Concert of Remembrance

by

Jacquimac

Remembrance Day was only a couple of months away and in the UK there are Parades and services for the Fallen and with Veterans marching . With our troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan and terrorists killing civilians at home our little drama group decided to hold a concert but with a difference.

We had decided that instead of only charging enough to cover our overheads (rent) we would charge a minumum of Five Pounds a ticket with all profits being split between "Help the Heroes Fund" and "The Poppy Appeal".

We didn`t have our own place to hold concerts, usually we had to hire somewhere and rehearse anywhere we could, costumes we scrounged or made with our mothers help and any props or scenery we usually got our dads to help with.

We sat down and threw ideas around and finally decided concentrate on the music that came out of the two World Wars, of course there was only the 1920`s and early 30`s when britain seemed at peace with world, as far as we knew but doubtless being school kids we could be proved wrong.

We didn`t want a concert that was just singing and bands, No it should be enjoyable but memorial, we might be young but we knew the sacrifice that the men and women of our Armed Forces had made to enable us to live in freedom, At the same time we weren`t pleased with the reception they got from some of the Ethnic Minority Groups that were supposedly loyal British Citizens.

We didn`t agree that our troops should be dying in foreign lands for no good reasons except too boost the politicians ego`s. We also knew that men and women had no choice but to go and fight were they were sent. The Armed Forces in the UK unlike those of other European Countries don`t have a union that will fight on their behalf.

So after a couple of hours we decided to see if the School Orchestra would do the music, like Glenn Miller or Tommy Dorsey and such like, we would include early 1900 Music hall type acts and the singers doing Gracie Fields, Vera Lynn and the Andrews Sister songs.

Eventually we had it all mapped out all we had to do was get the help we needed and we were pleasently surprised with all the help we got. We expected to have to perform in a large and draughty hall but the manager at the town`s theatre which could seat a couple of hundred at a time came on board and so we had a proper venue.

We spoke to the Music department at school and we got the orchestra to perform, the choir mistress took charge of the music for what ever songs we would sing and best of all one of the directors from a TV soap said he would put it all together for us and possibly get paid if we could get it televised.

We could hardly contain ourselves with the excitement we felt, we knew it wouldn`t be easy and we only had around six weeks to put it all together. A few local actors, singers and film stars offered to perform but we politely turned them down, we told them that we wanted an school kids cast and thanked them for they`re kind offers. They did however make very generous donations to both the fund and the cost of getting costumes together.

We weren`t a private school and most of us came from working class families with no pretensions that we were better than anyone else, we knew we were at the bottom of pile and only our own hard work would get us anywhere, no there was no snobbish were we were concened.

The first proper meeting was held in a local hotels conference room and as well as our little group those that attended were the Choirmistress, Head of the School Music Dept, the Orchestra Leader, the Director and Theatre manager, there was a representaive from the British Legion an Officer from a locally based Army unit, somebody from the Local TV station and the Mayor.

Tonight we were going to outline what we wanted to do and get some feedback from the various experts on what we could or couldn`t do and hopefully end the the meeting with a basic outline of the concert. show or whatever we would end up with.
Although we knew there was going to be a lot of hard work involved we hoped we would also have a lot of fun.

A couple of times some of the grownups suggested we get some of the local professionals to take part and after a very heated argument dropped the idea, We told them that some of pro`s had already offered and that we had turned them down because we wanted it to be an all school kids cast. In the end a lot of adults agreed that it would detract from what we trying to do if we got professional singers and acors involved.

After I placed several large cheques from those that had offered to perform on the table the remaining dissenters gave in. I handed the cheques to choirmistress and she promised to bank them for us. We were doing quite well with donations so far the Cheques alone came to almost  £7000 and that gave us greater incentive to make the concert a success.

Concert of Remembrance

by

Jacquimac

Part 2

A couple of days later I was given a letter by the choirmistress for mum, all I got told was that it very important. Mrs Daniels and Mum were long time friends, they had grown up together and were pretty close.

Our drama coach was working with the wardrobe mistress at theatre to see what they could do about costumes, of course the majority of the costumes would be wartime uniforms and the wardrobe mistress had a few contacts in the film industry.

They were hoping to get everything as authentic as possible with little cost as we didn`t have a lot of money to spend and were hoping to get as much as we could without spending a penny, that would mean everything we took in ticket money would be donated to the two Charities.

We held a second meeting about a week later and found that a full program had been planned, the concert would last three hours being split into two halves for costume and major scenery changes.

The music and songs had been chosen, and there was a slight change to our no adult policy. One adult would give a brief narration about each of the two wars, giving reasons why they were fought and total numbers of deaths for each conflict.

We agreed it was a good idea to put a slight educational slant into the show, especially for the younger element.

At the end of each part of the show we were going to get the remaining Veterans that lived locally on stage and introduce them to the audience if they would agree. I knew that the Veterans took great pride in fighting for their country and thought they should some kind of recognition for their sacrifice, we didn`t expect all the Veterans to agree but hoped a few would.

