We will remember them. The Sunday immediately before the 11th November is traditionally when the nation remembers all of the service men and women who have given their lives for their country in all conflicts.
Choir Proud Tradition
For many years it has been our choir’s tradition to attend the Remembrance Sunday Service in Crown Square. Proud to lead the singing of the hymns and anthems.
A tradition staunchly continued and treated as part of the Choir’s Civic Duty. The focus of the service is at the town’s ‘Winged Peace’ War Memorial. There is always a large, comforting community attendance.
We always hope the tradition will continue. The younger generation attending in increasing numbers over the last few years.
Not one person present at the Remembrance Service last year could have foreseen how the tradition would change so dramatically in 2020. This change entirely due to the effect of the terrible Coronavirus pandemic.
Service to Remember the Fallen
For the first time in many years the choir was not able to attend the Remembrance Service.
Welsh Assembly guidance limited the gathering to 30 people. Sadly it was not possible for all the local organisations to attend.
Moreover, the Royal British Legion invited all who wished to lay a wreath at the Winged Peace War Memorial to do so after the service had concluded.
Choir Remembers the Fallen
So it was that I duly attended the War Memorial to lay the wreath on behalf of the choir.
It was strangely surreal to be be there on my own. Instead of being part of a larger local community attendance.
However, it is important for the choir to remember those who gave their lives in many wars in order that we could live in relative freedom.
In quiet reflection, stark reality is brought into a sharp focus.
How so many of those freedoms that were fought for have now been curtailed by numerous, necessary Welsh Assembly coronavirus regulations.
When, if ever, will those freedoms and rights be restored?
Remember the Concert with The Band of The Royal Welsh
Avid choir followers will recall our popular joint concert with the Regimental Band of The Royal Welsh, at Denbigh Town Hall, in January 2019.
We jointly performed the hymn ‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’ to the tune ‘Repton’.
Dafydd Lloyd Jones, choir member, and also a leading light in the Denbigh Community Archives, has produced a very moving video.
The poignant video remembers the military personnel from the Denbigh Area who lost their lives in the first world war. The background music for the video is part of the performance of Repton by the choir and the Band of the Royal Welsh. We would like to share video with you. It is also available on the Choir’s Facebook page.
Back to Normal
Furthermore, we fervently hope that we will be able to remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice for their country in a more normal way next year. That our current battle against Coronavirus will not be as severe.
However uncertain the future, in the immortal words from the poem ‘For The Fallen’ by Laurence Binyon, ‘At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them’.
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