Harry Potter star weaves his magic at charity night for veterans

Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs is to perform at the first anniversary celebration of veterans' charity The Mark Wright Project.

The actor will read work by war poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen at the event, which takes place at the former Craiglockhart Hospital, where the two were patients during the First World War.

He will appear after a talk by former paratrooper commander Colonel Stuart Tootal. Col Tootal was the commanding officer of Corporal Mark Wright when he died saving colleagues from a minefield in Afghanistan in 2006.

His parents Bob and Jem Wright set up the charity in his memory to provide social, emotional and practical support for veterans.

Mr Wright said he was delighted to celebrate the first year of the charity: "I'm very much looking forward to it, it should be a good night.

"We don't know where the year's gone. There's been a few guys through the doors since we opened - we reckoned we'd have about 50 in the first year and we've got about 180, so that's some achievement.

"We've got them coming in getting letters faxed, learning how to write a CV, one lad was in because he didn't know how to get his tooth out - he'd been in the army so long he didn't know how to go about getting it fixed."

The centre currently relies on volunteers, with just one part-time staff member. However it has to raise around 7000 every month to cover its operating costs, which include the cost of specialist counselling and complimentary therapy.

Mr Wright said: "We are truly grateful to the public for their continued support - it has kept us going over the last year and it has been absolutely fantastic. Their respect for our soldiers is brilliant."

Proceeds from the anniversary event will be split between the centre and Col Tootal's charity, The Afghanistan Trust.

Charity director Fiona MacDonald said: "Stuart Tootal has been a friend of the Mark Wright project right from the beginning.

"He did a talk in London in June which I went down to, and he's absolutely brilliant, he really knows his stuff and can give an insight into what it's like commanding 3 Para - and he's also very funny and entertaining."

Jason Isaacs, who plays Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, has already taken part in a fundraiser for the charity in London.

Ms MacDonald said: "He was in the film Green Zone and has an interest in veteran support. I'd called him really expecting him not even to answer, and said 'Would you happen to be in Edinburgh on the 20th?' and he said 'Yes, I would'."

The Mark Wright Project Centre in Dalkeith was opened by Col Tootal on 21 November 2009. As well as counselling for veterans, it offers a social area where they can relax and meet others, get practical advice, use a gym, and get the chance to take part in adventure activities.

Entry to Col Tootal's talk costs 10, with tickets also available for dinner and readings - see www.themarkwrightproject.org.uk for more details.