I did a couple of interviews about the poem and its background, after the Diocese of Exeter picked it up – UCB Radio, Greatest Hits Radio Devon – broadcast on Friday 15th August. And Matt of BBC Radio Devon interviewed me about “VJ Day 2025” and my faith for the Breakfast show, broadcast on the morning of Sunday 17th.
As part of the segment, I chose “Lux Aeterna” arranged by John Cameron to “Nimrod” by Edward Elgar. I recorded this with my choir Antiphon, directed by Matthew Cann, in the Lady Chapel of Exeter Cathedral back in August 2015. Sadly it wasn’t possible for the BBC to use our particular recording, but it is available to listen to on Spotify.
In stark contrast to a nuclear flash, “Lux Aeterna” invokes a healing light. The translation from the Latin is “Let light perpetual shine upon them, O Lord, with your saints forever, for you are kind. Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them”. It is my blessing on the souls of the atom bomb victims and the POWs.