A SALFORD Priors man has had to turn down the chance to take part in the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday because he was due to go into hospital for major surgery.

But to make matters worse, the hip operation 74-year-old Reg Francis desperately needs has been postponed until December because during another stay in hospital in July he picked up the superbug MRSA.

Mr Francis had an operation on his shoulder in Warwick Hospital, but although he is recovering well from that the infection in his leg caused by the MRSA bug is still causing concern.

He has to visit the doctor twice a week to have the wounds, caused by burst blisters, dressed and his hip operation has already been postponed twice.

He is now pinning his hopes on surgery in December, just in time for Christmas.

Mr Francis, of Perkins Close, is chairman and standard bearer for the Salford Priors branch of the Royal British Legion.

He was chosen to represent Warwickshire at this year's national remembrance event after three years of trying, and is very disappointed not to be able to take part.

Instead he will take the standard to the Alcester Festival of Remembrance concert at the Greig Centre on Saturday and then parade as usual in Salford Priors on Sunday before watching highlights of the event he is missing on television.

In addition, tomorrow will also see Mr Francis conduct a service of remembrance with children at Salford Priors School, as he has for the past five years.

Mr Francis served with the Royal Engineers during the war and although he never saw active service he has many memories of war in the Salford Priors area.

He can remember German planes dropping bombs to lighten their load before heading back home and also watching the flames of Coventry Cathedral after it was bombed.

He is proud of the work of the Royal British Legion and said: "I wouldn't join because I was only a national serviceman and I had never done any fighting.

"It was only when I heard that the branch was nearly closing that I decided I would join and I'm glad I did because I've enjoyed taking the standard round.

"The Royal British Legion is important because of the job they are doing looking after ex-service personnel who need help."

He also believes it is important to continue the Remembrance Day tradition.

"It is not to glorify war but so people will remember that it happened and it could happen again."

As for his own future Mr Francis said: "I hope that I will be asked to go to the Royal Albert Hall next year because that will probably be my last chance."