For your diary
Remembrance week
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, the “Tree of Life” memorial has been moved to the grounds of St. Martin’s church.
Saturday 31st October; Blessing & dedication of new war memorial at Weoley Castles Square, form up 11:30 for 12:00 parade & service, everyone welcome, especially veterans, standard bearers, uniformed personnel.
Saturday 31st October 2026 SAVE the DATE Concert of Remembrance Saturday 31st October 2026, 7:30pm. Sutton Coldfield town hall, Upper Clifton Road, Sutton Coldfield, B73 6DA, 07570177937, Dress code; smart with medals and decorations Tickets £5.00. each. (Veterans with companion, no charge) standard bearers very welcome. Tickets available early September, Funds to the RBL Poppy appeal.
Sunday 8th November; City of Birmingham 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; Weoley Castle Square Remembrance Day parade and service, form-up 10:30 at the new war memorial for act of remembrance at 11:00, everyone welcome, especially veterans, standard bearers, uniformed personnel.
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 £24.50 for members, £29.50 for guests. Dress code; Christmas theme outfit’s etc. book through your own association or with John Dolphin, FBESA chairman, 0121 241 3112 or johndolphin48@hotmail.com