A glossy publication of 112 pages, it begins with a foreword from the serving City Grand Master, Victor Wray, who said the Anniversary Year was "a very special year which is being marked with a series of events, culminating in this year's 319th 'Battle of the Boyne' Celebrations, which will be hosted by this City Grand Lodge in Londonderry on Monday 13th July 2009."
Mr Wray said that much thought and planning had gone into this year's programme of events, adding: "I trust all who visit our historic city and attend any of the events organised, will take away with them memories of an enjoyable experience."
Filled with high quality photographs charting the history and milestones of the Lodge, the book contains a wealth of information that is an essential potted history of the organisation, from the City Grand Master's Roll, beginning in 1858; tributes to former members and appreciations dedicated to influential and inspirational former members, including one to William Gerald Wallace, Grand Master, Teacher and Lagganer, from Manorcunningham.
Some of the most fascinating entries in the book are, understandably, the photographs from yesteryear, and particularly the spectacle of horsedrawn carriages processing across Craigavon Bridge and the laying of the foundation stone for the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall in 1937. There are some fantastic shots of Wapping Lane with festive arches, visits from Royalty and nobility.
Three in-depth pages chart the 'very long and proud history' of LOL 433 and there are separate sections on the formation of Newbuildings Victoria LOL 1087; Culmore True Blues LOL 1866; Burt Faith Defenders LOL 1927; No 2 District Cumber Claudy and its constituent Lodges, as well as No 3 District Raphoe Co Donegal and its constituent Lodges.
The section on No 4 District City of Londonderry contains some amazing pictorial records of the various Lodges - including a huge group shot of the members taken in 1937 and of two 1912 members, Robert Hamilton and Thomas Finlay - while there is a unique photo of Mitchelburne Memorial Pipe Band, who led LOL 461 in the 1960s, in the section dedicated to No 5 District City of Londonderry.
Copies of the souvenir book, priced at £3, are available by contacting the Londonderry Sentinel on 028 7134 8889; alternatively, the book is also available from the City Grand Lodge, its officers and members.