Bring Him Home

This blog should be viewed after the proceeding one if that makes sense.
Bear with me....if you follow my instructions, it will make sense.

Seventy people more or less filled St Michael's Church for Colin Endres' memorial service. Seventy people is not a bad turn out for someone in their mid eighties I thought.
Every pew was filled.
Sailor John and Mandy, Animal Helper Pat and her daughter Joanne, Farmer Basil, Jenny the former postmistress, old Trevor, Sheep man Graham, the head of the community council, and a score of old faces sat at the back of the Church as the family took the front pews.
Gaynor, the mad organist looked natty in her checked jacket.
The vicar looked traditional in his long frock. 
It was a nice service. 
The funeral usher came from Denbigh and was a practised baritone. He provided a spirited descant to the chorus of Calon Lan.
After  the service, Yola, Colin's wife took her time to process down the aisle and as we sat there, Gaynor switched on a recording of Bring Him Home from Les Miserables.
I suspect that the recording was this  version, and although it is said to be a common song to be played at a funeral, It was the first time I had heard it at such a service. 

As the elderly and strong voices from the village choir filled the church, many in the congregation bowed their heads with the sudden emotion of it all.


49 comments:

  1. John, I had to stop listening half way through for fear my husband would see me sitting at the computer with tears running down my face. Just lovely. I can see how that would deeply affect the congregation. It did me.

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  2. I have never been able to hear that without tears, sitting in a Broadway theater sobbing. And what a beautiful rendition. So appropriate.
    Peter

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  3. Every time. Every time. This song and me crying. x

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  4. ~Lump in my throat~

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  5. Turns me into a crying mess.

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  6. Beautiful song, beautiful send off, beautiful Wales.

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  7. I started cry just knowing what was to come.
    Beautiful.

    cheers, parsnip

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  8. Some pieces are so moving even NOT at a funeral ... did you manage to maintain your record of not crying at a funeral, John?

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  9. I did have a lump in my throat......but no tears no

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  10. A most beautiful song.

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  11. Uf. A powerful song. Years ago, we had just visited my best friends who was close to dying back home with his parents at the age of 37. Jerry turned on the CD player for the hour-long drive home. This song started playing and I stated blubbering like a... well, like someone watching his best friend die. This song destroys me every time.

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    1. I creeps up and surprises you does it not?

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  12. O.k. can hardly type as the water is standing in my eyes. It was so beautiful. Was this sung by people from Trewlanyd? What gentle, beautiful precision. Oh my God.

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  13. There has been a male voice choir in the village since the 1930s the choir is made up of men from all over the local two counties....
    Only three i think now live in the village

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  14. That is so beautiful, and so perfect for a "send off". Gosh, how on earth did you manage not to cry? I've failed, and I'm just sat at my computer, blubbing for someone I've never met . . .

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  15. I was crying before I finished reading ... this music is always perfect .. so very beautiful.

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  16. What a beautiful and appropriate rendition! Welsh voices simply cannot be bettered, can they. I do hope Aunt Gladys improves quickly.

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  17. So lovely . . .

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  18. I had forgotten how beautiful that song is. I am weeping for the grace and kindness you and your fellow villagers offered him on his journey.

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    1. It was a rather unexpected and special moment jean

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  19. That is so beautiful, what a wonderful ending to someone's life a fitting farewell. Welsh men's choirs are simply the best. Thank you. Sue H

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  20. I'm not that easily silenced, but that was the most astonishing scenery I have ever seen!! Do you actually live in that lovely place and can listen to those wonderful voices? Thank you John, for that warmhearted and touching glimps of how people say farewell. So important to stop for a while and be still in the moment. Lovely song too.

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  21. thanks john my mum Iola was so pleased to see so many of her friends there and says she misses them all so much

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    1. Thank you for that comment....your mum and dad were always a centre of the village......just to let you know that my history blog ( with the story of your mum and grandparents on it) has just been archived by the national library of wales....your mum and dad's stories have been immortalized forever!
      How good is that...
      Thank you

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  22. Anonymous10:32 pm

    That was beautiful. My tears are falling now, but they're the good kind, not the bitter tears I cry inside daily for the fate of my country. Sorry, I know that sounds like "It's all about me", so I'll just say I think I needed a good cry, and I thank you for providing the vehicle. Another reader in Philly.

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    1. Chin up carol
      " this too shall pass"
      X

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  23. Oh John, my son had a beautiful voice and that filled my mind with him and now I'll be a mess for the rest of the day.

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  24. That is the most beautiful rendition of 'Bring Him Home' that I have ever heard and the scenery in the video is breathtaking. Thank you for sharing John xx

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  25. "Bring Him Home" is a lovely song and a good one to play for Colin's departure. Sounds like his heart was in Trelawnyd.

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  26. I thought I would try to listen to this tonight, knowing that I had heard it already, maybe I could sit and listen to the whole thing without weeping.
    I couldn't. It is playing ,I am crying and typing. Good night John.

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    1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQNwNxDo9-M

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  27. And it has been in my head all day, I find myself humming and realize it's Bring Him Home.
    Cheers Peter

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  28. I am surprised I never heard this before . It is so beautiful.

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  29. John, you live in a very beautiful part of the world. I'm sure you already know that. I hope most of it is set aside and safe from development. The song was beautiful too!

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  30. Beautiful song; I can imagine the tears and handkerchiefs.

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  31. Lovely song and such beautiful scenery to accompany it. You are lucky to live there.

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  32. You know that lump in your throat thing? Then your chest swells and the tears roll. That was a beautiful send off.

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  33. Well that opened the floodgates. I have lost my Mum, Dad and two beloved pooches in the last three years and this beautiful music loosened a valve. Very cathartic, thankyou.

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  34. i cry every time I hear that song, then hit the repeat button so I can hear again and cry some more.

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  35. Touching & appropriate. This song always brings me to a stop, and fills me with emotion.
    Lovely for a sendoff.

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  36. Beautiful choir, Beautiful song. I held it together until I saw the gentlemen in the Military

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  37. The video was lovely and the music very touching. Tears.

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