Royal Navy are only a month away.

The white ensign will not be lowered for the last time at HMS Malabar until March 31. But by then, there will only be five families still at the West End Base, so closing ceremonies are being held from February 16 to 20, to coincide with the visit of the West Indies Guard Ship HMS Broadsword .

Broadsword arrives in Hamilton on February 16. That night, a Royal Marine Band will stage a Beat Retreat Ceremony in front of the frigate, which will be open to the public during the visit.

Another highlight is a Royal Navy Bicentennial Parade on Front Street on February 18.

"We're trying to be generally positive about it, and celebrate the 200 years in Bermuda, rather than constantly talking about the closure of Malabar,'' said Commander Robin Bawtree, Malabar's Commanding Officer since October of 1992. A Royal Navy Guard from Broadsword is to march in the parade.

Hamilton Mayor the Rt. Wor. William Boyle will host a reception, and that night the Royal Marine Band will perform a free concert at Number One Shed.

On Sunday, February 19, a commemorative service is planned at the Anglican Cathedral.

That night, Vice Admiral Jonathan Todd, Deputy Commander of the Royal Navy Fleet, will host a reception for dignitaries, followed by a final military ceremony at the Wedco Clocktower. It will involve the Royal Marine Band and the Bermuda Regiment Band and conclude with a lowering of the white ensign.

"We hope lots of people will turn out to watch that,'' Commander Bawtree said. "That really will be the climax of our events.'' Although the Royal Navy first established a base in Bermuda at St. George's in 1795, development of Dockyard did not start until 1809, after the Royal Navy purchased 141 acres taking in Ireland Island, Boaz Island, and Watford Island for 42,000.

The name Malabar comes from the Malabar Coast at the southwestern tip of India. The first ship Malabar was a troop ship that moved between England and India. Subsequent ships became associated with Bermuda.

When the Royal Navy pulled out in 1951, it returned all the Base lands to Bermuda and later leased back the smaller portion it now holds. Today, Malabar takes in just 27 acres, including the Dockyard. Most of the 49 buildings were built of stone in the mid-19th century.

The West End Development Corporation is studying what to do with the lands and buildings returned. Besides 1,000 feet of deep-water jetty, assets include the seven-bedroom Commanding Officer's residence not-so-aptly named "The Cottage''. Behind it is a small hall for English bowling called "skittle,'' where the names of Prince Charles and Prince Andrew are among those scrawled on the wall.

Since 1965, the Base has housed 30 British families at any given time.

Other buildings include the Executive Officer's residence called The Bungalow, accommodations at Prince Albert Terrace, administrative offices, clubs, a carpentry shop, and other workshops and garages.

There is also a squash court, a children's playground, a swimming area, two new tennis courts, soccer and rugby pitches, and a volleyball area.

"I think they'll still be used as West End sports facilities,'' Commander Bawtree said. "Island Rangers have this as their home ground. I hope that will continue.'' Malabar's main role has been to support ships of the Royal Navy, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and other friendly countries. About 30 to 40 ships visit Malabar each year. Fuel and supplies were taken on, and minor repairs performed.

There are plenty of signs of the more bustling past. Just inside the main gate along the waterfront is a guardhouse in front of three small cells, where sailors who returned late to their ships would be locked up. They were last used 40 to 50 years ago.

Commander Bawtree has sought to involve Malabar in the wider community.

Lefroy House was adopted by Malabar, and two summer fairs held at the Base have raised $20,000 for the charity. And sailors from Malabar have helped Maritime Museum director Dr. Edward Harris clean up old cannons on the ramparts.

As Resident Naval Officer, Commander Bawtree has also represented the Royal Navy at various functions.

With the Base closing, longtime employees like housekeeper Mrs. Lorraine Glasgow (24 years) and secretary Mrs. Kay Harvey (27 years) are among about 20 Bermudians who will be out of work.

"It's people like Mrs. Glasgow and Mrs. Harvey who have provided the continuity,'' Commander Bawtree said. "They've given fantastic service over the years. Sadly, they've got to look for other jobs.'' "It will be a tremendous change,'' Mrs. Harvey said. "I never thought this would happen.'' Most Bermudians worked outside the RN administration in the Dockyard area.

While there may one day be jobs for them at Wedco, "I think until they decide what they're going to do with the whole set-up, they won't know who they actually want to employ.'' As well as employing civilians, Malabar has helped the economy in other ways, he said. "Ships come and change a lot of money with us,'' he said. Not long ago, a RN ship arrived and exchanged 30,000 for Bermudian dollars. "We didn't get anything back.'' While the number of ships will decline for a variety of reasons, ships will continue to visit, and "I think things will work perfectly satisfactorily,'' he said. Royal Navy ships visit many ports around the world where they do not have a presence.

"When they've got a big visit, they may send an officer ahead two or three days.'' A lot of equipment has already been sent back to England, much of it last month aboard the store ship Fort Victoria . Other furniture, equipment, vehicles and boats are being sold in Bermuda. Some has been donated -- tents to Lefroy House and the Scouts, hurricane boxes to the Bermuda Regiment.

Commander Bawtree first visited Bermuda in 1963, aboard HMS Torquay . "The thing that struck me was the turquoise, translucent water and the change of colour as you come in over the reef,'' he said. "That stuck in my mind.'' Due to leave the Navy when he turns 53, Commander Bawtree says he will be looking for a new career himself when he returns to England with his wife Anne, sone Michael, 19, and daughter Clare, 17.

Malabar will be gone but not forgotten. Dr. Harris has promised to open a Malabar Room in Commissioner's House once it is completed. "A lot of artifacts will go there,'' Commander Bawtree said.

MALABAR REMEMBERED -- HMS Malabar Commanding Officer Robin Bawtree, who is leaving Bermuda when the Royal Navy Base closes on March 31, poses with crests from some of the many ships that have visited the Base.