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Major Orange march planned for Perth

Around 4,000 expected to parade through Perth for "Boyne Anniversary Celebrations" if council approval is given, STV News can reveal.

18 March 2010 17:24 GMT

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Major Orange march planned for Perth

A major Orange march is planned for Perth this summer, STV News can reveal.

Around 4,000 people could parade through the city centre in June if an application to hold a "Boyne Celebration" parade is approved.

The East of Scotland branch of the Grand Orange Lodge organise a parade every year - and they plan to hold their 2010 event in Perth.

They have asked Perth and Kinross Council for permission to hold a massive march on Saturday June 26.

The march would encircle Perth - starting at the lesser South Inch, moving along Tay Street, Charlotte Street, Atholl Street, Caledonian Road, High Street, Scott Street and Marshall Place.

The organisers have met with the police and council, and say they will do everything possible to keep disruption to a minimum.

However, some locals say they would not welcome the march.

One resident said on Thursday: "I'm against it. I think it just instigates trouble, like in Northern Ireland they're trying to get the peace agreement together, but I think there's no place in British society for that now."

Another added: "I personally feel that it doesn't really fit in with what Perth's all about. I don't think we need any more divisiveness or sectarianism.

"It might just stir up things which really aren't around, so I'd rather it didn't go ahead."

However, some local business owners say there could be benefits.

Eddie Anderson, a local hotelier, said: "The retailers will benefit, the hotels, pubs, everyone really benefits in these situations so it's a good platform for Perth.

"It's all down to behaviour, really, they have to marshal the troops, so to speak, properly."

A final decision on whether the parade gets the go-ahead is expected in early June.

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  1. Default avatar

    1. 18 Mar 2010 18:05the greek said

    There were no arrests and no trouble at last big walk when 8.000 took part in 1988. As an orangeman from Perth evry week i see other organisations being welcomed to Perth, money wise it would be a windfall. As a matter of interest that is not the route which was shown on TV, its a much smaller one and does not encircle the town

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  2. Default avatar

    2. 18 Mar 2010 18:50Big Bob said

    What a great idea, it will bring in some needed income to the City Centre shops

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  3. Default avatar

    3. 18 Mar 2010 23:17phoenix-chick said

    Out of interest could I ask those who oppose us celebrating our beliefs why?

    A Lot is made of the Scottish executive's one Scotland Many cultures etc, this sentiment doesn't apply to members of the Orange Order though, again why?

    A Lot is mentioned saying that our organisation causes divisions, we are not the people who divide children at an early age by sending them to different schools on the basis of their religion.

    The Orange Order is a very charitable organisation, thousands are raised for charities every year, In fact A founder of one such charity that being Dr Barnados, was an orangeman, and that money raised for charity benefits all races/religions not just Protestantism, but Roman Catholic,Jew,Hindu,Muslim and any other not mentioned.

    Again to those who oppose us can I pose a question, what could we as an institution do to change your opinions of us.

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    4. 18 Mar 2010 23:17phoenix-chick said

    Another side people see is the drunkenness of "So Called supporters/followers", in my opinion they are not, but are indeed a nuisance, unfortunately this is what blights our organisation, but luckily we in the East of Scotland aren't affected too much by this.

    But drunkenness is a Scotland wide problem and not confined to Orange parades, go out any given Friday/Saturday night and you will see people staggering about drunk or for that matter some local galadays where you have teenagers unable to walk straight because they have been on the "buckie", even during the week they have their drinking spots, search youtube and you will see countless videos of young people drinking.

    As for our place in British society, we are entitled to be here the same as everyone else.

    We have also been called divisive, it wouldn't do for everyone to have the same beliefs/views etc, Aren't some Us Scots showing similar views in that of our opinion of all things English and all of the anti English sentiment going on just now leading up to the world cup etc, eg the tshirt produced by the slanj company slagging off england, and English people being attacked/hazed/abused merely because they are English, or is this Different?

    I look forward to reading some of your answeres to some of my questions posed.

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  5. Default avatar

    5. 19 Mar 2010 00:11chucky said

    I think it's a Great idea. It will bring in some added income to the shop's, Bed&Breakfast's and Hotels as many will stay for the weekend. Let's hope it get's the OK.

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  6. Default avatar

    6. 19 Mar 2010 07:35George Cross said

    Some very good points made already, if we profess to be such a multi cultural society why are we even having this debate.

    I've never seen any participants behaving poorly in any of these events I have been fortunate enough to see ... apart from the fact that they are an integral part of our culture, I believe they have been going on for hundreds of years, they are a great spectacle.

    As for any misbehaving 'hangers on' I'm sure the organisers of these events despise them as much as everyone else and don't want them there, surely they should be treated like anyone else causing bother or being intoxicated in our cities every weekend,by the authorities ... to be frank it's unfortunately not an unknown phenomena ... even in Perth.

