The famed lyrics go, “It was old and it was beautiful”.

What was likely the oldest sash on parade - first worn in 1894 - has seen more Twelfth of Julys than most others.

David Warrington, from Tamlaght, has a very old and indeed, very beautiful sash.

The purple has faded on the outline, and the orange appears quite discoloured, compared to modern sashes, yet it retains its striking presence.

The stitching is delicate, neat and tight - there were no shortcuts taken when this was put together all those years ago.

Back then, there were no sewing machines used when this was crafted and given to David's grandfather when he joined the lodge at  Snowhill in Lisbellaw in 1894.

Carefully holding the treasured sash, Mr. Warrington said: “This was my grandfather’s; Andrew Warrington was his name.

"He was installed in the lodge on the sixth of July, 1894, so he wore this on the Twelfth of July, 1894, and it was worn to the Twelfth that year.

“I have no clue where it has all been. When he wore it in 1894, it was a sash, and went down to here," he said, gesturing towards his hip.

“My granny remodified it for my father in 1940 as a collarette. I only wore it this year, as it was 130 years old this year. It has to be protected; you wouldn’t take it out on a wet day.”

Proudly reflecting on his association with Snowhill Lodge, Mr. Warrington said: “I am in it, my father was in it, and my grandfather was in it; I actually have the bit of paperwork to prove my grandfather’s date.

"There are moth holes in it, but I got a bit of lamination [for it], and there is all on it about being proposed by a man Richardson and seconded by another man.”

He held the sash tenderly in his hands, and ran his fingers over the various emblems stitched onto it, which he believes have been in place since its original owner.

Mr. Warrington concluded: “It is very special to wear it, there is a lot of history. On a day like today, you think back to all of the years ago."