Pillaton and the Great War Event - 17 October 2015

The Pillaton and the Great War event at the Village Hall on the 17 October was the end product of a process that began with a tentative email sent from me on 24 January 2014 to a small group of people. I was suggesting a village commemoration in words and music, based on the young men whose names are on the Village War Memorial. From that initial suggestion we formed a small team who came up with a plethora of ideas, carried out detailed research and spent ages doing multiple rewrites, based on hours of internet scouring. Then followed days of assembling video footage, months of interweaving this with scripts, singers and pianist relentlessly practising, read-throughs in people’s homes, in the church and finally full rehearsals in the Village Hall.

The success of the night depended on more than 30 people and involved a number of talented individuals, plus many of our Village groups, including members of the church and church choir, tower and hand bell ringers, the WI, members of the Pillaton Arts group, members of the Village Hall Committee and the Editor of the Village News. Between them, they fulfilled the roles of video operator, sound and lights operator, caterers, readers, singers, accompanist, general support and whatever I have forgotten to list! Apologies for any I have omitted.

It was a combined Village effort, a fitting way to remember our young men who died so that communities such as ours can exist in harmony today.

The audience must also be thanked here. The evening was a sell out, and the packed hall (81 seated in total) did get a bit steamy by the Interval, but you were responsive and appreciative, which lifted the performers and contributed to the atmosphere. It was a privilege to welcome as guests for the evening some of the descendants of the men who died. Somehow their presence with us added to the poignancy of the event.

During the interval, those who managed to squeeze into the crowded lobby watched Richard Warwick, on behalf of the Pillaton Arts group, unveil a commemorative plaque made up of 9 mosaic tiles, each made by a member of the group and mounted in a frame put together by Roger Warne (see WWI Memorial Plaque Unveiled). It will remain in the foyer of the Village Hall for us all to enjoy and to ensure we remember those who died in the war.

Don King has compiled a commemorative booklet “Pillaton at War 1914 to 1918”, based on the extensive research carried out for the event and focusing not only on the young men who died but remembering too those who returned after the end of the war. It is available to purchase at £6 a copy from Don, with proceeds going to the Pillaton Memorial Playground Fund.

Finally, the evening raised just over £600 profit, which will be shared between “Help for Heroes” and Pillaton Village Hall. A DVD of the show will soon be available to buy so please look out for the adverts. Thank you for supporting us.

Here are all the people who took part that evening:

• Readers:

  Ken Beal, Alison Downing, Giles Greenhough, Graham Heap, James Heap, Ann Henderson, Peter Johnson, Don King, Josephine King, Chris Ley, Tony Rowe

• Singers:

  Alison Downing, Liz Llewellyn Jones (soloist), Don King (soloist), Karon Martin, Dawn Opie, Shelagh Skinnard (soloist), Tanya Taylor

• Tower bell ringers:

  Richard and Maire Warwick, Sheila Bridle, Kevin Edwards

• Hand bell ringers:

  Chris Barwell, Sandra Beal, Evelyn Brewer, Sheila Bridle, Greta Jope, Noreen Symons, Sheila Vincent, Maire Warwick and Janet Willcocks

• Production Team:

  Alison Downing, Ann Henderson, Don King, Josephine King, Chris Ley, Susan White

• Musical Advisor and Accompanist:

  Kathryn Bunkum Clavinola kindly loaned by the church.

• Design and Technical Advisor:

  Robin Dwane

• Sound and Lighting:

  Brian Henderson

Grateful thanks to all those who helped with research.

Ann Henderson

See also Pillaton and the Great War gallery page for photographs.

Last updated: 30 October 2015 Contact Us