At the end of show we planned to get the Army Chaplin to say a prayer and end it with the last post by one of Orchestra that could play a bugle. It was also planned that get the most out of it the show would last two weeks so as many people as possible could see it.

Damn that left only six weeks before opening night, but what we kids didn`t know was that the cast had already been picked. costumes had been arranged and only needed fitting, and the music score was ready, but we would find out on friday night and there would be some shocks.

The school was buzzing with excitement on monday morning, we knew the drama club, choir and orchestra were already in the show, but everyone knew that a lot of kids would be needed and volunteers were in abundance.

My dad had been killed in an accident at work a couple of days after I was born and mum had not only brung me up but had worked during the in a cotton mill, gone to night school and managed to get a degree through the Open University.

Dad had had a basic state education and had been to promoted to manager just before his death, he had started at the bottom and had worked his way up by hard work.

I had two older brothers and they were in their last year at school before going to the local College of Further Education to start working towards going to University. They were both 16 yrs old and were huge to me, Mum said they took after Dad and that I took after her.

Dad had really screwed up my life when I was born although I didn`t yet know it, Mum hadn`t told any of the family and some how had managed to work round the little problem as she later called it.

When Dad went to the Registery Office to register my birth he manage to totally screw everything up because he was drunk at the time, Mum due to his death the next day and other pressures didn`t find out till I was due to start school.

I had been registered as Victoria Anne instead of Allan Victor after an uncle, yes dad had managed to get everything arse about face. To make it even worse my birth certificate also had me down as female. Mum did try to get it changed but after almost 4 years was told it wasn`t possible.Dad must have been absolutely plastered that day to screw up so badly.

When I started at primary school the headmistress knew all of us and at school I was Victor on the register. I`d never live it down if everyone knew what was on my birth certificate.

As I grew up my body didn`t want to cooperate and I was by the age of 10 diagnosed with Gynaecomastia and sported breast that the girls were jealous of. We were a pretty close knit community so I wasn`t teased much about having to wear a Bra and wasn`t able to to do gym with the boys in case I got hurt so I ended up playing netball and hockey with the girls.

Concert of Remembrance

by

Jacquimac

Part 3

On tuesday mum got a phone call from the health centre telling her that my test results had come back and Dr Gray would like to see her as soon as possible. so she left her office and went to the health centre.

Tuesday after school I was home first as usual so I have to start getting the evening meal ready, I was in the kitchen with an apron on to protect my clothes and the terrible twosome arrived home, as usual they started taking the micky about the apron, ok so it was mum`s apron I didn`t want to spill anything on my clothes.

Mum arrived home about 20 mins before I started to serve the evening meal, the table was laid and the kettle was on for tea. After we ate mum called a family meeting, she had called into to see the family doctor on her way home.

We were sitting in the lounge when Dr Gray arrived and we were finally told the results of all those tests and scans I`d had.

Mum had been told the results when she visited earlier in the day and told me I had a big choice to make.We listened to what Dr Gray told us and asked various questions but the upshot was there wasn`t much medical science could do to rectify the problems with my body.

It came down to the fact that I was developing as girl, I was developing breast, hips were getting bigger and waist smaller. My testicles hadn`t descended because I didn`t have any and no amount of hormone treatment would rectify any of the problems.

The choice was carry on living as boy knowing I would always look feminine or live as girl and later have the neccessary surgery to complete the change.

I looked at mum and my brothers and asked what I should do and got told that whatever I decided they would always be there for me but I had to make the choice myself. I got up and went to my bedroom to think and mum followed me a couple of minutes later.

She told me what dad had done and showed me my birth certificate, so not only was my changing I was legally female anyway. I got up after a few minutes and returned to the lounge and told everyone I needed more time to think about it.

Dr Gray said she could me councilling if I wanted it and would have to see specialist a pschyciatrist anyway. I thanked her and told her I needed a day or two to think and I would make a decision by friday. She got up to leave and sadi that I could phone her anytime if I had any problems.

As soon as the Doctor had left Bill and Tom started with the questions, have you decided ? or you going to be a girl ? until mum stopped them. I got up and started to leave when I heard Tom whisper to Bill that he mind having a sister.

I had a lot to think about and was thinking about my life so far, since I had started in the drama club a couple of years ago I been given a few parts were I played a girl, I did girls gym at school and hung around more with the girls than with the boys even at home I did the jobs that usually a girl would do. Eventually I fell asleep.

When I got up the next morning mum and the boys looked at me and didn`t say a word, I has washed, dressed and ready for breakfast. I had made my decision pending the answer to a couple of questions and worries I had.

My brothers ate they`re breakfast and left for school early as they were travelling to play a rugby match, so mum and I were now alone. She asked if I was okay and I told her I was fine, but had a few questions for her.

I asked her If I decide to become a girls what about school ?, what about the other kids how would they treat me ? and what about the drama club would they still let me stay a member? she didn`t answer any of them.

