Sunday 25th January; Holocaust 80; Memorial service in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, form-up 10:30 for 11:00 service at the Garden of Remembrance. High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8RJ.
Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th February; 2026 BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL TATTOO, at the NEC, bp pulse Live arena.
Sunday 26th April; FBESA St. George’s day, form-up 10:30 for 11:00 service at St. Paul’s church, St. Paul’s Square, Birmingham, B3 1QZ 1st part in church, 2nd part at the memorials on the green for wreath laying ceremony, after service refreshments and entertainment in the banqueting suite at the Cobden hotel, 166, Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B16 9NZ, everyone welcome, especially veterans, standard bearers, military serving personnel, cadets,
Friday 8th May 2026; Commemorating 81st anniversary of VE day, form-up 09:30 for 10:00 service and act of remembrance at the Hall of Memory Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2HF
Sunday 10th May; Veterans of Hagley Road Village (HRV) will hold their Victory in Europe Day service in the concert room, form-up 13:30 for 14:00 service at HRV, everyone welcome, especially standard bearers, veterans, and residents, Hagley Road retirement village, 330, Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B17 8BM.
Saturday 16th May Remembering National Service “63” Saturday 16th May 2026 marks the 63rd anniversary since the last national serviceman was demobbed from National Service, (conscription), the National Service Veterans Association will commemorate the event on Saturday 16th May 2026 at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA), with a Service of Remembrance and wreath laying ceremony at their own National Service Veterans Memorial, form-up 11:30 for 12:00 service, attendance is open to all veterans, members, bereaved families, and descendants of UK National Servicemen all standard bearers are invited to attend please. http://www.thenma.org.uk/events
Please note; the annual conscripts Memorial Day will be held on 16th May every year in future, Renamed “Remembering National Service”
Sunday 17th May; Ceremony to mark the 13th anniversary of the death of Fusilier Lee Rigby, (22/05/2013) at the War Memorial, Powke Lane Cemetery, Rowley Regis on Sunday 17th May 2026 at 10:00am, including act of remembrance and wreath laying ceremony, everyone welcome, especially standard bearers, Welcome by; Mark Spilsbury.
Saturday 6th June “D” day 82nd anniversary; The 1944 Alliance Normandy-Market Garden will hold their annual remembrance service for “D” – Day 82 at the NMA Alrewas, form-up 10:45 for 11:00 service at the SONT Normandy campaign memorial
Monday 22nd June; Raising the Armed Forces Flag Ceremony to launch Armed Forces week, form-up 09:20hrs. for 09:50hrs ceremony, at the council house, Victoria Square, Birmingham B1 1BB
Monday 22nd June; Raising the Armed Forces Flag Ceremony takes place in every town and city to launch Armed Forces week.
ARMED FORCES WEEKEND; Show your support for our country’s Armed Forces during Armed Forces Weekend at the National Memorial Arboretum on Saturday 27th June & Sunday 28th June 2026, 9am.-5pm. Join us at this celebratory event to recognise the service and work of our Armed Forces. With fun activities and entertainment for all ages, including Climbing Walls, Archery, Zipline, Veteran’s Village with live music, this is sure to be a fun weekend for the whole family.
http://www.thenma.org.uk/events-at-the-arboretum/forthcoming-events/armed-forces-day-weekend/
Armed Forces Day; 28th June; (nearest Saturday) Armed Forces Day in the United Kingdom is an annual event celebrated in late June to commemorate the service of men and women in the British Armed Forces. Veterans’ Day was first observed in 2006. Although an official event, it is not a public holiday in the UK. The name was changed from Veterans Day to Armed Forces Day in 2009.
Saturday 27th June; Form-up 10:30 in Freeth Street B69 3DB to march 150 yards to war memorial, 11:00 commemorate armed forces day including act of remembrance, veterans and standard bearers very welcome. event_enquiries@sandwell.gov.uk
Saturday 27th June; WOLVERHAMPTON ARMED FORCES DAY, 12:00 pm to 4:30 pm. West Park, 76, Park Road, Wolverhampton WV1 4PH, this free, family-fun event is open to all and is a celebration of our armed forces community and an opportunity to say thank you for all they do for our city and the country. The event will include a funfair, a range of food stalls and bars as well as a series of interactive activities for everyone to enjoy including a cycle skills track, smoothie bike, face painting, mascots, penalty shoot-out and have a go sports activity.
