A FORMER soldier is drumming up support for the fight to save the Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR) from a merger that could swallow up its identity.

George Winstanley, of Barry Avenue, Ingol, joined the South Lancashire Regiment as a band boy aged 14.

He said the QLR, whose regimental headquarters are at Fulwood Barracks, Watling Street Road, Preston, is integral to Lancashire and needs to keep its county identity.

Mr Winstanley, 75, said: "A lot of people are cynical and think the people supporting the campaign should get a life.

"But what people need to remember is that hundreds of the Lancashire soldiers gave their lives in two world wars and there are hundreds serving out in Iraq now."

Although he left the army nine months before the amalgamation of the South Lancashire Regiment with the East Lancashire and Loyal North Lancashire Regiments in 1970 to form today's QLR, he said he still feels a strong part of the county regiment.

"I've served and played for bands in both South and Loyal regiments during my army career and was attached to East Lancashire at the Hadrian camp at Carlisle.

"The QLR is a part of me and when I go back and visit my old army friends it's like seeing family. It's become a part of me and a part of me I'm very proud of."

Mr Winstanley, who attended the annual regimental reunion held in Warrington last month, rose through the ranks before his final post as sergeant in the South Lancashire Regiment.

During his time spent at the three different regiments he played in several different bands and also taught juniors who have gone on to become sergeants and majors.

He is now a life member of the QLR association.

"It's really great when I see some of the lads that have been under my tutoring," he said. "There is always a fondness between us all and I always invite them all to my house at Christmas.

"Sometimes there's a couple that turn up and other times there can be as many as forty.

"It's these friendships that make the QLR what it is."