Cromwells True Blues
banner and flag paraded for final time
The banner and flag of a once well known local Orange lodge
was paraded through Lisburn city centre for what may well be the
final time last Friday evening (18th April). The banner of
�Cromwell�s True Blues LOL 354� was once a familiar sight at
twelfth of July demonstrations, but when the lodge closed down
because of lack of members the flag and banner passed into the
hands of a private collector. When he put them up for sale on an
internet auction site, a member of LOL 1981 spotted the items
and spoke to fellow Orangemen about the possibility of buying
them back. A bid was placed after financial support was offered
by a local community worker and when the seller heard the items
actually belonged to Lisburn Orange District he offered to sell
them for the price he paid.
Parade organiser LOL 1981 issued an open invitation to former
members of the lodge to take advantage of the opportunity to
once again walk behind the banner they previously followed at
countless July 12 demonstrations. Led by the Lisburn Fusiliers
Flute Band the parade circled the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn
Museum returning back to the Orange Hall where the flag and
banner were officially handed over to District officers.
Members of LOL 1981 would also like to hear from past members of
Cromwell�s True Blues who may be in possession of minute books
or documents belonging to the lodge as they feel some of these
should also be presented to the District in order to preserve a
piece of Lisburn�s Orange history. Anyone who can assist with
information relating to these historic records are asked to
contact Gareth Walker on 07912449030.
