Darlington Branch Programme of Events
Below is a list of the 2026 dates for your diary on what is happening regrading Darlington Branch of The Royal British Legion
(Updated 05/03/2026)
See our Facebook Page for further information - www.facebook.com/groups/rbldarlington
- Tuesday 13th January 2026 - Service of Remembrance to mark the 81st 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. This Act of Remembrance will incorporate a Two Minute Silence
- Saturday 17th January 2026 - Northumbria County 18th Annual RBL Conference - St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Consett Road, Lanchester, Durham, DH7 0RD. Starting 10.00am - Two Branch delegates and Branch Standard attending (RBL Country Event)
- Tuesday 27th January 2026 - Holocaust Memorial Day (National Events)
- Sunday 8 th February 2026 - Memorial Day Service of Remembrance to mark the 52nd anniversary of the M62 Coach Bombing on 4th February 1974 (Held on the nearest Sunday to 4th February). M62 Westbound Welcome Break Services, Memorial Garden, Hartshead Moor Services, HD6 4JX at 11.00am. (Postcode serves both east and westbound services, which are linked by a footbridge; use slip road between Junction 25 and 26) (RBL National Event)
- Saturday 28th February 2026 – Branch Management Training - Redcar
- Saturday 28th March 2026 – Branch Information/Recruitment Table – Cornmill Shopping Centre, Darlington
- Friday 8th to Sunday 10th May 2026 - National Annual RBL Conference – The Brighton Convention Centre, Brighton - Branch delegate attending (RBL National Event)
- Sunday 17th to Wednesday 20th May 2026 - Branch Trip to London
o Sunday 17th May 2026 - Branch Members make their own way down to London, and Arrive at their Hotel
o Sunday 17th May 2026 - Own time in London
o Monday 18th May 2026 - Visit to House of Commons
o Tuesday 19th May 2026 - Visit to the Tower of London (TBC)
o Wednesday 20th 2026 - Visit to HMS Belfast (TBC)
o Wednesday 20th May 2026 - Branch Members check-out from their hotels, and make their own way home
- Saturday 13th June 2026 - Middleton St George Memorial Association Service of Remembrance - St George Hotel, Teesside International Airport, Middleton St George, Darlington. Meeting 10.00am for a 10.30am start. This Act of Remembrance will incorporate a Two Minute Silence (Middleton St George Memorial Association Event)
- Friday 26th June 2026 – Flying the Flag - Town Hall 10.00am, then walk to Market Square (Darlington Borough Council Event for Armed Forces Day)
- Saturday 27th June 2026 - Armed Forces Day (National Events)
- Saturday 27th June 2026 - Branch Information/Recruitment Table – Darlington Carnival - Based at Stanhope Park (With Procession through Darlington Town Centre - Leaving Market Square at 11.30am) - Stalls in Stanhope Park 10.00am to 5.00pm (Set Up 9.00am - Pack Up 5.00pm) (Darlington Borough Council Event)
- Saturday 4th July 2026 – Branch Trip to Bamburgh Castle and Seahouses. Coach Timings TBC
- Sunday 5 th July 2026 - Darlington Proms in the Park – Bandstand, South Park, Darlington between 3.00pm and 5.30pm (Darlington Borough Council Event)
· Saturday (TBC) August 2026 – Branch Information/Recruitment Table –Middleton St George Summer Extravaganza (Annual Community Fair) - Middleton St George Community Centre, DL2 1HL
- Wednesday 12th August 2026 - Branch Committee Meeting – Planning of 2026 Poppy Appeal Routes/Delivery (RBL Darlington Branch Event)
- Saturday 5th September 2026 - Branch Information/Recruitment Table - Hurworth Grange Country Fair, Hurworth Grange Community Centre, Hurworth Road, Hurworth-on-Tees, Darlington, DL2 2BN - 10.30am to 4.30pm (Set Up 9.00am - Pack Up 5.00pm) (Hurworth Grange Community Centre Event)
- · Saturday 26th September 2026 – Branch Information/Recruitment Table – Cornmill Shopping Centre, Darlington
- Thursday 22nd October 2026 - RBL Poppy Appeal launched by The Worshipful, the Mayor of Darlington - Darlington Town Centre and The Mayors Parlour, Darlington Town Hall at 10.30am
- 29th October 2026 - RBL London Poppy Day (RBL National Event)
- Saturday 31st October 2026 - Field of Remembrance Ceremony - Opened by The Worshipful, the Mayor of Darlington - Cenotaph in the grounds of the Darlington Memorial Hospital. Meeting at 2.30pm for starting at 2.45pm
- Sunday 8th November 2026 - Remembrance Sunday - Service of Remembrance
o 10.00am Remembrance Service - Holy Trinity Church, Darlington
o After Church Service, Parade to Cenotaph - Grounds of Darlington Memorial Hospital
o Act of Remembrance - Cenotaph in the grounds of Darlington Memorial Hospital. This Act of Remembrance will incorporate the 11.00am Two Minutes Silence
· Sunday 8th November 2026 – Revealing of Repaired/Relocated World War One War Memorial – Memorial Hall, Memorial Hospital, Darlington. Starting at 11.30am
- Sunday 8th November 2026 - Remembrance Sunday - Service of Remembrance
o West Cemetery War Graves, Carmel Road North, Darlington. Starting at 2.30pm. This Act of Remembrance will incorporate a Two Minute Silence
- Wednesday 11th November 2026 - Armistice Day - Two Minutes Silence held on High Row, Darlington Town Centre at 11.00am - Opened by The Worshipful, the Mayor of Darlington (Darlington Borough Council Event)
- Wednesday 25th November 2026 - 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 12th December 2026 - Christmas Social Event. All Darlington Branch Members and their guests are Invited – Haughton Le Skerne Club, Darlington (RBL Darlington Branch Event)
o Dress - Christmas Theme/Jumper or Smart Casual
o Time - 7.00pm for 7.30pm
o Cost - £ TBC per head
o Tickets on sale from - [email protected] or at Branch Meetings
o Food - Delicious Two course meal
o Entertainment – Emma James (Vocalist)
o Plus - Auction / Raffle / Sit down Bingo / Entrance Ticket Draw
- Thursday 24th December 2026 - Operation Candlelight - Remembering the fallen at Christmas - West Cemetery War Graves, Carmel Road North, starting at 4.00pm. This Act of Remembrance will incorporate a Two Minute Silence (National Event)
The placing of tealights on the Commonwealth War Graves to honour the fallen and ensure their memory shines bright. These small flames serve as a poignant reminder that their sacrifices will never be forgotten
- Saturday 23rd January 2027 - Northumbria County 19th Annual RBL Conference - St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Consett Road, Lanchester, Durham, DH7 0RD. Starting 10.00am - Two Branch delegates and Branch Standard attending (RBL Country Event)
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, Allana Massingham, [email protected]
