Proud moment for Mark as he plays The Last Post at Liverpool's Anfield in front of international TV audience
“To deliver such a flawless and poignant solo on a stage of that scale takes extraordinary skill and composure”
It was a proud moment for Blackpool musician and forces veteran Mark Thompson when his playing of The Last Post at Liverpool FC’s Remembrance commemoration was broadcast around the world.
But Mark says he will have just as much pride this coming weekend when he plays again at the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at Blackpool’s war memorial, just as he did at Blackpool FC’s Remembrance commemoration at their game against Mansfield on October 24.
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Mark, who lives in Bispham, has been playing with Blackpool Brass for some 20 years and has been involved in the Army for 40 years since his teens, latterly with the Army reserves.
He first learned to play the cornet as a pupil at St Aidan’s High School in Preesall, where he was brought up and, having maintained his active interest in music through his Army years, it was through his connections in the reserves that he made his Premier League “debut” at Everton, where he has since played The Last Post four times.
Mark now also has four performances at Anfield to his name and said after his latest appearance there, prior to the game against Arsenal, televised by Sky: “It’s always a proud moment, but also rather surreal - to think this lad who learned to play the cornet at school in Preesall is being seen and heard playing The Last Post all over the world.
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“It’s a great honour to be invited and I’m really looking forward to playing at Blackpool’s Remembrance Sunday ceremony.”
Blackpool Brass said in a Facebook post after Sunday’s match at Liverpool: “We could not be prouder of our very own Mark Thompson, who had the immense honour of stepping out in front of a packed stadium to perform The Last Post at Anfield ahead of the Liverpool v Arsenal match for the Remembrance commemorations.
“To deliver such a flawless and poignant solo on a stage of that scale takes extraordinary skill and composure.
“You represented Blackpool Brass with absolute distinction—well done!”