Birmingham Post

They proceeded to Heathrow Airport, where they secured transport to Shanghai, 6,000 miles away.
A four hour coach journey later, they arrived in Nanjing on Sunday, 6pm local time.
And today (Monday) after rehearsing from 2pm, they were ready to roll.
The unit were part of the 60th anniversary concert being held by Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) in China, also timed to coincide with the restart of production of MG cars.
Beneath a huge MG banner and after NAC chairman Wang Haoliang beat a giant gong to start the concert, the ensemble was ready to go into action.
They played the last movement of Bliss’s Piano Quartet, and a Clarinet Quintet by Mozart.
Only one mobile phone went off and only once did someone clap in the wrong place as the audience of 300 Chinese and British dignitaries and workers absorbed the music.
A few of the sadder movements seemed poignant when thinking about the struggles of car making in Britain, but as if checking itself, the music cheered up and stepped up tempo, I suppose to remind people about MG’s future.
A little bit of Elgar – who I was told was the favourite composer of legendary MG designer Cecil Kimber followed with the Second Movement of the Piano Quintet.
For a finale came Jasmine, a traditional melody from the Nanjing region.
A high pitched violin held its note before the cellos, clarinet and violins came storming in and then the music suddenly became kind of jazzy.
This received the best reception of the night, and at its end several large Chinese and British flags were waved by members of the audience in a weird kind of proms thing.
I suspect this may have been planned.
So how did the musicians do it after such a journey?
Jorj Jarvie, director of external relations for the CBSO, said: “It’s quite remarkable really, they just switch it on.
“As soon as they get on stage, they are able to get into it and play.”
After the concert, the ensemble would soon be back on the road.
“Oh, they are not going to bed. At 4am, they’ve got a coach back to Shanghai for an 11am flight tomorrow,” said Jorj.
“They will get back to Birmingham on Wednesday.”
They had been invited to Nanjing in their role as ambassadors for Birmingham.
“It is a good way to explain Birmingham’s culture and develop good links for the future,” said Jorj.
From the reaction at the end, you could say it was mission accomplished.