Clyde River Celebrates 2014 with a Garden Party and Concert

[slideshow] It was a spectacular afternoon to be in Clyde River to celebrate the 2014 Garden Party and Concert in Murchison Place Park, hosted by the Clyde River Women’s Institute. The large audience ranged from a few months old to 95 years old. Along with community residents, there were guests with connections to Clyde River, those home from away, and others who had lived in Clyde River many years ago and saw this as a wonderful homecoming.

The afternoon program began with:

  • Piper Matthew MacLaine
  • O Canada
  • Introduction of Honoured Guests
  • Remarks from Clyde River Women’s Institute, Community Council and Friends of Clyde River

Entertainment included:

  • Step Dancing – Dalziel Sisters – Alana Lee and Shelby Lynn
  • Songs by Kevin and Friends – Kevin Jesso, Ken Clarke, Joyce Arsenault, Peggy Dollar – Medley of songs
  • Piper Matthew MacLaine – A highlight was Amazing Grace.
  • Patricia Murray played and sang both Gaelic and English songs.

The afternoon closed with everyone singing “This Land is your Land”. In the closing remarks, Doug Gillespie mentioned that it was also 150 years ago when Dog River was renamed Clyde River, so we had two reasons to celebrate today.

One special treat was a song called “Home” performed by Patricia Murray. Patricia adapted music to the lyrics of a poem written by her Great Great Uncle Frank Gillespie while he was in Hawaii in the late 1800s. The poem was discovered in the online Guardian archives earlier this year and passed onto to the family. This poem and song will be further featured in an upcoming story.

Some of the ladies, gentlemen and children of the community dressed in period costume which added to the charm of the event and made for lovely photos.

After the concert, guests were invited over to the Riverview Community Centre for fresh biscuits, jams, tarts and cookies prepared by Thelma Gillespie and served by community volunteers. There was a celebration cake decorated with the 2014 logo. Prizes were given out for the oldest (Hilda Beer) and longest married (Eric and Wanda MacPhail).

It was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon and many thanks to the organizing committee and other community volunteers for creating such a memorable and enjoyable event.

The event was made possible by the PEI 2014 Fund. The organizing committee included Carol Richards (chair), Thelma Gillespie, Jo-Ann MacPhail, Lisa Ross, Nancy FitzGerald and Hilda Colodey.

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  1. Emily Bryant on August 5, 2014 at 8:41 am

    Absolutely lovely pictures of what looks like a great afternoon. How nice to have so many “period” outfits. Congratulations to Carol and Committee.

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