The Loyal Orange Lodge hold annual Parade in Southport
Photographs by Patrick Trollope.

IT'S also known as:- "Orangemen's Day," "Orange Day," "The Glorious 12th," and on the 12 July, in Southport the Region's members of the Orange Order hold a parade through the seaside resort to:- "enjoy the day of celebration." The event sees 2 parades taking place, 1 in the morning and the other in the late afternoon, with various activities taking place all around Southport's Town Centre. This years event followed the familiar pattern. Throughout the morning and afternoon you could often hear the drums and bands playing from the variety of Order's branches taking part. The morning Parade saw the Orange Lodge members who were marching, as in previous years, lay wreaths at the Town's Lord Street Cenotaph to remember the Fallen. Over the years the event has attracted much controversy; in recent times, splitting opinion as to if it is beneficial to the Town or not. Some Southport locals criticise the marches because of the disruption that they cause. Others say it brings in lots of money for the bars and clubs, helping them to keep going for the rest of the year. Other businesses choose to stay shut on Lodge days due to the disruption and the reputation the parade has acquired from the trouble it caused in the 1980's. No matter your view though, the parades do bring in huge amounts of people to the Town and also colour, particularly on what would otherwise quiet weekday. We would love to know our readers views about this annual event. Do you take part in the event? If you do, please do let us know your views as we would love to hear them! Please email us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com. These are photographs taken at this years event.

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