Portrait unveiled to a loyal Orangeman

Alistair Douglas, front second from left, and Heather Lyness, front second from right, son and daughter of the late Isaac Douglas pictured with members of the Co. Armagh Junior Orange benevolent Fund Committee at the unveiling of a portrait of their father at Brownlow House on Monday evening. INLM09-214.

Isaac Douglas passed away on August 18 last year. He was 93 when he died and had been active within the loyal orders just months before his death.

The Lurgan man joined the Junior Orange Lodge in 1936 and remained a member all his life. He was also a member of the Senior Orange, LOL No 388, The Royal Black, RBP 219 and The Apprentice Boys.

Isaac, along with Sammy Gardiner and John Bingham, established their own Junior Orange Lodge, Lurgan LOL No 149, to which he gave over 40 years service.

Isaac was the first Superintendent of LOL No 149 and was also a Junior Committee Grand Master and member and trustee of the Junior Orange Benevolent Fund.

Jim Conly, chairman of County Armagh Junior Orange Benevolent Fund, said: “Brownlow House would have been his second home. He spent a lifetime in it. His footsteps will be long remembered within those walls.”

He added: “I always found him to be a real gentleman. Cool, calm and collected.

“No one had a bad word to say about him. He was a great family man and a great servant to the loyal orders.”

At the ceremony Lurgan District Master David Martin said: “Sometimes on TV cameras we see pictures of Orangemen and it’s something we wouldn’t be proud of.

“Tonight we see a picture of an Orangeman we can all be proud of. Isaac was loyal, faithful and committed. He had a loving faith in the most Grand Worshipful Master, God Almighty.

“He set a standard that every Orangeman should look to equal.”

Isaac was the husband of the late Winnie, whom he met during their time serving the RAF during World War Two and father of Dian, Edward, Heather, Alistair and Christina.

A large number of Isaac’s family circle were in attendance at the unveiling with his relatives who now live in Australia and New Zealand sending their best wishes.

His portrait was painted by Portadown artist Trevor McElnea.