Delight and gratitude for support at parade

Delight and gratitude for support at parade

16 November 2022

ORGANISERS of Sunday’s remembrance commemoration in Downpatrick have expressed their gratitude and delight for the support which they received.

There was concern earlier this year that Remembrance Sunday in Downpatrick might become thing of the past owing a decline in the fortunes of the town’s Royal British Legion branch.

However, the branch has been buoyed by an influx of new members and an appeal for more organisations to participate in the annual commemoration.

The satisfying result was a marked increase in those taking part in the parade, as well as the number of people who gathered at the cenotaph in New Bridge Street for the commemoration and wreath laying ceremony.

Another heartening aspect was the return of youth organisations, who laid wreaths and took part in the parade to the cenotaph from The Mall in English Street.

They were joined by Legion members, ex-service personnel, the PNSI, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, family members of loved ones who had lost their lives and representatives from other groups and organisations.

Standing on the cenotaph steps, Mr Keith Straney, branch chairman, thanked everyone for their support.

The parade marshal was Mr Sammy Daye and the parade was led by members of Dunmore Silver Band.

The Royal British Legion standard bearer was Mr Raymond Martin and the Royal Air Force Association standard bearer was Mr Andrew Conn.

The religious ceremony was conducted by the Rev Adrian Dorrian, vicar of the Church of Ireland Lecale Area Missionary Partnership, the Rev Owen Patterson, minister of Downpatrick Presbyterian Church, and Fr Maurice Henry.

As the standards were lowered, a bugler from Dunmore Silver Band sounded The Last Post.

Mr Straney recited Binyon’s Lines after which there was a minute’s silence which ended with Reveille being sounded.

A total of 16 wreaths — the largest number for many years — were laid. The first wreath was laid by Mr James Smyth, High Sheriff of Co Down.

The Royal British Legion wreath was laid by Mr Stephen Maxwell, who was accompanied by Mr Neil Rooney and Mr Richard Rooney.

The Royal Air Force Association wreath was laid by Mr Jim Smyth, 

while a wreath on behalf of Newry, Mourne and Down Council was laid by Cllr Michael Savage, chairman of the council.

Other wreaths were laid by the following:

NI Fire and Rescue Service — Mr Gary Fitzpatrick, who was escorted by Mr Kevin Hanna.

Downpatrick Women’s Institute — Mrs Sharon McVeigh, who was escorted by Mrs Deirdre Ferris and Mrs Geraldine Gray.

Alliance Party — Mr Patrick Brown MLA.

Lecale Black Royal District Chapter — Mr Samuel Barratt, who was escorted by Mr Phil Colmer.

Lecale District LOL No 2 — Mr Johnny Jackson, who was escorted by Mr Ronnie Steele and Mr Gordon McMullan.

Downpatrick Red Hand Defenders — Max Blakely.

Bells Hill Apprentice Boys — Alex Stevenson, who was escorted by Mr Neville Rooney and Mr Stephen Strain.

1st Crossgar Boys’ Brigade — William McCormick, who was escorted by Ruben Watson and Alex Watson.

Clough Girls’ Brigade — Sarah Fegan, who was escorted by Alice Campbell and Abi Straney.

Eamon Kelly, escorted by his cousin, Jim Cochrane, laid a wreath in memory of their uncle, UDR Private James Cochrane, who was one of three soldiers murdered in an IRA landmine attack on their Land Rover outside Castlewellan in January 1980.

Mr David Moreland, escorted by his sister, Mrs Gwen Orr, laid a wreath in memory of their brother, UDR Private John Moreland, who was shot dead by the IRA while delivering coal in Downpatrick in December 1988.

A wreath was also laid on behalf of the PSNI.

Following the National Anthem, the parade marched past the cenotaph where the salute was taken by the High Sheriff and Mr Andy Campbell, president of Downpatrick Royal British Legion.