As for Galgorm Parks L.O.L. 507, most of their members will look back with satisfaction on the year while others will have sad memories of 2011. We look back at the some of the stories making the headlines on galgormparks.com throughout 2011.

As is the custom in all Orange Lodges the year began with the Installation of Officers in January. Galgorm Parks installed their second youngest ever Worshipful Master in Bro Michael Dickey at 20 years 6 months, Michael was 2 months older than Bro Stephen Fullerton when he was installed as W.M. back in 2004. The Deputy Master was Michael's cousin Philip Dickey keeping a strong Dickey family presence within the Lodge.

World Events denominated the St Patrick's Day Orange Service in Ballymena on Saturday19 March. The Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami followed the earlier Earthquake to hit New Zealand as both these disasters were remembered at the Service by Reverent Brian Lacey in St Patrick's Parish Church.

Saturday 16 April 2011, is a date that will live long in the memory of some of the Brethren of Galgorm Parks. The Lodge accepted an invitation to parade in the City of London St George's Day Orange Demonstration in Central London. The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Whitehall, Cenotaph and Trafalgar Square were famous land marks Orangemen can only dream about parading past.

Accompanying the "Parks Brethren" in London was Pride of the Maine Flute Band Ballymena, and no one will ever forget their rousing renditions of "The Sash" and Derry's Walls as the parade entered Parliament Square. Rounding off a memorable day for the Ballymena contingent was a lambeg drumming exhibition by the evergreen Alex Wilson at a venue near The Tower of London.

A very unique picture of Galgorm Parks Old Banner passing the Houses of Parliament at the City of London Orange Parade on 16 April 2011

Banners are the main theme of our two pictures selected from galgormparks.com this year. The second picture sees the Platform Party at the Unfurling of the New Banner on 10 June 2011. The principle speaker at the Unfurling was Most Worshipful Bro. Rev Alastair Smyth Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland. The New Banner was unfurled by Mrs Elizabeth Dickey mother of the current 2011 Worshipful Master, Bro. Michael Dickey. Presenting the Scissors to Mrs Dickey was seven- year- old Alex Hamill, grandson of Bro. John Murray. Presiding over the Platform proceedings was Bro. Trevor Logan a recent Past Master of the Lodge.

Galgorm Parks New Banner, a nomination in the Orange Community 2011 Awards

The Annual Mini Twelfth in June was completely overshadowed by the untimely death of Mrs Agnes Dickey earlier in the day. Mrs Dickey was the wife of Lodge Treasurer Harold Dickey, and Mother of Mervyn and Brian. Agnes was perhaps the greatest supporter of the Lodge with her tireless work behind the scenes and fittingly her two Grandsons Michael and Philip are currently Worshipful Master and Deputy Master of the Lodge.

The Lodge Service was also held in June with another Dickey this time Bro Martin Dickey of Straid L.O.L 521 The guest speaker.

The Brethren and Sisters of Ballymena District L.O.L. No 8 got a surprise when they found the Gates of the main entrance of Ballymena's Memorial Park Locked on the return from their Annual Divine Service on Sunday 10 June 2011. The Park Keeper had mistakenly locked the Park early forcing the bemused Brethren and Sisters to find an alternative entrance to the Park via the adjoining Protestant Hall. Happily by the time the Wreath Laying Ceremony had finished the Park had been reopened.

The Brethren of Galgorm Parks celebrated the 321st Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne on Tuesday 12 July 2011. With their gleaming New Banner they joined the 29 other Lodges of Ballymena District No 8 at the local demonstration. The Parade left Wakehurst Road on a 2.7mile route to the Field on the Ballygarvey Road on the outskirts of the Co Antrim Town. This year was the turn of Ballygarvey L.O.L. 746 to host the District Demonstration on a pleasant summer's day.

The Lodge again play host to The Country Players with their presentation of "Flat Spin", a farcical comedy by Derek S Royle in Cullybackey High School on Thursday 13 October 2011. Despite the difficult economic climate a good crowd turned up for the Play.

So another year has come and gone for Galgorm Parks and its members and together they look forward with a certain degree of optimism to 2012, hoping it will be even better than the previous twelve months.