A RETIRED army musician is planning to band together with his former colleagues.

Trumpeter Donald Bateman hopes his search will drum up support for a special reunion of ex-army musicians.

Euxton man Donald, 68, said: "Over the past 12 months I have been trying to round up and contact all ex-members of the Regimental Band of the 14/20th King's Hussars.

"I have been very successful in contacting many, dating as far back as 1950, and there are still many more who I know came from around the Lancashire and Merseyside area, but over the years we have lost contact with them."

Although he retired from the regimental band 27 years ago, Donald kept in touch with the regiment and its ex-band members through annual gatherings in Preston.

But his musical colleagues began to drift out of touch after the band -- which had always played at the gatherings -- was dissolved in the early 1990s.

"Last year, one of the ex-members turned up at Preston to find no other ex-band members there. He knew where I lived and came over and stayed with me."

They arranged a meeting with a colleague in Manchester. "When the time came, there was quite a little gathering," Donald said: "We stayed in the hotel until they almost had to throw us out because we were chatting for so long." The group met again this year and have now formed their own club -- The Invincible Eagle Association -- especially for ex-members of the Regimental Band of the 14/20th King's Hussars and The Band of the King's Royal Hussars. The next reunion is planned for April 2001 at the Dalmeny Hotel, St Annes on Sea, near Blackpool.

Donald hopes he will find even more ex-members who want to get back in touch. He said: "I thought there was nobody in the Chorley area, but I could be wrong. And people who have not had anything to do with us but might know somebody who did can get in touch."

Mr Bateman can be contacted on 01257 272708, or ex-members can write to him at 79 Highways Avenue, Euxton, Lancs, PR7 6QD. POMP and ceremony: Donald Bateman (second row, front) playing in Military Band of the 14/20th King's Hussars on parade at the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin