MEMBERS of the Phoenix Brass Band put their musical intruments to one side when they joined the crew of HMS Marlborough.
Bass player John Miles, chairman of Phoenix Brass, and his son, Gareth, 28, were invited to spend five days aboard the frigate during a Mediterranean voyage from Corfu to Malaga as part of the end of its six-month tour of duty.
But the music lovers with the Froxfield-based band had to leave their instruments behind and join in with the day-to-day work of the crew.
They took part in drills including weapons training, and man overboard exercises travelling in a high speed boat. The highlight was dinner with the captain and a surprise request to join him on the bridge as the ship entered Malaga harbour.
Mr Miles said: "It was a great honour for the band to be invited and the help given to integrate into ship's routine gave a unique insight into life aboard which many will never experience."
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