A NEW choral work celebrating a poem written by a Forester at war in Burma will be given its world premiere this weekend.

The composition by Christopher Gibbons will be sung by the Pillowell Singers, a choir he has been conducting for three years. 

It is based on the poem A Song of Home by Reginald Sandford, who was born in 1917 and died nine years ago, written when he was a soldier in the Far East during the Second World War.   

The concert, which will also include choir songs by Beethoven and Whit­acre, takes place at Pillowell Methodist Cha­pel this Saturday at 7pm. 

Choir member Jane Turley, a niece of Reginald Sandford, said: “Uncle Reg would have been proud to hear the choir sing his poem. He loved his home and it was never far from his thoughts during those terrible years.” 

Reginald, trapped in the turmoil of conflict wrote of his home in the Forest: “The place we call home, is something near and dear, of peace and rest, contentment, away from toil and fear.”

His words echo those of Hartpury-born poet FW Harvey, dubbed “the Laureate of Gloucestershire”, who had written about his longing for home in the First World War 30 years earlier.

The composition for the choir embraces the feelings of separation and longing for home experienced by Reginald and reflected in the poem. 

Chris, who has also collaborated with the choir as a clarinettist, says he was inspired to write A Song of Home as a special gift to them.

Saturday’s concert is part of the Forest Musical Landscape project, which is sponsored by the £3m Lottery-funded Foresters’ Forest initiative. 

It will also include a folk song selection, three songs featuring choir soloist Lou Beard and clarinet pieces by Saint Saens, Shostakovich and Rimsky Korsakov, plus saxophone pieces by Rachmaninoff and Des­mond and songs by Cope­land, while the choir will sing Mack the Knife as a finale.   

Gloucestershire deputy lord lieutenant Viv Hargreaves, who is involved in several projects to promote young musicians, will be introducing the concert.

She said: “I am delighted to be asked to introduce the choir and this special new work. It reflects the abundance of musical and literary talent in the Forest of Dean which can both be enjoyed on July 1 in this beautiful setting.” 

Entry is on the door, to include light refreshments in the interval.