The Band of The King's Division have been thrust into a bit of 'Fusion' music making thanks to the latest large scale NATO Exercise in Latvia and Lithuania.

Exercise fit

Although the players are kept in banding trim thanks to their regular 'exercise fit' options of running, weight machines and sports such as football and squash, they are also required to be 'field fit' too with their roles in major logistical undertakings with the British Army.

The latest venture saw them take part in Exercise 'ARCCADE Fusion', a large scale NATO Exercise which took place in the Baltics — although the band was used in a purely musical role.

Great fusion

CPL Hugh Bruce MMus told 4BR: "We toured Latvia and Lithuania for two weeks and played several concerts with the Lithuanian Armed Forces Orchestra and a Latvian Army band. It was a great fusion between musical allies as others undertook the field operations.

We also had the privilege of taking part in the Lithuanian Armed Forces Day parade alongside the British contingent from Queen's Gurkha Signal Squadron and The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers."

Full range

The band performed a full range of their repertoire to multilingual acclaim, with the players enjoying meeting up with fellow musicians — with a clip of their performance with the Lithuanian Armed Forces Orchestra now on their Facebook page.

The band now has a busy pre-Christmas period with a number of concerts to look forward to and a live radio broadcast on BBC Lancashire on the 18th.

Sandhurst

CPL Bruce added: "At the moment we are almost at the end of a two week posting to The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where we have been rehearsing for the much celebrated Sovereign's Day Parade and providing musical support for all the officer cadets dinner nights, drill competitions and various other parades and church services."

We also had the privilege of taking part in the Lithuanian Armed Forces Day parade alongside the British contingent from Queen's Gurkha Signal Squadron and The Royal Regiment of FusiliersCPL Hugh Bruce MMus

Christmas spirit

He concluded: "It has been a busy, rewarding year for the band and we are all looking forward to a break over the festive season, filling up with Christmas spirit, spoiling our families and giving us a chance to recharge our batteries and rest our lips.

Then it will be time to work off all that turkey and chocolate with...yes, plenty of exercise!"