THOUSANDS turned out on Saturday for a festival dedicated to an Abergavenny soldier.

The Welsh Warrior II Festival was organised in memory of Private Richard Hunt, who was fatally injured in August 2009 while serving in Afghanistan with the Second Battalion The Royal Welsh. The event raised funds for the charity set up in his name.

The Richard Hunt Foundation was founded by his friends and family to help injured Welsh servicemen and women and their families and to offer support to those left behind.

The all-day festival at Abergavenny’s Bailey Park was a fitting way of remembering the 21-year-old soldier, who would have loved it, according to his mother, Hazel Hunt.

Around 4,000 people attended last year and Mrs Hunt thought Saturday’s festival may have topped that figure.

She also hoped it had raised close to or more than the £12,000 raised from last year’s festival.

The day was also about remembering many others who had lost their lives in conflict, with large banners listing the names and ages of those Welsh Warriors who had died serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The festival also had the loan of a large daffodil sculpture by professional sculptor Purple Sue to represent the Welsh Warrior Daffodil dedicated to Pte Hunt last year, while the late soldier’s younger sister Fe Hunt wore the WelshWarrior dress made especially for the charity.

The event was attended by two of the charity’s patrons, Gareth Edwards and Max Boyce, as well as some of the soldiers who served with Pte Hunt.

One of the most popular acts of the day was X Factor finalist Katie Waissel, who performed on the main stage and met some of the festivalgoers.

Music was also provided by groups such as The Dolts, singer Katie Jayne, and Beaufort Male Voice Choir, who sang at Pte Hunt’s funeral.

There were performances in the grass arena by the belly-dancing group Jawahir, The Royal Welsh Corps of Drums and the City of Newport Pipes and Drums.

The Air Training Corps, Gwent Police and the Royal British Legion Riders Branch were also present, while Black Mountain Falconry and the police dog display team provided displays.

Visitors could relax in the beer tent in front of the main stage, while children got to meet the charity’s mascot Wally the Welsh Warrior and enjoy the funfair.

Mrs Hunt said the day was about creating a sense of community and keeping the soldiers in the forefront of everyone’s minds.