Farmers asked a brass band musician to play wartime tunes for their animals on VE Day – watch the adorable footage

John Hopkinson, the health and safety manager at Cannon Hall Farm in Cawthorne, Barnsley, visited key workers at the site and laid on a special treat for VE Day.

For as well as his duties on the farm, John plays in a local brass band, so he brought his cornet to play a selection of tunes to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe.

Along with staff – who observed social distancing directives throughout – curious animals gathered to watch the performance, including a Highland cow, a lamb, an alpaca and a Shire horse.

The music was live-streamed on Facebook by the farm’s director Robert Nicholson, and at the last count the video had attracted 22,000 views.

“It’s all about paying tribute to the sacrifices made in the Second World War,” Robert explained.

John played renditions of Somewhere Over The Rainbow, We’ll Meet Again and Roll Out The Barrel. He also sounded the Last Post before the farm held a two-minute silence in memory of the fallen.

The presence of a Shire horse was particularly appropriate for VE Day, John said.

“They would have been absolutely valuable in the war – they’re lovely powerful animals,” he explained.

“Horsepower,” Robert said. “There's a clue in the name.”

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