The RAF’s Red Arrows were in town for Remembrance Sunday and although I couldn’t get to Seef for the display – was anxious not to be late for the Cathedral’s Remembrance Sunday service – I did catch sight of some of the planes carving between the twin towers of Financial Harbour – a dramatic sight. The Rev’d Ralph Barber was our preacher at the service which was somewhat sparse in attendance, perhaps predictable given the Red Arrows Display, Armistice Day following so quickly, a US Marine Corps Ball and the fact that there had been a Remembrance Sunday service on board the RN ships in port in the morning. It was however good to welcome the three visiting Chelsea Pensioners and the Italian Ambassador read the passage from the Book of Job very well.
The Armistice Day Act of Remembrance in the Old Christian Cemetery was at 11.00am on the following day when the top brass of the military – US, British and Danish navies were present –RAF including the Red Arrows team and several other service personnel, Ambassadors from many countries, and a breadth of civilians from business forums, social clubs and of course the Cathedral. An excellent curry lunch at the British Embassy and I had an interesting time on a table with the some of the Red Arrows team and the Royal Flight who’d just flown back with The Duke of York from Remembrance Sunday in Afghanistan. |