De La Mennais Brothers: Making Jesus Christ better known and loved by young people

10 years ago, David Pott, the father of Joel Pott (former lead-singer/songwriter of the band Athlete), found my blog article on Athlete's song "Black Swan Song" and he wrote to me offering R.E. resources relating to the song + Remembrance Day. It was released to raise money for the British Legion and was written in honour of the lead singer's grandfather, a veteran of the Battle of Arnhem. I still listen to this wonderful, moving song on a regular basis. It's become an all-time favourite of mine. The video refers to Joel's grandfather's real-life story of surviving a near-fatal wound during the Battle of Arnhem. While lying on the ground, thinking he was going to die, he wrote a letter to his wife back home. He was eventually found, brought back to a medical facility and survived to tell the tale, as did his letter. The difference is that in the video the character representing him dies. This and the lyrics make reference to the fact that the song was wr...

Yesterday I had a surprise e-mail from, David Pott, the father of Joel Pott (lead singer of Athlete). He had found my blog entry about his son's song "Black Swan Song" written as a tribute to Joel's grandfather who died 3 years ago (see a few posts back - Oct. 26th), a veteran of the ill-fated Battle of Arnhem, immortalised in the blockbuster film "A Bridge Too Far". Joel's father thanked me for my article and offered suggestions as to how the song's video (see here ) and a documentary produced to coincide with its release (see below) might be used in school R.E. lessons together with some other resources. Black Swan Story - (11minute edit) from Richard Edkins on Vimeo . Today, we had a full school Mass for the Dead (joint All Saints + Remembrance Day Mass). During the priest's homily I suddenly had an idea... instead of singing the song I had planned to sing during Communion (modern Christian worship as usual) why don't I sing "Black ...

This song, from the latest album of one of my favourite bands, has been released as a single with all proceeds going to the British Legion Poppy Appeal for war veterans. This lovely song was inspired lead singer Joel Potts Grandfather Major John Pott who died in 2006 but was seriously injured at the Battle of Arnhem in 1944. The video is simple (obviously made on a low budget), but movingly effective. It was filmed at the spot where Major Pott lay injured for 20 hours, during which time he wrote a letter to his wife. See below for more info. Arnhem. In 1943 he joined the Parachute Regiment, where his brother-in-law Lieutenant Colonel John Frost DSO MC was commanding the 2nd battalion. He was soon to become famous for holding the bridge at Arnhem and was played by Anthony Hopkins in the film A Bridge Too Far. John Pott, also at Arnhem, was commander of A company in 156 Battalion which was in the 4th Para brigade. When they were dropped on Ginkel Heide on Monday 18th September, there wer...