We finished breakfast and cleared away the dirty plates and cups, got our coats and went to the car. Mum always drops me off at school as it`s on her way to work but today she came into the school with me and we went to the headmistresses office.

Mrs Cockcroft had just arrived and asked us into her office, she and mum were also friends that had grown up together and was also my godmother.
Mum told her what the doctor had said and that I had made my decision but needed to get answers to some questions.

I repeated the questions and was told , 1) I could attend school as a girl or a boy for the rest of the school year as next year I would be going to senior school and could pick a different school and start new. 2) She didn`t think the other kids would bother me except maybe for a bit of teasing and that if anyone did try anything she would deal with it, if and when it arose. she reminded me that I did girls gym, I wore a bra and had been a girl in school plays.
3) It wouldn`t matter if I was a boy or a girl I would always be welcome in the school clubs.

We sat in silence for a while and mum said she had talked to the parents in the neighbourhood and there was no objections from them and the kids wouldn`t be a problem.

Mrs Cockcroft told me she would arrange a meeting with all the parents and mum,myself and if possible my doctor should attend, my little problem would be the topic to see if the parents would help. So my final decision I kept to myself for the time being.

Concert of Remembrance

by

Jacquimac

Part 4

I didn`t know it but a parents meeting had been arranged for the next evening, but we went to meeting after Mrs Cockcroft and the Doctor had told everyone what was happening to me a heated discussion started, the majority of parents had no problem but one or two very vocal with their opinions. At one stage I thought a fight was going to break out between a couple of the dads.

One of the mothers started screaming until there was complete silence. Once everything had quietened down she got onto the stage and started pointing at the problem parents "what if it was your son ? what would you do lock him away somewhere" she paused and looked around she pointed at me and said " This child has problem that can only be fixed by changing gender, it`s natures fault not the childs and we`ve been asked to help so a decision can be made for the childs future"

When the meeting finally ended there was only two families that considered me a freak, three families that were`nt sure what to think and would see as things happened.

We arrived home and mum made us all a hot drink, while we were all together in the lounge I told them I was going to live as a girl. It didn`t really matter anymore as it was all out in the open now. People would either accept or reject me, as mum said "It`s their choice".

When we were younger mum taught us that our actions and decisions didn`t just affect us but everyone else around us. Well the facts had been laid before me and the decision was mine and it was a decision I would have to live with, there was no turning back.

Friday morning and I went to school early so I could let Mrs Cockcroft what I had decided, she was in her office when I arrived and we had a chat we both knew it would already be around the school but she had already warned the staff to be ready for any problems. Mum had already phoned and told her what I had decided.

Mrs Cockcroft handed me a package and told me to get changed that i had 15 mins, she left the office and when I opened the package it was a new school uniform a girls uniform. I quickly changed and had just finished buckeling my shoes as Mrs Cockcroft re-entered the room, Victoria was ready for what the world would throw at her.

The school assembly was just starting when we arrived and the head introduced the new me to school, she also told everyone that any discrimitory behaviour would be deakt with severly.

The day passed ok except for a bit of teasing and before I realised it school was finished for the week. We had a drama class tonight so I started of home, as I left the school some of the girls had been waiting for me and we went home together. I didn`t realise that my brothers were keeping an eye on me from a discreet distance, they were making sure that nothing happened and had already warned the boys at school not to try anything.

The drama club started with a meeting to let everyone know what they would be doing, for the first part depicting the WW1 theme

Song picked were ,

It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary,
To the sweetest girl I know.
Goodbye Piccadilly,
Farewell Leicester Square,
It's a long, long way to Tipperary,
But my heart's right there.

with the wartime verse

That's the wrong way to tickle Mary,
That's the wrong way to kiss!
Don't you know that over here, lad,
They like it best like this!
Hooray pour le Francais!
Farewell, Angleterre!
We didn't know the way to tickle Mary,
But we learned how, over there!

"Hanging on the old barbed wire"

If you want to find the lance-jack, I know where he is
I know where he is, I know where he is
If you want to find the lance-jack, I know where he is
He's scrounging round the cookhouse door.
I've seen him, I've seen him
Scrounging round the cookhouse door, I've seen him,
Scrounging round the cookhouse door.
The company sergeant...He's laying on the latrine floor

The quarter master...Miles and miles behind the lines.
The sergeant-major...Thieving all the squaddies' rum.
The buckshee private...Buried in a deep shell hole.
The C.O....Down in a deep dugout.
The brasshats...Drinking claret at Brigade HQ.
The politicians....Drinking brandy at the House of Commons bar.
The whole battalion...Hanging on the old barbed wire

"I don`t want to join the army"

I don't want to join the army,
I don't want to go to war.
I'd rather hang around dear old London town,
Living off the earnings of a lady typist.
I don't want a bayonet in my belly,
I don't want my bollocks shot away.
I'd rather stay in England, in merry, merry England,
And fornicate this bleedin' life away.

Your King and Country Want You.

Keep The Home Fire Burning.

