Llanelli brought its week of Remembrance to a close on Saturday night with standards, song and silence on the Ffwrnes stage, and a tribute to one of the town’s own veterans.
The Royal British Legion’s Llanelli branch ended its Festival of Remembrance with a presentation to its president, Ray Batsford, a veteran with years of service to the town.
It came as this year’s Poppy Appeal in Llanelli is estimated to have raised about £24,000.
The Drumhead Service and the silence at Ffwrnes
The heart of the evening was a Drumhead Service of Remembrance, led by the branch chaplain, Rev Delyth Richards.
Prayers were followed by the Exhortation, the Last Post, the silence and the Kohima Epitaph.
David Blewitt, pipe major of the City of Swansea Pipe Band, played the pipes, and the audience sang Efengyl Tangnefedd and O God Our Help in Ages Past.
Welsh Guards veteran Chris Beynon read a poem, and Geraint Davies spoke to mark 15 years since the end of Operation Telic, Britain’s military involvement in the Iraq War.
Meibion Elli, Ysgol Bryngwyn pupils and a wind band from Carmarthen
The night opened with the muster of the banners, to Great Little Army and Arromanches from Carmarthen Symphonic Wind Band.
The band played under its new musical director, Rhodri Rutherford. Its set ran from The Great Escape to Dafydd y Garreg Wen, and it returned later with Elgar’s Nimrod.
Meibion Elli, conducted by D Eifion Thomas, sang Gwahoddiad and a Welsh version of Anthem from Chess, with baritone John “Pontyberem” Thomas as soloist.
The choir came back to close with You’ll Never Walk Alone and The Mansions of the Lord.
Pupils from Years 7 to 11 at Ysgol Bryngwyn sang When I Grow Up, from Matilda, and John Lennon’s Imagine.
Two young soloists, one stepping in at short notice
Scott Holmes, of Llanelli’s Loud Applause Rising Stars, sang Bui Doi from Miss Saigon and Empty Chairs at Empty Tables from Les Misérables.
Betsan Daniel, from the same group, stepped in late for Lauren Elizabeth Williams, who was unwell. She sang A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and Adre, by Caryl Parry Jones.
Who put Llanelli’s Festival of Remembrance together
Rev Eldon Phillips compered the evening, with Cerith Owens as artistic director.
The branch organised the festival, with all ticket money going to the Poppy Appeal.
The Legion says the appeal pays for its support for serving and former members of the armed forces and their families.
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