There are many Murray members with stories to tell, though few might match those of Bro. John Mills who sadly passed away at the weekend at the age of 96. John was a WW2 veteran and was among the first British troops to arrive in Japan after the atomic bombs were dropped, and was proud to tell of being a member of the colour party that raised the Union Flag in Japan.
John was enrolled as a member of the Thames & Avon Murray Club at Oxford on 25th November 1998. That was the day that the Club was relaunched after a period of inactivity. He was ‘Derry Made’ at the Relief Celebrations the following August. John was originally from Armoy, County Antrim, and he lived in Reading. He had a second home in Larne where he stayed during the summer months and this enabled him to attend the main Loyal Order parades in Northern Ireland. John was a member of all three Loyal Orders.
John was a true gentleman and he will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege to know him. He is to be buried in Armoy.
Murray Clubs were unable to join the 331st Annual Commemorations for the Relief of Derry in 2020. General Committee maintained the traditions in the Maiden City. Branch Clubs held local Commemorations, some with short parades and others with simple Acts of Remembrance at local War Memorials.
In alphabetical order, with longer reports for Clubs in Crimson by clicking on name:
AghadoweyMurray held a short service at the local War Memorial on Saturday 8th at 2pm in a simple Act of Remembrance. President Edward Acheson laid a wreath on behalf of the Club.
Antrim Murray laid a wreath at the town’s War Memorial; President Bro. Phil Laverty assisted by Vice President Bro. William Surgenor. In keeping with the day’s Anniversary the Club made a contribution to the local Steeple Veterans Flute Band to dress as apprentice boys for its short parade.
BootleMurray held a short Service of Remembrance at Bootle Cenotaph at 11am on Saturday 8th. A short service was led by Ian Thompson of Bootle Protestant Free Church. President Keith Taylor laid a wreath, assisted by Bro. William Lorimer.
Thirteen members of Bryansford & District Murray held short Act of Remembrance at the Newcastle War Memorial on Saturday 8th August, led by the Chaplain, Rev George Speers. The wreath was laid by Wreath laid by Vice President, Bro Richard Foster.
Donemana Murrayheld a wreath laying ceremony at the local Orange Hall, and was joined by Mrs Mary Hamilton on the day who presented the Club with gifts in memory of her late husband Ernest who had been a faithful member of the Club for over 50 years.
Greenock Murray held two short services on Saturday 8th August. Wreaths were laid at the Broomhill which is on the Clubs traditional Parade route.
Also at Wellpark Cenotaph, the central one to Greenock, and close to where the Club regularly meets.
Also at Wellpark, the Greenock Murray remembered Bro. Andy Potter who died suddenly in March 2020 at a bench that (due to Covid regulations) has yet to be dedicated.
NewtownstewartMurray laid a wreath at the War Memorial at 2pm, having watched the Red Hand Defenders pass the Memorial.
Apprentice Boys of Derry, Newtownstewart Branch, Murray Club
President, Sam Allison, was joined by David Bradley, bandmaster of the Red Hand Defenders. The band, of which a number are Murray members, paraded the town.
Teemore Murray held a short Act of Remembrance on Saturday morning, laying a wreath at the Tandragee War Memorial. Present were Tres. Mark Cowan, Robert Cowan, V.P James Wallace, President Daniel Haire, Sec. Trevor Cowan, Noel Berry, David Uprichard.
UpperlandsMurray started the day with a short Parade in Maghera. Returning to Upperlands, there was a short Parade before an Act of Remembrance at the recently completed Memorial Garden; President Ivan Gordon and Vice President Hugh Hunter laid a wreath on behalf of Upperlands Murray, joined by Boveegh Flute Band.
A large number of Wishaw Murray members turned out on Sunday, 9th August 2020, at the Armed Forces Memorial Garden in Belhaven Park Wishaw to commemorate the Relief of Derry. The wreath was laid by one of the youngest Members of Wishaw Murray. There was a short service, with a closing prayer and the National Anthem.
Donemana Branch Murray Club held a Wreath Laying ceremony at the War Memorial in the grounds of Donemana Orange Hall to mark the 331st anniversary of the Relief of Derry.
