Yorkshire bugler to end heartfelt tribute to Covid victims

Paul Goose, from South Yorkshire, began his routine on 29 March with a bugle call as a poignant military tribute following the death of a close friend and fellow veteran from Wakefield.

However, after being moved by the stories of coronavirus victims and their families, decided to carry on playing the Last Post every night at 8pm, and twice on a Thursday - with an extra one at 8.30pm, as a tribute to those who have died.

Since then Mr Goose, who is from Cudworth, Barnsley, has played more than 250 times to date - only missing out on one occasion.

Mr Goose's efforts have also raised nearly £9,000 for Barnsley Hospital's intensive care unit. after he set-up a fundraiser through Facebook.

And he has been nominated for a Proud of Barnsley award, as well as receiving a Barnsley Spirit Award for all he has done.

Announcing his plan to finish on 31 December he told the BBC he hoped to be joined by a number of other buglers for one final recital of the Last Post before performing a solo rendition of No More Parades.

He said it would be an "emotional night" after more than nine months of live-streaming his performances.

"I think it's going to be an emotional night as it'll have been a part of my life for nine months," he told the BBC, earlier this week.

"It'll be a sad night but hopefully it will be a happy occasion and we will start to see the deaths reducing [in 2021] with the new vaccines coming in."

Mr Goose, 54, performed the Last Post consecutively for 152 nights before he forgot to pack his instrument while away from his home for one night.

The former Light Infantryman had hoped his effort would be recognised by Guinness World Records (GWR), but his application was rejected for being "too specific."

Local MP Stephanie Peacock gave her support to his application, even raising it in the House of Commons.

Speaking in Westminster, Stephanie said: "My constituent, Paul Goose, a former member of the First Battalion of the Light Infantry, has played ‘The Last Post’ on his doorstep since the first UK lockdown began, and in doing so he has raised £10,000 for Barnsley Hospital’s ICU.

"Will the Leader of the House join with me in congratulating and thanking him for his efforts, and in calling on the Guinness Book of World Records to consider recognising his achievement?"

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