At one time the stripes on the shirt framed and hanging in municipal hall this month were Oak Bay green. They’re a little faded now, but the memories attached are bright as ever.
The shirt – a clearance find at The Bay some 25 years ago – was Bill Murphy-Dyson’s go-to outfit for his years at the helm of the Oak Bay Tea Party from 1999 to 2015.
Murphy-Dyson has turned over the reins of the society to longtime volunteer Sandy Germain.
The society recently celebrated the outgoing chair’s years of work by framing the shirt, along with an array of photos showcasing Tea Party highlights through the years.
“The Ladies Nail Driving (contest)is always a highlight and at the thank-you dinner Sandy asked me to at least to run that event,” Murphy-Dyson says.
In honour of his work with the Tea Party, Murphy-Dyson was also the first recipient of Oak Bay’s expanded Oak Leaf program recognizing service to the community.
“They’ve been great years and Bill is always the life of the partywho brings joy to everyone,” said Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen.
“Bill brought an energy that I think is going to be hard to match.”
The 55th annual Oak Bay Tea Party runs Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4, 2017 at Willows Beach. Learn how you can get involved at oakbayteaparty.com