The island-based Mraane ayns Arrane WI Choir took part in the Last Post Association’s nightly homage to the fallen of the First World War at the Menin Gate in Ypres in Belgium.

A huge crowd had gathered around the memorial arch to witness the official proceedings and to pay their own personal tributes.

As the official start time of 8pm approached, the vice-chairman of the Last Post Association directed Jim Cottier, husband of choir member Ann Cottier, to bring the Isle of Man Branch of the Royal British Legion’s new standard ’on parade’. Immediately the chatter ceased and the marbled gateway arch was filled with an almost reverent silence as everyone focused on the ceremony.

The Last Post, the traditional final salute to the fallen, was sounded by the Leper Fire Brigade Buglers and the proceedings got under way.

Following the Exhortation from ’For the Fallen’ by L Binyon and the minute’s silence, a lone piper played the lament Amazing Grace.

Then, after 12 months of planning, it was time for the ladies of the choir to bring their concert tour of Belgium to a very emotional end by singing an unaccompanied version of Ellan Vannin, arranged by Marilyn Cannell of Kirk Michael whilst the 15 wreaths were laid at the memorial.

The choir’s accompanist Don Roworth laid a wreath to honour the fallen from the island for the WI choir and Nigel Harrison, Wing Commander Retired, husband of choir member Caron Harrison, laid a wreath on behalf of the RAFA, Isle of Man Branch.

The Reveille brought the short ceremony to a close.

Choir member Genevieve Armstrong then laid a wreath on behalf of the RBL, Isle of Man County women’s section and Jim Cottier, presented the buglars with a plague, a gift from Castletown Commissioners, accompanied by Margaret Holmes from the choir.

Mraane ayns Arrane was honoured and proud to represent the Island at the 30,822th Last Post Association ceremony and proud also of the men who travelled with us and played their part in what was for all of us a ’once in a life-time’ event.

The choir’s first international tour is over and we have lots of people to thank for making it possible.

They included: The families, friends, WI members, local business and people of the Isle of Man, who supported all the fundraisers.

The Isle of Man Arts Council, which gave us a travel bursary to fund the flight from the island and the overnight accommodation at Gatwick.

The Manx Lottery Trust who funded the black fleece jackets with the WI Choir logo and the beautiful Manx tartan scarves hand made for us by Laxey Woollen Mill.

The staff of Rayburn Tours and the local travel agent Regency Travel, who pulled out all the stops when things went a bit ’pear shaped’.

We save our biggest ’thank you’ for Karen Elliott, our musical director, who conceived this concert tour plan and worked her socks off to make it the outstanding success it has been. Will she do it again?

Ask her in 2019!