Ashington Marks Armed Forces Day with Thanksgiving Service
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.
Cllr Ball thanked Cllr Marjorie Chambers, Chair of the Ashington Branch of the RBL, for the invitation, and paid tribute to the Branch for organising the servive. Cllr Chambers also ensured the buffet afterwards ran smoothly, taking particular care that everyone, especially the young people on parade, was well looked after.
Following the service, guests were welcomed to Ashington Cricket Club, where the Ashington Branch of the RBL and the Club provided hospitality and refreshments. The visit coincided with the Club’s 1st XI Saturday fixture against Seaham Harbour, which got underway at 11am, and guests were able to enjoy some cricket alongside the morning’s celebrations — with everyone hoping for a home win to round off the occasion.
The Club’s longstanding support for the RBL family was evident throughout the morning, just as it is every year at Remembrance — most recently through its tree planting scheme marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which saw 177 commemorative trees and plaques installed in honour of Ashington residents who lost their lives in the Second World War. Cllr Ball took time to view the memorial, now well established and maturing into a fitting and permanent tribute.
Cllr Ball said: "Standing here at Ashington Cricket Club, looking out over the memorial trees planted in memory of the 177 people from our town who gave everything, and surrounded by everyone who came together to mark Armed Forces Day, you can’t help but feel proud, hopeful, and very grateful."
Ashington Town Council extends its thanks to the Ashington Branch of the Royal British Legion and to Ashington Cricket Club for their continued support of the Armed Forces community.
Armed Forces Day 2026
