Over 1,000 people find out "What's Behind the Big Red Wall"

More than a thousand people attended a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see ‘What's Behind The Big Red Wall' at Exeter's Wyvern army barracks.

A series of open air summer night concerts saw BBC Radio Devon's David FitzGerald narrate three evenings of music and history documenting a century of the barracks over 100 years from 1918 to 2018 right in the heart of the city.

Award-winning folk and acoustic band Show of Hands headlined and were joined by the Salamanca Band and Bugles of The Rifles, ISCA school musicians and south Dartmoor choir The Lost Sound.

The Commanding Officer of 6 Rifles, Lt Col J P Penhale organised the event specifically to give the community the chance to see what goes on in the barracks and behind the big red wall which surrounds them.

Thousands of people walk or drive past the Barracks every day but despite that most people living nearby haven't had a chance to be inside the base, to find out what goes on there or its importance in today's military service.

Addressing that sense of separation was why Lt Col Jon Penhale came up with the idea of the events in the first place. He said: "Wyvern 18 was the first time the community have been invited into Wyvern Barracks for many years. "I was delighted at the level of support and interest in the site and The Rifles; I look forward to continuing many of the conversations which were started during the event and placing the Barracks at the community's disposal over the coming months".

The series of concerts also saw the performance of a brand new song composed by Show of Hands lead singer Steve Knightley called ‘Swift and Bold' - which is the motto of the Rifles' Battalion.

Mr Knightley's grandfather served with the Devonshires in WW1, his stepbrother was a sergeant in the Royal Greenjackets and he has always felt a great connection to the Rifles and Wyvern Barracks.

As a special tribute from the Army both the BBC's David FitzGerald and Show of Hands' Steve Knightly were made ‘honorary Riflemen' by Lt Col Jon Penhale for their services to and support of the events.