New uniform and bannerette

THE Pride of the Orange and Blue Band are in celebratory mood this week - and it has nothing to do with the Royal Wedding.

The band have received a new uniform, together with a couple of pieces of key band equipment, including a new bass drum and a new bannerette.

It was 30 years ago that Anna Hay, the then DUP councillor, who has since passed on, together with Rev Ian Paisley dedicated the band, making their existence ‘official’ The original dedication was done in the ‘Old Dam’ area, on land opposite Villas, just off the main highway through the village. Those old enough to remember will recall that the entire dedication service was performed from the back of a lorry which was owned by the now Speaker of the Stormont Assembly - William Hay, one of Anna’s sons.

“The band now has 65 members and has been going from strength to strength in recent years,” said Gary Middleton, DUP election candidate, adding: “The continued expansion of the band at a time when interest among young people in learning to play instruments and committing to a practice schedule has reduced, is a credit to the senior bandsmen, who are dedicated to ensuring that ‘the Pride’ have flourished.”

“Over the last year the band has raised over £14,000 to offset the cost of the new uniform and equipment, which is a remarkable achievement given the hardship that people are facing financially,” he said.

Mr Middleton will be one of the guests and a speaker at the service of dedication, which will be officiated over by Rev Ivan Dinsmore.

“If the weather holds we will again hold the service outside, but it is hard to know in this country if we will be able to replicate the service of three decades ago or not at this stage. It would be nice though,” he said.

DUP Alderman, Maurice Devenney, said he sorry to be missing the service, but he wished the band well.

“I look forward to seeing the band parading in their new uniform and behind their new bannerette during the marching season. I understand their first official march will be the Easter parade in Limavady,” he said.

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