The policy drafted in this document represents the views of the member bands of THE ULSTER BANDS ASSOCIATION  and were attained after lengthy discussions and consultations with the relevant parties. These policies shall be reviewed annually at the Annual General Meeting of the Association and shall represent binding guidelines to the Committee as to the general conduct of Association affairs.

This policy can only be amended at an A.G.M. (or E.G.M. called specifically for this purpose) and amendments can only be carried by a majority as per rule 12 of the constitution. Section 1 will deal with policy issues and section 2 will deal with a proposed code of conduct relating specifically to marching bands.

1. Funding
2. Policing and Stewarding
3. Residents Groups
4. Politics
5. The Parades Commission
6. Relationships
7. Cultural Education
8. Community Relations
9. Youth Development

Section 2

• Code of conduct

SECTION 1

a) FUNDING

We believe that marching bands and their parades are an integral part of the Loyalist Culture and are an essentially a forum for our cultural expression. However, unlike the Nationalist culture ( i.e. Gaelic sports, community arts etc.) which are given a high profile by the media and generous funding by the various government agencies the culture of the Loyalist marching bands has been either consistently ignored or deliberately excluded.

A recent report has shown that Protestant culture as a whole has been gravely underfunded by the responsible authorities. For instance an examination of the criteria for grants from The Arts Council will show that although the colour and spectacle of any parade is enhanced by the uniforms of the bands they do NOT regard uniform costs as being an item suitable for grant aid. Nor will they permit any equipment purchased with their help to be used in a parade with the loyal orders.

Given that parades are one of the few ways to outwardly express our culture and heritage the Association believes that marching bands should be afforded an equality of status with other performing arts

Clearly bands and their parades have become a way of life to many Ulster people but have remained misunderstood. It is akin to the various carnival events which are staged by minority ethnic classes in mainland Britain which attract funding from government (both local and National) and must now be recognized as such and as a bonafide expression of our culture by all the relevant bodies and councils. They should receive the appropriate funding to allow them to develop and prosper.

It is the Association’s aim to assist member bands to receive whatever help in these matters.

b) POLICING AND STEWARDING

Whilst parade organizers have a degree of responsibility for the behavior of those bands participating in their parade, they are at present ill prepared for this responsibility. The Association would like to redress this situation by providing where funds permit a comprehensive course to its members on the stewarding of events.

At present, the only revenue available to the organization is from membership subscriptions and magazine profits. It is the intention of the Association to seek funding in order to provide this course.
Ultimately the responsibility for public order lies with the police. It is the view of the Association that we should foster a liaison between the Association and the community development officers of the various police stations in order to:

1. ensure that the necessary traffic diversions are in place

2. ensure that the level of policing is such that it will be effective but not excessive or provocative

Such interaction has shown in the past to be beneficial to both parties both on the evening of the parade and beyond.

c) “RESIDENTS GROUPS”

Because of the beliefs held by our membership we reflect an inordinately high ratio of people killed or injured by acts of Republican terrorism due to service in Her Majesty’s Forces. It is accepted that everyone has a right to make their views known about various parades. However we also believe that no-one has the right to erode our cultural identity. In recent years residents groups have been shown to be nothing less than SF\IRA fronts with a highly sectarian agenda. It is our belief that such narrow minded groups are set up solely to continue to raise the profile of the Republican movement on the world wide stage. Their objectives seem to be to continue with a strategy of ethnic cleansing and sectarian ghettoisation which would ultimately lead to further alienation of the Protestant culture.

While we have no problem in clarifying our position to anyone with genuine concern, we would not at present contemplate any interaction with any group of people who still retain the capability to murder and maim our membership.

This position will alter when these factions have demonstrated clearly that they have undergone a radical change by accepting the democratic process and have unequivocally demonstrated a greater degree of open-mindedness and tolerance.

d) POLITICS

In the past, political squabbles have not served previous band associations well. Internal political arguments have split, weakened or destroyed many cultural organizations. We are determined that will not happen to us.

Consequently, since the Association contains all sections of the political divide, the Association will not at any time offer any political views on any political situation nor will we espouse or promote the stated policies of any political party.

e) THE PARADES COMMISSION

No one government body has generated as much ill feeling within the band circles.
They are perceived in general as an instrument set up by a government under pressure from the Republican propaganda machine with the sole purpose of banning parades at the “residents” request. Their brief is to adjudicate where parades are held to be contentious. However their record since formation has done nothing to impress their impartiality from all corners upon the general public. They seem to sway with the strongest threat-first one way then the other!

