A song of Remembrance and Repatriation composed by ex-Brummie author Ron Dawson and musician Kevn Morgan is set to be played in Cyprus by the Band of the Parachute Regiment on Remembrance Sunday.
Author Ron Dawson and Kevin Morgan Principal Trombonist with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
This represents yet more international recognition for the song, ‘Lest we Forget’, since Ron was inspired to write it while reading a Royal British Legion magazine.
Its world premier was in the New Zealand Parliament at the inauguration of their Malayan Veterans Day by the Wellington Male Voice Choir. The choir is now pressing for the Song to become part of their main ANZAC commemorations in April.
The UK premiere will be in Bournemouth and the piece is being performed around the UK during the current remembrance period. Royal British Legion (RBL) bands as far apart as Suffolk, Hampshire and Thirsk and Sowerby, will be playing it at concerts and services of remembrance either before or on Remembrance Day.
The Sussex RBL band has enlisted the services of a group of Salvation Army singers to perform it at the Edwin Hall in Horsham and the RBL Victory Band will be playing it at St Mary’s Church in Portsmouth.
The Massed Bands of the Humberside Police and the 150TPT (TA) will be playing it at the Civic Remembrance Parade in the City of Hull on Sunday 11th. The Old Trafford Branch of the RBL – which doesn’t have its own band – is trying to arrange for a local choir to record it for them so they can use it over Remembrance Weekend.
While seventy two year old composer Ron is thrilled with the reception his composition has garnered so far he’s really disappointed that he couldn’t find a band or choir from his home city of Birmingham, or its surrounds, to perform it.
If there are any bands or choirs out there who feel they would like to include it in their repertoires you can contact Ron via mulberrytreebooks@talktalk.net.