Taking part in a military tattoo is always a special occasion but performing in Malta has a special significance for Corporal Lee McVittee and his brother Sergeant-Major Kevin McVittee, who form part of the Durham Army Cadet Corps.

Their grandfather, Thomas Alexander McVittee, had served in Malta during the siege of 1942 and was awarded the George Cross medal for his part in the war by the President of the Republic when the 50th anniversary of the award of the George Cross to Malta was marked.

"I will be proudly wearing that medal on the same ground where my grandfather served. The venue where the tattoo will be held is a former RAF airfield that played a major role in the war and that too adds significance to the event for me," Corp. McVittee said.

Rev. Alan Hughes, the Vicar of Berwick Upon Tweed, who is the chaplain of the Durham Army Cadet Corps, said the Cadet Corp was the largest youth movement in the UK and had about 800 cadets aged between 12 and 18 hailing from county Durham. The Durham ACF Borneo Band consists of 45 members and all of them wanted to come to Malta.

Several other members of the band had relatives who served in Malta during the war: Cadet Jade Willis had her grandfather serving here; Bugle Major Robert Mitchell's great grandfather Harry Faulkner too served in Malta. Sgt. Kevin Smith's grandfather Eddie Laus was a member of the Royal Navy and came to Malta on one of the ships that formed part of the Santa Marija convoy. Seeing the cadets rehearse yesterday morning, Rev. Hughes said he was very proud of them.

"The cadets are all volunteers and they really give their best. I am sure Captain Colin Miller, their band master, who is a music teacher, will be very proud of them too," he said.

The fourth edition of the Malta Military Tattoo will be held over the weekend at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre (MFCC), Ta' Qali.

This year's highlights are the Central Military Band of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, the Durham ACF Borneo Band from England and the Dutch Pipes and Drums Band with Highland Dancers. Maltese participation includes the Wallace Pipes and Drums, the First Hamrun Scout Band, EnKor Choir Malta, the Malta Police Precision Team, the Malta Police Band and the Armed Forces of Malta Band.

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