大象传媒

The 2nd World War has brought out some great stories, and I have one that took place in Canada in Dec 1945.

The war was over at this time; I was in the Royal Navy and had arranged to meet some of my shipmates in the Knights of Columbia Hutte du Palais, Montcalm Quebec. I had gone in and got a cup of coffee in the canteen, and I sat down at one of the many tables at the far end of the room where I could se the entrance for when my friends arrived.

A soldier came into the canteen, bought a cup of coffee, walked over to the piano that faced the servery and was about 4 yards from the table where I was sat. He took a drink, put his cup and saucer on top of the piano and sat down at the keyboard and played Chopin鈥檚 Polonaise Opus 53, al the way through. It will be remembered from the popular 鈥淭ill the End of Time鈥�. It was a beautiful rendition some professionals play it too fast and spoil the beauty of the piece. It was a brilliant performance, and at the end he stood up, drank his coffee and left the canteen.

All who heard it were enthralled. I was hoping for more, but strangely no-one applauded the pianist. He hadn鈥檛 played it for us, it was for his own personal enjoyment and for his pleasure at being in front of the keyboard, and the joy it gave to him.

Where I sat, I could look down the pianokeys as he played. He probably never took any notice of anyone else in the room, he was just a lone soldier on leave for the evening. I remember him and can still see him, he was about 5 ft 9 or 10 inches, had a round face and about 10 陆 stones in weight; just a nice ordinary god looking young man.

What more can I say鈥bsolutely nothing except, wherever you are, thank you for a memorable occasion and a brilliant performance. If he is still with us, he must be 80 to 85 years old now. He wore khaki battle dress and his Forage cap was tucked under th shoulder dtrap on his right shoulder. Being in the Navy myself, I did not know the badges on his sleeves.

This was 60 years ago cone December, but to me it is as fresh as though it was yesterday.

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