As is traditional at this time of the year we take a look back at Limavady District in 2013.
January and the usual installations took place for the various private lodges within the district. The Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland was in attendance at Boveva LOL 260 to help celebrate the 90th Birthday of Wor Bro William Douglas, The District Officers where also in attendance to install Bro William Hamilton of Ballynarrig LOL 650 to the office of Treasurer for the 71st time.
The first District meeting of the year was held in Limavady Orange Hall where Wor. Bro Mark Smyth was installed as new Worshipful District Master and Wor. Bro James McCorkell was installed as Deputy District Master having previously served 10 years as District Master, Bro Jonathan Holmes and Bro Keith Thompson were installed as Secretary and Treasurer for another year with the Reverends Smyth and Hassan installed as Chaplains. Bro Jonathan Holmes also attended the installation of officers of Coleraine District LOL No.2 and Wor Bro Mark Smyth attended the installation of officers for Macosquin District LOL No.8. The District Secreatry Bro Holmes also attended the County Londonderry Grand Orange Lodge Significant Anniversaries Committee where plans we made to mark the Diamond Coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II in Garvagh later in the year.
February and the last of the private lodge installations were completed .
March and the first of the County Meetings for 2013 was held in Blackhill Orange Hall outside Tobermore and the District Secretary Bro Holmes represented the District at this meeting.
April and the Grand Lodge of Ireland held it first meeting of 2013 in Banbridge Orange Hall, County Down with our District Rep Bro Jonathan Holmes attending this meeting on behalf of Limavady District. Bro’s J Holmes, T Holmes and O Martin attended another County Significant Anniversaries Committee meeting in Garvagh Orange Hall to help with the plans for a special Church service in Garvagh to mark the Queens Diamond Coronation . A special commerative badge was released by the County to mark the occassion as well.
Our Second District meeting of 2013 was held in Bellarena Orange Hall where arrangements for the 2013 Orange Services where announced.
May and the District was saddened by the news that Wor Bro William Douglas PDM had passed away.
The District Orange Choir took part in the Annual Church Service for RBP 97.
June and the Annual Private Lodge Church Services started with Aghanloo’s being on the first Sunday in June to the Parish Church this did clash with the Special County Service being held in Garvagh for the Queens Diamond Coronation but the District was represented in Garvagh with Bro O Martin was on Standard Bearer duty for the District.
Services for Dungiven, Ballynarrig, Ballyquin/Edenmore, Bellarena and Largy followed for the next few Sundays.
The District Secretary Bro Holmes attended the Grand Lodge meeting in County Fermanagh which was held in Lisbellaw Orange Hall.
The Distict meeting was held in Largy Orange Hall and final arrangements where made for the July Parades.
July and the month started of with the usual Battle of the Somme Service and Parade on 1st July, the usual Annual Church Service this year to Christ Church was held on the Sunday nearest the Twelfth and was well attended with the Church packed to capacity. Bro Rev S McVeigh took the service and was assisted by Bro Rev A Irwin Deputy Grand Lecturer GOLI.
Private Lodge church services also concluded with a joint service for Boveva and Ardinariff Lodge.
The Eleventh night saw the return of the ever popular massed band with a number of Brethren from the District taking the opportunity to take part walking with the band.
The Twelfth this year was held in Londonderry and will surely be remembered as one of the hottest ever there was an excellent turnout of Brethern from all the lodges as well as the sisters of the Ladies Lodge, the Junior Lodges were also represented and the bands all were looking and sounding well some with new uniforms this year.
August and as Orange duties took a back seat the members of the Apprentice Boys of Derry held their parade in Londonderry and the members of the Royal Black Institution headed of to Ballyronan for their usual last Saturday demonstration.
September and the District Secretary Bro J Holmes attended a meeting of the Grand Lodge of Ireland in County Leitrim.
October and the usual elections of officers took place for the Private Lodges with a number of changes in the officers for the lodges.
The District Meeting was held in Boveva Orange Hall under the auspices of Dungiven LOL and the election which was conducted by the County Grand Master Bro H Stewart and Deputy County Grand Master Bro S Calvin resulted in no changes to the main offices.
A special District Meeting was held in Ballykelly Orange Hall to bring the District lodge up to speed with what plans were being made for the 2014 County Twelfth in Limavady.
The County meeting was held in Killowen Orange Hall, Coleraine with our District Chaplain Wor Bro Rev B Hassan being elected as one of the Deputy County Grand Chaplains and our District Secretary Bro J Holmes being elected as one of the Assistant Deputy County Grand Secretaries.
The District Secretary attended the Grand Lodge meeting in Eglinton.
The District Officers met to finalise plans for their presentation to Grand Lodge in order to achieve flagship status for the Twelfth in 2014.
All in all its been a very busy year for Limavady District Lodge and will no doubt be even busier when we host the 2014 County Twelfth.