"THIS is the voice of the Brotherhood," declared the grand secretary of the Orange Lodge in England yesterday as over 200 Portadown Orangemen joined their English brethren and marched through the streets of central London to demand their civil rights.
The bemused Japanese tourists were denied a chance to hear The Sash My Father Wore. As it was Sunday, the marchers chose sombre hymns as they paraded along Whitehall and passed Downing Street.
As a gesture of solidarity following the events of Drumcree last year, the City of London Lodge invited their Portadown brethren to join in their annual church parade to prove to the British government and the English people that the Orangemen are not the troublemakers.
Four planeloads of Orangemen took up this unprecedented invitation.
"We are here to enjoy ourselves, said Mr Harold Grace, the district master of Portadown.
Unfortunately, two of his brothers took this sentiment to heart. Clearly having problems walking, they suddenly stumbled and then fell flat on their faces near the House of Commons.
"Your drinking will make us headline news, said one Orangewoman, as she helped a policeman lift one of the men up.
Despite rumours that the Orangemen would deliver a letter to the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, at Downing Street, they marched quickly by, pausing only to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph.
Mr Noel Mulholland, an ex serviceman from Portadown, said it was a "great privilege" to march through the streets of London. "We want to show the world that the Orangemen aren't the troublemakers. All we want is our civil rights," he added.
The only signal of trouble was when two men suddenly confronted the marchers waving yellow banner stating "Negotiate now for peace in Ireland.
But as a police officer moved them on a small boy with one of the Orange bands gave one protester a kick on the shin.
If only that was all we had to deal with back home," muttered an Orangeman from Portadown.