County Durham residents are invited to celebrate their shared heritage and longstanding ties with The Rifles at a special event taking place next week at a local heritage and registration venue.
The Story at Mount Oswald – a Durham County Council site – will host The Rifles’ Sounding Retreat in its grounds next Wednesday (9 July).
Performed by The Band and Bugles of the Rifles and supported by the County Durham Army Cadet Force Band and Bugles, the event also features a historical display provided by the 68th Durham Light Infantry Re-enactment Society.
As well as celebrating the strong links between residents and the 8th Battalion The Rifles, the evening will also recognise the support given to the regiment by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, Dame Susan Snowdon, in her final year of public service.
It is the first time The Story has hosted the event, which is a military tradition specifically associated with the Rifles regiment, featuring a musical display and precision drill.
A gateway to the history of County Durham and its people, The Story is home to five collections of historic records, documents and objects, including the DLI Collection and Archive.
The DLI was established in 1758 and is the forerunner of the Light Infantry, formed in 1968, and then The Rifles, which succeeded in 2007. Many of the historic traditions of the DLI live on through The Rifles, including battle honours and regimental music.
The Story cares for the collection and keeps DLI stories alive through exhibitions and learning programmes.
“We are looking forward to hosting The Rifles’ Sounding Retreat at The Story next week. It is going to be a fantastic celebration of the Rifles and its traditions, as well as the close links between the regiment and County Durham.
“We look forward to a reminder of a past with the historical display from the re-enactment society, whilst also recognising our current ties to the Rifles and our commitment to supporting all those who serve or have served in the forces.”
Anyone wishing to attend the event, which begins at 6pm on Wednesday, can park for free at Howlands Park and Ride.
The Story is open every day and entry is free. To find out more, including information about upcoming events and activities, visit www.thestorydurham.org
