A special gala dinner will take place this spring to honour veterans from the local community and recognise their service, while also highlighting the importance of continued support as they transition to civilian life.
The event, organised by British Army veteran Stephen Orr and delivered in collaboration with Westmorland and Furness Council and SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, will bring together former service personnel, their families and supporters for an evening of recognition, camaraderie and remembrance.
Alongside celebrations, the evening will also promote awareness of the support available locally, including around wellbeing and community connection.
The Veterans Black Tie Gala Dinner will be held on Friday 8 May 2026 at 7:00pm at the historic Barrow Town Hall, bringing together veterans, their families, cadets, community organisations, local dignitaries and supporters for an evening of recognition, remembrance and fundraising.
Guests will enjoy a formal dinner while learning more about the lived experiences of veterans and the services available locally. The evening will also feature a guest address from Rob Paxman, former SAS soldier and founder of the mental health charity Talking2Minds. Rob will share his personal journey and his work supporting veterans living with PTSD and other mental health challenges.
Tickets are £45.00 per person and help to support ongoing local initiatives for the Armed Forces community. A very limited number of tickets remain available; these can be purchased from Stephen Orr by emailing Sorr63@outlook.com before 30 April.
Event organiser and British Army veteran Stephen Orr emphasised the importance of the evening:
“This gala dinner is about bringing people together to recognise our veterans, raise awareness of the challenges they face after service and remind people that support is available. We already have 90 paying guests attending on the night, which has exceeded all my expectations when I first planned the event. It shows how strongly the community wants to come together to support our veterans. Events like this help build understanding, strengthen community connections and ensure no one feels they have to face these challenges alone.
“I would like to thank Westmorland and Furness Council, who have generously provided the room free of charge as part of their Armed Forces Covenant commitments. Their continued support, along with the generous member grant donation from Councillor Ben Shirley, is greatly appreciated and helps make this event possible.”
Cllr Vicky Hughes, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Active Wellbeing and the Armed Forces, whose parents both served in the RAF, said:
“We are delighted to support this event and would like to recognise the hard work and dedication of organiser Stephen Orr, along with the valuable involvement of SSAFA and all those contributing to the evening. This gala dinner highlights the experiences of our veteran community, and we are grateful to all those coming together to make it happen. Westmorland and Furness Council remains committed to supporting our Armed Forces community, and we are proud to play a part in an event that raises awareness and brings people together.”