They have not sought contact or enlightenment with any one within band circles nor have they taken any steps to do so. In this unenlightened atmosphere they have shown that they do not understand the ethos and unique culture of the Loyalist marching bands. The problems of the Parades Commission cannot be solved by the subjugation of one culture over another. By concentrating on the organizing bodies and ignoring the participating bands they cause more problems than they cure.

The Association feels that whilst the present situation prevails we should not encourage member bands to formally sit with members of the Parades Commission, but if requested by the membership we will represent member bands at hearings and will offer our services to the Commission with a view to broadening their experience of the loyalist marching band culture.

f) RELATIONSHIPS

The Association will foster a closer working relationship with other like minded organizations. At present we feel that the priority is in the first instance to our own membership but in the interest of harmony we will attempt to form useful and productive relationships with other cultural groups. If requested we will represent member bands at meeting with the various loyal orders and will represent member bands at formal enquiries etc. As previously stated we will not pursue political agendas but, we do expect political support for any venture that we embark on.

g) CULTURAL EDUCATION

As previously stated in this document a lot of the folklore of the Protestant Loyalist culture was unwritten and undocumented and with the passage of time a lot has passed from memory. Regrettably our political and spiritual leaders of the past failed lamentably to recognize the significance of this and no action was taken to rectify this. The need exists for positive action and the Association has stated on several occasions that it is their belief that our community as a whole should educate themselves on the history, culture and traditions of the Ulster Protestant people.

Now more than ever there is a need for a coordinated programme of cultural education. We propose to instigate as soon as funds become available the following measures:

1. a library of written Ulster British folklore

2. For those with sight or learning disability, these documents will be recorded on audio tape

3. an audio tape library of Ulster British loyalist music as played by the member bands

4. As with the written word most of the musicians involved in the loyalist band circles have no formal musical education. Their education was obtained by the “monkey see-monkey do” principle. We therefore propose to set up a system of accreditation within the Association which will maintain if not improve the musical excellence of the membership.

The education measures detailed above are vital to the continued existence of the Ulster British culture of which the marching bands are a small, if not vital, faction.
Regardless of the success or failure of these measures the Association shall, to the best of its ability, promote our cultural identity at every opportunity.

h) COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Anti parades propagandists would assert that parades have an adverse effect on community relations. While we do not deny that we have a role to play in fostering better community relations, we find the allegation that parades are designed to deliberately offend and intimidate our Roman Catholic neighbors to be particularly mendacious.

Our aim is simply to demonstrate our culture in a way that is a colourful spectacle there for all to enjoy.
These parades are organized by local members of bands who live and work in the area. They work with and interact with Roman Catholics every day of the year. Normal Roman Catholics spectate at these parades without fear or intimidation. It is only from those who represent the extremes of both sides that you can expect trouble-----and these are known to the police. Any suggestion of a Jeckyll and Hyde personality in members of bands is ludicrous.

We find it reprehensible to refuse one section of the community the right to express their culture especially if that refusal is prompted by a bigoted campaign of violence and agitation which is orchestrated from outside that area (usually with a larger scheme in mind)
However we will take any legitimate concern or complaint on board and give it serious consideration.
There are further suggestions contained in our Code of Conduct all of which have some effect or other on the matter of Community Relations

i) YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

One of the facets of the marching bands which is continuously overlooked is the voluntary youth development aspect. The involvement in a band often introduces a juvenile to circumstances he or she has encountered before but to which no consideration was given by them. When a juvenile joins a band he\she does so on a voluntary basis and in order to stay a member of that band they must:

• obey and comply with the discipline of the band

• dedicate innumerable hours to practice with their instrument

• appear on each occasion that the band parades (usually Friday and Sat nights)

• maintain their uniform and instrument to an acceptable level
   

When on parade younger members of the bands are usually under the watchful eye of a responsible adult and are removed from the perils and pitfalls of boredom.
The school of excellence as detailed in Section G.4. was designed specifically with the youth amongst us in mind and given the opportunity we are sure that we can divert a high percentage of our youth away from the dubious activities that only youth can devise towards a useful and enjoyable pastime.