Category: Murray Club

Enrolment of new Members into SAMS Liverpool Branch

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.

Partick Murray is 120 Years young.

Congratulations to Partick Murray Club which celebrates its 120th Anniversary in 2023, the oldest Branch Club in Scotland.

Murray Parent Club President, Gordon McMorris, and the Parent Club Secretary joined Partick Murray’s 120th Anniversary Parade on Saturday 14th January. There was an impressive turnout of Partick Members and other visiting brethren on a cold, sometimes sunny, sometimes wet and often windy, winter afternoon. The Heirs of Cromwell Flute Band was excellent.

Following the parade there was a warm welcome of soup and sandwiches at Crawford Street Hall, and an afternoon of entertainment.

During the afternoon there were a series of presentations. Forty Year Service Jewels were presented to Bros. Jim Mahoney and Andrew Platt (Treasurer), and Thirteen Year Service Jewels to Past President, Bro. Stevie Bryceland, and current President, Bro. Brian Hood.

There were four Members Derry Made on the evening before the Shutting of the Gates in December 2022 who were presented with their Certificates: (left to right) Bros. Michael Holmes, Neil Robbie Robertson, George Bell, Robert Jamieson. Finally, Bro Eric Latham received a Past President Certificate from his successor Bro. Hood.

Terrific start to any year.

Partick Murray keeps the Crimson strong in Glasgow and shows every sign of maintaining a strength of presence for many years ahead.

The 334th Annual Commemoration of the Shutting of the Gates

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.

Aghadowey Murray Initiation of Officers, Thursday 1 December.

Late November through to early January is a busy time, with Officers of the Parent Club endeavouring to have at least one representative at a Branch Club’s Installation of Officers, if at all practicable. Aghadowey was the closest meeting to the Shutting of the Gates. At the meeting Bro. Freddie Tannilhill was presented his 40 Year Service Jewel by the Governor. Following supper, Glenkeen Flute Band played some tunes. It was also an evening to welcome two new Members to Aghadowey: transferred in are Bros. James Gault and Nevin Brewster.

English Amalgamated AGM and Parade, Blackpool, 21st October.

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.

The Annual Visit to the Grave of Murray took place in September.

Due to the period of mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth this was not the usual joint event with the Mitchelburne Club, with each Club attending separately for a simple wreath laying, rather than the usual short Service prior to a Parade to the Memorial Hall for initiations. A few Parent Club members attended our annual visit to the Murray Grave, with President, Gordon McMorris, laying the wreath and the Chaplain, David Austin, saying a short prayer.

Fine Art Print for 175th Anniversary

It has taken some months to get to this point. Finally, the painting of St Columb’s Cathedral, the Siege Heroes Mound and historic Walls of Londonderry, is complete.

This beautiful painting by artist Brian John Spencer has been scanned, and printed on Baryta Fine Art Giclée paper *.

Each print is uniquely numbered and signed by the artist.

The prints are now on sale. Members of any Branch Club should contact their Club Secretaries to enquire on price at a Members’ rate – Branch Club Secretaries to contact the Murray Parent Club Secretary as per Report Book.

There are three sizes available.

The prints are also available to the public. Contact using our Contact page for more information, or by post to the address on the contact page (post is collected from that address every week or so).

On general sale, prices (not including P&P) are:

A4 – £15.00

A3 – £25.00

A2 – £40.00

The prints are a very fine addition to any wall, framed by a professional framer or simply in an off-the-shelf frame.

* Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta is a bright white cellulose based fine art paper with a coating specially tailored for FineArt use. The clearly visible felt structure lends the paper a tactile surface structure to produce prints with a three dimensional quality. The barium sulphate within the coating gives the FineArt Baryta the feel of a traditional analogue baryta print, creating stunning contrasts, deep blacks and perfect reproduction of colour. The paper is acid and lignum free making it extremely age resistant.

Royal Visit to the Siege Museum and Memorial Hall

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.

 

Aghadowey Murray Celebrate 90 Years, and a belated 10th anniversary for Wishaw.

At the end of October Aghadowey Murray celebrated its 90th Anniversary as a Branch Club. A dinner was held at the Royal British Legion in Ballymoney, with the President, Bro. Gordon McMorris, and Secretary, Bro. David Hoey, of the Parent Club in attendance.

On the evening the history of the Club was read by Bro. Raymond McKeeman.

Two fifty year jewels were presented, to Bros. William Doey and Noel Stevenson.

  

Bros. Doey and Stevenson then ceremonially cut the celebration cake with Bro. McMorris, along with The President of Aghadowey, Bro. Edward Acheson (right) and Vice-President Bro. Richard McMullan.

Entertainment for the evening was by the always excellent Kellswater Flute Band.

The following day the Parent Club Secretary, Bro. Hoey, headed over to Glasgow and the delayed visit to Wishaw Murray Club. The original plan had been to attend in June 2020 for the 10th Anniversary of the founding of the Club. However, COVID. And the trip was postponed to October 2020, to June 2021 and finally realised at the end of October 2021.

The Secretary officiated at the Installation of the Club Officers for the coming year and commended the Officer team for sustaining the Club through difficult times and looking forward to seeing Wishaw Murray continue to grow in the years ahead.

Following the formalities of the day there was an afternoon of harmony, with good company and the good cheer magnified by a couple of sessions from the County Flute Band. Always good to listen to at any time.

Initiation Weekend returns

2021 saw a return to the Initiation Weekend, 18/19 September, which did not take place in 2020 due to Covid restrictions on holding meetings.

It was good to return to the Memorial Hall, with a Parade of Murray with the Mitchelburne Club on the Saturday morning. We were able to welcome Murray members from Upperlands, Crumlin, Belfast and Thames & Avon. In total, nine new Members were made into the Apprentice Boys Association. Thanks to the Governor of the Association, Graham Stenhouse, for officiating at the Initiations.

On Sunday, again with the Mitchelburne Club, we paraded from `Glendermott Presbyterian Church to the Old Glendermott Graveyard to Visit the Graves of the Siege Heroes, Col. Adam Murray and Col. John Mitchelburne. The Hamilton Flute Band led the Parade, and played at the short Service conducted by Rev. Nigel Cairns.

The first congregation of Glendermott Presbyterian Church was established in 1654 with the Church being build some few years after the Siege in 1696. Extensions and renovations in 1938 did not alter the Church’s layout, reflecting the original Scottish form of the congregational seating to the front and to the left and right of the pulpit.

The connection with Col. Adam Murray is strong. He was a member of the Congregation of Glendermott. To the left of the pulpit there is a brass tablet framed in oak, commemorating the efforts of the Rev. James Gordon who would have been the Minister known to Murray, and to Murray himself.