Royal Welsh band to play for free

The Regimental Band of The Royal Welsh are a familiar sight at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff

Members of Wales' sole military all-brass band will perform free at a number of events after cuts in funding.

The Regimental Band of The Royal Welsh will play at the Wales-New Zealand rugby match and remembrance services after initially being cancelled.

Performances were threatened when the Territorial Army (TA) switched funding to frontline troops.

But the band has pledged to play at the rugby international and with Rolf Harris for free.

Famous for its bright red jackets, the band plays at many major sporting events and has performed the national anthem at every rugby game played in the Millennium Stadium, as well as performing previously at Cardiff Arms Park.

Members have agreed to play at the Wales v New Zealand match in November, the Wales Festival of Remembrance with Rolf Harris at St David's Hall, Cardiff, on 31 October and at further remembrance concerts.

It is understood the band's travel expenses will be paid for at the rugby international.

Welsh band

A friend of the band said the musicians felt it important that these performances still took place and that the only Welsh military band performed at the Welsh remembrance services.

But a remembrance concert on Sunday has been cancelled by the organiser after the band initially had to pull out.

Appearances at the other autumn internationals and Six Nations rugby dates remain in jeopardy.

All scheduled performances until next April were cancelled earlier this month as part of the Army's overall plan to direct £54m to frontline troops.

The TA was among the first to be affected. The Regimental Band's 30 members, most of whom are from south Wales and all of whom have jobs or are students, are members of the TA.

When the funding cuts were announced, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "These measures will be in place until next April. But hopefully things will be fine next year."