Tynwald Day 2017 will be
distinguished by ceremony and celebration.
The Island’s National Day on
Wednesday July 5 will serve as an occasion to welcome two visiting units from
the Royal Air Force as they perform their ceremonial roles and add to the
colour and spectacle of the formal proceedings.
Manned exclusively by officers and airmen
of the RAF Regiment, which this year celebrates its 75th
anniversary, the Queen’s Colour Squadron will form the Guard of Honour. The
Squadron is the RAF’s only dedicated ceremonial unit, but also has an
operational role as 63 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment.
Joining the Squadron will be the
Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment which, in additional to its ceremonial
duties, undertakes operational support roles around the world.
The proceedings will also serve as
an opportunity to recognise the 600th anniversary of the Customary
Law Act. The President of Tynwald, the Hon Steve Rodan MLC, said: ‘The
Customary Law of 1417 is the earliest Manx statute we have in writing. It is
significant because it sets out in detail the Tynwald Day ceremony itself - the
very pattern which we follow on Tynwald Hill in St John’s to this day. Even
back then it was referred to as "the constitution from old times" so
we can see that our ancient ceremonial was already rooted in the distant past
way back then.
‘It was Sir John Stanley, Lord of
Man, who ordered the 1417 Law to be set down, and it is right and poignant that
his descendant, Edward Stanley, the 19th Earl of Derby, should have kindly
accepted my invitation to come as a guest on Tynwald Day to help us mark the 600th
anniversary and celebrate our long unbroken history of parliamentary
tradition.’
In addition to the formal
proceedings there will be a wide range of attractions and entertainment for all
the family lasting late into the evening. To find out more visit
facebook.com/TynwaldDay or instagram.com/tynwaldday.
Tynwald Day will streamed live at
tynwald.org.im. To follow events as they happen click on the ‘Watch Live’ link.
Grandstand tickets, priced £4 to
include a programme, will be on sale from Monday June 5 at the Tynwald Library,
Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas, or may be reserved by telephoning
685500.
Blue Badge holders wishing to attend
Tynwald Day may apply to the Tynwald Administration Office for a parking pass
entitling them to a reserved space at St John’s Primary School. For all
enquiries, telephone 685500.
For details of Tynwald Day bus
services, visit bus.im.