District & Branch Bulletins
BRANCH EVENTS
A National Programme of Events is being published by Headquarters in London of all the various events taking place to Commemorate VE & VJ Day - make sure we know about your event so we can get it included on the National Programme of Events
Important Dates for the Diary.
8th May 2025 VE Day 80th Anniversary
16th- 18th May 2025 National Conference Harrogate.
26th May 2025 85th Anniversary Dunkirk.
28th June 2025 Armed Forces Day.
1st July 2025 Battle of Somme 109th Anniversary.
12th July 2025 Islandbridge.
15th August 2025 85th Anniversary VJ Day.
2nd September 2025 VJ Day & End of WW2 80th Anniversary.
24th October 2025 NI Poppy Launch, Venue: The Palace Demesne, Armagh, BT60 4EL @ 11:00
25th October 2025 Festival of Remembrance, Assembly Buildings, Belfast Doors Open 17:00
3rd Nov 2025 NI Field of Remembrance opens, Belfast City Hall Grounds
9th Nov 2025 Remembrance Sunday, Belfast City Hall Grounds
15th Nov 2025 District Chairmans Seminar, Armagh RBL, 12-14 Dobbin St, BT61 7QQ 10am
17th January 2026 NI District Conference, Tullyglass, Ballymena.
SPORTS
Northern Ireland Darts Competition:-
A letter is enclosed giving all the Competitions details dates are as follows:- Saturday 26th April 2025
All to be held in Fivemiletown Royal British Legion, 163 Ballagh Road, Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone, BT75 0QP
The Competition will commence at 10:30hrs. All competitors are asked to register before 10:00hrs.
Darts Singles, Darts Pairs and 4 Man Team.
Details including where to send applications forms are on the paperwork attached. Please see the document on how to register. Darts 2025
National Darts Competition
The National Darts Competition Finals will take place in TBC - teams from Northern Ireland are taking part and I know you will wish them well in bringing the National Trophy back to Northern Ireland;
PARADE MARSHALL TRAINING
The following date in which has been organised for Parade Marshall Training to be held in Cookstown.
Please Contact the Parade Marshall for more information.
PMs Course for NI and ROI 2025
We are running another course due to the response of our last course.
We have put through 42 candidates to date, so we require the branches that have not completed the course to forward their PM as this is the only two dates left for this year. If your branch PM has not completed this course, they are not insured for ANY Remembrance parades this year. If you branch has already send a representative, please do not apply again. Due to the restricted numbers of places available branches are encouraged to send one person. If there are spaces left, we will open up to everyone. Please also note that representatives attending the course MUST BE a fully paid-up member.
STANDARD BEARERS
The following are the dates which have been organised for Standard Bearers Training to be held in Cookstown.
Upcoming training for Standard Bearers.
Dates for Training:
Saturday 28th June 2025
Saturday 2nd August 2025
Saturday 20th September 2025
National Women's Section Standard Bearer Competition - 16th May 2025
Once again, Entry Forms will be forwarded to Branches for the Training Days as well as the Competitions
Standards Bearers Competition Cookstown - 11th October 2025
SB Competition
STANDARD BEARERS COMPETITION DATES
Dates of SB Competition.
Novice and W Section is Friday the 10th of October 2025 due to large numbers of competitors.
Seniors and Youth competition is Saturday the 11th of October 2025.
Competition starts 10.30 Sharp.
Venue for both competitions is
Food will be available at £5 per head.
Could you please let me know if there's any dietary requirements.
There will be a raffle so if anyone would like to bring a prize it would be really appreciated.
Please try to support your standard bearers thanks
We are asking if possible that all the standard bearers that is doing the competitions turn up on Saturday for the prize giving.
Could I ask anyone that has a trophy or shield to bring them on Saturday.
BRANCH TRAINING
At the moment no dates have been finalised for Branch Management or Branch Treasurers Courses. There are provisional dates for Oct/Nov but we are hoping that we can arrange a Branch Treasurers course either in April/May. We will of course keep you advised when the courses have been finalised.
ISLANDBRIDGE CEREMONY - DUBLIN
The date for this year's Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland Day of Remembrance in Islandbridge. Memorial Park will be 12th July 2025
INVITATIONS
Any Branch/Group wishing to invite the Chairman, Vice Chairman or Northern Ireland Standard bearer to any of their functions, should do so through the District Office - this helps the Chairman and Vice Chairman to co-ordinate their involvement in the various Functions going on throughout Northern Ireland.
