Men's Fellowship

President: Robert McNeely; vice-president: Rev. Isaac Thompson; treasurer: Graham Lowe; programme committee secretary: Robert McNeely; social secretary: Sam Robinson; press secretary: Hugh McGrattan.

Meets Thursday mornings (10.30) from September to March.

For the past 29 years, the Ballywillan Men's Fellowship has provided a weekly meeting-place for the retired and semi-retired men of the district.

During that time, several hundred speakers have entertained and enlightened the members through varied talks and presentations.Just as importantly, hundreds of friendships have been made in the informal atmosphere of pre-meeting gatherings where tea, coffee, biscuits and craic are enjoyed in equal measure!

Never intended as a strictly Ballywillan Only gathering, the Fellowship has lived up to its initial expectations and can claim members from every church denomination in the area,as well as many with no church connections at all. Current membership stands at 36 within an age range from the fifties to the nineties.

Members come not only from the Portrush district, but from a wide area extending up to a dozen miles away and including Coleraine and Portstewart. In the past year they have enjoyed a programme of varied talks and presentations.

Meetings are normally held in the Frazer Room. A full programme of speakers has been arranged until Easter, when the session will end in traditional style with lunch at a local restaurant. Indeed, lunch is usually enjoyed two or three times during the year, with wives and friends invited.

There is a small annual fee (£15) with another £1 per meeting, which helps to defray speakers' expenses. Surplus funds are usually shared between one or two social welfare type charities. Fellowship are always keen to welcome new members.

PROGRAMME 2022 - 2023

Sept 22nd - Reflections on the Bann - Derek Sinnamon

Sept 29th - Colours of the Organ - Adrian Anderson

Oct 6th - Portrush Heritage - John McNally

Oct 13th - Royal Observer Corps in Northern Ireland - Roy Coulter

Oct 20th at 10.00am - Breakfast – E-Swatini update - Rev Stephen Williamson

Oct 27th - Scams and Security - PSNI

Nov 3rd - Our Life in Pakistan - Ron and Hilary McCartney

Nov 10th - Railway Heritage - Canon John McKegney

Nov 17th at 9.15am - Outing to Whitehead Railway Museum

Nov 24th - Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Derek Boyd

Dec 1st - Christians in Sport - Phil Small

Dec 8th - CHRISTMAS LUNCH

Jan 26th - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Feb 2nd - New Year Greetings - Derek Ewings

Feb 8th (Wednesday) - Four Generations at Culmore Farm - David Loughlin

Feb 16th - Reflections on Chaplaincy in Afghanistan - Rev Mark Donald

Feb 23rd - Ashes to Gold – Oasis - David McCracken

Mar 2nd - Non-Combatants in War - John Gilmour

Mar 9th - Homebirds - Anne Marie McAleese

Mar 16th at 10.00am - Breakfast and St Patrick - Rev Stephen Williamson

Mar 23rd - Eyecare - Stephen Vandevyver

Mar 30th - From Lender to Saver - Rev Brian Howe

April 6th - LUNCH