Talking about war and peace
The subjects of peace and war are given equal emphasis this week and next, with daily talks themed around World War I held at St Matthew’s Church in Perth.
From 1-2pm there will be talks from speakers ranging from high ranking military to advocates for peace, giving voice to commemorative efforts marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
Tickets for the‘Always With Us’lunchtime talks cost £4 and include soup, bread, hot drinks and traybake.
They begin today, November 6, with Jean Young from the Iona community, who will speak on‘A Just Peace’.
On Wednesday 7, Eric Fraser, former Scottish Veterans Commissioner, will discuss‘Scottish Veterans, Service We Mustn’t Forget’.
Colonel Andy Middlemiss (KOSB) is Thursday’s speaker, talking about 1918. He will give an overview of that terrible last year of conflict, explaining exactly what happened.
The local history officer with CulturePK, Dr Nicola Small is giving Friday’s talk on the subject of how AK Bell was a Red Cross hospital. The talk,‘From Beds to Books begins at 1pm.
Modern warfare is in the spotlight on Monday 12. George Bosworth, an ex-Naval helicopter pilot recounts his experiences of Kuwait, with his talk,‘Flying into a Sand Storm’.
Carole-Anne McKenzie, learning and audiences officer for the Black Watch Museum, delves into the Balhousie Castle regimental archive on Tuesday 13 for the final talk, reading letters sent home by soldiers doomed to die,‘Know my Last Thoughts Were of You’.
Rev Scott Burton, minister at St Matthew’s said:“I fully support this inspiring work. The commitment of this small team from St Matthew’s has been simply fantastic and so very honouring to the fallen.”
The Perth church was successful in receiving funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund to purchase 10 transparent silhouettes to be displayed in St Matthew’s as part of the‘There But Not There’national initiative .Every day new silhouettes are added to seats in the church, marking the empty places felt as families in 1918 lost sons to the conflict.