Theres a Long Long Winding Trail.

Oh It`s a Lovely War.

Bombed Last night.

With musichall acts mixed in along with the names of various battles and the losses .

Part one would end with poetry reading from the two youngest members of the cast

" In Flanders Field" and " Ode of Rememberance"

Concert of Remembrance

by

Jacquimac

Part 5

The first part of the concert was going to involve mainly the boys who would be dressed in WW1 uniforms with a backdrop and props simulating the trenches.

As the theatre would be in darkness except for the stage I suggested that maybe we could show a few slides showing the carnage of the battlefields, and that idea met with a good reception. The theatre manager was going to add sound and lighting effects to give it some impact.

We didn`t do a lot that night except hand out script, songs that were going to sung and get measured for costumes, monday night we would be starting to rehearse seriously.

Me turning up in my new personna didn`t seem to bother anyone except for a few who told me it was about time I started to dress the part that went with my looks. All in all today had been a good day but I knew there would be some trouble and it would start in the next few days everything was going too easy.

A couple of us had seem quite a lot of the old films, I had DVD`s,Cd`s and LP`s of Gracie Fields, Will Hayes, George Formby etc so these could be used to study how the songs were sung by the Stars of those days.

I was given the part of the "Northern Nightingale" or for those who don`t know better known as "Our Gracie" Dame Gracie Fields. Gracie for those who don`t know was not just a film star but a fantastic singer and comediene in her own right, she had the vocal range to sing anything form a comedy song in her own dialiect to opera, she was a world renown star and had taken the UK and US by storm.

The newspapers during WW2 had printed lies about her after she married an Italian/American but she was still taken into the hearts of the UK especially the working class. Gracie came from a working class background and never forgot were she came from.

Julie was given the part of Vera Lynne a singer who we thought at best was mediocre, oh she could sing but she didn`t have much range and her songs seemed a bit monotone. She was known as the "Forces Sweetheart".

Boys parts were the orchestra, a swing band, Bing Crosby and Al Bowly. and the rest dressed as soldiers, sailors and airmen.

The way to start the WW2 half of the concert was causing a slight problem, like the WW1 part we wanted it to make an impact on the audience and cast alike. After a lot of research we finally decided that we all sing "When The Lights Go Out All Over The World " followed by our narrator reciting Winston Churchills " Never Surrender Speech"

There was a huge library songs from that era we could choose from so material wasn`t short, Julie was to sing " We`ll Meet Again",and "White Cliffs of Dover"

As Gracie I was to sing " Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye", "Thing-Ummy-Bob (That's Gonna Win The War)" and "Now Is The Hour" althought the last song was not recorded until 1948 the original Maori has been around a lot longer.

We also had songs for the choir but the choirmistress wasn`t letting us in on those yet as she was trying several songs.

All in all it looked like it was going to be great concert and would be enjoyable for all concerned.

A few comic skits were to added were we had time to spare just to fill in gaps as well as narrations.

And at the end the death toll of WW2 would be told followed by closing prayers.

All we had to do now was put it all together and with the help we had we knew that it was going require a lot of hard work on our part but we were looking forward to it, I knew that we kids were going to learn a lot about the two wars that wasn`t in history books.
We had all seen the news clips of the dead soldiers being driven through Wooten Basset and although we didn`t see the carnage from Afghanistan we knew that what we were about to do was our way of Honouring the Dead, the Veterans and the serving members of the Armed Forces. We wanted to raise as much as we could for the two charities so they could carry on they`re work.

Before we left the producer informed us that because of complexity of the show we would rehearse each part in separate location, one group would use the theatre and the second group the local church hall, the final week of rehearsals we would all rehearse in the theatre as the opening song required the full cast.

One thing we had forgotten but the producer hadn`t was copyright law, as soon as songs and music had been decided he had contacted the copyright holders and had gotten permission for us to the songs at no cost as it was for charity.

There were so many little items we didn`t know about and were glad somebody was managing to deal with them.

Concert of Remembrance

by

Jacquimac

Part 6

It was getting late so we all decided to call it a night and my bodyguard took me home. I told my brothers that they didn`t have to follow me around but they insisted saying that they had heard someone was going to try and give me a good kicking.

Over the weekend several of the kids came round to borrow CD`s so they could start practicing the various songs, I had pretty decent coolection of old time music. I wasn`t into the modern trash they called music. The majority of todays musicians only did it for the money and I didn`t feel any heart and soul in the music, and most of bands were just too loud.

Julie and her mum only lived two doors down and came round, so we put on some old films that were made depicting the two Wars, we also sorted out the Cd`s that we both needed. Julie started teasing about me doing Gracie Fields songs but soon stopped when I put on a Gracie Fields DVD and heard me singing along with it.

I had an ear for accents and after hearing one a few times could copy it, I had also seen watched the Gracie Fields DVD`s a lot so I knew I could copy her Lancashire accent with no problems I could even recite some of her jokes as well.

