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The Last Post bugler: why I'm playing every night for coronavirus victims

Paul Goose plays The Last Post at 8pm every evening
Paul Goose plays The Last Post at 8pm every evening

For many, it feels like life is almost back to normal: shops are open, restaurants are full, and beaches are packed. But Paul Goose, 52, knows it is not.

For the past 131 days, the retired Army private has played The Last Post on his bugle every evening from his home in Barnsley, in memory of those who have died that day from Covid-19. He says he won’t stop until there are no more victims of Covid in the UK.

Goose started playing the bugle call on March 29, in memory of a former colleague who had died, unrelated to coronavirus. “I learnt my old Regimental Sergeant Major had passed away that morning," says Goose. “I decided I wanted to play the Last Post for him on Facebook.”

The video received a swell of comments, leading Goose to realise that the tune could help people to grieve during the pandemic. From that day on, he has performed The Last Post at 8pm. In live streams, which you can watch on his Facebook page, Goose begins by saying some word of thanks to keyworkers, before playing the call, which is normally associated with Remembrance Day ceremonies in Commonwealth countries.

Videos of Goose's renditions have been shared widely on social media, garnering thousands of views. He says people who have lost friends and relatives to the disease have contacted him, asking for a day's video to be dedicated to their loved one. “People have been getting comfort out of it, and shedding some tears,” he says.

As a signal of thanks, Goose is asking people to donate Barnsley Hospital ICU. His original aim was to raise £500 but he hit that target within an hour of setting up his fundraising page. To date, he has raised £7,330, and his efforts are continuing.

Goose hopes that marking the day’s deaths will remind people that the threat from Covid is not over. “With [social distancing restrictions] being relaxed, people are forgetting that it’s still there, so I want to deliver the message that it’s still dangerous”, he says. “If I get one person to think about what they're doing, then I know I’m doing something right.”

Goose, who served ten years in the Army, has been playing the bugle for 36 years, and first started playing his older brother’s instrument when he had gone out for the night. He joined the Army after school and went into the Light Infantry, where he continued playing the bugle.

He went on tour with a group of Army buglers several times, going to Poland, France, Belgium and America. The latter, he says, showed a particular appreciation. “They love bugling out there: it got to the point where I signed autographs on the programmes.”

He has also played for the Queen and the Queen Mother at UK functions.

Goose is set to get a Guiness World Record for the most consecutive days playing the Last Post. “I’ll put the certificate in my local pub so everyone can see it”, he says.

But despite the excitement of raising money for charity and breaking world records, Goose says his hope is to stop playing as soon as possible; for there to be no more Covid-19 deaths for him to mark. “Once that night comes I’ll play the Last Post one more time, then I’ll play No More Parades Today straight after, and it will be me done”, he says. “Hopefully the end will be soon.”

To donate, click here or call 01226 431650, and mention you are donating to Paul Goose's bugling fund.