Elgar in Hereford

The composer, Edward Elgar (1857-1934) is much celebrated in the west of England. He was born in the village of Lower Broadheath near Worcester and spent much of his early life near or in that city, and in London. He wrote for and had music performed by the Three Choirs Festival (Worcester, Gloucester and Hereford) as well as by Birmingham festivals. London saw many first performances of his major works. Between the years 1904 and 1911 he lived in Hereford in a house called Plas Gwyn. His connection with that city is celebrated by the 2005 bronze sculpture of the composer by Jemma Pearson near the cathedral. It shows him with his Sunbeam bicycle, for many years his preferred method of transport around the countryside he loved.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300

Figure, War Memorial, Abergavenny

The sculpted WW1 soldier on the war memorial on Frogmore Street, Abergavenny, is the work of Gilbert Ledward. His "Tommy" rests on his Lee Enfield rifle, looking tired and worn by conflict. The monument, with its bronze figure, was unveiled in 1921, a tribute to the 374 men of the 3rd Battalion of the Monmouthshire Regiment from the town and surrounding area who died in WW1. Remarkably, 311 of those fell in Belgium in 1915 during the second battle of Ypres. Today the memorial is the focus of the town's annual Remembrance Service.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2