Programmes are out now for the free Deal Memorial Bandstand concerts for 2012 and the musical line-up promises to be the best yet.

John Perkins, the chairman of the Deal Memorial Bandstand Trust, said: "The series of concerts on the bandstand is the most ambitious to date.

"For the first time we have the Band of The Brigade of Gurkhas on August 19, bringing their unique skills of music and dance to Deal.

"We also have a new joint venture with the Deal Summer Music Festival on July 8 and of course the highlight of the summer will be the visit of the Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth on July 15 to present a concert and rededicate the bandstand as in years past."

On Saturday young people from 2235 Squadron Deal Air Training Corps joined members of the Deal Memorial Bandstand Trust to launch the 2012 programme, starting on May 6 with Betteshanger Welfare Brass Band.

The bandstand on Walmer Green was built in 1992. Eleven sides of the 12-sided structure features engraved tables with the names of the 11 Royal Marines who died in the IRA explosion at the Walmer barracks in 1989.

* Deal Memorial Bandstand Trust has just announced there will be a special fly past on July 15 by a Hurricane and Spitfire, for the second year in succession. For full story see the East Kent Mercury, Thursday, March 29.