Royal Black Institution holds act of remembrance to mark 42nd anniversary of IRA murders of Sir Norman Stronge and his son James in 1981

By Roderick McMurray
Published 22nd Jan 2023, 17:19 BST
Updated 22nd Jan 2023, 17:21 BST
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The Royal Black Institution held an act of remembrance at the weekend to mark the anniversary of the death of one its former leaders who was murdered by the IRA over 40 years ago.

The loyal order's current Sovereign Grand Master, Rev William Anderson, laid a wreath at the bust of Sir Norman Stronge in the courtyard of the institution’s headquarters in Loughgall.

The event was attended by senior officers of the institution and Grand Chaplain Rev John Noble conducted the act of remembrance.

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Sir Norman, a former sovereign grand master, and his son James were shot dead at their home by the IRA on January 21, 1981.

Present at the Act of Remembrance for Sir Norman Stronge, and his son, James Stronge, were, from left to right , Sir Knights Richard Reid IDGR: David Livingstone IGT: Robert Dane IGR: Gareth Campbell ASGM: Rev William Anderson SGM: Tom Elliott ASGM: Rev John Noble IGC.Present at the Act of Remembrance for Sir Norman Stronge, and his son, James Stronge, were, from left to right , Sir Knights Richard Reid IDGR: David Livingstone IGT: Robert Dane IGR: Gareth Campbell ASGM: Rev William Anderson SGM: Tom Elliott ASGM: Rev John Noble IGC.
Present at the Act of Remembrance for Sir Norman Stronge, and his son, James Stronge, were, from left to right , Sir Knights Richard Reid IDGR: David Livingstone IGT: Robert Dane IGR: Gareth Campbell ASGM: Rev William Anderson SGM: Tom Elliott ASGM: Rev John Noble IGC.

The IRA gang then firebombed the property, Tynan Abbey in Co Armagh, with the resulting blaze leaving the historic building in ruins.

Sir Norman was a member of RBP 264 Breaghey and was sovereign grand master of the Royal Black Institution from 1948 to 1971. He was 86 at the time of his death.

Sir Norman was also a senior Ulster Unionist Party politician.

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Before his involvement in politics he served as a junior officer in the Army during the First World War.

He fought in the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and was awarded the Military Cross.

His positions after the war included speaker of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland for 23 years.

James Stronge was also a member of RBP 264 Breaghey. In 1967, he was appointed high sheriff of Armagh. He served as Ulster Unionist MP for Mid Armagh for three years until the prorogation of Stormont in 1972 and as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973-1974.

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He was also an officer in the Grenadier Guards. Having withdrawn from political and military life, his main interests were confined to merchant banking and his service as a RUC Reserve constable. He was 48 at the time of his death.

Speaking on the 40th anniversary of the double murder, Rev Anderson said: “The heinous murders of the highly respected Sir Norman Stronge, an elderly man at the time, and his son, were wicked, despicable and cowardly.”