his wood of mixed oaks. I now know how to identify an Irish as opposed to an English oak.

In November LVR Park people found that they had not given us the crocus bulbs for our mass planting. Hugh organised people to plant them.

Unfortunately in April the verges on the Ballyskeagh Road were trimmed before the daffodil tops had died down. Without them the plants will not make enough reserves to give a good showing next year. The contractors employed by LVRP also trimmed all the crocus and daffodils on the banking of the car park. They did however refrain from cutting the daffodils around the big stones.

MISCELLANEOUS

We have been informed that broadband via fibre optic has been set up through our area to Drumbo Park; the Committee will push for locals to get the benefit of this.

There have been complaints about the speed limit on the Drumbeg and Ballyskeagh Roads. After speaking to our local MLAs and the Roads Service we were told it is unlikely to be changed.

Planning permission has been granted for a new Church Hall.

There were a number of accidents at the Church corner. Hugh contacted the PSNI and Roads Service and new white lines and cats eyes have been installed. The Secretary is to contact the relevant authorities to see if a non skid surface and extra signage would be possible

After representation from the committee bins for dog walkers have been installed on Drumbeg Road, at the Church side gate and Ballyskeagh Road at the M1 bridge.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

The Drumbeg Neighbourhood watch scheme is for the benefit of all residents in the area. We are the contact point between you and the police who serve this area. If you are suspicious of any persons or vehicles in the area contact any of the co-ordinators listed below and the appropriate action will be taken.
We will distribute anti crime or security information leaflets supplied by the police to all the dwellings in the area. We can also provide a limited amount of home security devices.
Our role is to communicate with police on an on-going basis and exchange information on crime and related issues affecting the quality of life in the local area.
There are eleven co-ordinators in the Drumbeg Neighbourhood Watch Scheme and we are in touch with each other regularly and all meet on a quarterly basis where the Neighbourhood Police, Police Crime Prevention and a member from the Safer Lisburn Trust would attend. Members are listed as follows.

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE OFFICERS
Const. Stevie Duffy 07825013601
stephen.duffy2@psni.pnn.police.uk
Const. Harry Burns 07796507203
william.burns@psni.pnn.police.uk
Const. Beverley Carruthers 07769254370
beverly.carruthers@psni.pnn.police.uk
Const. Heather Compston 07769254370

THE ART CLUB by Michael Boyd

Since resuming Club activities after the Christmas break members have been hard at work building their portfolios of work for the May exhibition.

The Art Club was fortunate to have two well known Northern Ireland artists along last February to demonstrate their skills. Firstly, top Watercolour Artist, Grahame Booth, came along for his first visit to the Club to demonstrate his wonderful loose style of painting and the techniques. He completed a painting of the Minnowburn Bridge which impressed everyone. Grahame has his own web site – www.grahamebooth.com on which he has a gallery of paintings. The web site also includes dates for his classes and painting days out and about in the Northern Ireland and painting holidays in France.

Secondly, Manson Blair, a very accomplished artist in both oils and watercolours, attended our annual workshop day. Manson has been to the Club many times over the years and never fails to amaze members with his brilliant mastery of both brush and painting medium. It is a real joy to watch him at work.
Members having been inspired to achieve greater skills are looking forward to their show.

New members are always welcome. If interested, please contact any member or Michael Boyd Tel. 90612135

D.O.G.S. Drumbeg Occasional Golfing Society by Michael Boyd

Due to the extreme weather conditions during December the outing planned for Ormeau had to be cancelled. The weather did not improve much during January/February and as a result the DOGS have not been able to get out for a run.

Heather McIvor’s Captain’s Day will be at Malone Golf Club 6th June and Moria McKelvey’s President’s Day will be at Dunmurry on Monday the 5th September.
Let’s hope that we have good golfing weather for the rest of the year.
The DOGS are keen to increase the membership so if you would like to join the fun and fellowship do not hesitate to contact any of the members or Michael Boyd - Tel. 9061 2135

RESIDENTS’ OUTING
The outing organised by Drumbeg Residents'’ Association to Mountstewart will be held in 14th June. The bus will leave Drumbeg at 10am and you will return during the afternoon.

DRUMBEG ANNUAL SHOW
Saturday 10th SeptemberThe categories and rules will appear on the website shortly but remember - it is Strawberry Jam this year!! The schedule will be delivered when details are finalised.

FLORAL ART CLUB is over for the summer and will resume again on the third Saturday in September and will continue on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month at 10.30 a.m.

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