Nerves give way to moving performance

Jonathan Sherwood performs the Last Post in front of The Great War Memorial yesterday as part of...
Jonathan Sherwood performs the Last Post in front of The Great War Memorial yesterday as part of the Anzac Day Parade. PHOTO: NIC DUFF
The soothing sound of a cornet on Anzac Day had a different feel to it this year.

Oamaru Garrison Band member Jonathan Sherwood performed the Last Post at the Anzac Day service at the Garden of Memories in Oamaru yesterday.

While he had performed the song at other Anzac Day services, this was his first time performing it at the main service in town.

The weeks leading up to the performance were very daunting for him, but he was able to calm himself earlier this week, he said.

"I thought I would have been a lot more nervous, but, honestly, just getting worried over it is a waste of time.

"So, no point wasting your time. Just do it."

His grandfather was in The King’s Royal Hussars and Mr Sherwood hoped to honour him through his performance.

"It does have a personal touch to it. If anything, this is in memory of him."

He has been playing trumpet since he was "3-ish" years-old.

It was in his blood to take up an instrument, he said.

"My mother was a tenor horn player and won competitions.

"My uncle is a percussion [player and] won competitions. Grandmother [played the] euphonium [and] won competitions.

"Grandfather [played] bass. And it just keeps going back and back, it’s always been in the family."

Mr Sherwood took over from long-time trumpet player Ray Walker who performed the Last Post at last year’s Anzac Day service.

Mr Walker was still a part of the band that performed "Nearer, My God, to Thee as the piper’s lament during the parade before the service.

nic.duff@odt.co.nz