A single herring gull weaves under an October sky, crying plaintively for the seaside. It is the only sound that registers in the minute that follows the bugler's final note. He has played "The Last Post" as perfectly as you will ever hear it. And now there's only silence and a single gull. The air is still.
Below the seabird, 24,459 people stand in respectful silence. We are thinking of the brave men and a few women who never came home from war. They were members of our families. Now just names, blurry black and white photographs and tarnished war medals. But we still honour them, giving thanks in remembrance. It is the least that we can do.
And maybe we are also half-thinking of the world today, the conflicts in progress, the uncertainty of the future. Having just finished that Beatles book, I realise that John Lennon's simple request, "Give Peace A Chance" has never been given a chance.
At exactly two minutes to three, the referee blows his whistle and the silence is over. Supporters roar in unison and the herring gull floats off towards the trees of Hymers College grounds. They are putting on their autumn costumes - russet and yellow and pumpkin orange.
I had walked to that school earlier. The first time in fifty six years but I felt nothing. I left there in the summer of 1970, ready to transfer to Beverley Grammar School which suited me much better. It was less rigid, more friendly and was not trying to be Hull's answer to Eton and Harrow.
Hymers College affected me deeply. The teachers wore black academic gowns like Halloween fans of Dracula and they only ever called me by my surname. At Beverley Grammar School they called me Neil. I should have gone there in the first place and would have done if I had not been awarded a free scholarship to Hymers at the age of eleven. How silly of me to do so well in my crucial "Eleven Plus" exam! If only I had known, I would have deliberately scribbled down a few wrong answers.
Over at Hull City's stadium, I watched an exciting football match that swung one way and then the other but finished up as a 2-2 draw. Our opponents had been Ipswich Town. I caught the 18.25 train back to Sheffield and as we rattled along I got stuck into a book by the acclaimed English novelist Benjamin Wood - "Seascraper". I have read forty six pages so far and I am hooked.
I wonder where that screaming herring gull is now as I click on "Publish".
It's time I started calling you Neil instead of Hey Big Yin.
ReplyDeleteI look nothing like Billy Connolly!
DeleteSeascraper : A novel set in a coastal town has my immediate attention.
DeleteThe Black Forest is a great setting too. Can't think of anyone who lives there.
How about Monsieur Gateau?
DeleteMonsieur Gateau. C'est parfait !
DeleteRemembrance. An American music lover left a YouTube comment on
an old song of Matt Monro's. I replied last night. And received a thanks.
AUTUMN LEAVES (Remastered 2021) MATT MONRO.
The American signed in as Arizona Airspace. From two years ago.
Today Jack was asking me about poppies and wars and his great grandad. I try to explain but how do you explain insanity and violence to a seven year old. I love that photo and I can almost here the gull screeching.
ReplyDeleteHow do you explain insanity and violence to a seven year old? With shame I think - shame for what has transpired in the adult world.
DeleteI have Seascraper on my wishlist at the library. You'll have to give us a full review.
ReplyDeleteWe have our Remembrance Day on the 11th: at 11am, everybody stops and is quiet for one full minute, or two minutes, I don't remember which.
ReplyDeleteSeascraper was wonderful. I read it over a year ago and can still remember it well. I have no idea what the Booker judges were thinking when they didn’t even shortlist it.
ReplyDeleteMight I recommend Switzy? That book was longlisted this year but didn’t get shortlisted.
My dad played The Last Post at multiple Anzac services each year for decades. I wish I could hear him again.
ReplyDeleteI have read that many scholarship students struggle because they come from such different backgrounds to their classmates. Trying to shapeshift takes extra effort on top of the schoolwork and regular life. I wonder if anyone finds it easy.
We premiered a showcase yesterday, Militaria - A Salute To Our Veterans in the community center. I came up with the theme, and my colleague collected the items.
ReplyDelete