Below is a list of 2024 dates for your diary on what is happening regrading Darlington Branch of The Royal British Legion. (Updated 26/09/2024)
- Saturday 13th January 2024 - Service of Remembrance to mark the 79th anniversary of Pilot Officer William Stuart McMullen, (428 Sqn CAF), sacrificing his own life to save the town of Darlington at 8.49pm on 13th January 1945 – The Service will be held at the McMullen Road Memorial, starting at 8.30pm
- Saturday 27th January 2024 – County Annual RBL Conference. Fox Barracks, Cramlington, NE23 6RA. 10.00am start - Branch delegates and Branch Standard attending (RBL Country Event)
- Saturday 27th January 2024 - Holocaust Memorial Day
- Sunday 4th February 2024 - M62 Bombing Memorial Day (Nearest Sunday to 4th February). Memorial Garden, M62 Hartshead Moor Service Station (RBL National Events)
- Friday 12th April 2024 - Mayors Charity Ball (Darlington Borough Council Event)
- Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May 2024 – National Annual RBL Conference - Branch Delegate attending remotely this year (RBL National Event)
- Saturday 1st June 2024 - Emergency Services Day - Darlington Town Centre Market Square, starting at 10.00am (Darlington Borough Council Event)
- Thursday 6th June 2024 – 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings Act of Remembrance - Haughton War Memorial - Meeting at 10.30am for Act of Remembrance incorporating a Two Minutes Silence (Darlington Branch Event)
- Thursday 6th June 2024 – 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings (RBL National Events)
- Saturday 8th June 2024 – Country Church Service and Function to mark the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings. Location Crowne Plaza Hotel. Cost for the Function £40.00 per head (RBL Country Event)
- Saturday 15th June 2024 - Middleton St George Memorial Association Service of Remembrance - St George Hotel, Durham Teesside Airport, Middleton St George, Darlington. Meeting 10.00am for a 10.30am start (Middleton St George Memorial Association Event)
- Sunday 16th to Wednesday 19th June 2024 – Branch trip to London – (RBL Darlington Branch Event)
- Sunday 16th June 9.45am - Coach leaves Darlington
- Sunday 16th June 4.20pm - Coach arrives London
- Monday 17th June 11.00am - Visit to Tower of London (Including attending the evening "Ceremony of the Keys")
- Tuesday 18th June 10.00am - Visit the Houses of Parliament
- Tuesday 18th June 2.00pm - Visit Royal Hospital Chelsea
- Wednesday 19th June 12.30pm - Coach leaves London
- Wednesday 19th June 6.45pm - Coach arrives Darlington
- Friday 28th June 2024 – Flying the Flag - Town Hall 10.00am, then walk to Market Square (Darlington Borough Council Event for Armed Forces Day)
- Saturday 29th June 2024 – Armed Forces Day
- Saturday 29th June 2024 - Branch Information/Recruitment Table – Darlington Carnival - Based at Stanhope Park (With Procession through Darlington Town Centre - Leaving Market Square at 11.30am) - 10.00am to 5.00pm (Set Up 9.00am - Pack Up 5.00pm) (Darlington Borough Council Event)
- Sunday 7th July 2024 - Darlington Proms In The Park – Bandstand, South Park, Darlington between 3.00pm and 5.30pm (Darlington Borough Council Event)
- Saturday 20th July 2024 - 50 (North) Signal Squadron Open Day 11.00am to 4.00pm - Army Reserve Centre, Neasham Road, Darlington, DL1 4DF - Anyone wishing to attend should let 50 (North) Signal Squadron know beforehand. (50 (North) Signal Squadron Event)
- Wednesday 14th August 2024 - Branch Committee Meeting – Planning of 2024 Poppy Appeal Routes/Delivery (Darlington Branch Event)
- Saturday 7th September 2024 - Branch Information/Recruitment Table - Hurworth Grange Country Fair, Hurworth Grange Community Centre, 41 Hurworth Road, Hurworth-on-Tees, Darlington, DL2 2BN - 10.00am to 4.30pm (Set Up 9.00am - Pack Up 5.00pm) (Hurworth Grange Community Centre Event)
- Saturday 19th October 2024 - Coffee Morning - St Andrew's Church Hall - 10.00 am to 11.30 am – Profits shared between The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and Haughton Village War Memorial Upkeep
- Thursday 24th October 2024 - RBL Poppy Appeal launched by The Worshipful, the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Bob Donoghue - Darlington Town Centre and The Mayors Parlour, Darlington Town Hall at 10.30am
- Saturday 2nd November 2024 - Field of Remembrance Ceremony - Opened by The Worshipful, the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Bob Donoghue - Cenotaph in the grounds of the Darlington Memorial Hospital. Meeting at 2.45pm for starting at 3.00pm
- Sunday 10th November 2024 - Remembrance Sunday
- 10.00am Remembrance Service - Holy Trinity Church, Darlington
- Parade to Cenotaph - Grounds of Darlington Memorial Hospital
- Act of Remembrance - Cenotaph in the grounds of Darlington Memorial Hospital. This Act of Remembrance will incorporate the 11.00am Two Minutes Silence
- Sunday 10th November 2024 - Remembrance Sunday - Service of Remembrance - West Cemetery War Graves, Carmel Road North, starting at 2.30pm. This Act of Remembrance will incorporate a Two Minutes Silence
- Monday 11th November 2024 - Armistice Day - Two Minutes Silence held on High Row, Darlington Town Centre at 11.00am - Opened by the The Worshipful, the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Bob Donoghue
- Wednesday 27th November 2024 - Branch AGM – Haughton Le Skerne Club, Darlington. 7.00pm onwards for reading correspondence/annual accounts. Meeting starting at 7.30pm (RBL Darlington Branch Event)
- Saturday 14th December 2024 - Christmas Social Event. All Darlington Branch Members and their guests are Invited – Haughton Le Skerne Club, Darlington (RBL Darlington Branch Event)
- Dress - Christmas Theme/Jumper or Smart Casual
- Time - 7.00pm for 7.30pm
- Cost - £20.00 per head (Tickets on sale from darlington.secretary@rbl.community)
- Food - Two course meal
- Entertainment – Martin White
- Plus - Auction / Raffle / Sit down Bingo
Event currently being planned for 2025
- D-Day Landing in Normandy Tour
- Departure Date: Friday 16th May 2025
- Return Date: Monday 19th May 2025
- Travel by Executive Coach
- Cost: To be confirmed
Ex-Service Association Standards and members are invited and welcome to attend all future events.
If you are interested in joining the Royal British Legion Darlington Branch please contact the Branch Membership Secretary, Stephen Holt, darlington.memsecretary@rbl.communit
