Angy Ellis reports:
Joanne Gray & I were asked to represent Durham Photographic Society at the weekend to photograph the unveiling of the Durham Light Infantry Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire in the presence of HRH The Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy KG GCVO Royal Colonel 3rd Battalion, The Rifles .
Like Cagney & Lacy we travelled together sharing thoughts and plans how we were going to cover an event so large with one Nikon & one Canon to support us. But we did and we did it very well if I say so myself.
We arrived at the George Hotel, touching base with Col Charlton who gave us full press access which we were extremely grateful for, and a rundown of the next day’s events.
That night was also the ‘Salamanca Supper’ in the hotel, so being the nice girls we are our services were offered to document this also. It was after Midnight when the last song ‘The Blaydon races’ finished off a grand night and we could finally go to bed.
Sunday morning we arrived early at the Arboretum springing straight into action. We covered the Band, the hundreds of DLI Association members & their families, three very friendly Chelsea Pensioners, the Royal arrival, meet & greets and finally the very moving ceremony.
The memorial is a larger-than-life statue of a DLI bugler dressed in the combat uniform of the Korean War.
It was modelled in clay by sculptor Alan Herriot, in Howgate, near Edinburgh, and was based on a photograph of the then 18-year-old Colour Sergeant Brandon Mulvey, of Chester-le-Street . Also present yesterday was Captain Tony Lynn, who designed the plinth of Portland stone and drew up the first draft sketches of the statue
Fundraising is now getting under way for a duplicate statue to be erected in Durham City.
Other dignitaries present were the Co Durham Lord-Lieutenant Sir Paul Nicholson, Honorary Colonel for The Rifles in County Durham James Ramsbotham, Durham City Mayor Councillor John Wilkinson, and Durham County Council chairwoman Councillor Linda Marshall.
Angy Ellis
The Northern Echo LINK
All photos to be added on Friday
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