TICKETS to a special festival to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice paid by soldiers in the First World War has sold out, days before it is set to take place.

Swindon’s Festival of Remembrance is on Sunday afternoon at the Wyvern Theatre, with its central theme honouring those who served during the First World War.

The festival is part of the series of events this year to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the war.

The event will also pay special tribute to the D-Day landings during the Second World War.

Shirley Ludford, one of the organisers of this year’s festival, said: “This is an important event in Swindon’s calendar and merits an inclusive approach.

“We have worked with all the artists taking part and ensured as much information has gone out to inform and involve participants and the public as possible.

“The official guest list is impressive and the Muster represents a wide cross-section of serving and ex-service personnel.”

The event is set to feature performances from Sergeant Major Gary Chilton from The Soldiers singing group, the Western Players, the children’s choir of Goddard Park School, Defence Academy Military Wives Choir and Wessex Male Choir, with accompaniment by the Wiltshire Police Band.

Graham Jackson, chairman of the Swindon branch of the Royal British Legion, said: “I think pleased as punch is the expression.

“We’re over the moon. We had hoped that it would do well but we didn’t know for sure that it would sell out.

“I just hope that the show itself lives up to it.”

A new organising team was put together this year to try to rebuild the annual event put on by the Royal British Legion after a poor turnout last year.

Although the Wyvern’s main auditorium can hold up to 635 people, organisers were only able to sell about 300 tickets at £12 a head to last year’s event.

Proceeds go toward the Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal, and although last year’s event was able to raise around £3,500, after costs the figure donated to the appeal was closer to £400.

Graham said: “Last year was my first year as branch chairman and the Festival of Remembrance was disappointing all round last year.

“The show was disappointing and the attendance was disappointing, and that’s why we decided to get a new committee together and bring in new people, and it seems to have paid off, especially with all the support of Shirley Ludford from Swindon 105.5.”

This year ticket prices were reduced by £2 to make the event more affordable, and the team also worked with Arkells to brew a special commemorative beer called Old Contemptible.

For every keg sold of Old Contemptible, £10 will be donated to the Poppy Appeal.