This November Truro Cathedral will be holding a ten-day festival of commemorative arts events to mark the centenary of the start of the Great War.

With just under a month to go, over 20 events have been confirmed including lectures, films, school displays about WW1, art exhibitions, worship, poetry readings, concerts and recitals between November 3 and 13.

Former MP and Cabinet Minister, Michael Portillo, will be one of three lecturers delivering a lecture programme examining World War One each from different aspects. The other lecturers are Professor Paul Fiddes and Dr Catriona Pennell.

There will also be two performances of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem; a |stunning work where the poetry of Wilfred Owen and words of the traditional Latin Requiem have been set to music.

Three classic WW1 movies: All Quiet on the Western Front, Gallipoli and Regeneration will be shown on a big screen in the cathedral at 9.15pm and there will be two art exhibitions by St Ives artist Roy Ray. ‘No Man’s Land’ and ‘Trenches’ are two linked but separate exhibitions, Roy can be seen working on the exhibition from October 20.

A musical tribute to Ivor Gurney, poet, composer and songwriter from Jonathan Carne, Naomi Johnston and David McKee also features on the |programme, as does organ recital exploring the effects of the war on the music and personalities of early 20th Century British music by Luke Bond (Assistant Director of Music at Truro Cathedral).

One of the most poignant moments will be on November 11 at 11am, after the two minute silence, when over 10,000 poppies, representing the Cornish war dead and made by Cornwall’s school children, will float down to the cathedral floor from the central tower balcony.

For more information about Cornwall Remembers see www.cornwallremembers.org.uk or www.trurorcathedral.org.uk Tickets for most events are available from Hall for Cornwall, 01872 262466 www.hallforcornwall.co.uk