FORMER military musicians from across the country are joining together for a concert organised by Callington Rotary Club in aid of Help For Heroes on May 9.

The concert will take place at 2.30pm in Plymouth Guildhall and all the musicians are giving their time and skills to assist those who have been wounded in military operations.

Callington resident and Rotarian retired Lt Col John Ware OBE, a former principal director of music for the Royal Marines Bands Service, will lead the 60-strong concert band.

The musicians will be playing under the name of the 'South West All Stars' and will present a wide variety of music for the enjoyment of their audience.

Lt Col Ware, who saw active service during the Falklands campaign, said: 'This concert is an opportunity for good comrades of the past to have a great reunion, whilst simultaneously raising money for a very worthy cause.

'The response of the "South West All Stars" has been tremendous, given that only the day before the concert, band members will have been involved in activities as diverse as running the signal box at Rochester station, and marching around Helston with the famous Floral Dance.

'I am sure that we will put on a fabulous concert which will be greatly enjoyed by all.'

The guest list for this concert is expected to include civic dignitaries, senior officers representing the armed forces, the district governor of Rotary clubs in the area and local representatives of Help for Heroes. It is hoped there will be a celebrity guest as master of ceremonies for the afternoon.

Tickets will cost £12.50 for the stalls and £15 for the balcony and are available from Maestro's Music, 51 Ebrington St, Plymouth, 01752 263069 or from rotarian Roy Baldock at [email protected]">[email protected]

Roy Barraclough, president of the Rotary Club of Callington, said: 'I would just like to thank all those involved in staging this unique concert, and to emphasise that all monies raised as a result of this event, will be donated to Help for Heroes, which assists servicemen and servicewomen, wounded in action, through their recovery and their return to as close to a normal life as is possible.'