Ruthin people each year are so supportive of our
remembrance service, even during bad weather. Yesterday's was the coldest and wettest in five years and more. The band of rain could not have arrived at a less fortuitous hour. It was hoods up and umbrellas out. The rain lasted till the end of proceedings (though restarted at about 12.30 pm and was over by the hour). There were nevertheless those who, just like in the trenches themselves, had to suffer the elements with little cover. Yet the weather did not deter them. In fact, the turn out seemed a little more than usual.
This year, in time for proceedings, we had the benefit of a £40,000 town council refurbished memorial. It was finished to a high standard. This is expected to come in on budget, even though there remain a number of things still to do (e.g. the lettering on the memorial itself and the renewal of the gold leaf crosses). Remedied were the wall to its right that was in danger of collapse; the substandard domestic tiling on the memorial floor; and the railings rusted and flaky. Everything is clean. There was an unfounded concern that the foundations might have been unstable. Had they been, we doubt the memorial would've been ready in time.
May we suggest that the stone chippings surrounding the memorial are either replaced or bonded, to prevent their dispersal
It was a first for organiser the town clerk (the second town clerk in as many years). Also, for the celebrant Revd Luke Bristowe, the new warden of Ruthin. Both acquitted themselves very well. Noted present among the important people during the service was judge Ian Trigger. Following his wife's death, he had sold the family pile in Llanarmon and moved to Oxford. It was good to see his return for the service. There was no umbrella for him!
One other observation is poppy envy. Over the previous 15 years, the range and style of poppies has proliferated to the extent that many people can no longer be seen wearing just any old paper poppy. In the words of McDonald's, they have to 'go large'. Even the officiant wore an enormous sort-of life-like example. We say each to their own... but our motto remains 'less is more'.
