During recent discussions with our friends in Ulster, Vanguard Bears Admin were asked if we could once again help out a loyalist friend in need. We agreed that we would only be too happy to help, if we could.

Even though the festive season is upon us and money can be tight, between 9.30pm last night and lunchtime today, Vanguard Bears members dug deep to support one of our loyalist friends across the water, a pensioner called Norman Simpson, who last week was fined £700 for protesting at Twaddell Avenue in Belfast.

His crime was to tell the Police Service of Northern Ireland that they should be focussing their attention on those that are shooting at the protestors in the Civil Rights Camp on Twaddell Avenue, and that they should turn a blind eye to loyalists who simply want to walk past Ardoyne to finish their 12th of July parade.

In such a short time, a staggering sum of *£1082.31 was raised and it was decided that £700 would go to Norman’s fine, with the remainder going to the Twaddell Camp. In addition, Vanguard Bears also purchased two holly wreaths; one to be laid at our mural on Sugarfield Street, just off the Shankill Road and the other just across the road at the site of the Shankill bombing in 1993.

Progressive Unionist Party leader Billy Hutchison and colleagues have laid these wreaths on behalf of Vanguard Bears and have also presented the donation accrued from the fundraiser to Norman and his wife.

VB Admin would once again like to thank its members for their fantastic generosity and support and would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

UPDATE: 23/12/2013 - The total raised now stands at £1660.89.