MEDINA Marching Band has been invited to parade in one of London's best-known events.

The band will take 70-plus players to take part in the 2019 Lord Mayor's Show, one of the city's longest-established events, which dates back to the 16th Century.

This week the band had the great honour of receiving an official invitation to take part in the parade, on Saturday, November 9.

The Lord Mayor's show is centred on a street parade which in its modern form is a light-hearted combination of traditional British pageantry and elements of carnival.

The parade is held as the inauguration ceremony for the new Lord Mayor, and the procession goes from Guildhall via Mansion House and St Paul's Cathedral, to the Royal Courts of Justice on the edge of the City of Westminster, where the new Lord Mayor swears allegiances to the Crown.

The band will line up among some of the world's best military bands such as HM Royal Marines, The Royal Air Force, The Guards Division, and The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment Band.

The show is also broadcast live on the BBC from 11am.

Medina Marching Band vice chairman Kevin Downer said: "This is a great experience for every member of the band, not only to perform at but also to represent the Isle of Wight in what is such a prestigious event.

"The only drawback is that we do not receive any income from the organisers of the event so the band has to cover 100 per cent of the cost of travel and an overnight stay so we can arrive on time before the streets of London are closed.

"So over the next six months we will be actively fundraising and seeking help from any local companies or individuals that could help with our travel expenses. As the band is totally self-funded this is going to be a big additional cost for the year, but something we all want to take part in.

"We have a banner at the back of the band on which we will display the name of those that help us get to London."