MARVELLOUS! Excellent! Those are the words that stick in the mind when trying to sum up the gala weekend launching the Somerset Brigade Band's (SBB) 75th anniversary celebrations.

A Festival of Music highlighted it on Saturday night, followed the next morning by an impressive march from the Bandroom to St. James Church for a divine worship service. After the service the band marched to Willowbank Resort for lunch and an awards presentation.

The band draws its membership from all over the island, and that's from whence friends and supporters journeyed to participate in the well planned and beautifully executed activities.

Sharing the spotlight in the music festival were, of course, the SBB under its bandmaster Major Leslie Lowe, who took over five years ago when he retired from the Bermuda Regiment as its Director of Music; the 130-year-old North Village Band, which after a slump signalled to loud applause, it's in an advanced state of reviving its old glory under the direction of another retired Bermuda Regiment Director of Music, Major Kenneth S. (Toki) Dill; the Divisional Band of the Salvation Army under conductor Bandmaster Warren Jones; and the Allen Temple Senior Choir directed by Dion Flash.

At the luncheon, places of honour at the head table were occupied by the band's president, Alan (Jimmy) Tucker, 92-year-old tenor saxophonist Russell (Riski) Robinson, and his niece Mrs. Myra Bristol, who is president of the band's Women's Auxiliary.

Mr. Robinson is the last survivor of the musicians who formed the band 75 years ago. He related how it happened.

Christmas in 1929 was approaching when it became known that 'The Warwick Band' would not be available for its long tradition of 'marching the Shepherds (Friendly Society members)' to St. James Church for a midnight Christmas Eve service.

So a group of public-spirited musicians in the parish decided they would fill the void. They included Clifton Robinson (Riski's brother) Cecil (Pot) Gilbert and John Davis, each of whom headed their own popular dance orchestras.

Their efforts were so enthusiastically received, they decided to stick together and form a band. On February 12, 1930, SBB was formally established. Elected president and bandmaster was Arthur Knight (who lived to be over 100 years old).

He held the office for four years, when 'Pot' Gilbert became bandmaster from 1934 to 1967. Alan (Jimmy) Tucker followed Gilbert from 1967 to 1998. He now holds the office of band president, having been succeeded as bandmaster by Major Lowe. Current assistant bandmaster is Maxwell (Maxi) Maybury.

THE festival was under the distinguished patronage of Premier Alex Scott and his wife Olga. He was unsparing in his praise of SBB for having grown from its modest beginnings into the respected Bermudian institution it is, providing opportunities to Bermudians of all ages to reach their musical potential.

For 75 years, the Premier observed, SBB has delighted crowds both locally and internationally with renditions spanning the musical genre from jazz to hymns.

Premier Scott was obviously appreciative of the fact that Major Lowe, recognising that the Premier is a Bob Marley fan, deviated from the structured programme to render a Bob Marley selection, to the delight of the audience.

Major Lowe got the immediate attention of the overflow audience, when precisely on time, the band opened the programme with a spirited rendition of Celebration, a fanfare he composed. The tempo was maintained for the next two hours, concluding with the Somerset Brigade March (Past), another Lowe composition, and the national anthem.

In between, each of the three bands rendered its own selections, including The Lion King and Phantom of the Opera. And they combined for the march Fame & Glory, and The Battle Hymn of the Republic. Clive Francis and Toni Robinson sang solos.

ALSO at the luncheon, Culture & Community Affairs Minister Dale Butler presented awards for valued service to the band to Riski Robinson, Freddie Tucker, Hadley Edwards, Donald Lapsley, Albert Philpot, L. Frederick Bean, Hubert Simmons and Valen Simmons. Some interesting reminiscences were forthcoming from many of the recipients.

Singled out for 25 years' service were Wilbur Brangman, Robert Lambe, Shaun Bailey and Elliott Perinchief. For 30 years, Jerome Crockwell; Clarence Dill, 40 years; Garon Bulford, Reginald Tucker and Maxwell Maybury, 45 years; and for 50 years to the president and former bandmaster 'Jimmy' Tucker.

An interesting highlight of the festival was the cutting by Mr. Robinson and President Tucker of a four-foot-square cake that took Mrs. Juliette Jackson two days to make.

A number of other events including a tour to the Far East are being planned to celebrate SBB's 75th anniversary. The band has already marched in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City, toured Canada three times and London once.