‘Carnival’ on streets as Orange marchers return
THE Orange Parades return to Southport once again today. As in previous years, a wreath will be laid at Southport Cenotaph to remember the Fallen.
Many Orange parades were due to take place all over Liverpool, including Dingle, Garston, Norris Green, Netherfield Road and Hayworth Street, at around 8am today.
The parades are held to commemorate and celebrate the 328th Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.
An Orange Lodge spokesman described the controversial date as “a day set apart with not only a colourful parade decorated with flags of the country in a cultural way, but also to preserve this tradition for future generations to come, as a guarantor and ensign of those freedoms won both political and religious at a time of the Reformation”.
The parades will make their way to Liverpool city centre, where marchers will meet at St George’s Hall to board buses to Southport.
Around 120 Orange lodges will take part accompanied by pipe, accordion, and concertina and flute bands, all playing traditional music.
National flags will be flown on the parade while many children will be dressed as King William and his wife, Mary.
The parade will form up on London Street at approximately 11.15am.
This year will include a visiting flute band from Paisley, in Scotland, joining with the Liverpool Province.
When the parade arrives in Southport, as in previous years, Liverpool members will be joined by members from all over England including Bootle, Manchester, Sunderland, London, Corby, Birmingham, Sussex and elsewhere.
Guests from Scotland and Northern Ireland will join the parade to celebrate the day.
An Orange Lodge spokesman said: “Around 5,000 people will be on the streets of Southport during the parade.
“This is always a carnival atmosphere enjoyed by all who make their way to watch it.
“The parade will continue through to Princes Park where members will take part in various activities both on the park and all around Southport to enjoy the day of celebration.”
Members will walk back through Southport at 5.15pm.
The parade will again proceed through the city of Liverpool at around 6.30pm, supported by huge crowds expected to watch the parade along the route back to Everton Road.
There will be some traffic disruption during the morning and evening in Southport and Liverpool city centre.