SIR,

Once more, festival time is upon us, another special feature of our ancient town.

To live in Monmouth is to be always drawing from its history; the very names around us hold many layers of memory: Kymin, Wye, Monnow.

Yet festival week is also supremely open to the present and the future, not least in the variety of artists and musicians who help to bring such colour and life to our streets. Some things, after all, keep changing.

This year, as we hope for good weather and appreciate again the beauty of the place in which we live, we are aware of those who have suffered in the recent terrible events in Norway.

There too, in a setting renowned for its idyllic beauty and peace, many young people had gathered; others who have stayed there before them speak of their happy memories of the place. And now, a sudden outburst of appalling violence has completely changed its significance.

It would be morbid and wrong to dwell for too long on such a tragedy, though our sympathies and prayers are for its victims.

Our own festival is to be enjoyed. But there is perhaps a lesson for us that nothing is to be taken for granted.

Such shocking events remind us that we must make best use of all the opportunities we have – to celebrate well the right occasion, and to use our ordinary lives for making a world of greater tolerance and peace.

Nicholas James

(Catholic priest, Churches Together in Monmouth)