A GREAT honour has been bestowed upon a man from St Giles, who is to play at the Menin Gate in Ypres of the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Launceston born Keith Sutherland who now lives in St Giles is a member of a group of bagpipers who have been asked to play at a special centenary event this Remembrance weekend.

Keith said: “Among other things we are taking part in a concert in Ypres cathedral and will play the dawn lament at the Menin gate on the Sunday.

“The Last Post at the Menin gate is played every evening by the Last Post Association and locally by the Ypres Fire Brigade. They have a close association with our own Fire and Rescue Service who have their Drum Corps based in Exeter.”

Keith plays with the Exmouth and District pipe band, which often helps out during a number of Fire and Rescue ceremonial events in the South West.

Keith said: “They have invited us (and others — there are a couple from the Exeter band and one from Bideford) to join them for a couple of years now. The Exmouth and District pipe Band was only formed two years ago and we have seven members.”

Keith has been playing for nearly 15 years, and added: “My dad (a Launceston vet and Scot many will remember) played as a young man and though I’ve never picked up any other instrument I’d always fancied giving the pipes a go.”

This isn’t the first time Keith has been invited to play but has previously been unable to attend. He hopes this time will be different: “Some of my bandmates have been to this before but I’ve always been unable to go. I am thrilled to be joining them on such a poignant occasion as this.

“We are part of a concert in Ypres Cathedral, we’ll be playing through the town and of course at the main ceremony on Sunday. We’re expecting many thousands to be in attendance and I’m sure it will be an emotional performance.”