Our trip to Scotland began on Friday, July 7th, 2006 at 10.20 a.m. The band members accompanied by their wives, families and other supporters including some Ballymoney brethren, boarded the big yellow Chambers tour bus outside the War Memorial and headed off to the docks in Belfast. We boarded the boat and enjoyed a peaceful crossing. As is the usual welcome for Ulster Loyalists, the police authorities in Scotland wanted all of us to fill out cards on where we were going and they collected these from us all. Too bad that the Republicans are not subject to the same harassment! However, we were soon on our way along the Scottish coast, stopping in Girvin, a quaint fishing village. Here we got something to eat and I enjoyed some of the best fish and chips ever. We continued our trip and arrived in Slamannan Village around 7 O'clock in the evening. We then went to the homes of the Scottish Lodge members and different motels in the area.
At 6:20 a.m. on Saturday morning, the yellow bus drove around and collected all the members of the band and supporters and met the Lodge outside the church where our parade of Slamannan Village began. We paraded through the village and then the Lodge got onto their buses - a double-decker and a single decker, and we proceeded to Airdrie where we led the Lodge through the district. Some rain fell but it didnt' diminish our spirits. The crowd lined the street and you could see their approval as the drum roll started and the streets filled with the sound of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Here Lies A Soldier, along with a repertoire of over thirty tunes that were played. Leaving Airdrie again, we boarded our buses and arrived in Holytown to where the main parade to the field was taking place.
In Scotland, the twelfth is very well organized and it was a privilege to see all the great Scottish bands and Lodge members and witness the other Ulster bands comming into the field - Cloughfern Young Conquerers, Pomeroy True Blues, Ahoghil Loyal Sons of William and Blair Memorial from Omagh.
On leaving the field, we again stopped in Airdrie and had a meal which was prepared for us by the Lodge. We were all hungry and thirsty from the day's activity. Finally, we took part in the final parade in Slamannan again, before disbanding at the end of another glorious celebration.
Sunday saw the band play in the Welfare Hall at Shield Hill out of uniform with some members wearing distinctive pink hats. After this, the band, along with all their supporters, boarded the bus for the long trip back to Ulster and Garvagh. Yet again, the Scottish Constabulary checked us over and we got on the ferry at midnight and arrived in Garvagh at 5 a.m. on Monday morning. We were all very tired but had good memories of a very enjoyable trip leading our Scottish brethren.
Movenis Rising Sons of William feel honoured to have taken part in making history in leading the largest Lodge in Scotland to it's fourth victory.
