A PRESTON drum major will be keeping time during this year's Beating Retreat army spectacular -- for the last time.

Graeme Lister, 38, from Lea, will be taking up his mace for one final time leading army bands from across the country in the annual parade at Fulwood Barracks.

Graeme, who serves with the Weeton-based King's Division Normandy Band, will lead the procession, which will include the Lancashire Artillery Volunteer Band and North West Infantry Band, on Saturday, June 21.

It will the 11th time he has joined the event, but in a few months he is giving it all up to become a music teacher in local schools.

Graeme, who is married to wife Julie, and has two children, Marc, 15, and Louise, 14, has spent 22 years as an army musician. He said: "It's been brilliant - the right career for me. It's like turning a hobby into a job.

"I've travelled all over the world. Now I hope to spend more time playing golf."

One of his fondest memories is from the D-Day celebrations in 1994 when he was performing on the sands at Arromanches. He said: "The tide was coming in and we had to carry on as waves lapped over our feet. Handel's Water Music would have been more appropriate!"

Beating Retreat will also feature a motorcycle display team from Scotland, and the 'guns into action' event, with soldiers racing to prepare huge field guns against the clock. The ceremony is free and gates open on Watling Street Road from 5.30pm.