Twelfth 2020: Mervyn Gibson gets special serenade as loyalists across the land say ‘no surrender to Covid-19’

It has been a somewhat subdued day for many bandsmen, loyal order members, and their supporters.
Mervyn Gibson during the Twelfth 2019Mervyn Gibson during the Twelfth 2019
Mervyn Gibson during the Twelfth 2019

But a passing band really put a smile on the face of the Orange Order Grand Secretary Mervyn Gibson today, stopping outside his house to personally serenade him.

The Lord Carson Accordion band of east Belfast had spotted him by chance as they marched.

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“They were going up the street on the footpath and they saw me, and they said: do you want us to stop?” said Rev Gibson.

“They stopped and formed up on the footpath outside my house – RTE got it on camera.

“They asked what did I want them to play, and I said there’s only one tune you can play today – and they played The Sash.”

He said despite everything, the day had been a “success”.

“I don’t think anything can make up for missing the Twelfth,” he said.

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“But it was necessary for the good of everyone’s health. We gave up a lot of things. At the height of the Covid crisis, people couldn’t see their families, couldn’t bury their loved ones.

“So it’s a small sacrifice for us to give up the Twelfth day to try and prevent the spread of coronavirus.

“Yes, we’re disappointed. But I think people did their best and marked the occasion fittingly.”

He said the message of the day had been this: “No surrender to Covid-19.”

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