Orange marchers return to resort
SOUTHPORT and Liverpool will host the annual Orange Lodge parades this Friday (July 12).
The Liverpool Provincial Grand Orange Lodge will be marching to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the first July 12 Orange Parade that took place in the city in 1819.
The main event of the year takes place with the traditional Orange parades in Southport and Liverpool.
Many Orange parades will take place from all over Liverpool, including Dingle, Garston, Norris Green, Netherfield Road, and Heyworth Street from around 8am on Friday morning.
This is to commemorate and celebrate the 329th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.
The battle in 1690 between the forces of the deposed King James VII and II of Scotland, England and Ireland and those of Dutch Prince William of Orange who, with his wife Mary II (his cousin and James’s daughter), had acceded to the crowns of England and Scotland in 1688.
The battle took place across the River Boyne close to the town of Drogheda in the Kingdom of Ireland, modern day Republic of Ireland, and resulted in a victory for William.
Due to the special anniversary, a large turnout is expected from members and supporters.
The parades will make their way to Liverpool city centre and meet at St Georges Hall to board buses to Southport.
About 125 Orange Lodges from all over the country will take part accompanied by pipe, accordion, and concertina and flute bands.
In Southport the parade will form up in London Street, near the side of the railway station, at approximately 11.15am.
When the parade arrives in Southport, Liverpool members will be joined by members from all over England.
About 5,000 people will be on the streets of Southport during the parade.
The parade will continue through to Princes Park.
Members will walk back through Southport at 5.15pm.
On returning to Liverpool, the parade will proceed through the city at about 7pm, back to Everton Road and Dingle.
There will be some traffic disruption during the morning and evening in the city centre of Liverpool and Southport.