Service of Commemoration

 On Sunday, the main event was the commemoration of 75 years since the end of the Second World War (actually 76, since this event was supposed to take place last year) and the 100th anniversary of the British Legion.

This was held in the Town Square, by the cenotaph, so it was fortunate that the weather was better than on Saturday morning.

The parade through town began with groups of bikers, some of them on gorgeous three-wheeled machines.  

They were followed by more vintage jeeps (and an armoured car) than I have ever seen in one place.  There were also some vintage cars.  Some of the dignitaries (including Winston Churchill and the lady who was with him) were delivered to the square in these vehicles.

After them came the pipe bands, the Swansea Pipe Band and the Shirley Pipe Band.  They led the British Legion standard bearers into town - there were a lot of them, and they'd come from all over the country.

Also in the parade was the regimental mascot of the Royal Welsh, and two wolfhounds (I couldn't get close enough to see the regimental badges on their coats):

Already set up in the square were the Surrey Police Band and the Talgarth Male Voice Choir, who were on the newly opened steps leading up to the Castle gates.  There was also a trumpeter and a bugler stationed near the Castle gate.

After the service, which involved wreath laying and the laying of red roses by relatives of the men commemorated on the Hay War Memorial, there was a reception for the dignitaries in the Buttermarket (I still have no idea who the gentleman in the blue velvet tailcoat carrying a sword was, but he was obviously important!).