Remembrance
Second World War 80
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Throughout 2025, St Elvan's marked the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, through a series of events, which included VE Day 80 in May, VJ Day 80 in August, a Festival of Peace in September, and closed with our annual Remembrance events in November
Our FREE Remembrance 80 exhibition remains available to view at St Elvan's, Monday to Saturday from 10-4, until November 16th
Details of all our 2025 events are outlined below
We Will Remember Them - Lest We Forget
Our FREE Remembrance 80 exhibition remains available to view at St Elvan's, Monday to Saturday from 10-4, until November 16th
Details of all our 2025 events are outlined below
We Will Remember Them - Lest We Forget
Timetable of Events
Remembrance 80
November 6th to 11th
Thursday November 6th
An Evening of Remembrance
with the Massed Choirs of Cwmdare Voices & Pelenna Valley, Lewis Merthyr Band
and St John The Baptist High & Aberdare Town Church In Wales School Choirs
07:30pm
Tickets are available from 0333 666 4466 or online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
An Evening of Remembrance
with the Massed Choirs of Cwmdare Voices & Pelenna Valley, Lewis Merthyr Band
and St John The Baptist High & Aberdare Town Church In Wales School Choirs
07:30pm
Tickets are available from 0333 666 4466 or online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans
Sunday November 9th
Solemn Mass
St Elvan's
09:30am
Solemn Mass
St Elvan's
09:30am
Sunday November 9th
Service of Remembrance
to include Last Post, Reveille & Two Minutes Silence
Aberdare Cenotaph
10:45am
Service of Remembrance
to include Last Post, Reveille & Two Minutes Silence
Aberdare Cenotaph
10:45am
Tuesday November 11th
Act of Commemoration
to include Last Post, Reveille & Two Minutes Silence
Aberdare Cenotaph
10:45am
Act of Commemoration
to include Last Post, Reveille & Two Minutes Silence
Aberdare Cenotaph
10:45am
FREE Remembrance 80 exhibition
Available to view at St Elvan's, Monday to Saturday from 10-4, until November 16th
www.stelvans.com/exhibitions
Available to view at St Elvan's, Monday to Saturday from 10-4, until November 16th
www.stelvans.com/exhibitions
Gwyl Heddwch | Festival of Peace
Saturday September 13th
www.stelvans.com/gwyl-heddwch
Gwyl Heddwch was a one day event, organised by members of the community of Aberdare, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th and 9th 1945. The event took the form of a FREE event on Saturday September 13th, and featured a range of guest speakers and performers, including Kyoko Gibson; Dafydd Iawn; Keith Dunn, Honorary Consul for Japan; Mererid Hopwood; former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams; Jeremy Corbyn; Caroline Lucas; Richard Outram; James Schneider; Cwmbach Male Choir & Lewis Merthyr Band; and facilitator Mike Church
The event was completely FREE of charge and the full timetable for the day is outlined below
Gwyl Heddwch | Festival of Peace
Timetable
10:00
Doors Open
Refreshments available
10:30
Introduction & Welcome
Speakers: Kyoko Gibson & Richard Outram
Facilitator: Mike Church
11:30
Open Forum - "Heddwch | Peace"
12:30
Oleander Dedication
Kyoko Gibson & Mr Keith Dunn OBE, Hon Consul for Japan
13:00
Lunch Break & Networking
14:00
Gwyl Heddwch
with guest speakers and performers, to include:
Jill Evans & Beth Winter
Students of Aberdare Community School
Kyoko Gibson, James Schneider, Richard Outram, Mererid Hopwood
plus video contributions from Archbishop Rowan Williams, Jeremy Corbyn & Dr Rowan Williams
Cwmbach Male Choir, Lewis Merthyr Band, Arwen Morgan (Harp) and Special Guest Dafydd Iwan
16:00
Close
The event was completely FREE of charge and the full timetable for the day is outlined below
