XN000022-1986-05-15 — Page 14

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THURSDAY, MAY 15, 1986

''I AM NOT A ROMAN CATHOLIC, BUT IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME, ** SAID MR COLIN WOOD, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC.

THE BAND WAS INVITED TO PERFORM IN ROME AND PARIS BETWEEN APRIL 22 AND MAY 1 BY CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS TO MARK THE AIRLINE'S FIRST DIRECT FLIGHT TO ROME.

BUT

THE SCHEDULE WAS BUSY AND EXHAUSTING MOST OF THE TIME, THE PERFORMERS FELT REWARDED BECAUSE OF THE LARGE APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCES IN BOTH CITIES. THEY PERFORMED IN SEVERAL PUBLIC VENUES AND APPEARED ON TELEVISION.

THE BANDSMEN AND RIBBON DANCERS WERE NOT GIVEN ANY TIME TO SUFFER FROM JET LAG ON THE DAY OF ARRIVAL BECAUSE THEY WERE EXPECTED IN ST PETER'S SQUARE ONLY HOURS AFTER LANDING.

TWO HOURS AFTER THE BAND HAD PERFORMED, ALTERNATING WITH ANOTHER GROUP BEFORE AN AUDIENCE OF 50,000, THE POPE, WHO HAD FINISHED A SERVICE, WENT FORWARD TO TALK TO THE POLICE BAND,

''THE POPE WELCOMED US AND SAID HE ENJOYED THE MUSIC.

HE GAVE HIS BLESSINGS TO US AND OUR FAMILIES. THEN HE SPOKE TO BANDSMEN AND THE DANCERS AND SHOOK HANDS WITH THEM, MR WOOD SAID.

''HE WAS VERY FRIENDLY AND CORDIAL AND THE BAND WAS OVERWHELMED BY THE OCCASION.''

THE REST OF THE DAY'S PROGRAMME INCLUDED A PERFORMANCE IN THE CITY HALL AND A SEVEN-MINUTE SHOW ON A POPULAR ITALIAN NATIONAL NEWS FEATURE PROGRAMME IN THE EVENING,

ON THE FOLLOWING TWO DAYS, THE BAND AND RIBBON DANCERS PERFORMED OUTSIDE THE CATHAY PACIFIC OFFICE IN THE CENTRE OF ROME, AT THE VILLA BORGHESE AND THE ROME POLO CLUB.

AFTER A DAY'S SIGHT-SEEING AND SHOPPING, THE PARTY FLEW ON TO PARIS.

THERE THEY MET THE FRENCH ARMY BAND AND THE TWO GROUPS, PERFORMED IN A RIVER CRUISE ALONG THE RIVER SEINE.

WHILE THE AUDIENCE OF 1,000 ON THE LAUNCH ENJOYED THE MUSIC AND DANCING, THE BANKS WERE ALSO CROWDED WITH SPECTATORS. THE CLIMAX OF THE SHOW CAME WHEN THE FRENCH AIR FORCE STAGED A FLYPAST, LEAVING COLOURFUL SMOKE TRAILS IN THE SKY,

A TELEVISION CREW FILMED THE PERFORMANCE AND IT WAS SHOWN

ON A PUBLIC STATION THE SAME NIGHT.

OTHER PERFORMANCES TOOK PLACE AT THE CHAMPS DE MARS AND THE PRE CATALAN VILLA,

THIS WAS ......