The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) Band will, on Sunday, celebrate 120 years of making music.

At a news conference yesterday, the band announced that throughout the year it will be carrying out a series of events to celebrate the anniversary, starting off with a church service at the Church of God of Prophecy Tabernacle, East Street.

After that, there will be a parade of bands from several communities within the country, including the RBPF Band.
Superintendent Ronald Campbell said this will be an event for the entire family to come out and celebrate the milestone.

“This will be historic as it will be the first time that different bands representing the different islands of The Bahamas will all share one platform,” he said.

“More significantly, one member from each of the bands will have an opportunity to perform on stage as a member of the RBPF Band.”

Superintendent Campbell said it is important that young Bahamians see a place for themselves in the band and the police force.

The institution, established in 1893, started off with 12 civilians and eight police officers by Commandant F.C. Halkett, who in his annual police report for that year, stood before The Bahamas’ Assembly and said that he was “successful in forming certain members of the force into a band sufficiently creditable to be able to perform once a week for the amazement of the public, and which has become a public institution.”

The band saw its humble beginnings on September 3, 1958 with the arrival of Superintendent Dennis Morgan, who brought with him a wealth of experience which then produced the annual Beat Retreat.
Superintendent Morgan is credited with introducing the band to the world.

Since then the band has grown to an 87-member band.
Superintendent Campbell said he is happy to see the band progressing in the way that it is.

“It is my desire to further enhance the rich legacy left behind by encouraging others to continue that great work,” he said.
The RBPF Band is scheduled to visit one school each month of the year where they will be speaking to the students and handing out paraphernalia on the band.

Superintendent Campbell also announced that during the month of September the band will be featured on all of the nation’s postage stamps and will also stage an exhibition in the main foyer of the main post office.

On November 27, the band will host a celebratory ball at the Wyndham Crystal Palace Resort.

The event will end with the band’s annual classical concert and Beat Retreat.
Sunday’s church service begins at 3:00 p.m.