150th anniversary of No Surrender Club

Friday and Saturday were landmark dates in the calendar of the ABOD No Surrender Club, which celebrated its 150th anniversary.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Sep 2015, 13:49 BST
Jim Brownlee, right, Governor of the General Committee of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, pictured with officers of the No Surrender Parent Club, Philip Gillen, front, Treasurer, and from left, Peter Ross, Chaplain, Johnathan Acheson, President, Gordon Porter Jnr, Vice President, and Gordon Porter, Secretary, during the 150th anniversary gala ball held in the Maldron Hotel by the No Surrender Parent Club. INLS3715-125KMJim Brownlee, right, Governor of the General Committee of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, pictured with officers of the No Surrender Parent Club, Philip Gillen, front, Treasurer, and from left, Peter Ross, Chaplain, Johnathan Acheson, President, Gordon Porter Jnr, Vice President, and Gordon Porter, Secretary, during the 150th anniversary gala ball held in the Maldron Hotel by the No Surrender Parent Club. INLS3715-125KM
Jim Brownlee, right, Governor of the General Committee of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, pictured with officers of the No Surrender Parent Club, Philip Gillen, front, Treasurer, and from left, Peter Ross, Chaplain, Johnathan Acheson, President, Gordon Porter Jnr, Vice President, and Gordon Porter, Secretary, during the 150th anniversary gala ball held in the Maldron Hotel by the No Surrender Parent Club. INLS3715-125KM

The festivities began on Friday night with a formal dinner dance at the Maldron Hotel in Londonderry attended by members, officers and their guests, including the Governor of the Apprentice Boys, Jim Brownlee, who also happens to be a member of the No Surrender Club.

The formal welcome was performed by the No Surrender Parent Club President, Jonathan Atcheson, and during the evening four toasts were made: To The Queen, The Association of Apprentice Boys Clubs; to the Brave 13, the original Apprentices and to absent friends.

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Formal photographs were taken of the occasion, which began with a drinks reception and the top table were piped in in traditional fashion.

Jim Brownlee, right, Governor of the General Committee of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, pictured with officers of the No Surrender Parent Club, Philip Gillen, front, Treasurer, and from left, Peter Ross, Chaplain, Johnathan Acheson, President, Gordon Porter Jnr, Vice President, and Gordon Porter, Secretary, during the 150th anniversary gala ball held in the Maldron Hotel by the No Surrender Parent Club. INLS3715-125KMJim Brownlee, right, Governor of the General Committee of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, pictured with officers of the No Surrender Parent Club, Philip Gillen, front, Treasurer, and from left, Peter Ross, Chaplain, Johnathan Acheson, President, Gordon Porter Jnr, Vice President, and Gordon Porter, Secretary, during the 150th anniversary gala ball held in the Maldron Hotel by the No Surrender Parent Club. INLS3715-125KM
Jim Brownlee, right, Governor of the General Committee of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, pictured with officers of the No Surrender Parent Club, Philip Gillen, front, Treasurer, and from left, Peter Ross, Chaplain, Johnathan Acheson, President, Gordon Porter Jnr, Vice President, and Gordon Porter, Secretary, during the 150th anniversary gala ball held in the Maldron Hotel by the No Surrender Parent Club. INLS3715-125KM

The formal dinner over, Apprentice Boys and their guests and partners enjoyed an evening of music and socialising.

Membership of the No Surrender Club has grown substantially in recent years.

The new Lt Governor of the General Committee, Graeme Stenhouse, unfortunately missed the celebrations, as he was in Scotland, officiating at the opening of the new East Lothian Campsie Club, just outside Edinburgh.

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For a slideshow of images from the dinner as well as of the celebration parade on Saturday, which included a parade on the City Walls, log onto the Londonderry Sentinel website at www.

londonderrysentinel.co.uk