Lichfield Royal Naval Association celebrates 70 years at the Guildhall

Seventy years after that first meeting in 1956, the message remains much the same.

The Lichfield branch of the Royal Naval Association has reached a remarkable milestone, celebrating 70 years of comradeship, service and community with a special anniversary event at Lichfield Guildhall that included a Hurricane flyover, courtesy of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The branch was officially formed in 1956, with its inaugural meeting taking place at the Castle Inn in Market Street, Lichfield. Seven decades later, members and guests gathered to mark the occasion and reflect on the branch’s long history.

The Royal Naval Association plays an important role in bringing together serving and former members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and their families. Its work goes far beyond social gatherings, with the organisation providing friendship, peer support, welfare assistance and opportunities to remember and commemorate those who have served.

For the Lichfield branch, those values have remained at the heart of its activities throughout its 70-year history, and they continue today with regular meetings at the King’s Head pub in Lichfield.

The anniversary provided an opportunity for members, families, friends and supporters to celebrate the people who have helped keep the branch going across seven decades. It was also a chance to remember former shipmates who are no longer with us and to recognise the contribution made by generations of naval personnel.

The Sheriff of Lichfield, Councillor Andrew Fox and Dino Lote, Chair of the Royal Naval Association Lichfield Branch, were some of the speakers at the event and Shipmate Arnie Salter joined to celebrate the occasion. VJ 81 was also recently commemorated. Arnie is a WW2 Royal Naval veteran and a recipient of the Burma Star, 100 years old!

Music was provided by CAVE, Joanne Dodds, a violinist who complemented the magical atmosphere of the Guildhall with a set of musical pieces that provided the perfect background music to the proceedings.

The branch’s history has seen many changes. From those first meetings at the Castle Inn in 1956, the Lichfield RNA later established its own club on The Mount in 1969. Today, the branch continues to provide a welcoming community for naval veterans and supporters.

The RNA describes its approach through the Seven Cs of Comradeship – Community, Connection, Commemoration, Care, Compassion, Companionship and Celebration. The 70th anniversary at the Guildhall was a fitting opportunity to bring all seven together.

As well as celebrating the past, the anniversary is a reminder that the Lichfield branch continues to have an important role to play in the city, keeping naval traditions and memories alive while offering friendship and support to today’s members.

Seventy years after that first meeting in 1956, the message remains much the same: shipmates looking after shipmates, remembering the past and looking forward to the future.

It is a proud 70-year legacy, and one that the Lichfield Royal Naval Association can rightly celebrate.