THE RUBGY BALL and MORE

OMGoodness! When I wrote our names and telephone number on the prize draw for THE RUGBY BALL signed by Willie John McBride et al I told Tiger that I wanted it more than anything. How wonderful to have a piece of history touched by sporting hero's?

I cannot tell you how gob-smacked we were when Pauline rang to tell Tiger he had won it.

Believe me. It will be treasured.

Treasured beside the limited addition poster of the late great Joey Dunlop that Tiger's biker babe sister gave him for his birthday and the autographed picture that James "Wee Man" McCann gave us of him airborne.

We are truly blessed to be able to honour brave people who love, or did love, their chosen vocations.

I feel very moved and humbled by the work of the Royal British Legion and by the many groups that campaign and work tirelessly for charity. Joey Dunlop's charity work is a case in point.

Bill Kennedy, the outgoing Mayor of Ballymoney, deserves praise for his efforts to fund raise and support Marie Curie Cancer Care, the Ballymoney Hospice Support Group and The Community Rescue Service.

Bill Kennedy and Liam Beckett were instrumental in the development of first the Joey Dunlop and then the Robert Dunlop Memorial Gardens and the link between them.

They were undeservedly vilified at times, as was I for backing them. That is something that would not have gone down well with the lads. They wouldn't like it at all and would be really saddened by the actions of some family members.

The gardens and the link are a fitting tribute and it was lovely to see so many fans visiting and taking pictures. Paying homage.

No one can take them down or diminish them. So say I and I lot of others.

We extend our best wishes to the outgoing members of council and hope that the incoming elected representatives continue with the traditions developed by the hard working public servants who have retired.

There is much work to be done and we all need to play a part in that. There is no point sitting back and giving off if we haven't taken an active role in the community. The community that is all we have at the end of the day.

We have common goals and wishes. Good health care, including expanding care in the home. Education. Environmental issues. Policing and the protection of the vulnerable. It really is up to us to participate in a positive way ... Or walk away and bury our heads in the sand.