A MUSEUM is to stage a memorial event commemorating some of the major events of the First World War in 1916.

As part of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum’s Great War centenary commemoration, an event comprising music and readings will be held in St Mary Magdalene Church at 3pm on Sunday, December 4.

The event will mark some of the major events of 1916 which impacted upon Oxfordshire.

During 1916, both of Oxfordshire’s regiments, the Oxfordshire Yeomanry and the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, were heavily engaged both on the Western Front and in Mesopotamia (now Iraq).

The event will highlight some of the actions and events in which they were involved, including the Battle of the Somme and the surrender of a British force at Kut-al-Amara on the River Tigris.

Those participating the event include actor Edward Fox, the BBC arts correspondent Will Gompertz, BBC Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce, The Duke of Marlborough and Marina Brounger, great granddaughter of Winston Churchill.

Music is being provided by the Waterloo Band of The Rifles, based just outside Abingdon, and the choirs of the Bladon and Woodstock churches.

Mulled wine and mince pies will be on offer in the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum opposite after the event.

Tickets cost £20 and are available from the museum by calling 01993 810 210 or by visiting sofo.org.uk