Burry Port Town Band has hit the national headlines today after ‘The Times’ newspaper splashed the details of their forthcoming trip to Libya on its front page.

40th anniversary

Given the recent international news events of the past week or so, any British involvement in the celebration of Colonel Gaddafi’s 40th anniversary of coming to power were to raise an eyebrow or two, but the band insist they are making the visit as musicians and not politicians.

Invitation

The band accepted the invitation in March, before the international furore over the release of the Lockerbie bomber Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi, and it is understood they will be joined in Tripoli by musicians from the French Foreign Legion as well as world leaders such as President Sarkozy, Silvio Berlusconi and Russia’s Dimitri Medvedev – although no one in an official capacity from the UK.

Tour

The band will play on a 12 day tour with regular members of the band supplemented by guests. The band will play in a number of different parades and at least one full concert.

The band accepted the invitation in March, before the international furore over the release of the Lockerbie bomber Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi4BR

March

Political considerations aside, the band will march (‘The Times’ wrongly described Burry Port as a ‘marching band’) as well as play a varied programme of music in the 40C heat.

Fly

Currently ranked 38th in the world rankings (out of 30,000 bands according to ‘The Times’) the band will fly from Gatwick to Tripoli today (26th) under the direction of MD Craig Roberts.

Further information:

The Times story can be seen at:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6809881.ece