Remembrance is always a busy time of year, for cornet players in particular. This year was especially poignant as East of England Co-op players Georgi Hawkes-Wright (Cornet), Simon Fenn (Cornet), Steve Anstead (Cornet), Dan Wright (Flugel) and Murray Smith (Euphonium) travelled to France at the beginning of November and were proud to represent the East of England Co-op Band within a massed band of players from multiple bands across Eastern England, known as ‘Anglia Brass’.

The East of England Coop Band contingent in Anglia Brass

Whilst in France, the Last Post and Sonnerie Aux Morts (French Last Post) was performed by Georgi at the Villers Bocage Cemetery in a joint Anglo-French remembrance service. Simon performed the Last Post in a further moving ceremony at Naours Church.

Back on British soil, a total of 7 further Last Posts have been played by players, including:

St Mary’s Church, Bentley, Suffolk – Simon Fenn

Stowmarket Civic Ceremony – Jamie Potter-Steel

St Mary’s Church, Burstall, Suffolk – Georgi Hawkes-Wright

St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt, Suffolk – Dan Wright

St Peter’s Church, Repps Cum Bastwick, Norfolk – Linda Purdy

Ipswich Town Football Club – Jon Holden

Southend United Football Club – Steve Anstead

Steve Anstead’s last post at Roots Hall was live on TV, and shown around the world as it was also streamed live on TikTok

Remembrance Reflections

Winners!