Official Opening of WBR Credit Union Refurbished Premises
ON TUESDAY DECEMBER 13TH 2005
Tuesday December 13th 2005, was a red letter day in the 36 year history of WBR Credit Union Limited, when the recently refurbished offices at 14 Church Street, Warrenpoint, Co Down, were officially opened by Nobel Peace Laureate, Mr John Hume, a former President and current Life Director of the Irish League of Credit Unions. The refurbishment of the new offices entailed the installation of a brand new counter , back office and Loans Interview office, and was the brainchild of the hard working Building Committee, comprised of Treasurer,Mr Francis Cavanagh, Director, Mrs Maura Goodman and Assistant Manager, Mrs Miriam Cole. Remarkably the entire work was carried out in the space of just over two weeks, in mid October 2005, by contractors Glenwood, Tullamore, Co Offaly, who have vast experience in undertaking Credit Union refurbishment work. This period was particularly trying for all concerned, including staff and members, as normal business was conducted at a temporary counter at the front of the Building, while the building work was in full progress. The end result however was well worth the disruption, as it has vastly improved and modernised facilities for staff and members alike.
Mr Hume was formally welcomed to the premises by WBR Credit Union Limited President, Mr Raymond Beggs, who said it was an honour to have such a distinguished guest. Mr Beggs expressed his appreciation to the Building Committee for their outstanding work, and said that the refurbished offices were a source of pride for each and every member of WBR Credit Union Limited. He then accompanied Mr Hume on a guided tour of the newly refurbished premises and Mr Hume offered his congratulations to all concerned with the impressive development. Mr Hume then formally cut the tape to rapturous applause, in the presence of a large gathering, including WBR Credit Union Directors (including founding member, Mr Jim Mc Cart), Supervisors, Volunteers (including founding member and Chapter Representative, Mr Liam Stewart), Staff, representatives from First Trust Bank Warrenpoint, and WBR Credit Union Auditors, Phelan and Prescott (Newry) as well as visitors from neighbouring Credit Unions, including Armagh, Portadown and Kilkeel. Mr Jackie Fleming, Director, Portadown Credit Union Limited also commended WBR Credit Union on its impressive refurbished premises.
Mr Hume then addressed the gathered audience inside the office and stated that he was honoured to officiate at the opening of the refurbished premises. He described the Credit Union movement as the best community orientated movement in the whole of Ireland, and an organisation which is dear to his own heart. He described his immense pride in having been instrumental in the establishment of the first Credit Union in Northern Ireland, (after he had familiarised himself with the workings of credit unions in the USA) situated in the heart of the Bogside in his beloved Derry City, in the early 1960s, and with great satisfaction he recounted how his own Credit Union had grown from very humble beginnings to its current status of 26,000 members with an asset base of £70 million. He said that his pivotal involvement in the establishment of a Credit Union in Derry was the achievement from which he had derived the greatest satisfaction in his long career in public life. He also stated that with a nationwide membership of approximately 2.9m people, there is hardly a household in all of Ireland which doesn’t contain at least one credit union member. He described how the evolution of the Credit Union movement in Northern Ireland had directly precipitated the demise of the Pawn Shop and Money Lenders, and on the whole its positive community impact was incalculable. Mr Hume spoke also of his immense personal pride in having been elected the youngest ever President of the Irish League of Credit Unions at the tender age of twenty seven, and to-day he is a distinguished honorary lifetime Director of the Irish League of Credit Unions.
At the conclusion of formalities Mr Hume spent considerable time chatting with individual members of the assembled audience, and posed for numerous photographs etc.
Later on that same evening, Mr Hume formally addressed members of WBR Credit Union Limited at the opening of their 2005 AGM, in the Balmoral Hotel in Warrenpoint, and re iterated the highly positive aspects of the Credit Union movement. He was then presented with a portrait of the Fairy Glen in Rostrevor, by Mr Francis Cavanagh as a token of WBR Credit Union members’ gratitude for officiating at the opening. Mr Hume departed from the AGM to another spontaneous round of applause from the members present.
All in all a landmark day in the history of WBR Credit Union and one that will live long in the memory.
>>View Photos from the Night
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05 September 2010
