By Sara WestheadThe Friends of St Peter’s Church in St George’s will host their annual service of remembrance for Pilot James (Jemmy) Darrell next Saturday.Each year, the Friends of St Peter’s host the memorial service for Pilot Darrell, which includes a service at St Peter’s, followed by a boat ride from Ordnance Island out to Murray’s Anchorage to lay a wreath.This year, however, will mark a new addition to the ceremony, as the priest in charge, Rev. W. David Raths, will fly, for the first time, a special pennant, bestowed upon the church when it was officially received the title Their Majesties Chappell during a special ceremony held last month.The pennant is to be flown on any boat bearing the priest in charge, whenever he is serving in an official capacity.Mr Darrell, then a slave, was one of the very first King’s pilots, a group of men selected for their skill and knowledge of local waters to assist with the first comprehensive marine survey of the island by Thomas Hurd, and then to help navigate Royal Navy ships in and out of Bermuda’s treacherous reef system.During that survey, Mr Hurd marked a new channel, allowing ships a new access point at the eastern end of the island, and on May 17, 1795, Mr Darrell became the very first pilot to manoeuvre a ship Rear Admiral Murray’s HMS Resolution into the anchorage now known as Murray’s Anchorage, on the North Shore near Tobacco Bay, St George’s.Mr Darrell’s skill so impressed rear Admiral Murray, that he recommend that the Government purchase Mr Darrell’s freedom as an example, which he received on March 1, 1796.The memorial service will take place beside Pilot Darrell’s gravesite at the St Peter’s Church graveyard, beginning at 5pm, and will be followed by a procession, including members of the Sea Cadets and local pilots, to Ordnance Island, from which boats will depart for Murray’s Anchorage.