ONE of Warrington's old soldiers has embarked on a quest to retrieve some of the town's most historical military treasures.

Ron Hollingsworth, of Windermere Avenue, Orford, claims that 16 commemorative silver bugles which belonged to the South Lancashire Regiment should be returned to the town after being absent for more than 30 years.

The bugles were presented by firms in the town to commemorate the 1937 coronation of King George and Queen Elizabeth.

Among the businesses to donate the tuneful treasures were Crosfield & Sons, Ryland Brothers, Greenall's, Monks Hall and Pearson & Knowles.

Other bugles were offered by the Warrington South Lancashire Regimental Association, Warrington Ladies' Sewing Guild and Warrington Royal British Legion.

But following the disbandment of the regiment in the 1960s, the bugles were loaned to the 5/8 King's Regiment and later given to the Queen's Lancashire Regiment HQ in Preston, which has loaned them to a cadet unit in northern Lancashire.

Ron, a former volunteer and bugler with the 4th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment Territorials, told the GUARDIAN: "Each instrument was engraved with the regimental crest and the name of the business or organisation which presented it and numbered. I used to play the bugle number one, which was donated by the Officer Mess.

"These instruments are part of Warrington's history and belong to the town. A number of them were presented by local firms which don't exist any more, and so it is even more important we get them back. It isn't right that a cadet unit in Preston should be given the bugles when they belong to Warrington."

Four of the trumpets disappeared while on loan to the 5/8 King's Regiment but Ron is hoping that someone will contact the GUARDIAN with information about where they are.

In the meantime, the veteran soldier is determined to persuade the Queen's Lancashire Regiment to hand the other 12 back to the town.

Ron added: "I would like to see these bugles given back to an army cadet force in Warrington so it can have the honour of blowing them."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.