A DEDICATED head teacher met Prince Charles and Camilla during a recent trip to Africa.

Alison Wyld from Harmans Water Primary School travelled to Soma in The Gambia after receiving an invitation from the British High Commissioner.

During her stay, she taught a scout band to play the UK and Gambian national anthems for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

She said: “The scouts worked very hard and when the big day arrived they played brilliantly.

"Considering that they had only been playing for a short time, it was a remarkable performance. The Duchess spoke to me afterwards and was very complimentary.”

Mrs Wyld and two colleagues had originally planned to visit the Soma New Lower Basic School, which is linked to Harmans Water Primary, over half term.

However when the British High Commissioner heard that she would be in Soma, she was asked to stay on to tutor the band for the royal visit.

As a thank you for her work, Mrs Wyld was invited to a state dinner attended by the royal couple and the president of The Gambia.

She has been invited back in February to meet the Gambian Minister for Education to discuss the work that Harmans Water Primary is doing with the Soma New Lower Basic School.