Richard Chris and I walked with the dogs down to the Croft Act of Remembrance this morning. I always think that this is an excellent service – all outdoors in the centre of the old part of the village – the Memorial is below the pub, and it is always well attended. Croft Silver Band provides music and accompanies the hymns, and there are various readings.
Some of it is quite moving. When the names of those killed in the World Wars are read out there are families who seem to have lost most male members. And of course more recent casualties are also remembered, with young families laying wreaths, presumably in remembrance of a close relative.
There was one slightly disconcerting moment. Half way through the National Anthem Taff, the pub dog, got out and ran through the crowd of onlookers. Lesia will happily bark at any dog, but especially Taff, because Taff likes Tia, and Lesia gets jealous. Consequently, as the good folk of Croft were requesting that the Queen should remain Happy And Glorious, mayhem briefly broke loose on the grassy bank by the pub. Fortunately my two were tightly on leads and singing continued as Andy, the pub landlord, ran out and retrieved his dog.
Technically we live in Oaktree House, but sadly the tree had to go.
We now have a thriving Oakstump at the front of the house.