Gwyl Heddwch | Festival of Peace
Timetable
10:00
Doors Open
Refreshments available
10:30
Introduction & Welcome
Speakers: Kyoko Gibson & Richard Outram
Facilitator: Mike Church
11:30
Open Forum - "Heddwch | Peace"
12:30
Oleander Dedication
Kyoko Gibson & Mr Keith Dunn OBE, Hon Consul for Japan
13:00
Lunch Break & Networking
14:00
Gwyl Heddwch
with guest speakers and performers, to include:
Jill Evans & Beth Winter
Students of Aberdare Community School
Kyoko Gibson, James Schneider, Richard Outram, Mererid Hopwood
plus video contributions from Archbishop Rowan Williams, Jeremy Corbyn & Dr Rowan Williams
Cwmbach Male Choir, Lewis Merthyr Band, Arwen Morgan (Harp) and Special Guest Dafydd Iwan
16:00
Close
VJ Day 80
August 15th to 17th
Friday August 15th
VJ Day 80 Act of Commemoration
to include Last Post, Reveille & Two Minutes Silence
St Elvan's
10:45
VJ Day 80 Act of Commemoration
to include Last Post, Reveille & Two Minutes Silence
St Elvan's
10:45
Friday August 15th
VJ Day 80
National Two Minutes Silence
St Elvan's
12:00
VJ Day 80
National Two Minutes Silence
St Elvan's
12:00
Friday August 15th
FREE Heritage Talk - VJ Day
with Anastazia Thomas BA (Hons), MA
St Elvan's
13:30
FREE Heritage Talk - VJ Day
with Anastazia Thomas BA (Hons), MA
St Elvan's
13:30
Sunday August 17th
Solemn Mass
St Elvan's
09:30
Solemn Mass
St Elvan's
09:30
Sunday August 17th
Service of Remembrance
to include Last Post, Reveille & Two Minutes Silence
Aberdare Cenotaph
10:45
Service of Remembrance
to include Last Post, Reveille & Two Minutes Silence
Aberdare Cenotaph
10:45
Senbazuru (千羽鶴) 1000 Cranes
Throughout August
In the build up to the Gwyl Heddwch | Festival of Peace on Saturday September 13th, we asked for members of the community to help us complete our goal of creating a Senbazuru (千羽鶴) or 1000 Orizuru (折鶴) origami cranes, as a centrepiece for the festival, and memorial to Peace
Cranes were made here on dedicated tables with all required materials at St Elvan's, at home, in school and community groups, and were then brought to the church. Cranes of all sizes were welcomed, and were made of whichever materials individual chose - foil, wrapping paper, newspaper, and more!
Over 1000 cranes were indeed made and unveiled at the Gwyl Heddwch | Festival of Peace on Saturday September 13th. Instructions on how to make the cranes, and additional information and images from the project, is available to view at www.stelvans.com/1000cranes
Cranes were made here on dedicated tables with all required materials at St Elvan's, at home, in school and community groups, and were then brought to the church. Cranes of all sizes were welcomed, and were made of whichever materials individual chose - foil, wrapping paper, newspaper, and more!
Over 1000 cranes were indeed made and unveiled at the Gwyl Heddwch | Festival of Peace on Saturday September 13th. Instructions on how to make the cranes, and additional information and images from the project, is available to view at www.stelvans.com/1000cranes
VE Day 80
Thursday May 8th
Commemoration
Aberdare Cenotaph
10:45
Commemoration
Aberdare Cenotaph
10:45
Friday May 9th
VE Day Afternoon Tea Dance
13:00 to 15:00
VE Day Afternoon Tea Dance
13:00 to 15:00
Friday May 9th
VE Day 80 Commemorative Concert
with Cwmbach Male Choir & Lewis Merthyr Band
19:30 to 21:30
Current & former Members of the Armed Forces & Children - FREE!
VE Day 80 Commemorative Concert
with Cwmbach Male Choir & Lewis Merthyr Band
19:30 to 21:30
Current & former Members of the Armed Forces & Children - FREE!
Saturday May 10th
Street Party at St Elvan's
12:30 to 15:00
Street Party at St Elvan's
12:30 to 15:00
Sunday May 11th
Service of Commemoration
Aberdare Cenotaph
10:30
Service of Commemoration
Aberdare Cenotaph
10:30
