Bugler will play at Oswestry hillfort
The sound of a bugle will fill the air around Oswestry's old hillfort on Sunday as a First World War centenary beacon is lit on the 3,000 year old monument.
Kath Gavan of the Porthywaen Silver Band will play the Last Post and Reveille from the top rampart during a special programme of remembrance which will unfold on the hillfort and Gatacre playing field below.
The beacon will be lit at 7pm along with thousands across the country, concluding an emotional day of national ‘Battle’s Over’ commemorations on the centenary of the First World War Armistice.
Cadets from 1165 Oswestry Air Training Corps will form the number 100 in lights on the side of the hillfort, while the crowd assembled on Gatacre will create a remembrance glow with torches, lanterns and glow sticks.
Kath said: “I have played the bugle in some unusual locations, such as in the middle of a football ground and also in extreme weather, including hailstones.
"But a hillfort will be the most unusual place so far. I feel honoured to be playing as part of this important centenary beacon and on a site with such important WW1 connections.”
During the build-up from 6.30pm, there will be songs performed by the Hillfort Choir led by Mike Coppock and accompanied by Barry Edwards on guitar.
There will be short readings paying tribute to Wilfred Owen as well as to local soldiers drawing on research projects into the names on memorials.
These feature with kind permission of the QUBE’s Men on the Gates and the Hengoed Community Group which is researching fallen soldiers on memorials in Selattyn, Gobowen and Hengoed.
Those travelling in by car are being asked to use public parking in the town and walk to Gatacre, leaving the adjacent car park available for less mobile visitors.
Oswestry Town Council and Selattyn and Gobowen Parish Council have provided funding towards the event, which is also being supported by numerous local organisations, businesses and volunteers.
