Top Gear meets Downton Abbey at Highclere Castle

Richard Hammond, Melinda Messenger and Keith Chegwin join Downton Abbey stars for huge charity fundraiser tomorrow

IF YOU fancy mingling with celebrities and the stars of Downtown Abbey, then head for Highclere Castle tomorrow (October 16).

Hugh Bonneville, who plays Lord Grantham in the ITV1 television series, Downton Abbey will be one of those meeting and greeting guests at the Heroes at Highclere event, aimed at raising funds for three charities: the Army Benevolent Fund, the Royal British Legion (RBL) and Help for Heroes.

Other Downton cast members to make an appearance include:

David Robb, Lesley Nicol,Penelope Wilton, Allen Leech and

Phyllis Logan.

Celebrities lined up taking part include Richard Hammond from Top Gear, Melinda Messenger, Ashmansworth villager,

Keith Chegwin and Anne Diamond.

Costumes and props from the series will be on display and Jim Carter, who plays Mr Carson the butler in the series, will take on a new role, that of auctioneer, selling off Downton Abbey props and memorabilia, including a script signed by the entire cast.

David Campbell will tell the tale of his father, Lieut David Campbell, wounded during World War One and taken to Highclere Castle, where he was nursed by the 5th Countess of Carnarvon, Lady Almina, after she turned the castle into a hospital for wounded and dying soldiers.

The current, 8th Countess of Carnarvon will tell the story of how the castle became a hospital and history will be repeated as the Arundel bedroom is transformed back into an operating theatre after almost a century.

Co-founder of Help for Heroes, Bryn Parry will tell of the work of the charity and Mark Weldon, county manager for Berkshire and Vale of White Horse RBL will talk about the history of the RBL.

Children can meet Joey the horse puppet from the War Horse National Theatre stage production, and visitors can sing along to music from the Royal Army Medical Corp Band, pipers and drums from the Scottish regiment and Singing Sweethearts.

Other entertainment includes traditional Victorian fairground rides, displays by army dogs, The Kings' Troop and Royal Artillery and with the roar of 90 motorbikes from the Riders Branch to mark 90 years of the RBL

The day starts with a flyover of ten de Havilland aircraft, ending with a Spitfire air display - including a performance named The Blades, in which pilots perform opposition crosses at closing speeds in excess of 400mph, in a grand finale.

Heroes at HIghclere starts from 11.30am, closing after the auction, which starts at 3.30pm. For more information, including ticket prices, visit highclerecastle.co.uk.