IT’S set to be a dazzling evening of opera that will help raise funds to support some of Hampshire’s bravest boys who risked their lives on the frontline.

A new charity has been launched to raise money to support soldiers past and present from the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment in light of drastic defence cuts.

Backed by local businesses including the Daily Echo, the Friends of PWRR is hoping to bring money rolling in to assist local men who are serving with the regiment, nicknamed The Tigers, or who have left and need help adjusting to life on civvy street.

Now a spectacular night of music has been organised with renowned singer Colin Judson set to visit the New Forest and sing his heart out for the troops in what is hoped to be a sell out show at South Lawn Hotel in Milford on Sea.

Event organiser Deborah Clarke hopes the event will be the first of many in Hampshire and aims to develop the group to extend support, and benefit those and their families who have given service to the Tigers.

Her schoolgirl daughter Libby helped raise thousands of pounds after swimming a mile for every day that the Tigers were on operations in Afghanistan in 2011/12.

She said: “We are incredibly grateful to South Lawn Hotel for supporting us, and to Colin Judson who will be singing a selection of seasonal songs from his extensive repertoire.

“Colin is an international character opera singer and very well respected, and together with attendance from a senior officer from Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment to explain about their recent work and history of the regiment, and festive light refreshments and mulled wine, I know that we are in for a very special evening at such a lovely venue.”

The PWRR was formed in 1992 following the amalgamation of The Queen’s Regiment and the Royal Hampshire Regiment.

As reported by the Daily Echo, the regiment, which is currently based in Germany, will come back to a new home at Bulford Camp, near Salisbury, after 2017 following a round of defence cuts announced in March.

For more information and to buy tickets, contact Deborah on 07585 5556050.

You can contact the Friends of the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment by emailing friends@pwrr.org.uk or by calling 07788 677970.