Traffic jams and torrential downpours failed to dampen the spirits of nearly 5,000 spectators at the sold-out Bermuda Tattoo at the Royal Naval Dockyard on Friday and Saturday nights.

When The Royal Gazette visited the Tattoo on Friday night ? being held to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Bermuda Regiment ? some of the 2,300 spectators filing out of the Keep Yard said they were thoroughly impressed.

Ed Saunders said his favourite part of the Tattoo was seeing the Bermudian music directors so excellently coordinate a gigantic Massed Military Band.

?It was an excellent show,? Mr. Saunders said. ?It was well put together and organised. I?m proud of Bermuda that we can do something of that magnitude.?

Spectator Emily Burgess also said she thoroughly enjoyed the Tattoo.

?It was very enlightening,? Ms Burgess said. ?I liked the combined group. I am proud of our Regiment and overall it was fantastic.?

Ms Burgess said although the spectacular final fireworks were beautiful, the cannonade during the 1812 overture ? which was heard all over the Island ? was overwhelming.

?It jolted my chest a few times because they were so loud,? she said.

The Tattoo was deemed a success by bagpipers of the 14 Wing Greenwood from Nova Scotia and the Ottawa Police Force Pipe Bands.

The piper who played Amazing Grace while standing alone on the ramparts of Commissioner?s House, was Canadian Police Sgt. Brad Hampson.

?It was fantastic,? Sgt. Hampson said. ?We are from Ottawa, Canada with the Ottawa Police Service Pipes and Drums. We came down to help these guys out celebrate the anniversary of Bermuda. We have been shown great hospitality. We had a great time here and are looking forward to another great show tomorrow.?

Piper Bonnie Langille said it was great to perform at the historic Tattoo.

Ms Langille ? who is now based in Bermuda ? said she enjoyed playing with the 14 Wing Greenwood from Nova Scotia again.

?That was actually the band I used to play for in Halifax,? she said. ?They were here, so it was great to catch up with those guys. When pipes are involved we?re all one band and it?s great, it?s a great bunch of people. I thought it turned out really well.?

The Canadian pipers stood shoulder to shoulder with the Bands of the Jamaica Defence Force, The Bands and Bugles of the Light Division (UK), The Schiehallen Dancers (Canada), The Bermuda Islands Pipe Band, The Band and Corps of the Bermuda Regiment and The Bermuda National Gombey Troupe.

The last time a military Tattoo had been held in Bermuda was 48 years ago in 1957.

Spectator Kathleen Tatum, 83, said she wanted to see the 2005 Tattoo because she had enjoyed the last one at BAA field in 1957.

Neil and Phyllis Virgil said the Tattoo brought the whole community together and was well attended by seniors.

All of the spectators felt the Bermuda Tattoo should be a regular event, however, it was not known last night whether the Island would have to wait another 48 years to see another one.

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