REUNIONS

Four principal annual reunions and a number of commemorative services are organised from Association Headquarters with the assistance of Branches:

Kimberley Day. This takes the form of a parade at the South African War Memorial in Avenham Park, Preston on the nearest Sunday to 15th February, followed by a buffet luncheon. The 1st Battalion The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment was the only Regular Army regiment in the garrison which defended the town of Kimberley against the Boers from October 1899 until relieved on 15 February 1900. The Battle Honour "Kimberley" awarded to the Regiment to commemorate the siege is unique in the British Army.

The Kimberley Parade, Preston, February 2005

Accrington Pals Memorial Service. This memorial service at Accrington Parish Church, held in late February, commemorates the sacrifice of the 11th (Service) Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, the worst day in the history of the British Army.

Pieters Hill Parade. This parade and buffet luncheon is held at the Pieters Hill Memorial in Warrington on 27 February, the anniversary of the day in 1900 when the 1st Battalion, The South Lancashire Regiment, assaulted the final Boer position which had been besieging the town of Ladysmith. Pausing short of the crest, Lieutenant Colonel Macarthy O'Leary ordered the Battalion to fix bayonets and charge, adding "Remember, men, the eyes of Lancashire are watching you today." The Commanding Officer fell in the attack, but the South Lancashires swept over the Boer entrenchments to relieve the town, earning the Battle Honour "Relief of Ladysmith."

The Warrington Branch of the Regimental Association at the annual  Commemoration Parade at the Pieters Hill Memorial, February 2005

Formation Day. Various activities are organised every 25 March to mark the anniversary of the formation of The Queen's Lancashire Regiment on that day in 1970.

The Loyals Weekend. This consists of a Reunion dinner dance in Preston on the Saturday evening of the first weekend in June, a Memorial Service in the Loyals Chapel in Preston Parish Church on the Sunday morning, and a buffet luncheon.

The Somme Weekend. This reunion on the first Sunday in July commemorates the first day of the Battle of The Somme, 1st July 1916, and takes the form of a Service of Commemoration in Blackburn Cathedral, which houses the East Lancashire Regiment Chapel, followed by a Reunion Luncheon. It is customary for the Blackburn Branch to run an 'Eve of Somme' dinner dance the previous evening.

The October Weekend. This reunion weekend, popularly known as "The October Revolution", is held in Warrington over the first weekend in October. It centres on a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving at the Regimental Chapel in Warrington Parish Church on the Sunday morning. This is preceded by a Parade of Branch Standards and followed by a March Past and Regimental Reunion. This event is attended by civic and other dignitaries from throughout our Lancashire recruiting area. On the Saturday evening the Warrington Branch runs a formal 'Hot Pot Supper'.

ASSOCIATION STANDARDS

Each Branch has its own Standard, which conforms to the Regimental Association sealed pattern, namely a Regimental flag with the addition of the Regimental and Branch titles and, in the four corners, the crests of the former Regiments.

Association Standards of The Queen's Lancashire Regiment take precedence over the standards of all other ex-Service associations on Regimental occasions.

TOASTS AT REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION FUNCTIONS

Meals may be preceded with a silent toast to 'Absent Friends'. The first toast after the meal is invariably the Regimental Loyal Toast, i.e. "The Queen, Duke of Lancaster, our Colonel-in-Chief “. A toast to 'The Regiment’ is also customary at Association events.

The civilian notice 'Please be upstanding' is not used in the Regiment. Instead, the proposer should gavel if necessary to draw attention, and then simply announce the toast, e.g. "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Regiment".