We are planning a number of events this year and here are the dates for your diary. We will provide more information as we move forward but we hope to see as many members as possible and begin to raise some funds for the branch.
VE80 Thursday 8th May
The Chairman and Ken Clarke - a D-Day Veteran- after laying a wreath at the British Normandy Memorial.
D-Day Friday 6th June - The Normandy Memorial Trust and the Spirit of Normandy Trust are working in partnership this year to host the official D-Day ceremony at the Memorial. The ceremony will start at 10.30 hrs and end at about 11.15hrs. RBL Normandy Branch will be attending with the Standard. Full information is available on the Trust’s website, see below. Those wishing to attend must register in advance, this will guarantee entry but not a seat as the public spaces are all standing. Members with mobility issues can contact the RBL Normandy Secretary so that arrangements can be made to support you.
Website:- https://www.britishnormandymemorial.org/news-story/spring-summer-2025-at-the-british-normandy-memorial/
Sign up link:- https://www.cognitoforms.com/SpiritOfNormandyTrust/SpiritOfNormandyTrustBritishNormandyTrustCommemorationRegistration
Sunday 15th June - 10.30hrs Monument des Fusillés, Beaucoudray. At the Invitation of the Union Nationale des Combattants, the Normandy Branch standard will be deployed in a commemoration ceremony to honour 11 members of the PTT Resistance Syndicate who were tasked in accordance with the ‘Plan Purple’ to cut German communication lines on the eve of D-Day. They were captured by the Nazis and executed at the side of the road on 15th June 1944. All members are welcome, please contact the Secretary for more information.
https://www.normandie-tourisme.fr/sites-lieux-de-visites/monument-des-fusilles/
Wednesday 18th June - Healing & District RBL Branch, Lincolnshire, are organising a ceremony at the Old Communal Cemetery at Cherbourg at 10.45am to honour the 5th King’s Own Scottish Borderers. The branch will be represented and any members who wish to attend are very welcome. Please contact the secretary for more information.
Sunday 27th July - Branch Meeting & Social Event, time to be confirmed, St Martin des Beasaces. This is planned to tie in with a commemoration event for the 11British Armoured Brigade and World War II Re-enactment fair at Musée 44, la Percée du Bocage. More details to follow. https://www.laperceedubocage.fr/index.php/fr/
Saturday 27th September - Branch Meeting & Social Event. A second event at Le Château du Pont de Vaudry close to Vire. This will most likely include an end of summer Garden Party in the grounds (weather dependent). More details to follow.
Sunday 9th November – Remembrance Sunday event and Annual General Meeting at the British Normandy Memorial followed by social event, details to be confirmed.
We will not be organising any centralised events on Tuesday 11th November (Armistice Day) as it was felt that Members would wish to support their own local commemorations.
This is not a comprehensive list of the events during 2025 as no doubt there will be many other occasions on which the Branch will be represented. If you are aware of an event to which you feel the Branch Standard should be deployed or receive an invitation on behalf of the RBL then please contact the Secretary who will arrange to put this forward to the Branch Committee for approval.
