An Army Major who commanded an attack helicopter is to talk about about his experiences in Afghanistan.

Major Marcus Brown will talk about his deployment at the ABF The Soldiers' Charity's Big Curry on February 8, at the Madejski Stadium in Reading.

Soldiers from Sandhurst and Arborfield are to be at the event in the stadium's Berkshire Conference Centre.

Now in its sixth year, the event looks set to raise thousands of pounds for the Armed Forces charity, with an invited guest list of around 300.

As well as a spread of tasty dishes, there will be tours of the football club before lunch and music from a quintet from the Band of the Army Air Corps while you eat.

After the meal, Major Marcus Brown will give a presentation on aviation operations in Afghanistan, where he commanded the Attack Helicopter Force.

Injured soldiers being treated at the regional Personnel Recovery Unit at Aldershot will also be at the event.

Brigadier Peter Walker, the charity's Berkshire chairman, said: "Our aim as a committee is to raise more than �100,000 per year to help serving and retired soldiers and their families who are in need, and as last year's Big Curry raised more than �12,000 it's easy to see why the Big Curry is such an important day in our calendar."

The Big Curry campaign is in its sixth year and there will be hundreds of events across the country this time, from beer and balti pub lunches to the Lord Mayor's Big Curry Lunch at London Guildhall.

The Army's national charity has to raise more than �7 million each year to look after soldiers, ex-soldiers and their families in times of real need.

Tickets for the Reading Big Curry Lunch cost �24 and are available from Brig Walker on (0118) 971 2409 or Peter.Walker@zen.co.uk.

To find out more about the soldiers' charity, visit www.soldierscharity.org