TULLINTRAIN PURPLE STAR LOL 1969
Tullintrain Purple Star L.O.L. No. 1969 meet on the the last Tuesday of each
month, in Tullintrain Orange Hall, which is situated near Ling House, the
birthplace of Colonel Adam Murray, one of the Siege of ‘Derry heroes
The Lodge membership records show over sixty in the ranks in 1894, remaining
steadily over the years but declining to around forty in 1927 and and rising
to a peak of ninety in the 1980 to the present roll of fifty-two. A Flute
Band was associated with the Lodge for many years and was replaced with
a Pipe Band in the early 1930s, which still flourishes today and is prominent
in Pipe Band contests throughout the UK.
Adjacent to the Orange Hall was a wooden Hall known as the 'B' Hut, which
was opened in1936 and served the Tullintrain Platoon of the Ulster Special
Constabulary until their disbandment in 1971, and was purchased by the Lodge
in 1975. Both the Hut and Hall were used by the Home Guard during the war
from 1941-1944 and until the removal of the Hut in 2001 was the practice
Hall for Tullintrain Pipe Band.
The ‘B’ Hut was replaced by the new S.A.L.T. Community Hall, which opened
in November 2001 and the Orange Hall has been refurbished as a Youth Centre
with a Lodge Room incorporated.
The Lodge lost three members during the Troubles. Brother David Miller was
one of the nine victims of the Claudy bombing in July,1972, whilst Brother
Ellis Hamilton, UDR. was shot by a sniper at his work in December of the
same year. Brother Jim Hood, a Captain in the UDR was W.M. Elect when he
was murdered at his home in January 1973 as he returned from duty. These
Brethern are never forgotten by our Lodge and a Memorial to them was erected
in the Lodge Room of our Orange Hall and unveiled and dedicated by the then
City of Londonderry Grand Master, the late Right Worshipful Bro. Rev Robert
Dickinson in January, 1975. Each 12th of July evening, when we return from
the Annual Demonstration, the Pipe Major of Tullintrain Pipe Band plays
a Lament for our fallen brethren.
The Lodge continues to prosper and is actively involved in all aspects of
Orangeism in the area. We are proud that one of our members, Wor. Bro. Alan
Lindsay, was for many years Grand Master of the City of Londonderry Grand
Orange Lodge and we are equally proud that today, the City Grand Secretary,
Bro. Ernest McCay, is a member of our Lodge.
