English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, best known for The Lark Ascending, folk song Bushes and Briars and the hymn Come Down, O Love Divine which was called Down Ampney after his birthplace, died 60 years ago, and this weekend a special festival takes place in his memory.

The Vaughan Williams Festival 2018 takes place in the Cotswold village of Down Ampney, from Friday, August 24 to Monday August 27 and features violinist Jack Liebeck, tenor James Gilchrist, Swindon’s concert pianist Paul Turner, Film and TV composer Debbie Wiseman and actor Anton Lesser.

The brainchild behind the festival is one of the UK's most revered viola players, and artistic director at Marlborouh College, Philip Dukes, who came up with the idea after visiting Down Ampney and over the three days the performers will cover various periods of the composer's life beginning with a concert based around his early years, on Friday, August 24 at All Saints Church, Down Ampney. It will be presented by Julian Lloyd Webber.

“His father actually knew Vaughan Williams,’’ said Philip.

On the Saturday from noon there will Contemporaries and Disciples Concert with a world premiere performance of RVW in Memoriam from composer David Bednall, followed at 3pmby a lecture by Richard Morrison the chief music critic of The Times, followed by cream teas in the marquee. The evening concert will be a Gala Violin and Piano Recital from Paul Turner and Jack Liebeck starting at 7pm.

On Sunday, The Vaughan Williams Ensemble entertain from noon and there will be a Vaughan Williams' Mentors and Teachers concert in the evening while on Bank Holiday Monday from 11am, music scholars from Marlborough College will perform in the Young Artists Platform.

In Conversation with President Debbie Wiseman kicks off at 12.30pm with chat about her work on Classic FM and her film and TV work. The Grand Finale will be at 2.30pm with a concert of works and music dedicated to the memory of the service personnel of RAF Down Ampney from 1944 to 1947. Pilots from RAF Down Ampney were in the Battle for Arnhem, Anton Lesser will perform some of Ursula Vaughan Williams poetry. Anton is best known for playing Qyburn in Game of Thrones, Thomas More in Wolf Hall, Harold Macmillan in The Crown, and Chief Superintendent Bright in the Inspector Morse spin-off, Endeavour.

During the interval there will be a food and wine tasting session and an exhibition on Vaughan William and another on RAF Down Ampney. For more details visit visit www.vaughanwilliamsfestival.com.