Presentation of Laddie Griffith
The "Laddie Griffith Memorial Seat" in The Park, Ballindine, with Alzheimer Respite Centre in background.
John Grant and Pat Killeen accepting cheque for £130 from Phil Kilkelly
& Una Clancy for The Western Alzheimer Fund on behalf of
The Friends of Laddie Griffith - after the Ballindine Exiles Reunion 1998.
Ballindines Exile's Reunion 1998
Maura (nee Hennelly), Larry & Freddie (nee Heneghan) Goggins,
Terry nee Higgins (nee Tracey), Joe & Bridie (nee Grogan) Hennelly.
Presentation Speech
As one of Laddies oldest friends I feel privileged to be giving this address, and on behalf of us all I would like to welcome Cait and all her family to the presentation.
I would like to say a big "Thank You" to Laddies friends whose very generous donations made this occasion possible and our thanks to Una Clancy and Phil Kilkelly who organised it all.
Laddie himself was always very generous with both his time and his many talents, and to say that he loved Ballindine and its people would be an understatement. He also, always kept in touch with his childhood pals who had to emigrate, visited some of us abroad, and welcomed us back time and again with a Cead Mile Failte.
All this is not to say that he couldnt be controversial at times, especially on the political front. God knows what he would say if he knew that this speech was being made by a card carrying member of the British Labour Party! "Up the workers", I hope.
Laddies untimely death four years ago deprived Ballindine of a very stalworth friend and supporter and I'm sure that he would approve of this permanent reminder of how much he is missed and remembered.
God Bless you Laddie until we all meet again.
by Terry
Your memory we treasure
Loving you always
Forgetting you never
(Engraving on seat)"
For more article from the Ballindine Post and information on ordering see the Ballindine Post home page.
