By 43 Bde

The versatile musicians of the British Army can turn their hands to just about anything - from war fighting to fire fighting, from the horrors of foot and mouth to... camel training!

But this schooling was not held in the hot deserts of central Asia - it was on a parade ground in Tidworth.

Enter the Lucknow band, Prince of Wales's Division and Therese, a Bactrian camel belonging to Lady Chichester.

"It is all perfectly logical," explained Capt Tim Cooper, the Lucknow Band Director of Music, "Lord Chichester bought the camel for his wife and daughter as a pet and the animal is set to appear in the Lord Mayor's Show in London in November. With huge crowds, music and noise expected, the camel needed some training.

I was formerly with the Household Cavalry as Bandmaster of the Life Guards and I know a little about getting animals used to loud music. So we marched around and played as usual and slowly got the camel used to the music. By the time we finished, we had two lines of musicians all playing and the camel was happy being ridden by her groom Martina up and down the lines."

"Far from disturbing the camel, Martina told me Therese wanted to be near the band because she was enjoying it. We were obviously hitting the right note."

And the musicians appreciate a good audience, even if it is a camel.

"The camel is welcome back for more practice - and I guarantee the musicians will not get the hump," said Capt Cooper.