A journalist has produced a special one-off newspaper for a charity music festival held in memory of a school friend who died in the 2004 Asian tsunami.

Steve Sowden has produced the free Home Farm Fest Press to provide news and information about the Home Farm Fest, which is being held from this weekend near Yeovil.

The 40-page publication also features information about the School in a Bag charity, for which the festival raises funds.

The initiative was created out of the Piers Simon Appeal, and provides schoolbags and equipment to children in poor countries around the world.

Explaining his connection to the charity, Steve said: “I was working on the former Yeovil Express newspaper back in 2004 when the Asian tsunami struck on Boxing Day and killed up to 280,000 people in 14 countries. One of those victims was Piers Simon who had been a friend during my school and college days.

“It really was one of those moments in life where you ‘remember where you were and what you were doing when you heard the news’. I am now coming up to 30 years in journalism and those dark and terribly sad days of December 2004 are the most difficult I have had to deal with in my professional career.

“But out of the tragedy has grown the Piers Simon Appeal and the School in a Bag initiative – which something I am sure Piers would be mighty proud of. It is a lasting legacy to the name of someone who was so well-liked and much-loved by so many people.”

Last month HTFP reported how freelance Steve had begun producing a free monthly title called the Ilminster Press in competition with Newsquest weekly the Chard & Ilminster News, for which he previously worked.

More than 135 bands will play across seven stages and one dance tent at Home Far Fest, which begins today.

Many of the photos included in Home Farm Fest Press were taken by freelance photographer, while James Healey, of JRH Media, designed the layout.

Steve said: “Producing the 2018 edition of Home Farm Fest Press has been a pleasure and there are many people who I would like to thank for their support.”