A SOUTHAMPTON footballing legend will lead an evening of tributes to the heroes from Hampshire who fought and died for their country.

Ex-Saints and England striker Matt Le Tissier, pictured, will be the master of ceremonies for the Hampshire Festival of Remembrance at Southampton’s O2 Guildhall.

Captain Tony Adams, director of music at Tidworth Garrison, will bring together musicians from all of the Army bands from the south of England for the centenary anniversary on Friday, November 7.

They will be joined by the Corps of Drums of The Yorkshire Regiment to stage a colourful band performance at the Civic Centre.

Organised by the Royal British Legion and Brigadier Andrew Hughes, Commander 11 Brigade, the evening begins at 7.15pm.

The Legion’s Community Fundraiser for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Clare Peppiatt, said: “We hope this will again be the largest Festival of Remembrance outside of the Royal Albert Hall Festival of Remembrance.

“We are so grateful to the Army bands, who will make the festival such a brilliant event, and honoured to have 100 members of the Southampton Philharmonic Choir singing there.

“We hope this event will raise the legion’s profile and raise much needed funds for the Poppy Appeal to enable us to help our Armed Forces community.”

The evening is being held following the success of last year’s sell-out performance and will feature a piece named Behind the Lines composed by Rifleman Cecil Coles, who died in the Great War in 1918. The Scottish composer continued to compose during action, sending manuscripts back to celebrated German-English composer Gustav Holst, whenever possible.

The piece which is being performed was written moments before he was killed by a German sniper while retrieving the wounded from the battlefield.

For tickets (adults £15, concessions £12.50) contact The Guildhall booking office 023 8063 2601 or O2guildhallsouthampton.co.uk.