ABOD Parent Club host 200th Anniversary Crimson Ball

The Crimson Ball was the last big event on the calendar of celebrations for Apprentices this year, and the top table included the Governor Jim Brownlee, General Secretary Billy Moore and his wife, Valerie, as well as the Dean of Derry, Very Rev Dr William Morton and his wife, Rosemary.

Also in attendance were representatives from the 35 branch clubs as well as representatives from all eight parent Clubs. The Crimson Ball began with a champagne reception, and during the evening a new pop-up banner, specifically designed to celebrate the anniversary, was unveiled.

A tradition in some areas of the members placing their crimson collarettes on the ladies for the first dance

For many years one tradition of the Crimson Ball that had been absent was the ceremonial ‘parade’ featuring symbolic memorabilia.

Resurrecting this tradition for the 200th anniversary, those who attended the Ball on Saturday night witnessed Apprentices from Bessbrook Apprentice Boys of Derry’s Branch Club open the Crimson Ball by parading symbols of the open Bible, reflecting how Governor Walker was guided by the ‘good book’ during the Siege of Derry.

Also paraded was the Crown, symbolising the Apprentice Boys of Derry’s loyalty to the Queen and Monarchy and the swords carried by 13 Apprentice Boys who originally shut the gates on December 18, 1688.

A replica model of the Mountjoy, one of two ships involved in the Relief of Derry, captained by Captain Michael Browning, which broke the boom and relieved the City and finally a set of keys that locked the Ferryquay gate against the Earl of Antrim’s Redshanks.

The ABOD Parent Club was formed in 1814 by Benjamin J Darcus, who came from an influential merchant family in the city. The Darcus family name appears in early siege records and also in an account of the first society of Apprentice boys started by Colonel Mitchelburne, where a John Darcus was one of the founding members. The Darcus family flourished in the city with Henry Darcus becoming Mayor in the 1860’s and also Governor of the Apprentice Boys from 1876 to 1879. The last Darcus to be a member of our club was Benjamin J Darcus (a direct ancestor of the founder of the club) who was Lieutenant Governor from 1918 to 1921.

The ABOD Parent Club has served the Association and the General Committee with distinction throughout its history, having had the great honour of six brethren reaching the high office of Governor and seven reaching Lieutenant Governor.

The first Branch Club was formed in Lurgan in 1886 with the latest being Darent and Medway, the first Branch club in England. The Association now has 35 branch clubs with a total membership of 1,238.

This year also marked the start of the First World War when the Apprentice Boys Club, of just over 70 members at the time, saw 36 enlisted with eight making the ultimate sacrifice.