ONE of Canada's top police bands is making a rare visit to England and is playing three special concerts in Lancashire.

The 70-strong Waterloo Regional Police Band will be appearing at the Marine Hall, Fleetwood, the Ashton Hall, Lancaster and St Walburge's Church, Preston. The prize-winning musicians are touring the country at the invitation of Lancashire Constabulary.

The Waterloo Band was formed in 1977 and over the years has established a formidable reputation for the quality and the sound of its music which is a clever combination of brass and reed. In Canada, the band has been in great demand at parades and military tattoos as well as concerts and has won a number of major awards, not only on home soil but in the United States of America and in Europe.

The band will be paying its first visit to northern England and director of music, Auxiliary Inspector James Underwood admits everybody is looking forward to the trip.

He said "We have been told that the people of Lancashire enjoy a good band and we are sure they will enjoy our brand of music. We are certainly relishing the thought of playing before such appreciative audiences.

The band will be playing at Fleetwood's Marine Hall on Monday July 22, at Lancaster's Ashton Hall on Tuesday July 23 and at St Walburge's Church, Preston on Thursday July 25.

Each of the concerts, sponsored by Liberty World Travel, Blackpool starts at 7.30 and tickets costing £2.50 are available from the Lancashire Constabulary's Community Support Services Department, PO Box 77, Hutton, Preston PR4 5SB. A stamped self-addressed envelope should be enclosed and it should be clear for which concert tickets are required. Cheques should be made payable to "The Visiting Police Bands."

Anyone wanting any more information on the Waterloo Regional Police Band should ring 618154.

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