Secretary’s Report 2009
Coleraine Inst Friends’ Association joined with the Old Boys’ Association to organise a Mid-Summer Ball in the Humphreys Hall in Saturday 21st June 2008, which was attended almost 300 people. The evening was a great success and the spirits of those attending were not dampened by our recurrent problem of rain at June events, which necessitated the relocation of the drinks reception from the headmaster’s lawn to the Templeton Hall. Our caterers, Jane’s Kitchen, coped admirably with the logistics of serving a delicious meal at a distance from the kitchen. Music was provided by The Jungle VIPs who entertained wonderfully. A raffle raised £1300 for the charity Heartbeat and a number of items were auctioned by Mr Philip Tweedie. Thanks go to everyone who helped make the evening so memorable, particularly to Mr Blair, Mr Cassells and an extremely well turned out team of our younger old boys who provided waiter service from the bar under the guidance of Mr Archie Linnegan.
A premier of the film “Burn after Reading” was held in the Jet Centre in October. Kennedys kindly sponsored a finger buffet in Flicks Restaurant, where Ms Cameron and some of the boys provided very enjoyable musical entertainment.
Following on from the success of last year’s year 8 and 9 discos, we continued our reciprocal arrangement with Friends of Coleraine High School. The High School hosted a disco at Halloween and CIFA organised a Valentine’s disco in the Humphreys Hall on the 11th February. Both events were enthusiastically attended by year 8 and 9 pupils from the two schools.
Our annual quiz was held in Coleraine Rugby Club on Friday 23rd January. We were delighted with the turnout of 150. Supper was provided by the committee and thanks go to quizmaster Mr Brian Fillis and his able team.
The year 8 rugby tournament was held on a Saturday this year, and was attended by 24 teams from 16 schools. CAI A team were beaten in the quarter finals by Belfast Inst and the B team progressed to the semi-finals of their competition where they were defeated by Willow Park. CIFA manned two tuck shops and a BBQ which served hot dogs and burgers to the hungry teams and their supporters throughout the day.
The music and drama departments put on a most enjoyable Evening of Music and Drama on the 1st April, with a morning performance on the 31st March for local school children and a group from Age Concern. CIFA served refreshments at both events, with Mrs Nessie Tannihill’s tray-bakes proving popular as usual.
CIFA members also manned a stand at the Open Evening for prospective pupils in January and recently provided a BBQ for Year 14 boys on their last day of school before departing on study leave. Our summer event this year is a BBQ at Cranagh Marina which will include boat trips on the Lady Sandel. This is planned with the confidence that we will reverse our recent pattern of June downpours (but with contingency arrangements, just in case).
Over the past year the committee have donated money to the PE and Geography departments to fund projectors and software, provided money for a laser printer for the staff room and funded new textbooks for the RE department. A contribution was made toward the preparations for the school’s 150th anniversary next year and two members of CIFA have been co-opted onto the planning committee for the anniversary celebrations.
Janet Leighton