IT MAY be almost 50 years since they first formed but Cirencester group Tambourine will be rolling back the years when it reforms for a one-off concert next month.

The reunion concert, on January 15, is being held in aid of Cancer Research UK and in honour of band stalwart Mal Short who has been diagnosed with a terminal form of the disease.

Mal, a well-known face on the Cirencester music scene, was dealt the devastating blow by doctors that he might not see Christmas when he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer back in June.

He joined his first band, the Rebel Rousers, in 1957 aged 15. They enjoyed some great successes, even supporting The Beatles on three occasions.

Then in the 1960s drummer Mal joined local lads Ian Duncan, Bill Eteson and Kim Blackwell to form Tambourine.

The group spent 30 years together before calling it a day and also enjoyed great success, supporting the likes of Billy Fury, Marty Wilde and Acker Bilk.

They will reform for the fundraising gig at Hoburn Cotswold holiday park in South Cerney next month.

Friends and family have rallied around Mal and have persuaded several other local bands to reform for the one-off charity gig including Dealer, Stone Cold Sober and Slightly Older Bones.

Mal said he hopes to be well enough to get on stage with his former band mates. He said: "I haven't played really for three years. I have my good days and I hope to get on those drums once more.

"I have to go for treatment nearly everyday and the waiting room is just full of people. It opens your eyes just how much cancer there is.

"It was a shock when I was diagnosed. I went for a CT scan and they were looking for something else, so it came totally out of the blue when they told me that they'd found a tumour and it was incurable."

Lifelong friend Jim Vincent is spearheading plans for the concert - A Night of Musical Mayhem - and has set up the charity Cymbals to raise money and awareness for Cancer Research UK.

Jim has himself seen first-hand the tragedy cancer can cause when he lost his own sister to the disease several years ago. And now that best friend Mal has been struck down by the illness, Jim has made it his personal mission to raise awareness.

He said: "Such is the strength of the disease and its indiscriminate nature that it simply doesn't matter whether you are young or old, rich or poor, black or white or even purple with yellow spots, be assured cancer will affect your life.

"And when a life has been touched by the ravages of cancer it changes you forever and transforms the way you think.

"You just feel absolutely helpless when a loved one has cancer. You can feel that they're just so petrified and you don't know what to do.

"If we can raise enough money just to save one life or make someone’s life longer then we have succeeded."

Dozens of Cotswold businesses have pledged their support for the gig by providing prizes for a raffle to be drawn on the night.

Tickets to the concert also include a voucher for a half-price treatment at Holmes Beauty at Cirencester Leisure Centre.

They cost £15 and include food. Check out wiltsglosstandard.co.uk for where to purchase tickets.