FOLLOWING the cancellation of a 60th-anniversary event for the Romsey Old Cadets, the group has said it will still celebrate at a later date.

Romsey Carnival had been organising Party In The Park, for the past year, to honour the town’s well-known show band but the committee was forced to cancel this week due to "major health problems" and a "lack of support".

Secretary of Romsey Old Cadets, Martin Wood, previously said that the event, which was planned for Sunday, August 27 would be the band’s “FA Cup Final”.

READ MORE: Party In The Park celebrating Old Cadets cancelled due to major health issues

After the cancellation was announced on social media, Mr Wood said: “We are disappointed but we do have a lot of sympathy for the committee as we understand how difficult it is to organise something like this.

“It’s completely understandable and we remain very honoured to even be considered for such an event. A lot of people have been commenting on how much they were looking forward to it but everybody is understanding.

“We’re all quite sad as it was going to be quite an occasion but there is a keenness among members to try and do something in the town in the next couple of months. We definitely will be organising something in Romsey to thank the community for the past 60 years, it’s just a question of where and when. Watch this space.”

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Romsey Old Cadets made its debut at Romsey Carnival in 1963. Each year the band showcases a new costume theme, their first being ‘Sons of the Sands’ using bed sheets and tea towels to make their costumes.

Other themes over the 60 years include ducks, scarecrows, leprechauns and Robin Hood and his merry men.

More than 50 men, including generations of families and some ex-servicemen, make up the carnival show band which has performed all over the UK in flower festivals, shows, fetes and weddings as well as in France and Germany.

Members were discussing ideas for the sapphire anniversary when they received an invite and proposed celebration from Romsey Carnival but now it’s back to the drawing board.

Suggestions such as busking around town or a celebration in Memorial Park have been made so far.

For more information on the Romsey Old Cadets go to romseyoldcadets.co.uk/.