Saturday 8th August was like no other in living memory, as pandemic regulations limited celebrations for the end of the historic siege of Londonderry. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the local Branch club were in the same situation as others across the Province, unable to parade in the city of Londonderry.
A number of the Branch club members attended the Wreath Laying ceremony, where the Branch President, Worthy Bro Ian Gordon left a Wreath at the at the War memorial to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Members of the Donemana Branch of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, Murray Club. L-R (Front Row) Bro Billy Anderson, Bro Keith Buchanan (Secretary), Bro Joseph McDonald, W. President Bro Ian Gordon, Bro Thomas Allen, Bro George Sayers, Bro Ian Donnell (Chaplin). Middle Row: Bro Adam Buchanan (Assist Standard Bearer), Bro Lynn Buchanan, Bro Ivan Buchanan (Treasurer), Bro Barry Buchanan, Bro Craig Buchanan, Bro Colin Campbell. Back Row: Bro Ian Sayers, Bro Hall Kee, Bro Ryan Armstrong, Bro Alan Donnell, Bro Alexander Kerrigan.
Two members of Barron Accordion Band, David Buchanan and Mrs Sylvia Rankin, played the appropriate hymn “Abide with me” prior to the Laying of the Wreath as part of a short service. Prayers were said by the Branch Chaplin. Bro Ian Donnell and at the end of the ceremony Bro Colin Campbell ( Piper) played a “Lament”. Bro Ivan Buchanan (Branch Treasurer) gave a short talk on the history of the famous siege and especially the vital part played by the “Gallant Thirteen” young Apprentice Boys who shut the gates of the city against the advancing Redshank Troops who were to secure the City for King James.
Bro Ian Gordon, President of Donemana Murray, about to lay the wreath at the War Memorial at Donemana Orange Hall, Sat 8th August 2020.
Prior to the start of the Wreath Laying ceremony, a special guest of the Branch club, Mrs Mary Hamilton, wife of the late Bro Ernest who had been a faithful and loyal member of the Branch club for well over 50 yrs, presented the Branch club with a number of gifts, including a Replica of one of the famous cannons used in the defence of the city during the 105 day siege, and a framed photograph of her late husband. Mrs Hamilton spoke briefly and very emotionally about her late husbands love, dedication, loyalty and great respect he had for the Branch club and its members. Mrs Hamiltons three daughters accompanied her on the day to give her their fullest support, namely Eleanor, Heather and Miriam.
At the end of the day, Bro Tommy Allen presented Mrs Daisy Watt with flowers on behalf of the Club in recognition of all the work she undertakes with organisations who use the Orange Hall, not least in the added role of preparing the Hall for use within Covid Regulations.
Unable to travel to Londonderry for the 331st Anniversary of the Relief of Derry on Saturday 8th August, members of the Wishaw Murray Branch Club turned out on Sunday, 9th August 2020 at the Armed Forces Memorial Garden in Belhaven Park, Wishaw, to commemorate locally.
The park was gifted to the people of Wishaw by Lord Belhaven in memory of his son Lieutenant Colonel The Hon Ralph Gerard Alexander Hamilton, Royal Field Artillery, Master of Belhaven who was killed in action during the 1914 – 1918 war. A memorial headstone in the park details an impressive military history; served with the 7th Division in Flanders in 1914. In August 1915 he took out C Battery 108th Brigade R.F.A. in the 1st 2nd 3rd Battles of Ypres, Loos, the Somme Offensive and Messines. He was killed in action by a shell on Easter Monday, March 31st, 1918 at Castel, near Amiens whilst commanding 106th Brigade R.F.A. defending the ridge where the German advance was finally stayed. Buried in Rouvrel cemetery.
The short service began with a short prayer by acting Chaplain, Bro Murray Douglas Dunbar while President, Alan Love rendered a short history on the siege and the part played by the Ulster Scots followed by a wreath being laid by one of our youngest members Bro Kristofer Weir followed by the closing prayer and the National Anthem.
The President of Wishaw Murray thanked all who had attended and noted that it was particularly pleasing that so many of the younger members had attended this important event and freventlyhoped that next year would be in Londonderry.
