Bermuda has lost the incumbent president of the Leopard's Club and the Salvation Army band has lost a brilliant musician following the death of Frederick James Lewellyn Beach.

Mr. Beach's body was found at his home on Tuesday. He was 63 and had been suffering from illness for some time.

The fourth of nine children, Mr. Beach began his life in Orange Valley, Devonshire, as part of a large, warm and loving family.

As a boy he joined the Boy Scouts and when there committed himself to being a young soldier in the Salvation Army. He learned to play the trombone and played with the Hamilton Citadel Band.

In 1960 Mr. Beach left Bermuda for Canada to attend the Salvation Army Officer's College, in Toronto, and also spent six months in the Ryerson Institute.

He studied radio, television arts, and he obtained a diploma in social work before graduating with a bachelors degree in arts.

He then went to Moncton, New Brunswick to took a course in disaster training. There he met and married Nancy Steeves and they had one son, Gregory.

His family added that he received formal voice training and travelled across Canada as a soloist with a choir. They said he was known to croon ‘My Way' as well as and if not better than Frank Sinatra.

Mr. Beach worked as a social worker, probation officer, a court officer and a public relations officer, a Police officer, rental representative, assistant chief of security at Southampton Princess Hotel and director of security at the former Loews Bermuda Beach Hotel.

Former vice president of the Leopard's Club, Louis Reynolds knew Mr. Beach for more than 30 years.

“We go back a long ways and we served in different capacities outside the club,” said Mr. Reynolds.

“He only assumed the position in December and prior to that he was the executive secretary, on the bar committee and the Club's education committees and other things of that nature.

“He organised the Good Friday morning celebrations and he was a part of the Salvation Army. Freddy was a pretty well rounded guy.”

Mr. Reynolds said Mr. Beach was a former Det. Constable in the Bermuda Police Service and he became a special branch narcotics officer.

“He also worked for Wedco (West End Development Corporation) as a project manger up until about a year ago,” he said,

“He also worked with John Swan in the real estate division.

“He was a brother of the lodge (Hannibal #224). It is a real tragic loss to us. A few weeks ago we just noticed degradation in his movement, but he was not sick for long.”

Former employer and friend Sir John Swan said he was shocked and saddened by Mr. Beach's death.

“I had the good fortune of working with him,” said Sir John, “He was very dedicated and one of his great attributes was that people got on with him.

“He became more involved in community projects and the end result was that he was a chap that pushed himself a little hard.

“He was always willing to meet with you. He's left this little Bermuda a better place as a result of him being here.

“He is something for us to follow. He made a contribution. It's very sad.

“I extend my very deepest condolences to his family.”

His brother, Milliard Beach said Mr. Beach was an individual who loved life.

“Brother Freddy was someone who I looked up to with great respect,” said his brother.

“He was perfect when it came to friendship and he was a perfectionist when it came to music and singing,” Mr. Beach said.

“He was just a person who was very personable and someone you wont forget.

“He was a sincere and committed person. He loved to sing and was been a Salvation Army trombonist and went to Canada at 17 to a training camp to be a Salvationist. He had a great love of God and a commitment to Christ. Anyone who met him would not forget him.”

Mr. Beach is survived by his son Gregory Beach and numerous other relatives and friends.