APPRENTICE BOYS OF DERRY PARADE ROUTE 2010

Apprentice Boys of Derry Parade Timings, Saturday 14^th August 2010

9.30am:  Morning parade around the City Walls/ Diamond/ Ferryquay Street and then into Cathedral for about 10.15am

11.30am:  1 Band from Fountain up Carlisle Road/ Ferryquay Street/ Diamond and into Artillery Street to await main parade

11.45pm:  1 band and about 15 ABOD from Cathedral to Craigavon Bridge via Hawkin Street for ABOD Pageant at Carlisle Square.  Firing of Cannons Muskets etc in period costume

12.30pm:  Main parade commences 145 bands and about 8,000 ABOD.  Takes about 2 1/2 hours to pass any one point.  Arrives Carlisle Square at 12.40pm and parades up Carlisle Road/ Ferryquay Street/ Diamond anti clockwise/ Bishop Street/ London Street/ Fountain Estate/ Wapping Lane and then over to Waterside

4.30pm:  ABOD Parent Clubs and bands (9 bands and about 600 ABOD) parade to Memorial Hall via Carlisle Road/ Ferryquay Street/ Diamond Clockwise/ Bishop Street and into Memorial Hall

There are 3 x 1 band parades throughout the day.  (30 participants - not around Diamond)

If you require any further information please feel free to contact the City Centre Initiative office on 028 71 360169

TRADERS MEETING

A follow up Traders meeting is scheduled for 5.30p.m, Tuesday 10th November 2009 at the Tower Hotel. Representatives from Statutory Agencies will be in attendance and all City Centre users are welcome. A range of issues will be discussed in relation to the previous Traders meeting. These meetings are a partnership approach to the management of the City Centre.

Derry hotel towers above the rest

Tower Hotel

The Tower Hotel was selected as one of the top hotels in the world and has earned itself a place on the Expedia Insiders Select List. It is the first hotel in the City to be honored with the accolade.

The award winners were announced by Expedia after they asked American travellers to give feedback on hotels they stayed in over the past year.

A spokesperson for Expedia commented: “Based on hundreds of thousands of hotel reviews submitted by our travellers, the Tower Hotel was identified as consistently delivering superior services, an exceptional guest experience and notable value for money”.

Hotel manager Simon Hanna stated “We have been working hard to ensure that all our guests receive a true “Derry Welcome” and in these tough times for businesses. It is also a major success for our City, hopefully such an award will encourage more American visitors to come and visit and experience our great service levels alongside our history and retail sites.”

Commending the Tower Hotel on their success, City Centre Manager, Jim Roddy said: “This is proof that the Derry welcome does not go unnoticed. I myself see the Tower Hotel staff on a regular basis and they deserve to have their hard work rewarded.”

Lifetree Moves Premises

Lifetree has moved premises from Spencer Road to 7 Gortfoyle Business Centre (Behind the old police station on Spencer Road) as of 1st June 2009.

The new premises are located in an office environment therefore it is necessary for clients to call in advance to make an “appointment”. Since I will be offering a delivery service, phoning in advance will ensure that there is someone on the premises to help you. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Anne will be continuing her private practice from room 6 Gortfoyle Business Centre. The phone number is the same, and appointments should also be made in advance.

Anne will be working reduced hours, they are a follows:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

10.30am to 5.00pm

Skillsmart Retail Skills Visual Merchandising Competition (SkillVM)

Skillsmart participants receiving their certificates

Skillsmart Retail and UKSkills collaborated in 2008 to launch a skills competition to represent the retail industry. Skills competitions promotes vocational training and raise professional standards. There is the potential for competitors to complete internationally at EuroSkills 2010 and WorldSkills 2011.

The three top scoring teams will go head-to-head at the In-Store Show, London Olympia, 30 June – 1 July ’09 to find the Skills VM ’09 champions.

The Northern Ireland Live Heat – held in Caslecourt Shopping Centre, Belfast on 8-9 April ‘09

The two teams representing the student category for the Northern Ireland Live Heat were selected from Derry Youth and Community Workshop, 6 Society Street, Londonderry, which is a local training organisation within the city centre.

Winners of this particular heat are as follows: Conor Divin and Ryan Mc Connell.
Highly Commended are as follows: James Boyle and Alan Stone.

Lighting for the city

As part of the Walled City Signature project, plans have been put forward by Derry City Council’s Economic Development Department for an ambitious lighting action plan for the city. In conjunction with partners Ilex, Northern Ireland Tourist Board and others, the aim of the project is to highlight the historic City Walls and Gates and showcase some 25 buildings with lights including the Playhouse, Austins and the Memorial Hall as well as the Walls overlooking the Fahan Street area.