TWO old school friends who performed in the 1958 National Eisteddfod percussion band met each other for the first time in more than 40 years after reading a story in the Argus about the flower girls from the same year reuniting.

Richard White and Colin Lewis were part of the Glyncoed Junior School percussion band who won a competition at the Valleys spectacular.

The pair remained friends throughout their teens, but lost contact after Mr Lewis began an international adventure as a professional musician on cruise ships.

After falling in love with Brittany during his trips around the world, he moved there in 2003, while former Oakdale Comprehensive School teacher Mr White made his home in Cwmcarn.

The childhood best friends had an emotional reunion when Mr Lewis came across for a short trip to see his family and they agreed to meet up, but it may never have happened had Mr White not read the story in the Argus last month.

"I had no plans to contact him until I saw the story but because I had his number I thought I might as well give him a call," he said.

Describing their day together as "nostalgic", Mr White said his musically talented friend remembered the tune from 1958 and sat playing it on his piano.

"We chatted about school, the people we knew and his time on cruise ships,"

Mr White added.

Despite not playing a pivotal role on the triangle, the 61-year-old said he was "thrilled to bits" that their band triumphed over one other to claim the prize.

"I quite liked the look of the triangle - it was silvery and nice," he joked.

The two friends could not be more different, as after playing the castanets at the 1958 event, Mr Lewis has enjoyed a career which has spanned 26 years.

Although the bass guitar player will miss this year's National Eisteddfod, Mr White plans to attend with his wife Carol.

Thousands are expected to decend on the site for his year's event which begins on July 31.