Set for Commonwealth Parade

The officer in charge of the entire parade is Brian Morrison, with the sub-sections in the care of Winifred Robertson (juniors), Brian Morrison (intermediates) and Paul Walker (seniors).

The assembly points are Hanover Street (seniors) and Carleton Street (juniors and intermediates). All parades will meet at 2pm for the 2.20pm march-off and the two streets will be closed to traffic – parking at Fair Green and other nearby car parks.

The seniors will lead off, making their way downtown from Hanover Street to First Portadown (Edenderry) Presbyterian Church where special guests will attend, including Lord Mayor Darryn Causby and county representatives of the various organisations.

The juniors will be next, forming up on the St Mark’s Parochial Hall side of Carleton Street and making their way downtown to the Castle Street and back up via Bridge Street and the town centre to St Mark’s Church of Ireland.

The intermediates will follow them, and will turn right at the main traffic lights and up to Thomas Street Methodist Church.

For the return parade, the juniors will re-form on the West Street side of St Mark’s and retrace their steps downtown.

The intermediates will re-form and Portmore Street and fall in behind the juniors at Bridge Street South-Bridge junction.

The seniors will re-form at Edenderry and march to the Bridge Street South junction where it will follow the emerging intermediates uptown

There will be ‘eyes right’ with officers saluting at the War Memorial, and the parades will dismiss at their various assembly points after the National Anthem and march-off of the colours.

Should the weather be inclement, the juniors will walk down Church Street to St Mark’s; the intermediates will go to Thomas Street via the Thomas Street end of Carleton Street; and the seniors will go to the parochial Hall in Carleton Street.

The sections will be led by the Salvation Army Band, Pride of the Birches Accordion Band, Portadown Defenders, Edgarstown Accordion Band, Mavemacullen Accordion Band, St Mark’s Silver Band, Portadown True Blues and Corcrain Flute Band.

The groups include Girls’ Brigade, Church Lads and Girls Brigade, St John Ambulance, Scouts, Boys’ Brigade, Guides, and Girls’ Friendly Society.

They come from a wide range of areas and churches including Edenderry, Charlemont and Cranagill, Epworth, Tartaraghan, Thomas Street, Drumcree, Epworth, Armagh Road, St Mark’s, Killicomaine, Seagoe, Dobbin, Richhill, Annaghmore, Milltown and Tandragee.