A SCHOOLGIRL will read her poem about the horrors of war in front of veterans at Durham Cathedral this weekend.

Inspired by great First World War poets Wilfrid Owen and Siegfried Sassoon, 11-year-old Olivia Williams, from Hartlepool, penned The Eternal Day as part of a school project.

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Her poem was chosen to be read aloud at the Festival of Remembrance Concert at the cathedral on Saturday.

It is especially poignant for her family as her grandfather Graham Finken (CORRECT) was a serving soldier in Ireland and lost friends during The Troubles, and she is the great, great granddaughter of a soldier who perished in the First World War.

Her mother, Samantha, said: "We were so thrilled and proud when we found out and Olivia's grandad Graham was over the moon.

"He has a special bond with Olivia because just after she was born, his wife, Olivia's grandma, died. He always said Olivia was like a shining light in those dark days and they've been close ever since.

"When he heard her poem, he said she had just captured the last moments of a soldier's life so perfectly. His grandfather died in the First World War and then he saw his comrades in Ireland die too. He said it's a perfect tribute to all their memories."

Olivia wrote the poem as part of a school project when she was a pupil at Barnard Grove Primary School in Hartlepool.

Deputy headteacher Janine Thompson said: "With the centenary of the First World War being ever-present in our minds and with Hartlepool's strong links to the Great War, we as a school felt it was important to recognise this poignant anniversary by dedicating our curriculum time to remembrance.

“For Olivia’s class, they spent time studying some of the significant WW1 poetry by Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfrid Owen, before putting their own feelings about War into their own poems. Olivia’s poem particularly stood out, it was thought-provoking and moved both her friends and teachers.”

The remembrance concert, which is run in conjunction with the Royal British Legion and the ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is a tribute to all personnel, both military and civilian, who died in the Great War and in the intervening years.

Other highlights on the night include a reading by North East Agony Aunt Denise Robertson and performances from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Band, the 102 Battalion REME Pipe Band and the Durham ACF Band and Bugles.

Tickets are £18 (£15 for concessions) and are available by calling 07910 120 727 and all proceeds will go to The Royal British Legion and the ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

For more details of events at Durham Cathedral please visit durhamcathedral.co.uk/whatson