Chapel Choir’s tour takes in Last Post ceremony 

Performing at a Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres was among the highlights for the Tonbridge School Chapel Choir during their tour to Belgium.

The Choir gave three concerts in February half term, which included appearances at Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk church in De Panne, Sint-Salvator’s Kathedraal in Bruges, and St George’s Memorial Church in Ypres. The performance at St George’s was especially poignant as the church has a memorial plaque dedicated to Old Tonbridgians who died in the First World War.

On Sunday, 17 February boys also sang during the Last Post commemoration at the Menin Gate in Ypres, taking part in a renowned ceremony which occurs at 8pm every evening – a tradition going back more than 90 years.

The school’s Choirmaster, Julian Thomas, said: “We had a wonderful opportunity to sing in three beautiful buildings. The acoustics in each were very different and the boys adjusted superbly to their new surroundings. We will all remember the echoing sound in Bruges Cathedral! 

“The chance to take part in the Last Post ceremony, though, was undoubtedly a highlight of the trip. It is such a moving occasion and I am sure we will all remember that feeling of singing in front of so many hundreds of people.”