Tonight at the Oval we will mark the 75th anniversary of the blitz on Belfast........
PROGRAMME
6.30pm - EVENT OPENS
6.30pm Display of WWII memorabilia in The Oval car park, and by the NI War Memorial in St Christopher’s Church Hall Parkgate Drive. On display in the Oval will be a full size replica Spitfire, a 1938 Dennis Light Four Fire Engine (which saw service during the actual bombingraids), Anti-Aircraft Guns and a WWII Searchlight, armour from the Royal Engineers, Royal Corps of Transport, Royal Artillery, Royal Irish Regiment, Field Hospital Regiment, a modern day tender from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, a Field Canteen manned by The internet GSc and Milk Bar Staff, and two fire engines from the Republic of Ireland that also saw service during the Belfast Blitz Raids
6.45pm - Parade. Volunteers & Glentoran supporters dressed in 'Home Guard' and ARP Warden attire, led by the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Irish Regiment departs from St Patrick’s Church of Ireland on the Newtownards Road making its way to The Oval, via Dee Street and Mersey Street. Guard of honour to be provided on Mersey Street by the players of ALL the Glentoran Academy teams.
7.15pm -The Pipes and Drums of the Royal Irish Regiment in the car park arena.
7.15pm – Tommy and Eddie Heroes All, a short film about Thomas Pearson MM and Eddie Donnan, Glentoran’s own WWII heroes being screened at The Hub, St Christopher;s Church Hall Parkgate Drive. FREE ADMISSION
8.00pm - We retire to the main grandstand for a period of nostalgia with music of the era performed by the 15 piece "Indigo" Big Band, and the "Swing Gals".
8.45pm- Introduction and welcome by the Glentoran Chairman, Mr Stephen Henderson.
8.50pm- “The Belfast Blitz” a 15-minute audio narration telling the story of the Blitz, a time for reflection, whilst looking across the Belfast skyline.
9.05pm- “Waiting on the Siren’s Call” a five-minute audio re-creation of the sounds of the Blitz, an opportunity to contemplate the thoughts in the minds of the citizens of Belfast as the bombs began to fall.
9.10pm- A memorial service hosted by the Club Chaplain Mr David Thompson including a wreath laying ceremony by the Emergency Services (Fire, Police & Ambulance, including the Fire Services from Co Dublin, and County Louth), Walkway Community Association, the Polish Community, the Royal Irish Regiment, Royal ulster Constabulary George Cross Association, Glentoran FC, Crusaders FC and Distillery FC.
9.20pm- “No Star Spangled Teams” The newspaper report by the late Dr Malcolm Brodie MBE on the aftermath of the raid on the Oval to be read by Mr Paul Leeman, Glentoran and Crusaders.
9.25pm- “For its back to the Oval we go” It’s August 1949, Sammy Napier, (as played by Mr Jim Kitchen) the Glentoran night watchman, arrives to tell a tale and make sure nobody’s sneaking in.
9.35pm- “A Pledge to the Future” Captains of the Glentoran and Linfield Academies dressed in period kit of the day recreate the long walk back onto the 1949 Oval pitch and deliver a pledge to the future.
9.45pm- “When the Lights go on again, all over the World” A return to the stage for the Indigo Big Band and the Swing gals as we look to the future, brighten the mood and wish you all safe home.
10.00pm End
** PLEASE NOTE ** Due to the nature of the event and the exhibits on display in the Oval Car Park, there will be no car parking available inside the stadium. The gates of the Oval will be open at 6.30pm.
There will also be parking restrictions on Mersey Street to allow the transport vehicles with exhibits into the stadium and to facilitate the "Back to the Oval" parade.