Yahoo News Durham Cathedral's Festival of Remembrance marks special anniversary year
Tickets are on sale now for The Festival of Remembrance, the annual concert at Durham Cathedral that will be making a return in typically spectacular fashion on November 9.
The event, set to be the focus of the city landmark's Remembrance Weekend in the run-up to Armistice Day, will commemorate the war dead through stirring military music, 1940s songs, moving words and the stand-out moment of silence that sees thousands of poppies fall from the cathedral's central tower. And this year's festival also will be marking some big anniversaries.
While remembering those who have given their lives for their country as well as the service personnel who continue to risk theirs, this November's concert - now in its 13th year - also will be honouring the 80-year anniversary of D-Day and Arnhem, the prominent battle in the fight to liberate Europe eight decades ago. The concert raises money through its ticket sales for the Army Benevolent Fund which is celebrating its own 80-year anniversary too.
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The charity was founded in 1944 by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery with the aim of ensuring that soldiers returning from battle were properly cared for and it continues to support soldiers, veterans and their immediate families in times of need. Lieutenant Colonel Barney Barnbrook, the Army Benevolent Fund's regional director, said that organising the Festival of Remembrance is a great responsibility but also a "huge privilege".
"As a region and as a country we have a duty to remember those who have given their all in defence our nation and the events in Durham over the Remembrance Weekend allow the local communities an appropriate and fitting way to commemorate such great sacrifice," he said. This year's concert will focus upon the road to D-Day, with the events told through the mix of music, song and spoken word.
It then will culminate with the poignant 'Muster and Act of Remembrance', when the thousands of poppies will fall silently down. The Remembrance Weekend will continue at the cathedral the following day, November 10, with a Remembrance Sunday Service which will not require tickets.
This will start at 10.15am and, as part of the service to remember the lives of those killed in the line of duty and those serving today, there will be more touching words along with music sung by the cathedral choir. Poppy wreaths will be laid at the British Armed Forces memorial under the cathedral RAF Memorial Window.
The Very Reverend Dr Philip Plyming, Dean of Durham, said: "The events around Remembrance Sunday are a very important part of our life as Durham Cathedral. They give us the chance to honour those who have died in the service of their country and also pray for those who serve today and who work for peace in our troubled world."
The Festival of Remembrance will begin on November 9 at 7.30pm. To buy tickets, which cost £18.50 plus fees, see here.
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