The Lanky Twang or Lancashire Accent is similar to but different from the Yorkshire accent, more so when it was spoken by working class people and then there are other very slight differences from town to town though you would be hard pushed to hear them.

The North of England is renown for it`s sight and for it`s famous people and sporting teams.

As well as Gracie Fields there was Robert Shaw (Bolton), Eric Morecombe (Morcombe), Dora Bryan (Oldham) Eric Sykes (Oldham) George Formby (WIgan) The Beatles (Liverpool) just to name a few, there were many more big screen stars, musicians, composers,sportmen, inventers,Scholars etc, but Lancashire was a famous place in it`s right.

Apart from the War of the Roses, it was also the place the Industrial Revolution started, It was the main cotton processing center for a couple of hundred years. Lancashire has been the site were many movies were made due to the buildings and landscape. Pity about the weather though we get a lot rain up here.

I don`t think there is anywhere in England were hardship was celebrated as much, I don`t mean they enjoyed the hardship of live in days gone by. What I meant was the enjoyed to fullest and had fun when they could.

Nowadays with the high unemployment the people feel sorry for themselves, no longer is the spirit of community and belonging.

The Teenagers idea of fun seems to be getting drunk and fighting, or drugs, crime etc. That is one of the reasons we wanted our concert to be a success, not only to raise money but to show that we care and can do something worth while.

We still have our bigots amongst our little group but we have to show them that they are wrong and get them to try and change.

So over the rest weekend I rehearse my songs to get the accent right, the songs I knew well as my Mother and Grandparents were always singing them.

Monday came all too quickly and it was back to school, mum dropped us off as she went into the office, my brothers went and joined their friends and I was standing in the playground alone.

The next thing I knew I woke up in hospital, someone had thrown a rock at me from behind, the wound was stitched and I was kept in overnight for observation.

My Brothers were fuming as they couldn`t get their hands on Darren Clarke, a boy from my class who had at been my best friend until I started living as a girl, he had thrown the rock but had been caught by one of the teachers.

The next day I went home with a thumping headache, I had been given painkillers but I try not to use them I hate taking any kind of medicine.

Darren`s parents had been called to the school as the police were now involved and had been found to be homophobic as well, they had encouraged Darren`s actions and freely admitted it and had been arrested themselves. Darren being underage couldn`t be charged but his parent`s could and would be.

Social services were brought in and after speaking Darren took him away from his parents, it was found out that his parents were launching a hate campaign against me and Darren`s actions were a direct result.

Julie`s mum Brenda contacted social services and offered Darren a home, he wasn`t a bad lad and was under the thumb of his parents. Nobody had known how badly his parents had treated him.

Brenda brought Darren round and he apologised, after everything had been explained to him he understood and explained he only did what he did because his parents had threatened him with a beating.

Concert of Remembrance

by

Jacquimac

Part 7

It was Friday before I could practice again, I`d tried a couple of times since I got home but couldn`t concentrate, I had to ring Julie about rehearsals tonight because I had forgotten were we doing it.

As soon as we arrived at the church hall everyone was asking how I was, was I ok to rehease?, I assured them that except for a slight headache I was fine.

We couldn`t practice the opening as it required all of us plus the person doing the narration who was at the theatre with the other group.

We had enough musicians with the jive band so all we had to do were the songs and comedy skits, at first i looked terribly ropey but as everyone finally settled down it started to come together, OK it was long way from being anywhere near good enough but it was the first night of rehearsals.

Monday we back at school the doctor had removed the stitches on saturday morning and the headache was gone. Straight away everyone started to have a go at Darren till I stopped them.

After I told them what had happened and that we were friends again they all backed off and calmed down, I felt safer now as just about the whole school was looking out for me.

I didn`t realise it till after the concert but except for the sports teams almost every kid in school was in the concert in one way or another no wonder Mrs Cockroft was over the moon. She was happy that the school got the publicity and showed the school in a good light for a change.

It wasn`t a big school only a couple of hundred pupils but there was always the bad element that showed the school up. Pranks that went wrong usually with someone getting hurt or something getting damaged. there had been a few expulsions the previous year so hopefully things were settling down.

The teachers all lived locally and some off them had been brought up on the area so knew all our parents and families well. It wasn`t unknown for a teacher just to visit a home for a social chat but all in all the teachers were great.

I remember getting home one evening and finding six of lady teachers sitting and talking to mum, I thought I was in trouble but it turned out they had all grown up together and were just a social get together.

Wednesday is a Bakers day were we don`t attend school, the teachers are supposed to do some sort of training, mums taking the day off work and we`re going shopping, and my brothers are going to be redecorating my room.

We have a night of from rehearsals on thursday the choir and orchestra are going to a complete rehearsal with our group to see if everything fit`s in the time frame we`ve allowed for our part.

We know the concert is still a few weeks away but we need to try out the timings for both parts of concert so we can or drop songs etc, we don`t want to go too much over the time we`ve allowed for each part or people might start to get bored.

