BRANCH HISTORY

In November 1981 two men met on a train. They were going to London for the Remembrance weekend. It was during this conversation that Ernie Stockton DLI and Sammy Morton RA decided to form a branch in County Durham.
The inaugural meeting took place at the Wheatsheaf Hotel Staindrop, on 8 April 1982 with 82 members listed. The branch name had to be decided, it was proposed that it should be the Durham Branch but, the new county of Cleveland had come into being and many members lived there. It was John Waller who proposed, and it was agreed,that the name would be the Durham and Cleveland Branch.
The branch Standard was Dedicated on 30 September 1984 in Staindrop where the branch began. It turned out to be a memorable event with many veterans and Standards on parade, which was lead by the band of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.
Over the years the branch has attended many events in this country and many London Remembrance weekends. We have travelled to, Saint Albans, Bedford, Wolverhampton, Cleethorpes, Malby, Stoke, Kendal, Perth and more, with individuals going to many others.
It was August 1990 when we flew to Canada, 7 members stayed with Canadian veterans and the rest stayed in London Ontario, where our events were organized by Major John Clark and the Royal Canadian Regiment. We visited Wolsey Barracks their HQ, and were taken, in army buses, for a day at Niagara Falls. This was a great trip.
1992, we travelled to Antwerp, the main event being our day at the Floriade in Holland.We repeated this trip 10 years later, in 2002 staying in Ostend.
In July 1994 we Dedicated the Korean War Memorial Stone in Middlesbrough, and in August went cruising on the Tees. It was a warm sunny Sunday morning, we sailed from Stockton to Yarm and back, to have Sunday lunch at the Endevour Restaurant.
2000, and the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. We took over the College of Saint Hild and Saint Bede in Durham City, from Friday until Monday. Friday for the early arrivers, a walking tour of the city, and in the evening, after a two course meal, a " Meet and Greet " in the bar lounge, with entertainment by Bobby Lee. Who, when Captain Lee arrived said, " he would have to look up his family history, to see if they were related."
Saturday morning, two buses, paid for by the ladies of the branch, left for Beamish. Admission was free, the branch paid. and our guests really enjoyed it. Saturday evening, a sherry reception in the bar lounge followed by dinner. All were played to dinner by a Northumbrian Piper. After we danced until midnight to the music of "American Patrol."
Sunday morning was bright and dry when we paraded on the Cathedral College Green. The Band of 34(n) Royal Signals provided the music, they were excellent, and Alisair Wright, Highland Pipes, played the lament " Flowers of the Forest." The Deputy Lord Lieutenant inspected the parade and took the salute. Next the service, this was attended by the Lord Lieutenant, the Mayor with his Body Guard, and General Birtwistle read a lesson.
After the service we retired to the Student's Union Building where elbows were bent and we were entertained by " Switchback."
We have made trips to The Netherlands, in 2002 and 2003, to join the VOKS at their gathering in Schaarbergaan. Both occasions were enjoyed by all who went, and we were overwhelmed by the Dutch hospitality.
This then is a potted history of this branch. like most we have had our ups and downs but, a branch is a success, when at a meeting, you look around and you see only friends.
AM