Boys to welcome yet morenew clubs to landmark day

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s demonstration Billy Moore said newly-formed clubs from Ulster, Scotland and London would all be in attendance. He said he hoped the day would be a peaceful, enjoyable and profitable one for all.

“Hopefully, it’ll be another enjoyable and peaceful day. We also hope it’s a good day for the traders who choose to remain open,” he said. “This is the culmination of a year of hard work and it’s a chance for the new branches to experience the most important event in the Ulster Protestant parading calendar.”

On Saturday members of the Parent Clubs will Assemble at the Memorial Hall from 9am before proceeding anti-clockwise around the City Walls at 9.30am. At 10am a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Cenotaph in the Diamond, followed by a service of Thanksgiving in St Columb’s Cathedral at 10.30am.

The General Committee will then be accompanied by the Black Skull band to Carlisle Circus where the Crimson Players will re-enact the final days of the Siege.

At 12.30pm the main parade will proceed across the Craigavon Bridge with the Branch Clubs joining their Parent Clubs before proceeding up Carlisle Road, into the Diamond, through Bishop Street, The Fountain, Wapping Lane, across the Bridge, up Spencer Road and Dungiven Road, through the Irish Street estate, down the Dungiven and Glendermott Roads before proceeding through Bonds Street and finishing in May Street. At 5.30pm the Parent Clubs will proceed back to the Memorial Hall to conclude.