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A lambeg drum which has been carried by Orangemen from the
south coast of England to Scotland, in aid of charity, arrives
in Northern Ireland on the afternoon of Thursday, June 9.
The aim of the walk has been to raise funds for the charity
HELP FOR HEROES which helps injured service men and women
when they return from duty around the world.
The challenge was to follow in the steps of King William
III, and carry the lambeg drum from his landing place at Brixham,
Devon, all the way to the Boyne Heritage Centre at Drogheda.
The first leg of the journey was completed by members of London
LOL 1689, taking the drum to Exeter, Portsmouth, The Houses
of Parliament, London, Hereford, Manchester and Liverpool,
raising funds at various functions and events along the way.
The next leg of the journey began when the drum was handed
over to Glasgow LOL 162 at Carlisle. More fund raising took
place as the drum made its way around Scotland before crossing
the Irish Sea and landing at Larne on Thursday, June 9 on
the afternoon ferry from Stranraer.
Members of Banbridge Bible and Crown Defenders LOL 423 will
then, along with their Scottish brethren, make their way on
foot all the way to the Boyne.
"It has been a major exercise for the Orange Institution
throughout the United Kingdom," said David Watson of
Banbridge Bible and Crown Defenders LOL 423.
"There has certainly been a lot of hard work by a lot
of people but the effort and planning has been worth it. We
have received tremendous support from our Orange brethren,
the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. We have taken
the lambeg drum to the top of Slieve Donard and Ben Nevis
for charity, but this trip is really special. It is certainly
a well-travelled drum and it has been attracting fantastic
interest as it has been carried, and played, along the very
long route,
"It will be wonderful to see the drum come off the boat
at Larne. We will be joined by brethren from the rest of the
United Kingdom as we parade it through a number of towns and
follow the same route as William.
"It really is a record-breaking drum and the excellent
charity - Help for Heroes - will benefit considerably as a
result. So far we have raised more than £40,000 and
we have high hopes that much more will come in during the
time the drum is in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland."
There will be a parade in Larne on Thursday, June 9 at 7.30pm
and it will then be taken to Carrickfergus, the town where
William landed in 1690.
It will leave Carrickfergus at 3.30am on Friday morning and
be carried via
Fortwilliam at 5.45am
Stranmillis at 7.30am
Hilden at 10.00am
Lisburn Island Centre at 10.30am
Hillsborough at 12 noon
Dromore at 2pm
Banbridge at 4pm - followed by a parade in the town.
Scarva at 6.30pm
The lambeg drum will then be carried via Newry and Drogheda
to arrive at the Boyne Heritage Centre around 10.30am on Saturday,
June 11.
Keep up to date with the latest news and follow the drums
progress on Facebook page Drumming for Heroes. If you would
like to make a donation
You can by sending cheques made payable to LOL 423 c/o
8 Victoria Street, Banbridge , Co. Down BT32 3DQ
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