Black Saturday 2003
This year's Black Saturday was held in Lisburn which was a bit confusing since Lisburn is in County Antrim and this was the County Down demonstration. Anyway the day was riddled with problems as we we're late picking up the lodge in Bryansford as our bus driver sat at the other end of the town thinking he was picking up the Ballinran lodge. There was also heavy traffic going into Lisburn which held us up even more. We finally got parading though and the band was going extremely well into the Assembly field in Wallace Park. The county Down demonstration is the largest and boasted bands such as Ballygowan, Ballylone, Ballymacarett, Newtownards Melody, Ballycoan to name a few aswell as some of the top Blood and Thunder Bands.
More probs for the band in the assembly field where we were told to be back at a certain time as some of the lads went to stuff their faces with soup, burgers etc. When the lads got back on time the band had already left so those who weren't parading had to leg it through Lisburn to catch up. Think the band was walking with 3 drummers and 5 flutes at the start which was a bit of a disaster but finally everyone caught up.
Band never really got going after that and put in an ok performance for the rest of the walk. Crowds were a bit down this year, prob something to do with the Belfst demonstration being in Ballynahinch just down the road but an enjoyable day was had. That night James & Leslie Pue hosted a social gathering at his house. Activities included face painting, 'hit the donkey for sweets', volleyball, 'name the advert' and watching Louise be sick for charity. Of course the night was ruined when Glasgow lout Dr Tam Nannett arrived at the house having drunk 4 bottles of Buckfast where he procceded to smash ornaments and hog the microphone all night. Police arrived and he was deported back to Glasgow under heavy armed escort. Great nights craic was had by all. Just incase your wondering next years parade is in Comber.