91Èȱ¬

The bugle which sounded the original Charge of the Light Brigade in 1854 will be played at a special event in Lincolnshire next week to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, in an event organised by 91Èȱ¬ Radio Lincolnshire.

Members of the public along with drummers, musicians, and soldiers from the Light Dragoons – one of the regiments descended from the Light Brigade – will take part in a mass reading of Tennyson's famous poem The Charge Of The Light Brigade, at 6.30pm on Thursday 6 August, by the Tennyson statue in the grounds of Lincoln Cathedral.

The event will be broadcast on 91Èȱ¬ Radio Lincolnshire and is part of a week of events celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Lord Tennyson, one of Lincolnshire's most famous sons. It will also be featured on 91Èȱ¬ Look North and on the 91Èȱ¬ Lincolnshire website.

Event organiser Nigel Hallam from 91Èȱ¬ Radio Lincolnshire said: "We're planning to have a group of 20 or 30 people recruited from amateur dramatic societies taking part, plus the voices of the soldiers, volunteers who've called in to pledge they'll take part at home, and even the voice of Alfred Lord Tennyson himself, as recorded on a wax cylinder in 1890.

"There'll be drums as well – but the real coup is that the Army is giving permission for the bugle which sounded the original charge to be played – although very battered indeed, it was recently restored to playing condition."

Some well-known Lincolnshire names will also be reading Tennyson's poetry on the radio during the week, including TV and radio legend Nicholas Parsons and Batman star Colin McFarlane.

Notes to Editors

91Èȱ¬ Radio Lincolnshire can be heard on 94.9FM and 104.7FM.

AB2