On wednesday evening we performed the run through and found we had about 30 mins fill, afteer much thought I suggested an act similar to the Andrews Sisters who were quite popular at the time, with 2 of boys doing Flanagan & Allen we filled the gap.

Rehearsals carried on over the weeks but we were starting to feel tired, with school and rehearsals it was a case of long days, but eventually we got everything down as we wanted it.

There were a couple of more attacks against me but they were`nt violent, OH I got pushed against walls ,bumped into and tripped but all that stopped when the culprits were suspended, eventually the pupils that were causing me problems got the message after Tom and Bill cracked a few heads.

It was decided that next year I wouldn`t go to the local secondary school instead I was to attend a nearby Girls School. I would still be a member of the Drama Club as it was nothing to do with the school.

Rehearsals were now only being done two night a week to ease the pressure on the performers but I think we all continued to practice anyway, this concert was too important for us too mess it up.

The costumes had arrived and the seamstresses were busy making them fit, props were done and scenery painted, the theatre was a beehive of activity. Everyone and anyone was helping they could.

The concerts were being held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the two weeks prior to Rememberance Sunday, the theatre manager asked if we could do a special performance on Saturday the week before for the British Legion, It would be televised on shown on local the TV. As the TV company was offering to make a sizable donation we agreed as long as everything was ready on time.

Concert of Remembrance

by

Jacquimac

Part 8

The Audience returned and took their seats and the WW2 segment started.

The Choir were dressed in uniforms of the period the Boys as Soldiers,Sailors and Airmen and the Girls as Army Nurses, those battledress uniforms are really rough but the boys loved them. They sang

Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear,
And Grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come.
'Tis Grace hath brought me safe thus far
And Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His Word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.

It was beautiful they way it sounded and a deathly silence followed it, we were soon brought to reality and Jule was sent on to sing the first of her Vera Lynn songs

There'll be blue birds over
The white cliffs of Dover
Tomorrow, just you wait and see
There'll be love and laughter
And peace ever after
Tomorrow, when the world is free
The shepherd will tend his sheep
The valley will bloom again
And Jimmy will go to sleep
in his own little room again.
There'll be blue birds over
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow, just you wait and see.

OOPS something has gone wrong it should have the Churchill speech then the song

When the lights go on again all over the world
And the boys are home again all over the world
And rain or snow is all that may fall from the skies above
A kiss won't mean "goodbye" but "Hello to love
When the lights go on again all over the world

And the ships will sail again all over the world
Then we'll have time for things like wedding rings
And free hearts will sing
When the lights go on again all over the world

Oh well it`ll be put right for next week

Concert of Remembrance Pt 9

by

Jacquimac

Part 9

The older members of the British Legion joined in on this song , If you looked at the faces that could be seen you could see them remembering the war years and the sadness when they remember old friends and comrades.

The narrations were great as before ,The jive band followed by Lester sing the Al Bowly song

Goodnight Sweetheart, all my prayers are for you
Goodnight Sweetheart, I'll be watching o'er you
Tears and parting may make us forlorn
But with the dawn a new day is born
So I'll say goodnight Sweetheart, sleep will banish sorrow
Goodnight Sweetheart, when we meet tomorrow
Dreams enfold you, in them, dear, I'll hold you
Goodnight Sweetheart goodnight.

the Orchestra folowed doing a couple of Glenn Miller tunes.

Time was catching up on us and the two who going to do the Flannigan and Allen number hadn`t turned up, we found out later that they in hospital after a car hit them.
It was my turn and I as Gracie fields sang

Now is the hour, for us to say goodbye
Soon you`ll be sailing far across the sea
Do not forget but, please remember me
When you you return , you`ll find me waiting here

I love you dear, but duty calls for for you
How I will miss you when you are far away
God guard you dear, and guide you safely home
When you return, you`ll find me waiting here.

We carried on and finished the show with the Army Chaplin reading a prayer followed by a two minutes silence.

We all went back on stage and were met with a thunderous applause, the chairman of the local Branch of the British Legion came on stage and thanked us drinks were being handed round and all us kids got cola or lemonade. Everybody congratulated us on a fine show and quite a few said they hadn`t expected such a great concert.

We were the Bee`s Knees and were glad we hadn`t made a mess of it. We were told that Steve and Joe would be in hospital for a few weeks after their accident so it was decided to leave out their bit in the concert.

We were now ready for the performance of our lives all we had to do was make sure that we all turned up on the night and barring illness, accidents etc I don`t think anyone would fail to show up.

We did make one slight change two of the pupils were actually Maori so I suggested that they sing the Maori Version of "Now is the Hour" someone complained that there wasn`t enough time to make or get hold of suitable costumes. I reminded the wardrobe mistress that they had they`re own costumes as they took part in Maori gatherings round the UK so costumes wouldn`t be a problem.

The pupils were twins Atarangi and Matiu and were part of the choir and the choirmistress agreed, we put it them and they agreed as their grandfather was a Veteran of WW2, anyway it added it a bit of culture to the concert and filled the missing gap.

