We went to the stunning 'Poppy Fields' instillation at St Albans Cathedral last night. Have to say that as you entered the cathedral it almost took your breath away as wherever you looked there was poppies. It was accompanied with music, quite ethereal music by David Harper Msc.It was awesome and strangely emotional as well. You know what I'm like particularly remembering the dead of the world wars, with their ages being that of our children and younger it is always sad.
Further round the cathedral you pass the book of remembrance to the Hertfordshire Regiment festooned with poppies and above are the Colours of the regiment, which of course carry battle honours from the Great War, further still there is a continuous list of names of those who served over the past 100 years. I'd be interested to know how this list was compiled, as it's only just occurred to me that my Dad's name should be there and many of our ancestors who took part in the Great War, I'll have to try & find out, and then information panels on the war memorials all round St Albans & those who fell.
There is a video featuring the actor Eddie Redmayne ( star of the adaption of 'Bird Song' a couple of years ago, all about a young subaltern on the Western Front) reciting war poems, then falling leaves, not too sure what they represent, and finally quite a gruesome (I thought) sculpture of a blindfolded head entitled 'The pity of war.'
A unique tribute I am pleased I saw. We repaired to the pub after, first the Slug & Lettuce. Not only was this pub full of 12 year olds (it appeared!) but the music was so bloody loud we were unable to hold any sort of conversation, look, I'm not an old git & I can certainly 'do' loud, I still go to heavy metal gigs for gawds sake, but it was no point staying there, so we walked on to The Waterend Barn, a Wetherspoons as it happens which was much better, though my choice of beer wasn't , a pint of 'Old Man,' I think Gary thought I was winding him up when I told him what it was called! which was far darker than I like & tasted like cough mixture, it got better though with a good old Tring Brewery beer, 'Pale Four.' Cathie kindly drove us this evening so slummed it on lemonade & tea, Gary on lager & Tara on Bacardi & coke.
It was a really good evening , in the best company and a moving tribute to the Great War.
Further round the cathedral you pass the book of remembrance to the Hertfordshire Regiment festooned with poppies and above are the Colours of the regiment, which of course carry battle honours from the Great War, further still there is a continuous list of names of those who served over the past 100 years. I'd be interested to know how this list was compiled, as it's only just occurred to me that my Dad's name should be there and many of our ancestors who took part in the Great War, I'll have to try & find out, and then information panels on the war memorials all round St Albans & those who fell.
There is a video featuring the actor Eddie Redmayne ( star of the adaption of 'Bird Song' a couple of years ago, all about a young subaltern on the Western Front) reciting war poems, then falling leaves, not too sure what they represent, and finally quite a gruesome (I thought) sculpture of a blindfolded head entitled 'The pity of war.'
A unique tribute I am pleased I saw. We repaired to the pub after, first the Slug & Lettuce. Not only was this pub full of 12 year olds (it appeared!) but the music was so bloody loud we were unable to hold any sort of conversation, look, I'm not an old git & I can certainly 'do' loud, I still go to heavy metal gigs for gawds sake, but it was no point staying there, so we walked on to The Waterend Barn, a Wetherspoons as it happens which was much better, though my choice of beer wasn't , a pint of 'Old Man,' I think Gary thought I was winding him up when I told him what it was called! which was far darker than I like & tasted like cough mixture, it got better though with a good old Tring Brewery beer, 'Pale Four.' Cathie kindly drove us this evening so slummed it on lemonade & tea, Gary on lager & Tara on Bacardi & coke.
It was a really good evening , in the best company and a moving tribute to the Great War.
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