Officers and members of the Orchid Charity Club have been roundly praised Sunday for holding high the torch of charity in Bermuda.

It was 65 years ago that the late social worker and first Orchid president the late Ivy Ming Swan “laid a great foundation, for us to build on. God has blessed the Orchids; we must pass it on to generations following us”. That was the spirited view of the Rev Marilyn Lambe, an Associate Pastor of Evening Light Pentecostal Church, Pembroke.

Rev Lambe was guest speaker at the Orchids Annual St Patrick’s Day Tea.

Club president, Mrs Janet E Maynard presented the speaker with a cheque to help specifically with the church’s weekly programme providing meals for homeless and underprivileged persons.

It was revealed that other area churches provide meals on a regular night, such as St Monica’s Mission, Salvation Army, St Augustine’s Mission and St Paul AME Church.

The St Patrick’s Day Tea is a major fund raising effort of the Orchids.

Another is its annual tag day. They supplement other sources the club has enabling it to undertake a variety of unpublicised charitable needs that come to their attention, according to club secretary, Lois Dill Weeks.

The North Village Community Band under Bandmaster Barett Dill sustaining the tradition it set years ago, provided most enjoyable tunes for the service of Tea.

Other entertainment was by was led by soloist Elton Richardson. The most engaging Mistress of Ceremonies was Constance Richrdson.