Concert of Remembrance

by

Jacquimac

Part 10

The Night of the main concert arrived and funny as it may seem everyone was calm, relaxed and eager to get the show underway.

With the interval it was three and half hours for tthe next three evenings and the same next week, The theatre held 300 but we had reserved 100 seats free of charge to pensioners.

We did collection boxes in the main foyer for anyone who wanted to make a donation and they were being emptied and replaced constantly.

At the end of night the account and informed us that we had made with ticket sales and donations over One thousand Pounds, if we do as well everynight we`d have two decent sized cheques to hand over, yes we were showing people that the young could do something useful and didn`t always cause trouble.

At the end of concert on saturday the grand total was thirty thousand pounds including the donation we got from the TV company

We had three more performances and were hoping we could reach forty thousand, It was possible as we had been sponsored for a 20 mile walk we had to do and money was being donated all the time.

The headmistress has obtained permission for us all to do the sponsored on wednesday instead of lessons, providing we stayed back an extra hour on Monday and Tuesday which we didn`t mind.

The last few weeks had been hard work but fun, yes there had been the jokes and pranks that made some of acts seem ridiculous but when is all said and done we had done well considering we just a bunch of school kids age between 9 and15, and everyone so far was more than pleased with what we had accompished.

Wednesday we did the sponsored walk, the local army unit had provided marhalls to keep us all safe, they were do for posting to Afghanistan in three months time.

We had meeting about saturday`s performance, a few changes had been made, not in the concert itself but at the end. Usually the Mayor and his wife would be at the opening show but this time he opted for the last night, why we didn`t know but we would find out eventually.

Thurday and friday nights concert went without a hitch, Saturday the performance surpassed everything we had so far done, it seemed that as the last night everyone was putting heart and soul into the performance.

As we wanted Atarangi and Matiu sang

Pᶠatarau
E moea iho nei
E haere ana
Koe ki pá¤mamao

Haere rá¤
Ka hoki mai aná¶
Ki i te tau
E tangi atu nei

It sounded fantastic and the twins looked great in their traditional costumes

Saturdays show and all the acts were complete the Chaplin went on stage and got the Choir and Audience to sing

And did those feet in ancient time.
Walk upon England's mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On Englands pleasant pastures seen!

And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!

I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In Englands green & pleasant Land
After which he said a prayer for the fallen and one for living, which reduced us all to tears.

The concert finally ended again with a thunderous applause.

The Mayor and his wife came on stage and after the applause ended he asked everyone to remain seated, We were motioned to go out front and we filed onto the stage and into aisles.
Once we were all still he started saying
" I wish to thank the these people for putting on such a fine Concert, It goes to prove that the young don`t just think of themselves but of others. This Concert was their idea and with the exception of a bit of professional help did all the work themselves. I know for a fact that they have given up all their free time to this project and have also complete a 20 mile sponsored walk. The money raised will be equally divided between "The Poppy Appeal" and "Hepl The Heroes". I believe we have a total of Fifty five thousand pounds according to the account. So well done to everyone".

Again the theatre erupted with applause and people came over and said how much they enjoyed the concert.

Concert of Remembrance

by

Jacquimac

Part 11

Eventually we had the theatre to ourselves and we all sat around chatting while having a drink and a snack, what a night we`d had and the manager asked if we all turn up tomorrow around 10 am, we said we would.

We all turned up at the theatre they had even managed to get Joe and Lester out of hospital for a couple of hours, we where taken round to church hall were we were all placed for a photograph.

Once the photo was taken we all handed envelopes which we were told contained vouchers donated by local businesses, after which we all sat down for a meal.

Joe and Lester had their legs in casts and we all made sure they were alright, they were disappointed that they had missed the concert.

Monday was back to school and the schoolyard was buzzing one of us was going to be selected to lay a Poppy Wreath at the local Cenotaph on sunday, I went and seen the headmistress and asked that I wasn`t selected.

They selected David, he hadn`t been able to take part in the contest as he had leg vraces and used crutches. He was popular with everyone in the school so nobody was disappointed when his name was read out.

At the morning break I was sent to headmistresses office and was informed that metting would be taking place during the week to determine my future and future education, they were trying to find the best way to help me while making sure I was safe.

I already been told that I was going to be attending a Girls school but all that seemed to have changed so I would have to wait and see what they came up after the meeting.

Tuesday we had a music class after the concerts success they decided to hold it in the assembly hall, each of us had been given a song to learn and sing.

Darren being a bit of prankster had borrowed on old record from the 80`s, he was to "Little Jimmy Brown", he got on the stage and started singing

In the village hidden deep in the valley, one cold and dreary winter's night,
A figure could be seen creeping in the early misty light,
A ten-foot ladder on his shoulder, a heavy hammer in his hand.
What had he been doing? What mischief had he planned?

