A SIMPLE act of remembrance will itself be honoured during a ceremony next week.

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is supporting the international ‘tribute to the tribute’ event which will take place on July 9.

Since 1928, volunteer buglers – recruited from the local fire service – have played Last Post at the Menin Gate at Ypres.

The tradition started a year after the inauguration of the Menin Gate Memorial, and the ceremony is now held each year.

The 30,000th sounding of the Last Post will be on Thursday, July 9, and fire services across the world are uniting to mark the occasion and pay their own tribute to colleagues in Belgium.

Both Swindon and Devizes fire stations are opening their doors to anyone who would like to watch the ceremony in Ypres, which will be live-streamed via the internet, live on a big screen.

Organisers in Belgium have said that the evening will be “an understated ceremony with an air of contemplation to celebrate the commitment to remembrance that has been shown by the volunteer buglers.”

Swindon firefighter Rob Harris has been co-ordinating the proceedings at Drove Road fire station.

He said: “Since 1928, members of the fire service have supported this unique act of remembrance, and their commitment and dedication to duty is worthy of celebration."

“Sharing in this 30,000th sounding of Last Post is our way of thanking them for a job incredibly well done.”

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s standard bearers – who are both Devizes firefighters – will be in attendance, together with a bugler who will sound Last Post in honour of the Belgian volunteers.

With the time difference, the proceedings in the UK will be at 7pm and anyone wanting to attend either Swindon or Devizes fire stations is asked to arrive by 6.30pm.

Visit www.lastpost.be/en/news/66/30000th-last-post-a-tribute-to-the-tribute