The 331st Annual Commemoration of the Relief of Derry was held on 8 August 2020. Sadly the colour and spectacle of thousands of Apprentice Boys with banners and bands wasn’t to be. A respectful honouring of the traditions of the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, within government guidelines of thirty participants, meant a rather different occasion than to what Members of the Apprentice Boys of Derry would be familiar.
Below are a series of videos recording small parts of the 2020 Commemorative events. At the bottom of the page is a link to a Gallery of photographs for the 331st Anniversary of the Relief of Derry.
Walking the Walls, passing Walker’s Plinth:
At the end of Walking the Walls, by First Derry Presbyterian Church:
Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial, The Diamond:
Returning to the Memorial Hall at the end of the morning’s events:
William Temple is long time member of the Murray Club in Londonderry. His life is the City, but specifically The Fountain. When in better health he gave guided tours on the history and significant aspects of this small area just outside the historic Walls.
His recently book “Fountain of Life” is a beautiful expression The Fountain, complimenting and explaining the social, economic and political history of the Fountain area during the 20th century, and inspired a series of paintings hanging in The Thiepval Gallery.
The book was due to be launched in March, but then the pandemic! The Newgate Fringe has stood in and launched the book on Tuesday 4th August 2020 as part of its events this week – more on the New Gate Arts Facebook page.
Copies can be bought at the Siege Museum, Society Street. The book can be delivered locally in Londonderry also – contact by phone or text 07858 108 285. Books to be posted further afield can be ordered through the Bob Harte Memorial Trust via email – bhmt.gs AT gmail.com – and the books are priced at £10.00 each (plus £3.50 for delivery within the UK).
In online Zoom meetings we have heard many stories of how our Clubs have keep in touch with their members these past few months. Facebook, WhatsApp and technology generally has been an essential part of ensuring contact is maintained and support is made available where required.
A good example of this activity comes from our Greenock Branch Club. Around ninety percent of Members are part of a WhatsApp group, and over recent months the rest were telephoned or visited to keep in touch with everyone.
Greenock Murray also made efforts to ensure that it supported the local community. The Club decided to donate funds to local health centres, particularly those who would normally rely on donations.
The President, Bro. Aitken, and Vice President, Bro. Lamont presented a £200 donation to the Ardgowan Hospice in Greenock. Some members made the presentation of £200 to the Cowal Hospice in Dunoon; one of the members having been a patient there on remission a few years past.
Finally, a £200 donation was presented by to the Sir Gabriel Woods Mariners’ Home in Greenock where the father of one of Greenock Murray’ members has been a resident for 15 years.
Great to see how Murray Clubs have risen to the challenges and made a difference to so many by helping those who might otherwise have been alone or unsupported in these difficult times, to Members and others within the wider community.
The Murray Parent Club has been using Zoom to hold Officer meetings while we are unable to meet physically in the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall. As a Parent Club we decided to host a Murray Clubs’ meeting for Presidents and Secretaries to reach out to all our Clubs.
Our first Clubs’ Meeting via Zoom was very successful, with 16 taking part in total – a good number for a first outing. Good too to representatives from Clubs in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England. Our newest Club, in Australia, joined us with a late night link up – where our 1pm meeting, Londonderry time, was 10pm in Sydney.
It was hugely encouraging that whether on Zoom or WhatsApp or Facebook or just phoning around, Clubs are keeping in touch with their members. Also proud that Clubs are helping and supporting the most vulnerable in their Clubs, and in the wider community where Murray Clubs have been collaborating with other Orders and community groups to ensure essential supplies are delivered to where need is greatest.
Looking forward, this won’t be the last time our Clubs meet in a virtual room.
This has been in the ‘planning‘ phase for too long.
We hope that over time the website provides a valuable service; where our Members will be able to visit and see what is happening across our Murray Clubs, and where those who are not members might learn more about our Club and the historic Association of which we are part.
We have some catching up on news from last year, which gets us started.
We launch at a time of great worry for everyone. Looking forward to many good years ahead, once we are all able to get out and about once again. #StaySafeStayHomeSaveLives for as long as necessary.
Ballywillan celebrated its 70 Year Anniversary in December 2019, with a special presentation to Bro. Gerold Dorrans, a Founding and still active Member of Ballywillan Murray.
Also presented that evening, a 40 Year Service Jewel to Ballywillan Club Secretary, Marshall Goligher.
