Belgium Tour - comments from a non singer

We were delighted to take with us our very own audience: spouses, partners and friends.  Here is an account of our travels from Brenda Hammersley, one of these ‘guests’, who gave us great support throughout the tour.

“How lucky we are and how grateful we should be!  I enjoyed the trip with the Singers so much - it was certainly enlightening, emotional but wonderful.

We arrived on the Saturday (29th May) to a beautiful hotel, I was told the best in or around Ypres.  We had a quick turn-around and all went to dine at ‘Old Tom’s’ in the Market Square.

On Sunday we visited Poperinge, a small market town about fifteen minutes from Ypres, to sing in the park.  I attended Mass at the Cathedral then walked to the park to hear them singing, it was delightful.  We then returned to Talbot House, a beautiful old building with a chapel at the top of the house - it was a haven for the soldiers to visit during the battles.  We were entertained by the local choir ‘Hop Chora’ followed by a splendid barbecue and we sampled the local Poperinge beer - at a whopping 7%!  “Sip it like wine” recommended our hosts “very good!”.   

The following day we went by coach to the Somme battlefields and memorials.  A busy day!  Singing at Theipval Memorial, dedicated to the missing on the Somme: 73,000 names inscribed on its walls - very moving and beautiful singing.  We had lunch at ‘Ocean Villas’ (actually in the village of Auchonvilliers, which the WW1 Tommies deliberately mis-pronounced!), and were shown trenches that had been discovered at the back of the café.   

On to Mametz Wood to sing at the Welsh Memorial.  So emotional.  Difficult to express my feelings.  How it must have been for the 38th Welsh Division who were all but wiped out!  Thence to the small French village of Guillemont, where much was sacrificed to wrest this area from German control in the summer of 1916.  The Mayor of Guillemont talked to us about the rebuilding of the Church, St Peter and St Paul, and we then had an enjoyable hot meal at their village hall  (which we had been assured would provide ‘comfort facilities’.  A misnomer, I’m afraid!) and then sang in church with a small but appreciative audience.

Tuesday was mainly spent in Ypres.  A few of our party joined Simon (Barber) to visit Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth Cemetery in the world and the most important reminder of the bloody battle of Passchendaele.  During the British offensive of 1917, tens of thousands of soldiers died in a period of 100 days for a gain of barely eight kilometres - all quite awesome.  I found a panel inscribed with the details of my son-in-law’s great granddad which Tim kindly photographed.  My son-in-law will be delighted.

We returned to Ypres to sing in St George’s Church and then to sing at the Menin Gate for 8.00 p.m.  The Last Post has sounded here every night since 1929 and only stopped for four years during the second World War, when England continued it for them.  The singing was beautiful and quite emotional.

Our final day, Wednesday, was spent in Bruges to give a concert at Our Lady’s Church.  The acoustics were the best and a few hundred people passed through during the hour that the Singers were performing.  Really great!  A number of us then met up to take the canal trip - a must, and sunny too!  I then explored Bruges, visiting the Town Hall (amazing architecture), the Groeninge Museum 1930 and the Abbey of St Augustine’s gardens, where there is a beautiful, huge marble sculpture - like satin to touch!  Then the Basilica of the Holy Blood and the Dijver Flea Market - then time for the coach.  A very good day.

We all enjoyed a farewell meal at the Vivaldi Restaurant in Ypres, to conclude what was for me a memorable trip, and I hope I may have the opportunity of joining you on any future tour.  Thank you, Wendy and Tim, for last minute arrangements to enable me to join you, and thank you also to Sue (Grimley) for “You know you can do it, Brenda!”   Yes, Sue, it was certainly worth the missed night’s sleep”.

Brenda Hammersley