Warm reception for Col Lundy

As is the custom with the day-long celebrations, the General Committee will open at 10am.

This year the soles from Lundy’s shoes are being presented to City of Edinburgh Campsie and City of Westminster Campsie. The effigy will be set alight by William Moore, Past Governor and Past President of the Campsie Club, who is the current General Secretary of the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry in conjunction with the current President, Grame Stenhouse.

The Campsie Parent Club are responsible for the arrangements.

Each year the shoes on the effigy are studded with nails and studs reflecting the years of the anniversary - so this yar Lundy will have 323 nails in his shoe soles.

Visiting clubs are asked to assemble at Waterside Railway Station and be ready to move off at 11.30am for the parade taking in a route along Duke Street, Craigavon Bridge, Carlisle Road, Hawkin Street, London Street, to the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall on Society Street.

The main procession will leave Society Street at 1.15pm.

The Officers of the General Committee and the Colour Party will lead the parade, marching via Bishop Street to The Diamond, where the Parent and Branch Clubs should pay respect at The Cenotaph by lowering flags and banners, while accompanying bands must cease playing and observe the memorial as they pass, with a single drum beat.

The procession will make its way into Ferryquay Street, down Carlisle Road, up Wapping Lane, along Kennedy Street to London Street to St Columb’s Cathedral where a Service of Thanksgiving will take place at 2pm, during which a Book of Reflection, recording the names of members of the Association that have lost their lives owing to the recent troubles will be dedicated by the Dean the Very Reverend William Morton. The guest preacher will be Rev Malcolm Ferry, Rector of All Saints, Waterside.

Following the Service, at 3pm the procession will reform at the following locations: ABOD walker, Mitchelburne and No Surrender Clubs will assemble at London Street, trailing back towards Bishop Street, while the Browning, Baker, Campsie and Murray Clubs will assemble at Pump Street.

The Parade will proceed to Bishop Street along the above-named streets, only in reverse order, for the traditional burning of the effigy of Lundy.

The General Committee and Campsie Parent Club Officers will proceed to the Siege Heroes Mound to place a wreath in memory of the brave 13 and the heroic defenders of Londonderry.

At the conclusion of the ceremonial burning, visiting clubs will return to their transport at the waterside in an orderly procession.

A salute will be taken by Officers of General Committee at Bishop Street as Clubs depart.

The bells will be peeled and the Crimson Flag hoisted.

A general wearing of the siege colour - crimson - is requested.

New Clubs are ready to open in Portadown, South Belfast and Kesh, County Fermanagh.

Four new clubs are opening in various areas of Scotland, a new branch at Croydon, South London and the first Branch Club in County Leitrim in the Republic of Ireland.

Among the Clubs to attend will be those form across Northern Ireland Scotland and England, and the General Secretary, William Moore, said he hoped the day would be “peaceful for the city and profitable for the wide variety of traders within the city centre”.

Early in the day the Westminster Campsie Club, London, will present a cheque to the Headmistress of Fountain School, while the Moore family from Donegal will present old Orange and Apprentice Boys sashes to the Memorial Hall Museum.

Meanwhile, the General Secretary, William Moore, will be presented with a collarette from the Campsie Parent Club in recognition of 40 years service to the Club.