A military parade made up of serving personnel, cadets and veterans will be a focal point of the event and following that there will be an inspection and salute. There will be a range of information stalls and military demonstrations in the event arena where families can speak to members of the armed forces to find out more. Live entertainment will run throughout the day on the main stage. This will incorporate a range of musical styles to appeal to all the family and the event will close with the grand finale wolves.afd@wolverhampton.gov.uk TBC
Sunday 28th June; HIMLEY ARMED FORCES DAY 2025 Armed Forces Day returns for another year at the prestigious Grade II listed Himley Hall & Park. The free event runs from 11am to 4pm and offers fun for all the family, including a vintage military vehicle display, vintage fairground rides, Punch and Judy shows and dance lesson taster sessions. There will also be a paintball gallery, archery and rifle range to have a go at. In the park vintage homewares, crafts and clothing will be on offer and our vintage tea tent will be serving ‘tea for the troops’. In the afternoon, marching bands, standard-bearers and members of the Armed Forces will join together for the spectacular Beating Retreat, a military tradition dating back centuries. capa.events@dudley.gov.uk
Monday 29th June Swanshurst Secondary school will hold their annual “Veterans Day” 09:30 arrive to register, Lord Mayor and deputy Lord Lieutenant in attendance, march between buildings, talk to one half of year 8, Lunch, then talk to second half, 2:00pm entertainment from pupils, 3:00pm form-up on grass for “act of remembrance” (Last Post”-silence-“Reveille”) leave at 3:30. Everyone welcome, especially veterans, standard bearers, Brook Lane, Birmingham, B13 0TW.
Sunday 5th July Somme Sunday, at Aston parish church, Witton Lane, Birmingham, B6 6QA, to be organised by the RRF HQ. Warwick, 11:15 for 11:45 act of remembrance and wreath laying service at the war memorial in the church grounds.
Saturday 15th August; VJ Day “81”; form-up 10:45 at Amphlett Hall, Crown Close, Bromsgrove B61 8DW, to march onto the Burma Star memorial for service and “Act of Remembrance” with wreath laying ceremony, 20, Market Street, Bromsgrove, B61 8DA. Standard bearers, veterans, members and guests very welcome.
Saturday 15th August VJ “81” Day; Veterans of Hagley Road Village (HRV) will hold a victory over Japan Day service in the concert room, form-up 14:00 for 14:30 service at HRV, everyone welcome, especially standard bearers and veterans, Hagley Road retirement village. 330, Hagley Road. Edgbaston, Birmingham, B17 8BM
Sunday 16th August; Federation day and commemorating VJ day 81st anniversary, the FBESA will hold their annual service including act of remembrance, form-up 11:30 for 12:00 service, followed by lunch and entertainment in the Cobden suite, 166, Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B16 9NZ Standard bearers, veterans, members and guests very welcome.
Thursday 3rd September; Raising the flag; the Merchant Navy Association, Birmingham branch will raise the MN Red Ensign to mark Merchant Navy Day (3rd September) form-up 10:30hrs. for 11:00hrs ceremony, at the council house, Victoria Square, Birmingham B1 1BB
Sunday 13th September; Battle of Britain memorial service, form-up 12:00 for 12:30 service at the RAFA HQ Goldthorn Road, Wolverhampton, WV2 4PN, refreshments afterwards including the usual Hog roast, everyone welcome, including veterans, members and standard bearers.
Thursday 17th September; the 1944 Alliance Normandy-Market Garden will hold their annual act of remembrance and wreath laying ceremony on this the 82nd anniversary of operation “Market Garden” at the new MGVA memorial, form-up 11:45 for 12:00 service at the NMA Alrewas, www.thenma.org.uk everyone welcome, including veterans, members and standard bearers.
Saturday 10th October; Birmingham Air Raids Remembrance Association (BARRA) annual service of remembrance, form-up 10:30 for 11:00 service at” St. Martins in the Bull Ring” church, Edgbaston Street, Birmingham, B5 5BB after the church service form-up at the “Tree of Life” memorial for wreath laying ceremony, this is the 21st anniversary of the “Tree of Life” memorial erected in the Bull ring, 2005-2026.
Sunday 8th November; Remembrance Sunday, Veterans and Standard bearers form-up 10:10 ready for 10:40 march off in Colmore Row, near Eden place, off Victoria Square, Birmingham, B3 3SJ, to march onto Cathedral Square, Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2QB. for annual Remembrance Day service.
Sunday 8th November; Hagley Road Village; (HRV veterans’ group) will hold their annual Remembrance Day service on Sunday 8th November 2026, form-up 14:00 for 14:30 service with their own chaplain and in-house choir, everyone welcome, especially veterans and standard bearers to their service, Address: Hagley Road Retirement Village; 336, Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B17 8BH.
Monday 9th November; Remembrance at Swanshurst
09:30 arrival for tea/coffee and chat,
10:45 – I, (Doug Smith) will say something, welcome and greetings,
11:00 – proceed out on to the grass for act of remembrance with two minutes silence.
11:05 – back in-doors for tea/ coffee and entertainment and leave at about 12:00.
Swanshurst School, Brook Lane, Birmingham, B13 0TW.
Wednesday 11th November; City of Birmingham annual Armistice Day service and parade, form-up 10:30hrs for 10:55hrs service at the Hall of Memory war memorial, Centenary Square, Birmingham, B1 2HF
Sunday 20th December; FBESA Christmas party, full seasonal fare and entertainment, 12:30 sit down in the Cobden suite at the Cobden hotel, 166, Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B16 9NZ, cost £22 for members, £27 for guests.
Dress code; Christmas theme jumpers etc. book through your own association or with John Dolphin, FBESA chairman, 0121 241 3112 or johndolphin48@hotmail.com
Edited 05/02/2026