PREPARATIONS are under way for a massive concert in Southampton to celebrate the centenary of the end of the First World War and commemorate all those who gave their lives in the conflict.

The Royal British Legion is presenting an evening of music, song, poetry and special memories to be performed by a 300-strong cast of choirs, military drums and accompanied by the professional Showcase Philharmagic Orchestra at the city’s Mayflower Theatre on Remembrance Day 2018 – a century to the day to the end of the “war to end all wars”.

The performance – modelled on the annual festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall – will offer time to reflect and give thanks to our fallen heroes.

It will also include a wide variety of music including well-known favourites by Eric Coates, Vera Lynn, Edward Elgar and Karl Jenkins, plus the opportunity for the audience to join in with old favourites such as Keep the Home Fires Burning and Roll Out the Barrel.

The event is being organised by Alex Pope, founder of the Southampton-based Philharmagic, and Claire Peppiatt, regional fundraiser with the Royal British Legion.

The Philharmagic scored a hit at the Mayflower earlier this year when they took part in the Southampton Celebration Proms, in aid of the theatre’s youth charity Engage, which also featured a cast of 300, drawn from schools and community groups in the area.

Alex said “We will be having local standard bearers and an Act of Remembrance,” said Alex.

“We are keen to have families of veterans from hampshire share their stories.”

People who would like to take part or share their memories can contact Alex at alex@showcaseperformance.com or Claire at c.peppiatt@britishlegion.org.uk.

Tickets are on sale now from the Mayflower. Funds raised will go towards the Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal.