27 June 2026
Ashington Town Council’s Civic Head, Cllr Caroline Ball, joined civic and military dignitaries this week for the Armed Forces Day Thanksgiving Service, organised by the Ashington Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL).
The service was attended by Deputy Lord Lieutenant Julie Cordon and Ian Lavery MP, who laid floral tributes alongside the Civic Head and President of RBL Ashington, Mr Al Vaziri. Ms Cordon was accompanied by her brother, Mr John McConville, Chair of the charity Brainbox. Both spoke with Cllr Ball about the charity’s work supporting children and young people affected by acquired brain injury, and their families, across Ashington and Northumberland. Veterans, members of the public, the Army Cadet Force and Ashington Sea Cadets stood proud throughout a fitting service led by Padre Major (Retired) Philip Gray, MBE, whose address reflected on the origins of the day. He noted that what is now Armed Forces Day began life in 2006 as Veterans’ Day, introduced at a time when British troops were heavily committed in Iraq and Afghanistan and investment in, and recognition of, the Armed Forces was widely felt to be low. The day was created, the Padre explained, to motivate troops serving at the time by showing them that the nation stood behind them — a message that resonates as strongly today as it did at its inception. The observance was renamed Armed Forces Day in 2009.
Ashington Town Council has set aside funding to improve the Christmas lighting features in the town centre year on year.
The Town Council has worked with a number of schools in the town to provide an annual competition in designing new Christmas lighting features. There are now twenty one designs within the Christmas lighting that have been designed by the town's young people.
The events are organised with support from local traders, Northumberland YMCA and Northumberland County Council and include family entertainment, costumed characters, a Christmas market and fairground rides.
The 2013 Light Switch On was carried out by popular TV actor Tim Healy, the 2014 event saw X Factor Finalist Lola Saunders doing the honours and in 2015 the switch-on was performed by Ashington football legend Jack Charlton OBE supported by North East music icons Rod Clement, Dave Hull-Denholm and Ian Thompson from Lindisfarne. In 2016 the event was more low key as the Station Road Regeneration Scheme was nearing completion but Durham & England cricketer Mark Wood agreed to perform the Switch-On in his hometown.
In 2017 the Switch-On was hosted by well known BBC TV presenter Colin Briggs with the five Ashington children, who won the Christmas Lighting Competition that year, leading the countdown. In 2018 popular comedian and BBC Breakfast Show host Alfie Joey led the countdown again supported by Ashington children who had won the Christmas Lighting Competition.
27 June 2026
Ashington Town Council’s Civic Head, Cllr Caroline Ball, joined civic and military dignitaries this week for the Armed Forces Day Thanksgiving Service, organised by the Ashington Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL).
The service was attended by Deputy Lord Lieutenant Julie Cordon and Ian Lavery MP, who laid floral tributes alongside the Civic Head and President of RBL Ashington, Mr Al Vaziri. Ms Cordon was accompanied by her brother, Mr John McConville, Chair of the charity Brainbox. Both spoke with Cllr Ball about the charity’s work supporting children and young people affected by acquired brain injury, and their families, across Ashington and Northumberland. Veterans, members of the public, the Army Cadet Force and Ashington Sea Cadets stood proud throughout a fitting service led by Padre Major (Retired) Philip Gray, MBE, whose address reflected on the origins of the day. He noted that what is now Armed Forces Day began life in 2006 as Veterans’ Day, introduced at a time when British troops were heavily committed in Iraq and Afghanistan and investment in, and recognition of, the Armed Forces was widely felt to be low. The day was created, the Padre explained, to motivate troops serving at the time by showing them that the nation stood behind them — a message that resonates as strongly today as it did at its inception. The observance was renamed Armed Forces Day in 2009.
27 June 2026
Ashington Town Council’s Civic Head, Cllr Caroline Ball, joined civic...
24 June 2026
Your Right to Inspect the Accounts
Each year, the Council’s AGAR...
17 June 2026
Ashington Town Council, joint Full Council and Finance & General...
