This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6941698.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Thousands take part in city march | Thousands take part in city march |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of Apprentice Boys are in Londonderry preparing for Saturday's annual parade. | Thousands of Apprentice Boys are in Londonderry preparing for Saturday's annual parade. |
| In the run-up to the lunch-time parade, local Apprentice Boys marched around the city walls before laying wreaths for war victims at the Diamond. | In the run-up to the lunch-time parade, local Apprentice Boys marched around the city walls before laying wreaths for war victims at the Diamond. |
| A religious service at St Columcille's Cathedral followed. | A religious service at St Columcille's Cathedral followed. |
| During the main parade at lunchtime, about 15,000 Apprentice Boys and spectators accompanied by 120 bands will march in the city centre. | During the main parade at lunchtime, about 15,000 Apprentice Boys and spectators accompanied by 120 bands will march in the city centre. |
| The parade will take several hours to pass. | The parade will take several hours to pass. |
| The governor of the Apprentice Boys, William Allen, said this would be his last year leading the organisation and he hoped the day would be remembered as a peaceful one. | |
| "We have been having peaceful parades over the last three or four years and I would like it to continue," he said. | |
| "It is very important for the citizens and the city itself. Anyone that comes to cause trouble only destroys the day and we look on it as a family day out as well." | |
| There have been appeals for calm and police have warned they will deal with anyone involved in illegal drinking or any unruly behaviour. | There have been appeals for calm and police have warned they will deal with anyone involved in illegal drinking or any unruly behaviour. |
| The parade celebrates the actions of Protestant Apprentice Boys who shut the city gates against the forces of Catholic King James in December 1688. | The parade celebrates the actions of Protestant Apprentice Boys who shut the city gates against the forces of Catholic King James in December 1688. |