ent Band Plays Awa

It's not everyday that a taxi driver, nurse, deputy-head teacher, and traffic warden from Gibraltar get together in a small-town school in the Republik Srpska, Bosnia/Hercegovina and entertain the children with music; but in the Autumn they did, along with 31 other part-time musicians.

This was all part ot the Royal Gibraltar Regiment's Band and Corps of Drums tour to the Balkans. As a Territorial Army(TA)Band of the British Army, and therefore part-time, musicians are required to undertake an annual camp to fulfil their commitment and this year they decided to go to Bosnia/ Hercegovina. It was an historical moment as it was not only the first time that a British TA Band has gone to an 'Operational Theatre,' but also the first time that a formed unit of the Royal Gibraltar Regi ment has performed such a duty since World War II.

The Band and Corps of Drums delighted audiences in many towns over the week that they were there, including Banja Luka, Gradiska, and Sarajevo. Perhaps though the most import visit was to Mostar. Here the town had been ripped apart several times by different fighting factions in the last decade. Even now hospitals and schools are still segregated.There is one glim mer of hope though in the form of the Pavarotti Music Centre. This was set up by the War Child charity to bring music lessons,con certs, and general music for the blighted population of Mostar. In June of this year the Band and Corps of Drums had given a

The Band's next performances are as follows:

Monday 1st December 2003

Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned. Appearing at the Bruce's Farm Charity Concert.

Sunday 14th December 2003

St Andrew's Church. Christmas Carol Service.

Wednesday 17th December 2003 concert in St Michael's Cave in Gi braltar and had raised €1000 for the Pavarotti Centre. It was greatly appreciated when the cheque was presented personally after a short concert.

Holy Trinity Church. Save the Children Christmas Charity Concert.

Monday 5th January 2004 Main Street. Three Kings' Cavalcade. See local press for timings and other details.

The Bandmaster, David Hammond,said:"It is so important for Gibraltar that we have sup ported the ongoing peace process in the Balkans in this way. Music, the arts, and entertainment are an essential part of society;always the fi rst to disappear in the time of conflict and the last to be re-estab lished. Gibraltar is a small place with a population of 30,000. How many small towns in the UK can provide such