On Saturday 11 November, the annual Festival of Remembrance took place in the magnificent historic surroundings of Durham Cathedral.
The Festival of Remembrance has established itself over the years as the iconic Remembrance event in the North East of England and the concert is always held in aid of our charity’s work for the Army family.
This year, the festival commemorated the end of the Korean War, 70 years ago, and remembered the 60,000 British soldiers who fought in that conflict, particularly those in the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) and Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (RNF) who died serving their Country. The event culminated in the poignant Act of Remembrance where, during the two-minute silence, thousands of poppies fell silently from the Central Tower; the names of all those who did not return from the RNF and the DLI were written on the poppies that fell.
This year’s guests enjoyed the talents of the Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, the Pipes and Drums of 102 Battalion REME, the Blue Light Choir, and gifted North Yorkshire Soprano, Charlotte Potter. There was also a passionate reading of a poem called ‘Dog Soldier,’ written by Sergeant Jimmy Murray BEM, one of the few surviving Durham Light Infantry Korean War veterans; Jimmy was in the audience on Saturday evening. The emotional context of the war was captured superbly by guest speaker, Brigadier Mike Butterwick CBE.
Lieutenant Colonel Barney Barnbrook, Regional Director North East and Yorkshire, Army Benevolent Fund, said,
“Our charity is always hugely privileged to host the Durham Cathedral Festival of Remembrance each year. The event marks the sacrifices of the countless servicemen and women over the years, many of whom have paid the ultimate price in the service of their Country. The Korean War, also known as the ‘forgotten war’, holds a solemn place in the hearts of the people of Durham, and the wider North East.”
We would like to thank the staff of Durham Cathedral, our performers, supporters, sponsors, and all those involved in organising such a memorable occasion.