Plans to celebrate the lives of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country were plunged into disarray after the Royal British Legion’s
annual event was cancelled earlier this month. Organisers blamed the fact the event clashed with Leicester City’s Poppy Match and national events in London, which they felt could lead to a poor attendance and financial losses. The decision left many people across the county shocked and saddened. But members of the Support our Soldiers (SOS) have stepped in to ensure a festival would be held on Monday, November 9, and today announced they had secured the cathedral as the venue. Amanda Crowden, from the charity, said: “We were delighted with the cathedral’s decision. It is a great venue for this event. “We haven’t finalised details but we have been overwhelmed by offers of support. “We are not looking to take the event away from the RBL, we just felt there needed to be something.”
She said the event would take a different approach to the legion’s annual festival at De Montfort Hall, which traditionally featured performances by military bands, a procession of standards and poppy petals falling from the ceiling.