The Crichton Memorial Church will echo with music, hymns, poems, and readings in a poignant and memorable Dumfries Festival of Remembrance tomorrow night (Saturday, November 9) at 7pm.
One of the highlights will be the building of a Drumhead Altar by members of the Dumfries Veterans Garden – with help from Dumfries and Galloway Regional Youth Choir – who are organising the commemorative gathering with support from the Royal British Legion Scotland Dumfries and Maxwelltown Branch, and Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Tickets are priced £10 and available from the Veterans Garden, Anderson Kilts and Molly May’s Tea Room, or on the night.
Prayers throughout will be led by the Rev Tom Bonnar, who is padre at the Veterans Garden and, as well as the choir, there will be music from Annan Town Band and piper Billy Geddes. Olivia Beckett will sound the Last Post and Reveille.
Councillor Archie Dryburgh MBE, the region’s Armed Forces Champion, is set to make an opening welcome and a closing speech.
There will be readings from the Lord Lieutenant Fiona Armstrong; John Adams of the Royal Signals and Veterans garden; Stewart Walker, vice chairman of the RBLS Glasgow, Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway area – who will also give the vote of thanks; Frank Roy, secretary of the RBLS Dumfries and Maxwelltown branch; and Major Charles Milroy, RBLS Dumfries and Maxwelltown branch president.
Standard bearers from the RBLS Dumfries and Maxwelltown branch will take part in the festival while Provost of Dumfries Maureen Johnston will read the poem Socks by Jessie Pope.
Two Dumfries Police Scotland youth volunteers, Lorna McCrone and Anita Okposio will also read a poem each.
Binyons Lines will be recited by Stuart Robb, Ministry of Defence Police (retired) and Mark Harper of the Veterans Garden will read out the Kohima Epitaph.