On Saturday 17h June 1933, Blantyre saw perhaps the largest crowd ever assembled in the town, all descending upon High Blantyre, when 12,000 people attended the Loyal Orange Order Parade. The annual event saw the turn of Blantyre to host the National event, which accounted for the large numbers of crowds. No less than 18 flute and pipe bands took up position in corners of Kirkton Park, hailing from places all over Scotland. Numerous additional trains and buses were put on to accommodate the people arriving and leaving. How 12,000 people fitted into Kirkton Park, I will not know!

To maintain harmony in Blantyre’s streets, the parade marched from High Blantyre, immediately out of the town, and up towards Auchentibber, where they reassembled in a field in the sparsely populated area. They were then addressed by Bro McGregor, grand superintendent of the juvenile section of the order.

I post this to record the event and size of the crowd, not to invite personal opinion about this type of event.