Darlington Branch Programme of Events

Below is a list of 2025 dates for your diary on what is happening regrading Darlington Branch of The Royal British Legion  

(Updated 07/03/2025) 

See our Facebook Page for further information - www.facebook.com/groups/rbldarlington

• Monday 13^th January 2025 - Service of Remembrance to mark the 80th 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 Minutes Silence

• Saturday 18^th January 2025 - County 17^th Annual RBL Conference. St George's ARC, Newcastle. 10.00am start - Branch delegates and Branch Standard attending (RBL Country Event)

• Monday 27^th January 2025 - Holocaust Memorial Day (National Events)

• Saturday 1st February 2025 - Branch Visit to "Black Dog Air Rifle Range - Unit 20, Enterprise City, Meadowfield Ave, Spennymoor DL16 6JF - Meeting 12.00 noon (RBL Darlington Branch Event)

• Sunday 2^nd February 2025 - M62 Bombing Memorial Day (Nearest Sunday to 4th February).  Memorial Garden, M62 Hartshead Moor Service Station (RBL National Event)

• Friday 7^th March 2025 - Branch Information/Recruitment Table – Darlington Cornmill Shopping Centre - 10.00am to 3.00pm (RBL Darlington Branch Event)

• Friday 18^th April 2025 - Mayors Charity Ball (Darlington Borough Council Event)

• Friday 2^nd May 2025 - Branch Information/Recruitment Table – Darlington Cornmill Shopping Centre - 10.00am to 3.00pm (RBL Darlington Branch Event)

• Thursday 8^th May 2025 – VE Day 80^th Anniversary - Service of Remembrance - Held at Haughton War Memorial, St Andrew’s Church, Haughton at 10.30am. This Act of Remembrance will incorporate the 11.00am Two Minutes Silence RBL Darlington Branch Event)

• Saturday 10^th May 2025 - Branch Information/Recruitment Table – Darlington Fire Service Open Day - Further details to follow 

• Friday 16^th May to Monday 19^th May 2025 – Branch D-Day Landings Normandy Tour (RBL Darlington Branch Event)

• Departure: Friday 16^th May 2025 - Coach leaves Darlington - (Time TBC) 

• Arrival: Friday 16^th May 2025 - Caen area hotel - (Time TBC) 

• Saturday 17^th May 2025 - British & Canadian Beaches, Pegasus Bridge & Pegasus Memorial, Ranville War Cemetery, and British Normandy Memorial 

• Sunday 18^th May 2025 - American Beaches, Normandy American Cemetery, German Cemetery at La Cambe, Bayeux War Cemetery, and Overlord Museum 

• Departure: Monday 19^th May 2025 - Coach leaves Caen area Hotel - (Time TBC) 

• Arrival: Monday 19^th May 2025 - Coach arrives Darlington - (Time TBC)

• • Travel by executive coach

• Three nights hotel stay with Continental Breakfast

• Trip is Fully Booked

• Friday 16^th May to Sunday 18^th May 2025 - National Annual RBL Conference – Harrogate Convention Centre, North Yorkshire - Branch delegate attending (RBL National Event) 

• Saturday 14^th June 2025 - 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. This Act of Remembrance will incorporate a Two Minutes Silence (Middleton St George Memorial Association Event)  

• (Date TBC) June 2025 – Flying the Flag - Town Hall 10.00am, then walk to Market Square (Darlington Borough Council Event for Armed Forces Day)

• Saturday 28^th June 2025 – Armed Forces Day (National Event)

• Saturday 28^th June 2025 - 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)

• Friday 4^th July 2025 - Branch Information/Recruitment Table – Darlington Cornmill Shopping Centre - 10.00am to 3.00pm (RBL Darlington Branch Event)

• Sunday (Date TBC) July 2025 - Darlington Proms In The Park – Bandstand, South Park, Darlington between 3.00pm and 5.30pm (Darlington Borough Council Event)

• Wednesday 13^th August 2025 - Branch Committee Meeting – Planning of 2025 Poppy Appeal Routes/Delivery (RBL Darlington Branch Event)

• Friday 15^th August 2025 – VJ Day 80^th Anniversary - Service of Remembrance - Held at Haughton War Memorial, St Andrew’s Church, Haughton at 10.30am. This Act of Remembrance will incorporate the 11.00am Two Minutes Silence (RBL Darlington Branch Event)

• Wednesday 2nd September 2025 - Branch visit to Imperial War Museum Duxford Cambridgeshire
  If you are interested in going on this visit contact the Branch Membership Secretary darlington.memsecretary@rbl.community (RBL Darlington Branch Event)

• Saturday 6^th September 2025 - Emergency Services Day - Darlington Town Centre Market Square, starting at 10.00am (Darlington Borough Council Event)

• Saturday 13^th September 2025 - Branch Information/Recruitment Table - Hurworth Grange Country Fair, Hurworth Grange Community Centre, 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)

• Thursday 23^rd October 2025 - RBL Poppy Appeal launched by The Worshipful, the Mayor of Darlington - Darlington Town Centre and The Mayors Parlour, Darlington Town Hall at 10.30am

• Saturday 1st November 2025 - Field of Remembrance Ceremony - Opened by The Worshipful, the Mayor of Darlington - Cenotaph in the grounds of the Darlington Memorial Hospital.  Meeting at 2.45pm for starting at 3.00pm

• Sunday 9^th November 2025 - 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 9^th November 2025 - 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

• Tuesday 11^th November 2025 - 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 26^th November 2025 - 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 13th December 2025 - 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 secretary@rbl.community)
• Food - Two course meal
• Entertainment – (TBC)
• Plus - Auction / Raffle / Sit down Bingo

• Wednesday 24th December 2025 - Operation Candle Light - Remembering the fallen at Christmas - West Cemetery War Graves, Carmel Road North, starting at 4.00pm.  This Act of Remembrance will incorporate a Two Minutes 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

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