Tales of local life during the First World War helped to light up a star-studded Remembrance event.

Veteran actor Lee Montague was joined by fellow thespian Robert Powell and Monty Python legend Michael Palin for 1914-18: Memories, an evening of readings from the Great War.

The audience heard wartime poems, letters from the front line, historic extracts from the Ham&High, and joined in with memorable songs of the day.

Mr Montague, 87, who organised the evening at the Royal Free Hospital’s Peter Samuel Hall, said: “I think it did what one intended it to do – a mixture of humour and comment on the time.

“It went extremely well I think; the Ham&High stories got a lot of interest because they were local and people could connect.

“It was nice that the paper just carried on with life, rather than bringing distressing news all the time.”

The evening raised nearly £4,000 for Keats Community Library, in Keats Grove, South End Green.

Trustee Mr Montague, who lives nearby in South End Green, says it needs about £60,000 a year to keep going.

Upcoming fundraisers include the annual literary quiz on December 18 and a talk by patron Melvyn Bragg on January 29. Visit keatscommunitylibrary.org.uk.