Armistice Commemoration Evening

With the hall resonating to the voices of the Beverley Male Voice Choir and the Beverley Brass Band, the near capacity audience at Beverley War Memorial Hall enjoyed a two part evening of entertainment on Armistice Day.

Guests included the Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire, Susan Cunliffe-Lister, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, the Vice Lord Lieutenant, the chairman of the East Riding Council, the mayor of Beverley, councillor David Elvidge and senior members of the police and fire service.

The first part of the evening consisted of songs from the choir and band singing and playing popular music. The second part of the evening took the form of a drumhead commemorative service lead by Canon Cyril Dawson, chaplain to the Royal British Legion. Seven standards representing local branches of the Royal British Legion from around the East Riding were present led by the county parade marshall Eddie Large accompanied by over thirty members of the Royal British Legion.

Wreaths were laid in front of the cabinet in the hall containing the names of those who had fallen in World War I and the audience joined in three hymns before the standards were marched off.

The exhortation in honour of those who lost their lives in world conflicts was given by Jack Ford, the Royal British Legion county president and the last post and reveille by the trumpet section of the brass band.

The evening was the brainchild of Andrew Eastwood, chairman of Beverley Memorial Hall, who said he was delighted with the turnout and support for the occasion from all concerned. “Alan Higbee, the chairman of the East Riding branch of the RBL, together with the parade marshall, Eddie Large were instrumental in showing the trustees of the hall how to organise the evening and we are indebted to them for their help and interest.” He said.“ I think in view of the events last week in Afghanistan the occasion meant more to the audience than in other years.”

The Beverley Memorial Hall will be closing in the new year to undergo a £1.4m refurbishment.

Soldiers salute as the Beverley Brass Band plays the national anthem at the Beverley Memorial Hall