GLASS WORK

THE YOULGREAVE -YPRES COMMUNITY GROUP was formed to commemorate the lost fighters of the 1914/18 World War

We held a competition through the four villages around Youlgrave

    

1914/18 Group, YOULGRAVE/YPRES WINDOW COMPETITION 

We want a design from everyone in this village, for a Stained Glass sculpture/window to be erected in August 2018, in Ypres Cathedral, and later to be shown in Youlgrave All Saints or if designed in two halves, simultaneously in both churches. This idea continues the connection with Ypres expressed by the stained glass window in All Saints Church, containing glass from Ypres, Belgium, collected at the end of WW1.

The design may relate to any associated subject.

THE COMPETITION –

Is for anyone and everyone residing in the Youlgrave area. (As denoted on the memorial in the churchyard)

START – January 1^st 2017

FINAL ENTRIES – 7^th May 2017

YOUR ENTRY–

CRITERIA and help on accompanying sheets

 Please give us your ideas in any clear way you can. Simple, complicated, drawings, writings, print, paint, cardboard model, etc. Include a clear explanation of the whole design.

DESIGN – To be a 2D or 3D, window, or sculpture.

SIZE – Maximum of 1 metre x 1 metre x 1 metre.

MATERIALS – Stained glass, lead, wood, metal, local natural or other practical lasting material, in any colour.

POSITION – Expected to stand on a plinth of sorts.

(This may be incorporated into the design)

Lighting is naturally from above, but you may want to add extra lighting suggestions.

JUDGES – A committee from Ypres and Youlgrave will work together to choose the finished design. The finished product may incorporate all or part from one, or more, chosen designs.

-We prefer a general or mad idea which can be converted to stained glass, rather than a restricted idea due to lack of knowledge of the materials or process.

DELIVERY – Please leave your entry and details in Youlgrave :-

1/ Post Office         2/ Peak Feast, Moor lane.

3/ 5 Grove Place.   4/ Post to Brambleside, Brookleton DE451UT.

SUBJECTS on which to base the design

             Y          Ypres

             O         Originality

             U          Understanding

             L          Locality

             G         Gratitude

             R         Reconciliation, Remembrance,   

             E         Endeavour

             A         Aesthetics

             V         Valour

             E         Eternity

             Y         Youlgrave

             P         Peace

             R         Reflection

             E         Emotion

             S         Sacrifice

The making.

I taught an interested team through the summer to do stained glass features, then we worked together through the following summer and taught each other so much more.

Why was this trip special?

Was it because we thought to remember the sacrifice of so many innocent men, a century after the events? Was it because a small idea in a small village, grew and grew and seemed to never stop?

Was it because everyone involved was a volunteer non professional, and gave more and more of their time as the process grew? Or was it that we all learned, bonded, worked and made decisions together, and was it that everyone in the village eventually got behind us and so many others around sponsored, and aided our idea?

18 months ago, in a committee meeting, talking about the possibility of the sculpture going to Ypres cathedral, ‘Muggins’ here, then suggested (out of the top of my hat) that we took the band! Thinking that we might persuade perhaps half a dozen musicians to play during the service. I was told about the Menin Gate and applied to play there. So with an enthusiastic conductor, and committee, as with everything else to do with this project, the idea grew. Unavailable players were replaced by enthusiastic musicians from neighbouring bands and we filled a coach and hotel with brass band players and their supporters, and we booked as many opportunities to playas we could, around our main objectives on the Sunday.

 After a long delayed journey we arrived in Ypres 2 hours late for our booked concert, but we still played in the beautiful Ypres square and blew away all the frustrations of the day. I looked up half way through the first piece to see a sea of familiar faces watching and thought, ’What a great idea it is to bring your own audience in another coach. We should do this for every concert!” By the end of the piece though, there were as many unknown faces and by the end of the concert, some little girls dancing to the music.

On Saturday everyone visited cemeteries and arrived in Poperingue for the afternoon, where the band played in the square, and didn’t want to stop as more people kept arriving to listen, but we had another booking in the TOC H house garden. This garden was set aside as a haven for peace for the WW1 soldiers, and the band really added to the relaxing atmosphere. We met Belgians who stayed late just to listen to us.

 Sunday was so special. Following the communion service the band played the music for the blessing led by Rev Louise. Kimberley Trickett started the service by creating a calming tranquil, mood with her beautiful euphonium solo, echoed by other instruments, in ‘The Benedictus’. The service included the hymns of Bless and Love Divine and ended with ‘Remembrance’ in which Wiggey (conductor) cut the band (stopped suddenly) three times, and in those silences we all heard the music echoing around the cathedral for seconds till he started the music again. This could only have been done in such a building and well done to Wiggey for choosing such an appropriate piece.

The music, position of the sculpture, setting, cathedral, words and people all made such a memorable, engaging, emotional and unique presentation.

By evening after following the bell ringing, the band were full of adrenalin, expectation, nerves, and wonder mixed with sadness. You can’t stand under the Menin Gate without sadness. Betweeen the Belgian fire Brigade buglers, the band played the gentle and appropriate  ‘Gresford’ known as the miners hymn (from a mining village) and then, as David, John and Anne presented the wreaths, ‘Meditation on St Clement’ arranged locally for the band. This included a duet played by both WW1 bugles, one from John Dale in Youlgrave. Knowing that those bugles had played in the trenches (really battered) and decorated, added so much emotion to the piece that many who weren’t before, were in tears by the end.

I think the band had become so wrapped up with playing their best and in musical emotions, that Monday, to visit a number of cemeteries, was an essential day to bring us all back to  remembering what it had all been about. Nevertheless, having had the afternoon concert cancelled in Arras we all finished the tour with a jubilant late band concert in Ypres square, finishing in rain on borrowed hotel chairs which we had to rush in quickly. “I know what musicians are like.” The hotelier said, “They’ll all run in with their instruments and leave my chairs!”

One visiting band player said to me a week later, I’ve just really realised what we’ve done. ‘This was all amazing for a village band. And I’m so glad I came.’

And yes I’m inclined to agree. So thank you every one.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Glass Bottles

Major competition for all residents of the area.

1914/18 Group, YOULGRAVE/YPRES WINDOW COMPETION

AIM –

We want a design by this village, for a Stained Glass 2D or 3D piece to maintain the link between Ypres and the Youlgrave area. This follows on 100 years from the Ypres stained glass window in All Saints Church, (containing glass from Ypres, Belgium, collected at the end of WW1) which was to remember the Youlgrave soldiers who served in the 1914/18 war.

THE COMPETITION –

Is for anyone and everyone residing in the Youlgrave area. (As denoted on the memorial)

START – January 1^st 2017

FINAL ENTRIES – 7^th May 2017

APPLICATION CRITERIA –

DESIGN – To be a 2D or 3D piece, incorporating two halves, which interchangable to form one whole, and each of which, may also be displayed separately in the church of All Saints, Youlgrave, and Ypres Cathedral.

SIZE – Maximum of 1 metre x 1 metre x 1 metre.

MATERIAL – Stained glass, lead, wood, metal, local natural or other practical lasting material.

EVENTUAL POSITION – Expected to stand on a plinth of sorts. (which may be incorporated in the design)

Natural light from above. This does not exclude extra added lighting from other angles.

COLOUR – No restriction

EXPLANATION – Please include a simple explanation of the design.

COMMITTEE –A committee of Ypres and Youlgrave residents will combine their opinions, to choose the finished design, to be erected in 2018. The finished product may incorporate all or part of the chosen design/s.

-We prefer a general or mad idea which can be converted to stained glass rather than a restricted idea due to lack of knowledge of the materials or process.

DELIVERY – Please leave your entry and details in Youlgrave at one of the following :-

1/ Youlgrave Post Office

2/ Peak Feast, Moor lane.

3/ 5 Grove Place

4/ Brambleside, Brookleton.