Organised by General Committee many Parent Club Members attended a Service in St Columb’s Cathedral on the afternoon of 26th March to reflect on Members and family of members who died during Covid and perhaps hadn’t had the Service that would have been usual. The collection at the Service was dedicated to Medical Research, and after discussion with the Research wing of Altnagelvin Hospital a cheque for £1000 was handed to the Respiratory Research team in June.
On the morning of our Annual Initiation Day started, the Murray Club along with Churchhill LOL 871 joined together to remember Bro. Gordon Hill. Gordon died at the end of 2021 and had no family. He is buried at Ballyoan Cemetery. The Club and Lodge together commissioned a Memorial Stone, so that the grave would not be unmarked and the Brother remembered appropriately. A brief reading and prayer were said and a wreath laid in Memory of a good Brother.
A big change in 2023 with the Murray Club joining with the Apprentice Boys of Derry Parent Club and the Baker Parent Club for a joint initiation Day on the last Saturday of May.
It was a worthwhile change, evident from the very large numbers walking from Bond Street to the Memorial Hall. There were so many candidates for Initiation there had to be two meetings, one for the much larger ABOD Club and another jointly for the Baker and Murray Clubs. On the day around eighty were Made across all the Clubs, nineteen for the Murray. Tremendous turnout and a positive indication of a significant bounce back after Covid.
An approach to the Parent Club Secretary early in 2023 led to a Special Meeting of SAMS Liverpool Branch in Corby in mid-May to enrol eight members who would be a core part of establishing a new Murray Club in Corby. There had been a No Surrender Club back in the 1980s, but it dissolved and issues still rumble. The mostly young coterie who wished to make a new start in Corby decided on Murray as the future Parent Club. Since May, others in the Corby area have transferred into the Parent Club. Wishing SAMS and its Corby members all the best as they work towards a new Charter for a Murray Corby Branch Club sometime in 2024.
The 334th Annual Commemoration of the Shutting of the Gates returned to the full-scale event that it was pre-Covid. No hesitation in attendance, and a huge turnout of Apprentice Boys. We were back to being able to attend the Service of Thanksgiving in St. Columb’s Cathedral.
Parades, a packed Church Service, laying a wreath at Siege Heroes Mound, and the inevitable burning of Lundy, all combined to end a memorable year for the Murray Club and the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry. There was also a television crew recording for an episode of the ‘Long and Short of it’: well-known faces at the Shutting of the Gates, and to appear on TV sometime this coming year.
The link to the gallery page is here.
A weekend in Blackpool supporting the English Amalgamated Committee, intending to generate enthusiasm for a restart after these past few disruptive years. Along with the Murray Club President, Gordon McMorris, it was an excellent opportunity to meet with a number of our English Clubs; SAMS Liverpool, Bootle, and Lancashire & Cheshire. English brethren were joined by many from Scotland and from Northern Ireland. Members of Newtownstewart Murray travelled with Castlederg Young Loyalists (Old Boys) FB, to make a weekend of it. A good parade and evening harmony, which is hoped to become an annual date for the diary on the last Saturday of October.
No-one, other than perhaps the Royal Household, had a ready plan in the event of the passing of Her Majesty. The Association undertook to provide the opportunity for Members to pay respects appropriately. All meetings during the Official Period of Mourning were cancelled.
On the first Saturday following the announcement from the Palace, Apprentice Boys from all Clubs, led by the Governor and Officers of General Committee, gathered to sign the Book of Condolence in Londonderry’s Guildhall. Gordon McMorris, President, signed for the Murray Club.
Branch Clubs also took part in local events to mark the passing of Her Majesty: local Memorials serving as focal points. Pictured here are two; Upperlands Murray, and Wishaw Murray.
On the day of the Funeral the Governor, Graeme Stenhouse, Officers of General Committee and Apprentice Boys presented a special floral tribute in Honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the Dean of St Columb’s Cathedral; remaining in St Columb’s Cathedral Londonderry to watch The State Funeral of Her Majesty from Westminster Abbey as the Nation bade a sad and fond farewell.
Glasgow Clubs traditionally parade the weekend following the Londonderry Commemorations. The Murray Club Secretary spent a very enjoyable day with Partick Murray, the organiser for this year’s Parade. Another Parade three years in the making because, you know, Covid. The parade started from the Centre of Glasgow, out to the Crawford Halls in Partick. Excellent parade and a good afternoon with Partick Branch Club. Thanks to Thomas Chalmers, Secretary, for all his work for the day, along with all those who played a part in making the day a success.
If lockdown during Covid felt harsh in the UK, Australia was draconian with no movement between States and Melbourne extremely stringent. Australia Murray was only able to meet in August 2022, the previous meeting having been December 2019. Therefore, good to be able welcome our first Australia Murray member to be Made since the opening of that Club. Glenn Malloch made a detour from visiting family in Scotland to visit Londonderry, and the Parent Club arranged a special Initiation to welcome him to the Murray Club and to the Association.
Pictured here, centre, with the Andy Berryman (Australia Murray, back for now, living in Lisburn) and the Governor, Graeme Stenhouse, to his left, and Murray President, Gordon McMorris, and Robin Smyth, Australia Murray (also visiting, at home in Claudy).
It was an honour for the Siege Museum to host a visit for Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, today 2 November 2021, following which the Trustees of the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall extended an invitation to the adjacent building.
The tour of the Siege Museum was conducted by the Chairman of the Siege Museum Committee, William Moore BEM, and Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was welcomed to the Memorial Hall by Ivan Taylor, Chairman of the Trustees of the Memorial Hall.
The Siege Museum tells the story of Londonderry from the Siege of 1688-89 to the present day, and includes the history of the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice boys of Derry and the annual commemorations of Siege events.
Among the most admired items on display are sword carried by the Siege Hero Col. Adam Murray and, from more recent times, there is a silver replica Mountjoy which contained the Freedom of the City of Londonderry for Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Following the tour of the Museum Her Royal Highness spoke to schools from the area and to representatives of each of the eight Parent Clubs that are the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry. The Secretary of the Murray, Bro. David Hoey, introduced four of the Clubs to Her Royal Highness, the Baker Club, Campsie Club, Browning Club and the Murray Club (represented on the day by the Secretary, and Chaplain Bro. David Austin), providing a little background on each Club, and reflecting on aspects of the story she may have observed within the Siege Museum. The Princess Royal took time to speak with the representatives of each Club.
Currently on exhibition is the story of Londonderry within the 100 years of Northern Ireland. While in the Memorial Hall, Her Royal Highness unveiled a Centenary Stone which is to be placed permanently in the Museum.
