YORK Barbican is set to host a very special Festival of Remembrance on Sunday to mark the centenary of the Armistice which ended the First World War.

Those taking part will include York Theatre Royal panto star Martin Barrass and BBC Look North presenter Harry Gration, while students from Fulford School and St Peter’s School will explain the findings of their research into York servicemen who died.

There will also be a focus on Yorkshire soldiers who were awarded the VC (Victoria Cross) during the war, including Donald Bell, who was born in Boroughbridge, educated in Harrogate and played for Bradford Park Avenue, and became the first professional footballer to enlist in the British Army.

Festival producer and narrator Sandie Dunleavy said he received the VC for his bravery when he rushed across open ground under very heavy fire and attacked a machine gun post, saving many lives, but died five days later performing a very similar act of bravery.

She said Martin Barrass would read The Soldier by Rupert Brooke, while Fulford School students Thomas Sheen, Harry Ward, Max Tonkins, Naina Farnsworth and Francesca Ken would speak about their research into the deaths of servicemen whose graves are at York Cemetery, and Kieran Whyte and Alfie Martin of St Peter’s School, who investigated former pupils who died in the war, would speak about this, along with Harry Gration, a former pupil.

Sandie said silhouettes of soldiers for the stage backdrop had been produced by Year one illustration students at York St John University, Freya Bramwell, Chi Wai Chow, Kristen Clark, Sarah Dallow, Alison Ellis, Madeline Foulger, Shaun Gardner, Zara Herbert, Matthew Jinks, Molly Leigh, Pauline Narloch, Morgan Scott, Sarah Reid, Amelia Wilson Wood, Lily-Mae Winter and Erin Smart.

She said York Civic Youth Choir would sing When this rotten war is over/ Hush here comes a whiz bang, Goodbyee, When the tanks roll by and In Flanders Fields, and the programme would begin with the Band of The King’s Division playing Heroic Fanfare and Walking with Heroes, and would lead community singing of songs including It’s a long way to Tipperary, Keep the home fires burning, Jerusalem, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope & Glory.

*The festival, which raises money for the Royal British Legion poppy appeal, starts at 3pm, with entry, costing between £5 and £10, available on the door.