David Price is escaping the hustle and bustle of the newsroom – by heading off to war-torn Yugoslavia.

The reporter, from the North Devon Journal, is joining nine other journalists to spend four days shadowing the Royal Marines in Kosovo.

The trip has been organised to highlight work being done by the British Armed Forces in the Balkans.

Brian, (28), told HoldTheFrontPage: “Originally, another reporter here, Graham Andrews, was going on the trip but he couldn’t make it in the end because of a bad back.”

“I agreed to go because I thought it might be my only opportunity to visit Kosovo. I realise it’s not exactly a holiday camp, but I think it will be interesting. I’m looking forward to it!”

The Royal Marines are refusing to reveal exactly what the visit will entail but Brian is fairly confident he won’t be thrown into gun battles and ambushes.

He said: “More than likely, we’ll be observing the Marines as they do their daily routine. I hope so anyway!”

Brian will join reporters from the Dundee Courier, Aberdeen Press & Journal and the Scottish Press Agency.

Also making the trip will be journalists from Grampian Television and representatives of the Apex photo agency.

Whilst Brian is looking forward to the visit, his parents have taken a slightly different view.

He revealed: “I think they’re a little bit scared actually!”

Brian is planning to use the media facilities at the base in Kosovo to e-mail reports back to the North Devon Journal.

He said: “If not, I’ll try and get everything written so it can go in the paper as soon as I get back.”

The group fly from RAF Brize Norton, near Oxford on November 20 and return home four days later.

Do you have a story for us?
Ring the HoldTheFrontPage newsdesk on
01332 291111 x6022, or to e-mail us now – click here