Bowdon Rugby Club Choir says it’s “deeply honoured” to be preparing for its biggest performance yet - at the historic Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate.
Forty members of the choir will be travelling to Belgium to sing at the ceremony on Friday 19th September.
The Last Post ceremony pays tribute to the soldiers of the British and Commonwealth forces who lost their lives in the First World War and have no known grave. It has taken place at the Menin Gate memorial almost every night since 1928.
At 8pm, as the haunting bugle of the Last Post fades, the choir will offer its own contribution to the memory of the fallen - with performances of “Danny Boy” and “Abide With Me.”
The choir will also be singing at two other historic locations in Belgium - Talbot House War Museum and Tyne Cot Cemetery.
Talbot House was founded in 1915 and served as a haven and welcome refuge for troops heading to the Ypres front.
Tyne Cot Cemetery is the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world. Nearly 12,000 servicemen from the First World War are buried or commemorated there.
Bowdon Rugby Choir - which was formed in 2018 and now has nearly fifty members - is a spirited male voice choir built on the firm foundations of friendship and belonging.
It performs regular concerts - most recently at St Elizabeth’s Church in Ashley, and at the Audlem Music Festival.
The choir usually rehearses at the rugby club on Clay Lane. But over the summer, it’s been practising outside the market in Altrincham town centre - where the Monday evening sessions have attracted a lot of interest!
Bowdon Rugby choir in rehearsal outside Altrincham Library
The choir’s chairman Paul McKibbin said “United by a shared love of music and camaraderie, we welcome all who want to lift their voices - whether seasoned singers or complete beginners.
“No auditions. Just enthusiasm, encouragement and a space to grow in confidence.
“Under the guidance of our experienced and inspiring musical director, we nurture a diverse and dynamic repertoire - from heartfelt traditional folk songs to the energy of contemporary pop music.
“We sing to connect with each other, to support local charitable causes and to bring music to places where it can uplift and unite.
“We are more than just a choir - we are a team where wellbeing matters, where laughter is part of the rehearsal and where every voice matters. As ambassadors for the choir, we proudly represent the values of inclusion, community, and shared purpose through song.”
If you are interested in learning more about the choir, we meet for rehearsals at the Rugby Club on Clay Lane, Timperley at 7pm on Monday nights.