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  7. Default avatar

    7. 19 Mar 2010 13:35Covenanter450th said

    The Orange Order is one of the largest Organisations across the Globe. Their foundations are part of Scotland's heritage although Nationalists and Republicans would try to deny their proud history through the media or political institutions. Regardless of what the media depicts of the Orange Order, it's core principles are very clear for all to view "Civil and Religious Freedoms for all, preferential treatment for none". A truly Christian Organisation who follow in the footsteps of many great men such as John Knox, the great Scottish Reformer. Many a Covenanter gave his/her life for the Protestant faith, yet Scotland today denies thousands their legacy through a Nationalist agenda Scottish Education system.

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  8. Default avatar

    8. 19 Mar 2010 13:35Covenanter450th said

    Mr Salmond and the SNP will never stop the Protestants of Scotland, they come from all across Scotland, many who have generations upon generation who still have family involved to this very day.

    The Orange Order believes in United Kingdom and the Monarchy, in the year 2010 it's even more important to Celebrate Scotland's Cultural identity with it's membership. The Orange Order is as proud as any other Cultural or Political Organisation that takes to the streets, it's every law abiding human beings democratic right to do so. It's the intolerance and mindset of the Nationalist/Republican agenda that the Orange Order opposes, hating United Kingdom means the Orange Order and all Unionist Organisations will flourish, as they increase in numbers today the message is very clear to the SNP "No Surrender to Nationalists, Scotland's Unionists Say No to Independence".

    The Orange Order must be the only charitable and religious organisation that is verbally abused through slanderous accusations from people who are prejudiced/racist or opposed to what the Orange Order stands for, these proud women and men are entitled to the same rights as everyone else in a ever changing Scotland, United Kingdom.

    As the saying goes "those in glass houses..."

    My final thought for all those who will attack what I have written, if Gay people want to Celebrate would this be ok? If Muslims/Chinese/ wanted to Celebrate would this be ok? The Orange Order is Celebrating their history/identity, to take their rights away would be a sad day for Scotland & United Kingdom, don't blame the Order for a dozen idiots who follow the parade, that's a police issue, remember there are more arrests at T in the Park or at a football game, than there is at an Orange Festival.

    Respect to all cultures who allow me my Civil Rights!

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  9. Default avatar

    9. 24 Mar 2010 14:47Big Bob said

    Well all the comments seem to support this great event and I am sure the people of Perth will come out in their thousands and cheer the marchers on.

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  10. Default avatar

    10. 28 Mar 2010 03:17jpm003 said

    I agree that this famous march should continue, but possibly in the bloodied fields of the boyne on an annual basis where people with a private admiration for William of Orange can celebrate this magnificent victory.

    Since then and even before in Scotland's history many a battle has been fought and won, many men have sacrificed there lives in the defence of Great Britian and the United Kingdom, this includes men of many cultures and religions. Why is it that scottish protestants try to take the credit for all the battles been fought and won since the Battle of the Boyne? This still puzzles me when i know how much of a personal sacrifice family and friends i am linked to have made, both protestant and catholic and that includes me. They don't parade up and down streets in an aggresive manner to celebrate in an attempt to take all credit and also have the cheek to display the headgear of these by gone heroes both catholic and protestant, that's probably because they sacrificed there life in some cases.

    These people who have actually participated accept life for what it is and continue and develop in there own right, they don't cling on to the past and march up and down streets annoying people. It still puzzles me to actually know what this celebration is about? Bigotry? The killing of catholics? (Do the Germans have the Ghetto parades on an annual basis) Why did it take until 1963 to allow catholics to apply for jobs when my own kin lost his life for this country in 1917?

    Puzzled ex British Army citizen....?

    Comments welcome.

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  11. Default avatar

    11. 31 Mar 2010 16:47WAAM1966 said

    I may be late getting into this conversation and things have been decided but I am fed up of the negative comments being relayed about Orangemen and their beliefs. Like all organisations there are the "dafties, drunkards and hangers on" I should know because I was a member of an order many years ago but left beacause of some of these louts antics.

    However, please remember this organisation gives millions to various charities every year

    As regards to P+K Council, this is the same council that knocked back an IKEA store (Millions of pounds of revenue and about a 100 jobs lost to the area) on the outskirts of Perth to help support town centre shopping. So can they now go against their commitment to this by denying the opportunity of of town centre shops and establishments making a fortune over a 2-4 day period? I suppose like all politicians they can spin it out whenever they want to! Provided they event is policed properly, do you think that the Orange Order want to have any problems on the day? No.

    Lets just think how much money Glasgow is going to make from the Pontiffs visit? We all know that there will be Republican marches during this period to raise money for various "causes" and celebrate the visit, but how many will be banned?

    How many Muslim?Anti War marches get banned?

    Lets have tolerance and celebrate everyones culture.

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