Commemorative Booklet & Badge
Over the past number of years the Sir Knights of County Down have produced a Commemorative Booklet and Badge to assist the Host District of the Annual Demonstration with the financial implications of the day of which there are many.
Extending the charitable outreach of the County Down Grand Black Chapter was also an important consideration when deciding to embark on the venture, and during the last twelve years almost £36,000 has been donated to charities selected by the various District Chapters.
The initiative has been a great success and as we look towards our thirteenth and final year it's great to see that the sale of Badges and Booklets has increased year on year and the Sir Knights of County Down should feel proud of their success.
In 2019 and after discussion and prayer the committee of Saintfield RBDC No 12 choose the following six charities and each received a cheque for £500. The cheques were presented by the CGM and District Officers in Saintfield Orange Hall on 21st January 2020.
1. Saintfield Community Dementia Care. (Providing voluntary care for sufferers)
2. Blue Houses. (Ballysillan Youth For Christ) (Considering the rising rate of youth suicide and homelessness in this area)
3. Ballygowan Youth Club. (working with the youth of the village)
4. Every Home Crusade. (printing and distributing of literature of the Gospel, locally and internationally)
5. Air Ambulance NI. (always of need in a rural environment)
6. MacMillan Nurses. (caring for those suffering with cancer)
*************************************************
The following is a snap shot of what has been achieved so far:
In 2018 the Sir Knights of Newtownards chose three charities to receive donations: Chest Heart & Stroke, Marie Curie and Street Pastors. Each received £1000 as a result of the sale of the Commemorative Booklet and Badge and cheques were presented by the Sovereign Grand Master: Most Worshipful Sir Knight Rev. William Anderson JP on behalf of all the Sir Knights of County Down.
*************************************************
In 2017 The Sir Knights of Comber presented cheques to five charities – Asha Kiran Special Need’s School in India ~ £1000; ICU Nurse’s Education Fund ~ £500; Marie Curie ~ £1250; Pringle Home ~ £500 and St John Ambulance ~ £250. The presentations were made by Assistant Sovereign Grand Master Right Worshipful Sir Knight William Baillie together with the Officers of Comber Royal Black District Chapter No.10.
*************************************************
In 2016 at a Civic reception hosted by the Mayor of Lisburn a total of £3000 was handed over to representatives of three charities. ‘Tiny Life’ which seeks to support parents of premature babies through financial and practical support. ‘Every Home Crusade’ which seeks to provide Gospel literature throughout the world. ‘Thompson House Trust’ which is a specialised hospital within the city of Lisburn which provides a range of service to adults with an acquired brain injury and other neuro-disabilities.
*************************************************
In 2015 the Sir Knights of Mourne support four charities – Motor Neurone Disease NI, Newry Hospice, Mourne Stimulus and Inspired Hope, Uganda. At a special meeting at which the respective representatives were present the Sir Knights presented cheques totalling £5700.
*************************************************
In 2014 The Sir Knights of Rathfriland supported four charities providing much needed funds. At a special occasion attended by the County and District Officers cheques totalling £2650 were handed over to their representatives.
The Charities were ‘New Beginnings’, ‘Marie Curie Nursing Services’, Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice’ and ‘Reece Burrows Cerebral Palsy Fund’
*************************************************
In 2013 Banbridge District Chapter choose six local charities: Night Reach, The Coal Fund, Donard School, The Talking Newspaper, The Gateway Club and Special Olympics to support and each received £500. Cheques were presented at a special meeting to recognise their work.
*************************************************
On Thursday 11th October 2012 the Millbrook Lodge was the venue chosen by the Sir Knights of Ballynahinch District Chapter to present cheques to their three chosen charities which were: The Childrens Hospice, The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and Alfies Fund. Each received £1000
*************************************************
In 2011 three charities benefited from the sale of the Booklets and Badges featuring the Newry District Chapter. These were the Royal Irish Regiment Benevolent Fund, The Southern Area Hospice and Marie Curie. The various representatives of the charities each received cheques for £1000 at a presentation held in Newry Orange Hall.
*************************************************
The 2010 Booklet and Badge featured Castlewellan District Chapter No.3 and the Sir Knights of Castlewellan choose as their charities Multiple Sclerosis, Action Cancer and the Children's Hospice all of which in one form or another have assisted members of the Castlewellan District Chapter in the recent past. Cheques for £1000 were presented to the representatives of these charities at a special occassion in Newcastle Orange Hall on 4th November.
*************************************************
The 2009 Booklet and Badge featured Lecale District Chapter No.2, and the Sir Knights of Lecale choose Kidney Research and Cystic Fibrosis as the charities they wished to support.
On Thursday 4th March 2010 several Sir Knights from the District Chapter under the leadership of the District Master, Worshipful Sir Knight James Brownlee were joined by the County Grand Master, Right Worshipful Sir Knight John Smyth and other County Officers at Killyleagh Orange Hall for a presentation to representatives of the two charities.
*************************************************
In 2008 the Sir Knights of Lower Iveagh District Chapter No.1 choose as their charity; Action Duchenne, (The only national charity that exclusively funds research for a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a disease which attacks the muscles, especially in young males). This decision was prompted by the knowledge that a local family was involved with the charity because their son Carter had been diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy earlier in the year. From the sale of the Booklet and Badge they were able to present a cheque for £3000 to them.
*************************************************
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BADGES
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
BOOKLETS
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |