Rorke’s Drift Defender honoured

Blaina Communities First · Rorke’s Drift Defender honoured

Blaina Communities First Partnership, working with the Royal British Legion Blaina Branch and the Partridge Family have organised a programme of activities on Sunday 21st September 2008 to Honour Private William Partridge, one of the defenders of Rorke’s Drift, an engagement made famous by the 1964 film ‘Zulu’. Members of the public are welcome at all the days events.

The programme for the day is

Parade Form Up - 14.00 (2pm)
Community centre car park, Rear of Blaina Police Station

March Via High Street to St Peter’s Church – 14.30 (0.3 miles flat or slightly downhill route.)
Regimental band of the Royal Welsh
Royal British Legion standard bearers
1879 Group Living History Company
Members of the Partridge Family

Service at St. Peters- approx 14:45 (Disabled access)
Honour guard – 1879 group
Reading
Hymn – Cwm Rhondda (led by Beaufort Choir)
Prayer
Hymn – Battle Hymn of the Republic (led by Beaufort Choir)
Plaque unveiling

March to Blaina Cemetery- approx 15.30. (0.7 Miles relatively flat route, steep uphill in cemetery)
Limited transport available

Service at Graveside- approx 16:00
Dedication of Headstone (kindly donated by Co-op Funeral Care)
Men of Harlech (led by Beaufort Choir)
Last Post
Gunfire salute – 1879 Group.

Return March to Blaina High St- approx 16:30 (0.7 miles relatively flat route, steep downhill out of cemetery)
Limited transport available

Parade Fall out, Blaina Sports Bar- approx 17:00
Refreshments

Blaina Heritage Centre- approx 17:45
Presentation by Mr Bill Cainan, Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh. Mr Cainan will be in period uniform and will have examples of both English and Zulu weapons of the period.

If you require directions, or wish to book transport, or are a relative of William Partridge please contact:

Ceri Jones – Community Development Officer
Blaina Communities First Partnership
77 High St
Blaina
Blaenau Gwent
NP13 3BN

01495 291694

ceri.gavo@gmail.com