THE premiere a new piece of music to commemorate Forest soldier poet F W Harvey has helped modern-day service personnel.

The premiere of A Gloucestershire Lad, which was written by Forest of Dean Brass musical director Chris Howley, raised £660 for Care for Casualties, the Rifles' appeal which helps the severely wounded, their families and the families of fallen Riflemen giving them the means to rebuild their lives.

The cheque was presented to Major Tristram Carter, the Glocuestershire regimental secretary of The Rifles, by members of Forest of Dean Brass and the FW Harvey Society.

The money was raised by a collection at the premiere of the piece at Gloucester Cathedral. The piece incorporated spoken narrative taken from the Yorkley poet's works written during the First World War.

The band and Cathedral Youth Choir entertained the audience with favourites such as Nimrod and Jerusalem and there was a special arrangement of John McCrae's iconic First World War poem In Flanders Fields featuring Forest of Dean Brass cornet player Craig Wintle.