James King, Eamonn and Friends

On this day, the Apprentice Boys march through Derry city centre accompanied by bands, flags and banners. They take over the city centre, which is intimidating for nationalists and obstructive for shoppers and city centre businesses. If their aim was to sabotage consumerism for a day I would probably support them, but it is not. Their purpose is to set fire to a giant effigy of Lundy near the Diamond at the end of the day.

Lundy was a high ranking officer at the time of the Siege of Derry in 1688. he wanted to capitulate to the besieging Jacobite forces. For this he has been branded a traitor, and his effigy ritually burnt every year. He himself survived and had a successful diplomatic career.

Eamonn, Christine and I dressed up in Lundy costumes and paraded around the town singing appeals for Lundy's forgiveness. Our faces were made up like that of the effigy - all white with red spots on our cheeks, red lips and little red marks at the side of the nostrils. We drew dramatic black moustaches and eye-brows. We had black coats and white neck-scarfs. On our heads we wore black triangular hats with glorious yellow bordering, reflected in our epaulettes. LUNDY THE TRAITOR posters fronted our black coats; although we later changed one of these to FORGIVE LUNDY , in order to clarify our message. In Shipquay Street a youth tore the poster off my chest was immediately apprehended and cautioned by the police - notwithstanding our protests.

We spent most of the day singing from the steps of St. Columb's Hall , opposite Badger's and Foyle Taxis taxi rank.

We improvised our singing and chanting, though managing to repeat "Forgive Lundy" repeatedly.

Carols, Clementine and The Farmer Wants a Wife were useful starting points for our improvisations.

Many people smiled and some laughed out loud as they passed. Eamonn was interviewed for Radio Foyle by a passing journalist.