Common sense prevails as Queen’s lifts Remembrance collarette ban
Young Unionist chairman Jay Basra has welcomed Queen's University Belfast's decision to allow Orange collarettes to be worn at its Remembrance Sunday service on 8th November.
Jay Basra said:
“I raised this today because it matters. Remembrance is about honouring those who served and sacrificed, and nobody taking part in that act of remembrance should be told that part of their identity is not welcome.
“I welcome the University’s decision to lift this restriction and allow members of the Queen’s Orange Society and Queen’s LOL 1845 to wear their collarettes at this year’s Remembrance Sunday service, as they have done in previous years.
“I am grateful to Queen’s for listening to the concerns raised, for setting out the reasoning behind the original change, and for acting quickly to put it right. It is right that the University has recognised the importance of collarettes to those taking part in the procession.
“I want to thank the Queen’s Orange Society for raising this issue and for the work they have done in responding to it on behalf of their members. This outcome is a credit to their efforts, and to the positive contribution the Society makes to campus life at Queen’s.
“Remembrance should be an occasion that brings people together, irrespective of their background or tradition. This decision means members of the Orange Institution can take their place at the service alongside everyone else, without being made to feel that their identity or traditions are unwelcome.
“Looking ahead, I would encourage the University to engage directly with those affected before making changes of this kind. That would avoid unnecessary upset and help build confidence among unionist students that Queen’s is a welcoming home for their community too.
“I look forward to seeing members of the Queen’s Orange Society and Queen’s LOL 1845 take part in the service on 8th November.”