Portstewart to host Last Saturday

17,000 members of the Royal Black Insitution from 360 preceptories, most accompanied by bands will take part in the events.

32 preceptories will take part in the Portstewart demonstration. The event was last held in the town in 1999.

The procession begins at noon on the Strand Road and goes via Coleraine Road, the Promenade, Portmore Road, Station road, Mill Road and Old Coach Road to the demonstration field at the Warren Recreation Grounds.

The platform proceedings will be chaired by David Hay, Londonderry County Grand Master, and the service of worship will be conducted by Rev. J.J. Andrews, Londonderry County Grand Chaplain. The principal speaker will be Rev. William Anderson, Imperial Deputy Grand Master.

The main parade will be in Kilkeel with the others taking place inBanbridge, Newtownstewart and Lisburn.

As part of its charitable outreach, the Royal Black Institution has raised more than half a million pounds in the last decade (£538,000).

Earlier this year a cheque for £85,000 was presented to the Bible Society and Mission Aviation Fellowship. The money was raised over the past two years, to send bibles and provide other support to Christians living in war-torn South Sudan.