Below is a list of dates for your diary on what's happening in the Llandudno Branch of The Royal British Legion. Branch meetings are held at the Ex-Services Club, Vaughan Street, Llandudno on the third Monday of the month at 19:30.
Battle of the Somme Commemoration
On 1st July, Llandudno Royal British Legion were joined by civic leaders and members of the public for a service of commemoration at Llandudno war memorial to remember the soldiers of the town who died at the Battle of the Somme. Led by branch padre Reverend Canon Philip Barratt, the service commenced at 0730 with 25 blasts of a trench whistle blown by Petty Officer Cadet Jones of the Conwy County Sea Cadet unit. Each blast represented one of the Llandudno men who was killed at the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
Gordon Woodyatt, Chairman of Llandudno Royal British Legion explained: “the time was significant as it was at exactly 0730 that whistles were blown 110 years earlier and the men left their trenches, walked across no-man’s land into barbed wire entanglements and straight into the teeth of the enemy machine gun, rifle and mortar fire that had not been destroyed as planned in an earlier artillery bombardment.”
The first day of the Battle of the Somme was the deadliest in British military history and by dusk 19,240 men had been killed. Ultimately the Battle of the Somme would continue for another five months before the offensive was stopped. In that time, the Allies had only advanced seven miles but had suffered 420,000 casualties. The bulk of British troops involved in the Battle of the Somme were inexperienced volunteers of the 'New Armies' including the thousands of Royal Welsh Fusiliers that had been billeted in Llandudno in 1914-15.
Local resident, Vicky Macdonald read the poem ‘A Soldiers’ Cemetery’ that was written by Serjeant John Williams Street in the weeks before the Battle of the Somme. He died on the 1st July 1916, the first day of the battle, while serving with the Sheffield Pals.
Photos courtesy of Rod Pierce
Armed Forces Day collection
On Saturday, 27th June, branch members raised money for the Poppy Appeal by holding a collection in Asda Llandudno. Thank you to everyone who volunteered and the community for their support.
Wormhout 86 and Op TELIC 15 Service of Commemoration
On Saturday, 23rd May 2026, members of Llandudno branch Royal British Legion were joined by civic leaders, veterans, cadets and four families of the fallen to remember the eight Llandudno men killed at Wormhout while withdrawing to Dunkirk in May 1940 and Lance Bombardier Llywelyn Evans who died on the first day of the Iraq War in 2013. The service was led by branch padre, Reverend Canon Philip Barratt OC and branch chair, Gordon Woodyatt, was Parade Marshal. The branch are grateful to the help of local singer, Angharad Gallacher, bugler John Hughes and Cadet Martha for reading a poem. Photos courtesy of Jon Harty.
418 (Aberconwy) Squadron Air Training Corps
In February 2026, Llandudno RBL welcomed 418 (Aberconwy) Squadron Air Training Corps to reaffirm the long-standing affiliation between the two organisations. It was also an opportunity to award Cadet Sergeant Morris of the ATC the Roy Gambrill shield for ‘Best Cadet’ in 2025 after raising £469.41 for the Poppy Appeal. Other presentations were made to the new Chair, Mr Gordon Woodyatt, and stalwart Poppy Appeal collectors Morfydd and Helen. Well done to you all.
Thank you to everyone involved.
Remembrance Day - 11/11/2025
Remembrance Sunday parade 2025
Penrhyn Bay war memorial unveiling September 2025
VJ80 Parade and Service - August 2025
VE80 Concert - May 2025 - Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
VE80 Parade and Service - May 2025
For more details please email [email protected]
