English veteran’s heartfelt solo rendition of ‘Last Post’ goes viral

Man’s family in Mississauga says granddad a ‘sweet man who has a very big heart’

Every year on Remembrance Day, an RAF veteran named Bill plays the “Last Post” in Liverpool, England, on a bugle.

Sometimes, it’s for organized events.

Other times, he just stands on his back porch in his Salvation Army uniform and plays the tribute alone, marking the beginning of two minutes of silence to remember fallen soldiers.

On Wednesday, Bill played alone, but it was filmed by an Ellesmere Port neighbour, who shared it on Facebook.

Since then, it has been viewed by almost 2.5 million people around the globe, including his family in the GTA.

“I’m a very proud granddaughter,” said Rebecca Osborne, 20, of Mississauga. “I asked my cousin what Granddad has thought about his popularity and she said, ‘Don’t think he realizes how big it is, bless him.’ ”

She laughed at how he has told some media outlets that he just wants to be identified as “Bill.”

“He wouldn’t really want it to be all about him,” Osborne said. “It’s not about him, even though he has become wildly popular over the past few days.”

Bill, a retired cobbler, helps out in the Liverpool area with school music programs.

She said her grandfather isn’t shy, but he doesn’t want glory about Remembrance Day either. “He’s very charismatic and witty and charming,” Osborne said. “He likes to joke around a lot. He’s also a very sweet man who has a very big heart and who cares about his family.”

Bill was too young to enlist in the Second World War but joined the

“He wouldn’t really want it to be all about him. It’s not about him, even though he has become wildly popular over the past few days.” REBECCA OSBORNE, ON HER GRANDDAD BECOMING AN INTERNET SENSATION

Royal Air Force afterwards.

Osborne said it felt surreal that her grandfather has become an Internet sensation.

“He had no idea that he was filmed,” Osborne said. “He wouldn’t care if one person knew or a million people knew . . . He believes it’s the right thing to do.”

The video has brought about a flood of Facebook messages from strangers who are also proud of Bill.

They include JoJo Charker, who said: “It was a very emotional moment I heard him from my home and joined in the Silence with him. Well done Bill.”

Also a comment from Steph Smith reads: “That made me cry, good work that man.”

Similar praise came from Emma Kate Pitt, who posted: “Omg this made me cry. Such a nice thing to see.”