Pride of the Hill Family Funday & Parade 08

On Saturday 31st May 2008 we held our own parade which also involved a Family Funday throughout the whole day as well. This year the band decided to change venue for our parade from Glengormley to Ballyduff estate which is on the outskirts of Carnmoney. I'm not 100% sure weather this was the 1st time we have ever had our parade outside of Glengormley so before hand we just hoped it could match the success of previous parades we have and I honestly thought we bettered it.

Our set up for this event mainly started on the Friday night involving numerous members of the band sitting out watching over the tents, marques and other equipment from damage of theft. Everything was set up on the night which meant we had no running about to do on the Saturday morning.

The band met up around 11/11:30pm on the Saturday at Beverley shops to make the short walk down the Fairview Road to the starting point which was just at Ballyduff shops. This enabled the band to properly start the functioning off everything with burger vans opening, beer tent, bouncy castles, face painting and numerous other activities for every age. The funday started in and around 12pm with a good number of crowds already there in attendance. After a whole week checking the weather forecast and not getting good readings I was panicking we may not get a good day, but what can I say, on the day we were blest with one of the best days all year. The heat was sweltering and it certainly brought more and more crowds out throughout the funday and for the parade starting.

While the fun day was going on 3 bands gave up more time to also put on wee sets for us in the field area. The 3 bands were Blue Star Accordion, Ballykeel and U.V.F. Regimental. Slue Star and Ballykeel both played before the main parade with U.V.F. Regimental playing a fabulous set afterwards. When walking around the grass area I must say there was a great atmosphere amongst everyone with them all looking forward to seeing more bands.

The main parade started at around 2:30pm which was later than we had planned but we delayed it so the 2 bands could perform sets on the field and also so bands can gather up for parading starting all in one go. The band leading our parade was Millar Memorial. The parade started at Ballyduff shops and walked around the shop area, it then came out onto the Fairview Road making its way down to the Doagh Road. It walked past the playing fields and back up into Ballyduff finishing off at the grass area behind the shops. There was a good number of spectators on parade, most them actually standing at the top end of Ballyduff but good to see people making the effort to support the event on this unbelievable day. Also have to mention I never seen any underage drinkers on the roads throughout the parade. Seen numerous bands and I must admit the quality of the band scene has improved dramatically over the past few years with numerous bands sounding fantastic. For me there wasn't a best band on show, they were all great. Was good seeing a few bands at the parade which I haven't seen do us in a while and long may it continue getting their support.

When the last band finished we formed up and made a short walk into the field with 7 Colour Party, 1 Drum Major, 11 Drummers, 3 Bass Drummers and I think it was 24 Flautists. I must say we sounded fantastic coming in at the end and every member was well disciplined.

I think in total there was 30 bands on show including us so a big thank you has to not only go out to all the bands and spectators who came along supporting the whole event but also some hard work done by members of our band who put hard work in to make the event a success, which I feel it was.

Received praise from both the PSNI and bands men so overall the day was a major success.