Flute Band
GARVAGH
It was in 1903 that they decided to build the hall, a sound blackstone building that was built by voluntary labour and opened in 1904 by Capt. Watt, Portrush who was County Grand Master at the time.
The ground on which it stands was owened by the famous Bro. Tom McFetridge, better known as "Tam Jam", who lived at the corner of the Rosehill road in a house now demolished, which belonged to the Toye family more recently. He was a very special character remembered well by the older members of the local community, and he was a Lambeg drummer in his youth before the flute band was started. He, of course, gave the plot of land for the hall free of charge.
Materials for the hall had to be transported from Garvagh railway station, and a story is told of how, on more than one occasion, when they could not borrow a horse to cart with, Robert McCann stepped in between the shafts of the cart and pulled it to the station, had it loaded with timber etc. and with the help of Wm. McCann, James Boyd and A. Quinn, pushing, they headed for Movenis. Brave hearts were needed for such a task when horses were of secondary consideration if some heavy work had to be done.
The hall this year "2004" is One hundred years old and the Lodge and Band are celebrating the occasion with various functions as well as the annual parade in Garvagh. The Lodge and band are closely interlinked as many of the band members are brethren of Movenis L.O.L. 642 with a number of the younger bandmembers joining this year and walking for their first time at the annual "Battle of the Somme" commemoration held in Garvagh at the War memorial on the 1st of July.
It is said that Movenis band changed their name from Movenis Protestant flute band to Movenis Rising Sons of William back in either 1974 or 1975 after a disagreement between some of the younger band members and the Lodge. At this time the bands style was changing to the more Loyalist "Blood & Thunder" and the band wanted a name that would complement this style of band. This didn't go down too well with the Lodge and various names were mentioned and turned down. When one band member "Robert Moore" saw the Lodge banner hanging in the hall with the words "Risiing Son's of William", it was then realised that this was the name that the band would be known as, and has been to this day.
The band has changed it's style of uniform many times over the years and was always quick to be at the forefront of the marching bands scene in this part of Northern Ireland and be seen as a leading player amongst the more popular bands. This year has been no exception with the purchase of new uniforms to celebrate the 100 years of the opening of the Orange hall. Some photographs can be seen of the band down through the years elsewhere on the web site with more to be published in the near future.
At this point it is not known exactly what year a band was formed, but there are photographs of Movenis band in the early 1920's and it can be fair to say that it was going well before that. Previoeus to the band being formed it is almost certain that the Lodge was led by at least one Lambeg Drum, as a lambeg drummer was mentioned in a local history book of Garvagh Lodges and bands. There may well have been a fyfer but no mention of this has been noted in records.
