Bowler Hats And The Orange Order

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-28278868

Steering well clear of the huge elephant traps of debating the NI situation, does anybody know why Orangemen wear bowler hats ? It appears to have nothing whatsoever to do protestantism ::::

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowler_hat

[Baldric]

Bowler hat
Along with a pair of white gloves and a 'sash', the Bowler hat is part of the traditional clothing worn by Orange Order members while on parade. It is seen as the symbol of the British gentleman, and it has been suggested that it represents a symbol of authority as it was worn by the foreman on building sites or at the famous Belfast shipyards.

[DrFilth]

i think it was to do with the english gentleman wearing them plus if they march near the other lot it will protect the head when the stones and bottles come flying in

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=john+steed+the+avengers+pictures&;tbm=isch&imgil=3skH99Wx1gHbjM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcRuQqhCCejDGrl12LpMzCdndHejEPqfgsPJ73Bm4L7k5_6gK0Dlfg%253B231%253B332%253B6N0Xr_qgY-VnNM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Franikaye.tripod.com%25252Fbizarre%25252Fid6.html&source=iu&usg=__un2mUj7SsAeb4U-hGSXjCxYXEWk%3D&;sa=X&ei=AZfBU7jODYTO0AWKj4C4BA&ved=0CCYQ9QEwAg&biw=979&bih=436#facrc=_&;imgdii=3skH99Wx1gHbjM%3A%3BanJJUNVT2UUuNM%3B3skH99Wx1gHbjM%3A&imgrc=3skH99Wx1gHbjM%253A%3B6N0Xr_qgY-VnNM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Franikaye.tripod.com%252Fsitebuildercontent%252Fsitebuilderpictures%252Fjohn_steed.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Franikaye.tripod.com%252Fbizarre%252Fid6.html%3B231%3B332

[Baldric]

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/oct/24/northernireland.theobserver1

[mikey4444]

Thanks Ed for removing my errant post !

Thanks Baldric....its always good to learn something ! Its interesting to see that the Bowler is popular in Bolivia just because the Brits were laying a railway at the time, although it is far from being terribly attractive on those ladies.

[mikey4444]

Flipping heck Baldric (21:17) ....now I didn't know that !

[DrFilth]

mikey just like at the lodge meetings dark clothing white gloves must be worn

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=aws5kz&;s=8#.U8GbF7EjrMi

[mikey4444]

Er.......thanks DrF...did you just have that to hand by sheer coincidence tonight ?

[DrFilth]

you would be surprised what i have mikey just trust me i am a doctor

[mikey4444]

Well, that is two Docs we have here on AB then...it will be nice to get a second opinion if we are not too sure of a reply from Sqad !

[DrFilth]

of rock music

sorry missed this bit off the end

[chrissa1]

My beloved father used to wear a bowler hat. He was a solicitor.

[Mamyalynne]

My Father got in bother (from my Mother)when in his excitement he threw his expensive bowler hat on the pitch at Wembley in 1958 as Bolton won the FA Cup.

He was a Postman.

[mikey4444]

LOL Dr F !

[THECORBYLOON]

This link confirms BALDRIC's first post, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=c2WNAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT112&lpg=PT112&dq=orange+order+bowler+hat&source=bl&ots=p8dAoT1UsN&sig=H-DCCyGG0vhHVPItTL8O0WjzGDk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8snBU5rRJOqg7AbWzoGwDg&ved=0CCIQ6AEwAzgK