Join us to remember them all

IT has been a great privilege to be involved in ‘Cheltenham Remembers.’ It has brought together young and old, organisations both voluntary and professional, as well as service representatives.

Two events I attended recently were quite remarkable. The concert at the Town Hall was amazing. Young people saw musicians, choirs and soloists give a special concert with poetry readings, to commemorate the centenary.

Musicians from across the county, both young and a little older came together to create a stunning evening. Gloucestershire Deaf Association Choir was tremendous.

It was a splendid evening. As was the specially written play ‘On the Mend,’ about life in a Cheltenham VAD hospital during the war. The Everyman Theatre brought together professional and community actors to tell the story of a young couple.

The story was based in Cheltenham, using the stories of real people, whose families had given permission for them to be used. There was an immediacy of location as place names and establishments were mentioned. Names of real soldiers, Cheltenham men all, were woven into the script. There was no need to make anything up, it was too real.

Research done by Neela Mann, together with Bryn Holding’s words, music from Tasmin Hennard and Adrian Gee’s set and costume design made it a truly memorable night.

The weekend will begin with the Memorial March from Sandford Park to Montpellier Gardens, with the name of every soldier from Cheltenham who died, remembered. Sunday will begin with the Civic Service and Parade at the War Memorial. The afternoon will see a special community concert at the Everyman Theatre and from 5pm, a special event which will take place at the Municipal Offices. The building will become a giant screen, with imagery, sound and light, to commemorate those who fought, died, served and suffered.

Please join us to remember them all.