Sam to take the part of Pte Sidney Feltham Bull
Will walk at the head of Rothley parade
SAM Sleath, whose Woodgate, Rothley home is two doors along from the house lived in by Sidney Feltham Bull in 1912, will wear an Australian WW1 uniform at two special events on Saturday November 10th.
Sidney Bull emigrated to Australia in 1912 only to join up in the Australian Infantry to come to the aid of the old country. He fell in 1917.
Sam, posing as Private Sidney Feltham Bull, will walk at the head of the Guided Casualty Walk that will begin at the War Memorial on Cross Green at 10am and progress to the sites of the homes of some of the 34 Rothley soldiers who fell in the Great War.
The progress will finish at the Methodist Church for 12noon where there is a brass memorial to Private Bull placed there in 1921 by his father. A welcome cup of tea will be served. All welcome.
To complete these special events marking the centenary of the Armistice of November 1918, Private Bull will also appear later on Saturday in a concert by the Grand Central Chorus to be staged in Rothley Parish Church starting at 7.30pm.
Organiser Terry Sheppard has been keen to have 33 men in song alongside the painted memorial triptych in the church featuring the names of the 33 fallen soldiers.
The full chorus of over 45 men will present a programme in their award winning barber shop style.
The concert will also feature the European champion Finest Hour Quartet who will be rendering the tear-jerking songs, So Long Mother and What More Can a Soldier Give.
Private Bull will appear and read a postcard he sent to his sister from Gallipoli, as well as leading the Ode to Remembrance at the close of the concert.
Admission to the concert is £5, which includes a glass of wine in the interval.
Parking at Victoria Mills, Fowke Street, Rothley, LE7 7PJ. More information from Terry Sheppard on 0116 230 2931.
On Sunday, November 11, at the eleventh hour there will be the traditional ceremony of wreath laying at the Cross Green memorial. The colours of the British Legion will be paraded from the 10am morning service in the Parish Church.