When the last strains of the school hymn rise in crescendo at final assembly in St. John's Church on Friday, it will mark the end of an era for Saltus Grammar School.

The teacher who came to Bermuda, bolstered in the belief that "music hath charms to soothe a savage beast'' and has devoted his life to doing just that for the past 24 years, is retiring from his post as head of the music department at Saltus Grammar School.

The good news is that Mr. William (Bill) Duncan will be staying in Bermuda, where he will continue as organist and choirmaster for St. John's Parish Church and, in September, will begin a new career in private teaching, offering tuition in piano, organ, theory and composition.

His unswerving belief in the importance of music in all our lives, tested though it must have been on many occasions, clearly has some validity, for there are now several generations of Bermudians who would be the first to admit that it was Bill Duncan who introduced them to the eclectic world of music (his lessons embrace the Beatles as well as Beethoven).

Some of them got to like it so much they can be heard today in countless groups, singing and playing classical, jazz and pop all over the Island. Some even followed in their master's footsteps, going off to obtain degrees and becoming professional musicians.

Even those boys who remained firmly deaf to music's allure, found their lives were touched by the teacher who, though a hard taskmaster, wasn't averse to the impromptu party after a gruelling band practice, took them off on school trips, and provided their employers with character references.

He remembered the names of not only a chap's brothers and sisters, but his aunts and uncles as well -- and inquired solicitously and regularly after all of them. Some, of course, will wince still, as they remember certain vocal expressions of displeasure when a week of delayed piano practice became horribly apparent to his finely attuned and impossible-to-deceive ears.

But a remarkable number of former students, musicians or no, invite him to their weddings (often asking him to play the nuptial strains), persuade him to be godfather to their children -- and then send those offspring off to explore with him those mysteries of contrapuntal and chromatic chords.

Now, he has decided the time has come for others to carry on the school's musical revolution which he, almost single-handed, set in motion almost a quarter of a century ago.

"Saltus Senior School was a very different place then. I was the first music teacher and we had to wait until 1971 to appoint an art teacher.

Subjects such as economics, business studies, accounting, humanities, technology and design were all unheard of. We have come a very long way since then. The other big recent change is the school's move towards complete co-education,'' he recalls.

By 1971, Mr. Duncan had assembled one flute, six trumpet and six clarinet instrumentalists from which the school band was formed. Specialist woodwind and brass teachers were employed and Saltus now also has a string orchestra of 25 players.

He is justifiably proud that many of his students passed Grade 8 of the Royal Schools of Music examinations, with Jason Semos recently receiving a Performer's Diploma, a qualification that is normally only achieved after three years in music college. He is also the first to pay homage to the influence of the Menuhin Foundation which he believes has raised music to new standards throughout the Island's schools.

Mr. Duncan was the founder of the Saltus Concert Society where, under his baton, school students and local musicians regularly join forces to provide concerts that are distinguished by the quality and scope of their musical variety.

The impetus to leave England for what Bill Duncan thought would be "a short spell'' in Bermuda, was an advertisement in the Times Educational Supplement, requesting the services of a music teacher who would also be responsible for the music at St. John's Parish Church. For the accomplished organist "it seemed the perfect combination. And I felt the weather would have to be an improvement on Yorkshire, where I was teaching at the time'' (at King's Grammar School in Pontefract).

He says the reason he stayed on here was a combination of Saltus itself, St.

John's -- institutions he obviously loves -- and the quality of friendship he found on the Island.

Most of the friendships made in those early years have lasted, and if this entails traipsing off during the long summer vacations to renew some of them in remote corners of the world, Mr. Duncan is not complaining. In fact, after music, travelling is his second passion.

It was a habit that began early if life. Although he was born in Scotland, he was brought up and attended schools in Sri Lanka and Malta. He studied music at the University of Leeds and went on to obtain the highest diploma of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM).

"Obviously, I have mixed feelings about leaving Saltus, but I think 24 years is long enough in one job. It's time for a change of pace! One of the reasons I'm retiring is that I would like to have time to pursue other interests, like personal practice, playing chamber music with friends, reading, taking a computer course. Having time to see my friends.'' One of those early friendships which is unlikely to falter is that with Marjorie and Tony Pettit: "Marjorie and I were both teaching the same subject in the same school and I am godfather to one of their sons. After we had known each other for about ten years, we discovered that we are cousins!'' They had never met in their native Scotland.

Last week, more than a hundred of his fellow teachers, musicians and friends organised a surprise cruise party for him.

Poking gentle fun at the colleague who has earned something of a reputation for his frenetic lifestyle, long-time friend and P.E. teacher Mr. Jon Beard, observed in his short tribute: "Bill has, of course, lived here for many years. One rumour around school is that he was on the Sea Venture -- was, in fact, steering the Sea Venture . Apparently he missed catching Patience and Deliverance to Jamestown because he had two weddings, five funerals, a christening and dinner at the Pettits on that day.'' Saltus will indeed seem strangely quiet in September for those who have grown used to hearing that great basso profondo laugh reverberate through its corridors and classrooms.

Saltus headmaster Mr. Keith McPhee says he knows he speaks for all of his staff when he says, "Of course, he will be greatly missed -- after 24 years it is very sad to lose someone who has been so good for Saltus. But fortunately, he lives just up the hill so we are hoping he will still maintain some involvement with our music.'' Part of that involvement is Mr. Duncan's popular Carols for All, and an annual joint effort between Saltus and St. John's.

"We are hoping that he will continue that,'' says Mr. McPhee. "I suppose there does come a time in life when we need a change and Bill believes that time has come for him. All of us here wish him every happiness and success.'' THE LAST CHORD -- Mr. William Duncan retires this week from Saltus Grammar School where he has been Head of Music for the past 24 years.