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Welcome To The Official Website Of Randalstown
Sons Of Ulster Flute Band.
This website has been constructed not only to help promote our band but also to keep alive the cultural heritage to which all marching bands in Ulster belong.
1976 -1987
The band made its first efforts late in 1976. To gather funds for the band, a door to door collection was organised along with a variety concert. When the band had enough members they purchased four side drums and a bass drum from the now defunct Hillstown Pipe Band. The band's first uniform was red shirts, Rangers F.C. ties and black trousers. At this time approximately a third of the fluters were female. Randalstown Flute Band as they were then known paraded their first Twelfth Day shortly afterwards, leading the Randalstown District. The next year and for a few years afterwards, they led Tildarg L.O.L. (Doagh) along with Tildarg R.B.P. on Black Saturday in August. The bands biggest tournout of members was recorded in 1978 with just over 40 fluters and 10 drummers. This year they held their first anniversary parade. In 1980 the band led Maybole L.O.L. at their Ayrshire Demonstration in Renfrew. As the years progressed, the band saw many good times but also many bad. Although the band's name was mentioned a lot of the time for the wrong reasons they were one of the biggest bands in the Ballymena/Antrim area at that time. The present Randalstown Sons Of Ulster owe them a great debt of gratitude for starting the band and also progressing it down through the years.
1988 - 1999
Randalstown Sons Of Ulster was formed after Randalstown Flute Band went off the road. It started up in 1988 with an advertisement appearing in the windows of all protestant shopkeepers in the town. In 1988 the band only paraded twice - the opening of the Arch in the town and the Twelfth Day. Significantly they wore the old band's uniform, but with no jacket. They led Caddy L.O.L. 1124 and paraded with 20 fluters and five drummers. In 1989 the band had a change of uniform with grey trousers with an orange stripe, a white shirt and an orange tie. In 1990 the band held their own parade and again changed their uniform after purchasing it from Giant's Causeway (Bushmills). In 1992 and 1993 the band travelled to Scotland to parade. First in Paisley and then in Saltcoats. 1994 saw the purchase of new uniforms,a red jacket with white and royal blue braiding and blue trousers with blue Balmoral hats. The first year that the band led the Apprentice Boys of Derry (Randalstown) at Londonderry was in 1997. 1998 saw the acceptance of the colours of the U.V.F. 36th Ulser Division and the Young Citizens Volunteers. (see History Of R.S.O.U.'s Flags ) These flags were received at the band's decision and was there way of remembering many of our forefathers who fought alongside and as members of these two great forces. These flags are carried with much honour and dignity and these flags do not link the band with any paramilitary organisation. It is considered an honour to carry these flags and they will be displayed wherever the band shall walk. The band again travelled across the waters, this time in 1999 to Liverpool. They led the Liverpool A.B.O.D. in Southport with a tremendous band and it was indeed an honour for the band to represent Ulster in England.
2000 and onwards
In the year 2000 the band bought seven new HTS700 Premier drums and also at the start of the year a new standard was purchased, which entails a slightly different badge (see picture). This was also the year which seen the building and erection of Neillsbrook Loyalist Arch (see R.S.O.U.'s Loyalist Arch). 2001 was a very special year to the band. The Twelfth was held in Randalstown and a lot of hard work was put in, along with the local lodges to make the town look extra special. A new uniform was purchased with the original red, white and blue colours remaining but with a new design. These were dedicated by Rev. William McCrea on the Twelfth morning. In 2003 the band purchased a new bass drum which was dedicated to "All loyal members past and present" at their annual parade in April.
2008 is the band's 20th anniversary and to mark the event, a formal evening was held in Ross Park Hotel, Kells in March. This proved to be a great success with over 80 in attendance. Also because of this anniversary, the band were invited by the Mayor of Antrim to attend a reception held in Antrim Civic Centre (see photos below). The band's uniform also changed again in 2008 with a more regimental style being adopted, in the colours of navy and red.
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