SCOUTMASTER John Barrett is currently in South Africa having travelled 20,000km on his motorcycle and raised more than £1000 for the “Street Child” charity.

Now in Bamako, Mali, the District Explorer Scout Commissioner, from New Quay, has teamed up with the band master of the Gambian National Scout band and they have an appeal.

“The band leader wants a saxophone for the band because he says ‘it is like the singer, it is the voice of the band’,” explained John.

“When they said they would play for me and started wheeling out old and broken instruments I must admit I was not expecting much.

“However, they can play, and they play well.”

He added: “The saxophone and all of the other stuff will allow the Gambian Scouts to do so much more.

“They have so little and appreciate and care for everything they are given. They have far more band members than instruments at the moment so many members simply stand behind a player watching rather than playing.”

He is now appealing for help.

Instruments of any kind can be sent to John’s home address at Hedydd, Llanarth, SA47 0PG, or you can contact Amy Thomas, John’s partner on 01545 580203.

When John returns in August, he is is planning to collect a pallet load of items to send to the Scouts in Gambia with all sorts of goods, including computers, instruments and Scout training materials as part of the Little Trees Scout project. Donations welcome.