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| Thousands take part in city march | Thousands take part in city march |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of Apprentice Boys are in Londonderry taking part in Saturday's annual parade. | |
| Prior 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 Columb's Church of Ireland Cathedral followed. | A religious service at St Columb's Church of Ireland Cathedral followed. |
| In the main parade, about 15,000 Apprentice Boys and spectators accompanied by 120 bands are marching through 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. | 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. | "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." | "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. |