Emmerdale star to open Festival of Remembrance in Bradford

The Eccleshill-born actor is well known for many theatre and TV credits including Victoria Wood comedies Acorn Antiques and dinnerladies, and he recently returned to the small screens as Doug Potts in Emmerdale.

The Festival of Remembrance will feature various local acts, including the City of Bradford Brass Band, soprano Claire McKay and St John’s Church of England Primary School choir.

The City of Bradford Brass Band, founded in the early 20th century, this year won the first section of the Yorkshire Championship held at St George’s Hall, qualifying to represent Yorkshire in the national finals.

Claire McKay is a mezzo-soprano who performs a range of singing styles, including early music, opera, soul and blues. She has led the community singing at the Bradford Service of Remembrance since 2012.

The celebration will also include youngsters from the Keighley-based Sara Packham Theatre School performing a medley of songs, dance and poetry.

Yorkshire theatre company Tantalus Theatre, which creates work "inspired by untold stories and hidden voices", will perform an excerpt from Undercliffe: Over by Christmas, which began life as a full length verse commissioned by Undercliffe Cemetery to present wartime experiences of Bradford Pals.

The event will end with a Parade of Standards, community singing and a Service of Remembrance.

Former Bradford Grammar School pupil Mr Preston, 67, started acting as a child in a pantomime at St Luke's Church in Eccleshil and attended drama classes at the Bradford Civic in Little Germany.

Last year he starred with Alison Steadman in ITV comedy drama series Love and Marriage, about a woman who walks out on her husband in later life.

The lifelong Bradford Bulls fan also starred in a stage adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird at the Alhambra in 2011.

* The 68th Bradford Festival of Remembrance is at St George’s Hall on Sunday at 5pm. Tickets are available on (01274) 432000.