PREVIEW:

Heroes at Highclere, Highclere Castle

HIGHCLERE Castle is holding a weekend dedicated to the commemoration of the First World War and to fundraise for those who serve and save today.

On September 8 and 9, the country house will welcome thousands of visitors to engage and raise money for UK veterans and those worldwide, along with charities including Combat Stress, RBL, MSF, The Royal British Legion and homeless charities including Launchpad.

The Military Wives Choir will perform and a 1920s band will form part of the musical entertainment.

Around the castle, vintage cars, mock football games - as played in war times - and planes will be on show. A tea tent, a dance tent and a speakers’ tent, featuring well-known literary names including Robert Harris and former war correspondent, Kate Adie amongst others speaking.

Sunday, September 9 will focus on aeroplanes and airmen, as a tribute to aviation and to pilots from the first and second world wars. In fact, the French aviation pioneer Voison stayed at Highclere as did Geoffrey de Havilland who made his first flight from the estate in 1910. Some of de Havilland’s planes such as the Tiger Moth will be taking part. Lady Carnarvon researched a number of Second World War planes which crashed at Highclere Castle, with their crews from the UK, USA, Canada and New Zealand. The remains of a B-17, P-38, two Mosquitoes, a Lysander, a Whitley and a Proctor are all buried within the grounds. The soldiers were sons, brothers and husbands, thus it’s key to Highclere Castle to honour them and create a memorial that visitors can see and walk around facing the hills. One was a Canadian pilot as well as army units camped at Highclere in the Park during WW2. There will be a Sunday service on the lawn at 10.30 am with Chaplains from different countries conducting the service as well as a dedication to the new memorial, a carving from a fallen cedar tree, by Simon O’Rourke to honour those who have served and continue to serve today.

Aeroplanes taking part in the weekend will include the Red Arrows Display Team on Saturday as well as The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a Typhoon Display, the Tiger 9 Formation Team and the Great War Display Team.

For more information or for tickets, go to highclerecastle.co.uk/heroes-highclere-2018.