Remembrance 2018

Sunday 11 November 2018

It was Stephanie Ledger’s idea that we should mark the centenary of Armistice Day, and David Hughes curated an hour-long programme that was much appreciated. The proceedings were punctuated by chances for everyone to sing WWI standards with tenuous connections to Wales. However, all three attempts showed that, while we knew the choruses, we didn’t know the tunes to the words David had thoughtfully provided for the verses, despite Margaret Brandie’s best efforts to encourage us from the piano!

After we’d “kept the home fires burning”, Jean Philips continued on a positive note by reading John Buchan’s Scots poem “The Kirk Bell”, and Eirwen Stillie spun tales of her war. We were so glad that her family hadn’t all perished together in their Birmingham bomb shelter the day before a family wedding!

Huw John’s troupe of players then took to the stage, with dramatized versions of the story of Hedd Wyn and “The Eisteddfod of the Black Chair” (starring Hywel Williams) and Wilfred Owen’s poem “Strange Meeting” (with Chris Brandie and Wyn Davies) before the final song and National Anthem.

Members and friends then had an opportunity to refresh themselves while they looked at the display of memorabilia that had been assembled, including stories of the three servicemen listed in the Society Bible as having perished in the Second World War.

Grateful thanks to everyone who prepared and participated in this event.