INTERNATIONAL singer Mary-Jess Leaverland was the star of Lydney’ Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal Concert in the Town Hall on Sunday.

Mary-Jess has sung with Sir Tim Rice, tenor Russell Watson and lyricist Don Black and has appeared on many national TV shows.

She has also sung to royalty in Windsor Castle and is the voice behind the theme song of the Downton Abbey series.

Sunday’s concert included performances from Cinderford Town Band, Tyler Evans, a young local vocalist and Lydney Air Training Corps Band.

The event raised £1,400 for the Poppy Appeal.

Stanley Rudge, local Poppy Appeal organiser, said: “The Royal British Legion was delighted that Mary-Jess and all the other acts performed for us at our Poppy Concert.”

The money raised through the Poppy Appeal goes directly to The Royal British Legion’s work providing support through life to anyone who is currently serving in the British Armed Forces, veterans, and their families.

• Do you know a D Day veteran? If so, the travel arm of the Royal British Legion, Remembrance Travel, is on a mission to find every single surviving D Day veteran, as the Government is enabling a series of free-of-charge tours for D Day veterans to return to Normandy and pay their respects to their fallen comrades.

The 2017 tours will take place in March, April, May and September. Normandy veterans - now mostly in their 90s - wishing to benefit from this tour, need to apply via Remembrance Travel’s tour operator, Arena Travel on 01473 660800, or visit arenatravel.com/journeysofremembrance.