Aldershot Town Club Captain Chris Barker will be part of a special outdoor carol concert at the Electrical Services Stadium on Thursday night, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the legendary World War One Christmas Truce.
Barker will perform one of five readings by community leaders in a programme also featuring the communal singing of classic carols and a short dramatic performance of acclaimed new play Our Friends The Enemy.
Starting at 7.30pm, the 90-minute service, hosted by Chairman Shahid Azeem and introduced by Club Chaplain Rev Mike Pusey, will be attended by manager Andy Scott and his entire first-team squad.
The communal singing will be led by the Aldershot Military Wives Choir, Hart Male Voice Choir and the North East Hampshire Area Schools’ Young Singers featuring pupils from St Michaels Junior, Newport Junior, Park Primary and South Farnborough Junior Schools.
Other readings will be made by Aldershot Garrison Commander, Colonel Charlie Lambert; Alex Hughes, Chief Officer of Rushmoor CAB; Councillor Diane Bedford, the Mayor of Rushmoor; and Paul Turner, of award-winning Aldershot butchers Alf Turner and Sons.
This peace and goodwill concert includes an excerpt of Our Friends The Enemy, a play which has enjoyed a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was one of the highlights of the 2014 Aldershot Military Festival, with two performances at the town’s West End Centre. Through the eyes of one soldier on the Western Front, it tells the December 1914 story of the spontaneous meeting in ‘No Man’s Land’ of enemy troops who sang carols, exchanged gifts and played football together.
Admission is by commemorative programme, costing £2.50 and available either from the Club on 01252 320211 or on the gate. Children are admitted free.
