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The Olive Branch, Stockton. Volunteers for Liberty Commemoration

October 25 @ 16:00 - 20:00

For the past seven years men from Teesside who volunteered to fight fascism and defended democracy during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39 have been remembered at a special commemorative event, thirty Two Teesside volunteers served in the International Brigade in Spain, of these ten lost their lives.

This year our Teesside Volunteers for Liberty memorial event will be held in Stockton.

As part of its 2020 centenary the Communist Party of Britain worked with the Communist Party of Spain and the International Brigade Memorial Trust to host a series of wreath laying events across the country in honour of the Volunteers for Liberty who died fighting fascism in Spain, these events were held on the anniversary of the International Brigade’s Farwell parade that had taken place on 28th October 1938.
In the North East of England the North East Volunteers for Liberty have worked with the Communist Party of Britain and the Communist Party of Spain to host annual events held simultaneously on Teesside and Newcastle. Last year we held a commemorative event in Sunderland for the first time.

What makes these events very special is that we are joined by relatives of some of the Volunteers and relatives of some of the Basque refugee children who were evacuated to our area following the bombing of Guernica in 1937, this year will be no exception.

This year we will hold the commemoration in The Songbird in Stockton – https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Songbird-61583615587234/ here we will especially remember the ten Teesside volunteers who lost their lives in Spain.
Beneath the Stockton International Brigade Memorial we will especially remember the nine Stockton men who volunteered for the International Brigade, especially Ron Dennison, born in Stockton he was a Billingham town councillor before he left his home in Crescent Avenue, Billingham to fight Fascism in Spain and tragically lost his life. We will share news on the Ron Dennison memorial, due to be dedicated next year.

Speaking at the commemoration will be representatives from both the Communist Parties of Britain and of Spain, members of the North East Volunteers for Liberty We will also hear from the Association of the UK Basque children, the Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d’Italia.

Refreshments will be available from our hosts.

We will also have music and poetry from:
Francis David, Sara Dennis, Fauconberg, Ron Brown and Harry Gallagher

Enquiries to NEVolunteersforliberty@gmail.com

And here is the link for information about the commemoration at The Olive Branch, 9 – 10 Silver Court, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 1SL on Sunday 25 October at 4.00pm.
 
https://www.facebook.com/share/18FBwegxAi/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Details

  • Date: October 25
  • Time:
    16:00 - 20:00

Venue

  • The Olive Branch
  • 9 - 10 Silver Court
    Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1SL     + Google Map