George (Buddy) Hughes 1935 - 2016
George (Buddy) Hughes was president of
Ballymoney Rotary Club during a golden era in the mid ‘80s.
During a ‘business’ meeting at Ballymoney
Rugby Club one Saturday afternoon in early 1983 the Rotary Club hierarchy for
the following 4 years was sorted. Sam Moore started the presidential run in
1983 followed by John McElderry, Buddy Hughes and Hugh Clarke. The Club’s
reputation for diligence, friendliness and fellowship grew immensely during
that time. Under Buddy’s influence and as a result of his year as president the
Club was awarded Rotary Ireland’s Dennis Duggan trophy for Fellowship. The
award was a surprise and was announced during the Annual Conference in Galway.
The Ballymoney Club members were so busy elsewhere, extending fellowship to others
that evening that none of them thought they should be at the ceremony. What a
brilliant reputation to have – fellowship coming first! Ballymoney collected the Trophy the next
day - Sunday morning from none other than Galway’s Bishop Casey who incidentally, subsequently got himself into a spot of hot water over his liaison with a lady
called Annie Murphy.
The seeds sown in Ballymoney Rotary Club by
Buddy Hughes resulted in a series of District awards including the Route Salver
for entertaining Foundation Scholars and the memories of the 1986 conference were almost certainly the reason the Club carried off the highest
club attendance award when the conference returned to Galway in 1990.
Buddy had a huge influence on the growth
and reputation of Ballymoney Rotary Club, indeed he had an enormous positive
influence in all who encountered him. Buddy and Joan’s catering background
ensured that any event involving the Club providing food was in expert hands.
He and Joan were a tremendous double-act
and encouraged all with whom they came in contact.
The Club was honoured to
have him as a guest last November when it celebrated its 50th
birthday.
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