The Royal British Legion Dingwall was
established in 1933 to support ex-Service personnel; to
perpetuate the memory of those who died in the Service
of their Country and to provide comradeship and working
for each other, as existed in war time, to the local
community in peace time.
The Legion took up residence in ‘an
old hut’ in Ormidale Place in 1933, before securing its
future by setting up the British Legion Club and by
buying The Pavillion Hotel situated on the High Street
in 1952.. It is in these premises the Legion remains
today.
Looking to the future the Committee
of the time, 1968, made a further investment by building
a Function Room/Dance Hall - the Ross Hall, named after
founder member Lieutenant Colonel A J Ross.
In 2007, the current Committee
continued the trend of looking to the future by carrying
our a Refurbishment and by creating the new Stirling
Lounge, named in memory of a life long member and
friend the late Lord Lieutenant Roderick Stirling, to
move the Legion into the 21st century.
Traditions and values remain the same
– respect; comradeship; loyalty and community spirit-
Service not Self, with Fundraising and Community
Involvement now key elements of the organisation.
The British Legion Dingwall strongly
promotes the aim of Field Marshall Earl Haig, founder of
the Royal British Legion Scotland, who wished ‘ to
recreate in civilian life the same spirit of comradeship
fellowship and service to others as existed in time of
war and ---- Clubs did not exist primarily for the
benefit of their members; they existed for the good of
the community.’
The Royal British Legion Dingwall
Located in the town centre, a
detached 2 storey building with Flat above.
The property is owned by the British
Legion Club Dingwall for the purpose of providing
Welfare Social Leisure Sporting and Recreational
Activities to all Service and Ex-Service Personnel;
their families friends and guests and to generate the
essential Revenue & Surpluses to deliver quality
services and facilities for all and to secure the future
of the British Legion Dingwall for generations to come.
This provision includes a Bar; a
Lounge Bar/Restaurant and Function Suite on the ground
floor with 2 Offices to Let; the Secretary’s Office and
a Meeting Room/Branch Office upstairs.
The Legion very much encourages the
use of the building by the Community of Dingwall to
promote Charitable and Voluntary Work; Fundraising;
Meetings and Training Seminars
The Legion also actively supports and
participates in the Community of Dingwall ranging from
the Farmers Market; the Dingwall Gala Week; the Wade
Walk; the Great Feil Maree to our own Remembrance
Service/ Armistice Parade and other Ceremonials and
Commemorative Events.
Meeting Rooms are available to the
Seaforth Association; the Normandy Veterans; Youth
Organisations - eg Army Cadets & the ATC; the British
Heart Foundation; Guide Dogs for the Blind Ross-shire
Branch and the Womens’ Section of the RBLS Dingwall.
The RBLS Juvenile Novice Pipe Band
practice every Thursday evening in the Ross Hall, with
additional drumming tuition on Monday nighs, and our
Standard Bearers practice for Competition February &
March and prepare for our Armistice Parade September &
October each year.
Inverness Country & Western Group;
the Dingwall Monday Club and the Dingwall Bridge Club
use the Ross Hall on a regular basis
The Legion prepare a Year Planner of
Entertainment and regularly Fund raise for Ex-Service
Organisations; for our own Welfare and Social Funds and
for local charities and local good causes.
More recently the WRVS have an Office
to Let upstairs with use of all ancilliary facilities as
required and RunAround, a small local business provides
exercise and fun for the under 5’s Tuesday to Friday in
the Ross Hall.
