There was a large turnout on parade in Irvinestown on Sunday afternoon for the annual Remembrance parade and service.
The Irvinestown ceremony also remembers the sacrifice made by airmen who lost their lives during flying missions while based at RAF Castle Archdale. Many of the airmen’s graves, mostly members of the Canadian Royal Air Force, are in Derryvullan North and Sacred Heart Church churchyards in the town.
The parade formed up on the Lisnarick Road near St. Paul’s Primary School and stopped at the Sacred Heart Church where two wreaths were placed on airmen’s graves by representatives of the Royal British Legion and the Royal Air Force Association.
The parade re-formed and continued through the Main Street to the Cenotaph at Derryvullan North Parish Church where representatives from the RBL, RAFA, PSNI, Tom Elliott MP on behalf of Westminster, the Girls’ Brigade, Boys Brigade, UDR Regimental Association, Irvinestown Primary School and Devenish College all laid wreaths during the Act of Remembrance.
The Last Post at the Cenotaph and during the church service was sounded by Rachel Fyffe. She had played earlier at the Ballinamallard ceremony.
The standard bearers were Joyce Kempton, RBL Women’s Branch; Roy Kempton, Irvinestown RBL and Stephen Allen, Regimental Association.
The parade, under the command of Victor Beatty, was led by Drumharvey Pipe Band.
The service was conducted by Archdeacon Cecil Pringle, assisted by Dr. Margaret Knox. The preacher was the Rev. Stephen Foster, Minister of Irvinestown Methodist Church. The organist was Mrs. Florence Barrett.
Among the wreaths placed in the church was one from the parish by Bill Thompson.
The readings were by Leslie Wilson and Marcus Hunter, on behalf of Irvinestown branch of the Royal British Legion.