MORE THAN 300 people were taken on a poignant journey of Remembrance as Bromsgrove led the way yet again for how to remember the fallen.
Bromsgrove Remembers began with an introduction from the town’s Royal British Legion chairman Jeff Evans who spoke to the crowd before talented trio Vintage Class set the scene for wartime Britain. They performed ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’, Pack Up Your Troubles and others.
Then, looking ahead to peace in our time and, hopefully a prosperous future, Chadsgrove Choir delighted the crowd with Change and Grow, One Little Voice and classic ‘Something so Strong’. It was a real ‘there’s something in my eye’ moment and the group gained, much-deserved, rapturous applause.
Vintage Class joined them on stage for quirky wartime classic ‘Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree’.
Next was the first of several speeches by Sir Winston Churchill (aka Derek Herbert) which made the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. There was also speeches by Field Marshall B L Montgomery – played by Alan Oliver – also taking the audience back to the 1940s.
Able Seaman Albert Malin was one of two special guests of honour, along with Betty Webb from Wythall who was a Bletchley Park hero.
Albert, who at just 17 was tasked with bringing bodies back from the D-Day landings, read ‘I stand Here Now’ by Tony Chapman, which provided another very moving moment.
Theatre Train took the audience back to 1914 and the Christmas Day truce in no man’s land between British and German troops when the soldiers ceased firing to come together and play a football match. You could hear a pin drop as the dancers, in between The Last Post being played intermittently, dragged the dead back to ‘their side’ before coming together (and then fighting again) – credit is due for the orchestration, execution and choreography of an amazing powerful piece.
Another appearance from Montgomery and super soprano Catherine Tabberner, Vintage Class and RBL Bellman Kevin Ward took us into the interval with ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’.
There was silence as the audience made their way to the foyer.
After Mr Ward brought us ’80 Years’ and ‘Service’ and further speeches from Sir Winston Churchill and Field Montgomery, we were treated to an extravaganza from Stourport-on-Severn Brass Band.
Spitfire Prelude and Eternal Father were followed by Requiem to a Soldier, featuring Catherine Tabberner.
There was then more upbeat numbers, including Fantasia on the Sea (Rule Britannia) – also with Catherine Tabberner – and Pomp and Circumstance March Number 1 (Land of Hope and Glory) with Mr Ward.
Next up was a Drum Head Ceremony – taking those watching into the realities of war when serving soldiers remember their lost colleagues and friends. This featured piper Paddy McGowan, standard bearer Bert Sherwood and RBL president Barry Troth, along with 1940s re-enactors Forever Forties, Sir Winston Churchill and Montgomery.
After The National Anthem, the evening concluded with The White Cliffs of Dover, a war medley and We’ll Meet Again.
This production was called ‘Bromsgrove Remembers’ but you will struggle to find anywhere in Worcestershire, if not the UK, which remembers the war dead and undertakes these events as Bromsgrove does.
All cash from the production will go to the Royal British Legion and for those who came, and saw, the evening will last long in the memory. Well done to Jules Evans, Leigh Blakeman and everyone involved – from the performers to the backstage staff and all those who made it happen.
We will remember them.
