A FORMER army corporal, who has fronted Remembrance Sunday parades for nearly 50 years, will hand over his pace stick and white gloves this weekend.

Bernie Coles, parade marshal, will lead old soldiers and civic leaders from the Civic Centre, West Paddock, Leyland, to the town's Cenotaph and parish church, Church Road, for the last time this weekend.

Mr Coles, 62, of Victoria Street, Lostock Hall, led the parade in Lostock Hall for 19 years before taking up the role as Leyland's parade marshal.

It is a job he has done for more than 30 years as well as leading the afternoon parade of the Leyland branch of the Royal British Legion, based in Haig Avenue, for a number of years.

Now, due to ill health from arthritis, the former Scots Guard has decided to step down from the post.

"It's a combination of age and health grounds," said Mr Coles. "The cold weather soon gets to your bones, but I'll definitely miss it.

"It's been very enjoyable meeting people but you have to stop some time."

Mr Coles, who joined the army when he was 16, followed in the footsteps of his father Bert served in countries including Kenya, Libya, Canada and Germany.

He said: "It will be a very emotional day for me and I'm sure I'll feel a bit choked because I have a lot of fond memories both of the army and of doing the parades.

"I know my replacement will be fine and I've already been helping one of the lads at the legion in Leyland because he's going to do that parade on Sunday afternoon."

Sydney Harwood, branch secretary of the Leyland Royal British Legion said: "I've known him since 1992 and we're very sorry to lose him."

After the parade and service at St Andrew's Parish Church, Church Road, Leyland, on Sunday, Mr Coles will lead the procession of dignitaries the short distance to the Civic Centre where the town's mayor, Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, will host a special presentation in his honour.

Coun Tomlinson, said: "Bernie took over the job, on a temporary basis, in 1972, and has become part of the fabric every since.

"He does a sterling job, keeping people on the right track, and his air of authority and velvet voice will be sadly missed." Mr Coles replacement will be Bernie Temmen, from Leyland.