Standards bear proud legacy in Darlington

A County Durham veterans’ group has marked VE Day 80 with the return of two historic Standards, which have been restored and unveiled thanks to support from local businesses.

The Darlington branch of the Royal British Legion, one of the oldest in the country and which counts more than 100 members, has placed its original cloth Standards – dating back more than a century – on public display for the first time since their rediscovery last year. 

Awarded in 1921 to the then British Legion’s Darlington branch and its women’s section, the Standards were carefully restored and framed with support from North East businesses Banks Group and Hellens Group.

Unveiled as part of VE Day’s 80th anniversary commemorations at Hopetown Darlington Railway Museum, the framed Standards are now part of the Stockton & Darlington Railway’s bicentenary exhibition. 

They will be transferred to their permanent home in Darlington’s Central Library later this year.

Steve Brown, treasurer of the Darlington branch of the Royal British Legion, said: “These Standards are a very important part of the organisation’s heritage in Darlington, and with the old North Road station being the departure point for thousands of local service personnel when they were going overseas, it’s very fitting that they’re now on show at the Hopetown Museum.

“Bringing the Standards back into public view on the 80th anniversary of VE Day added extra poignancy to the proceedings and we’re grateful to the deputy mayor for helping to lead our event.”

John Smith, branch chair, said: “Being more than one hundred years old, the Standards are naturally in a delicate condition, but the special frames we’ve been able to place them in with the help of the Banks Group and Hellens Group will help ensure they are properly preserved for posterity.

“Our members are extremely pleased to have them back in our possession, and it’s good to know that they’re going to be well looked after and easily available for everyone to see.” 

Lola McEvoy, MP for Darlington, added: “It was great to be at Hopetown on the VE Day anniversary to mark the contribution of the wartime generation, and to unveil these two amazing standards, which are beautiful historic artefacts. 

“Things and events like this help to build the pieces of the puzzle of why Darlington is so great.”

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