Early,Sunday morning the vicar went to morning prayer.
He found the church was chilly; there was something in the air.
The marble font was overflowing. There was water everywhere.
He looked up, up at the ceiling and found it wasn't there

And the chapel lead is missing, and the rain is falling down.
When they asked who might have done it, they all blamed Jimmy Brown.
And the little congregation prays for sunshine from above,
But the rain's precipitation leaves them wet to saturation
Till they fear the church will flood.

In the village hidden deep in the valley, one cold and dreary Monday morn,
The police were out there searching but Jimmy Brown had gorn.
They eventually found him complete with torch and bag of tools.
He'd been back at his old business nicking drainpipes from the schools.

"Please come along with me now." These friendly words they said to him.
"I'll offer no resistance," replied our sunny Jim.
When Jimmy Brown was questioned, this is all the poor boy said:
"I only nicked the drainpipes. Someone else took all the lead."

And the chapel lead's still missing and the rains still falling down.
Though they're sure who is the culprit, the lead still can't be found.
And the little congregation prays for sunshine from above,
But their constant meditation would not pay for restoration
Of the little church they love.

Deep, deep in the valley, one cold and dreary Tuesday morn,
Our Jim was in the cooler wishing he had not been born.
They questioned him for many hours, but still he would not tell.
They blamed him for the church roof and the missing bell as well.

Deep, deep in the valley, one cold and dreary Wednesday morn,
The police took Jim his breakfast, but again our Jim had gorn.
The sergeant walked into the cell block and found that it was bare.
He looked up, up at the ceiling — guess what — it wasn't there.

And the chapel lead's still missing, and the rain's still falling down,
And the organ isn't playing, 'cos the organist has drowned.
The collection box is missing and the vicar can't be found,
And the little congregation needs a lot of medication
For the church has fallen down.

The Music teacher was not amused at first but the headmistress stopped her from taking Darren to task, everyone was laughing, it was parody of the Original written and performed by a group called the Barron Knights.
The head pointed out two facts, the tune was right, and Little Jimmy Brown was the main figure in the song, the music teacher then saw the funny side. Darren was in the choir had what they call an "ANGELIC" voice, but he could also imitate a number of voices, and Darren had given a really good performance using different voices.

Concert of Remembrance

by

Jacquimac

Part 12

Sunday 11th November arrived and today was Remembrance Day, the day the country remembered those that had commited the Ultimate Sacrifice in the Service of their country.

Local Army Units, Territorial Army units, Various cadet forces,Police,Fire and Ambulance services, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides were all on parade and would be marching past the War Memorial, Leading the Parade were of course the Veterans of various wars as was their right.

As well ask paying tribute to the fallen, it was a day of sadness for many veterans as they remembered Comrades, Friends and Family that had died in the cruel reality of war.

The young would be regaled by the tales of Valour told by the Veterans, at first it was strange seeing grown men weep openly,
we didn`t have any concept what war was like or the hardships these brave men faced,but we understood in our own way.

We watched the Veterans proudly March past doing an eyes left and saluting the War memorial. Some had limbs missing or were sightless or confined to wheelchairs but Proudly they marched, proud of what they done to ensure the freedom of our country.

These men were all conscripted for the most part and had dutifully gone of war, maybe they weren`t proud of the killing and destruction they had wrought, I know some of those I had talked to hated war but as they said sometimes war is a neccessary evil. They were under know illusion that the government of the day were using our troops and spending their lives uselessly to acheive nothing.

That night there was a dinner and dance for the Veterans, we couldn`t attend as it didn`t start till 8pm, but one of our teachers had been invited and on our behalf presented the two charities with they`re cheques. We knew that the money after the government had taxed it would be put to good use.

After the meeting on my future, It was agreed that after Christmas I would finish school for the year and when the new shool year started next september I and another child who was transgendered would attend St Hilda`s Girls school. We would not be going into the senior school but starting junior one again as seven year olds.

We were in the process of moving house anyway and the new house was much bigger and closer to the school. St Hilda`s was a convent school run by nuns but from a very unorthadox sect, the didn`t wear the usual nuns uniform but dressed as anyone else would.

The idea was that as a seven year old we would learn the things that girls learned in early childhood, we were of course asked before the final decision and agreed. OK we would have to make new friends and behave 4 years younger and this time it would be better. We could have disagreed and moved to secondary school like the rest of our year at school, but this way gave us a clean break and a completely fresh start.With our height and build we would fit in with the other seven year olds.

During the months before we started we would start to learn how to be girls starting afresh and we would undergo a small sugical proceedure to hide our boy bits until we were old enough to have the final operation.

This was a year we would remember well, for our new lives and what we had accomplished in the final days of our old lives and I was looking forward to it.

I knew that after Christmas we were enrolled in ballet and sewing classes, and would have to help more round the house.

Mum had started her own business and it was doing well, that was why we could afford to move to a bigger and better house. She had also started adoption proceeding for another girl , so I would now have a sister.

Oh by the way, Darren was the teansgendered child and his family didn`t want anything more to do with him, so mum adopted him or should I say her.

Yes it was definately a year we would remember

Next Year ?? Well thats another story

The End