AFTER 33 years of dedicated service to the Bermuda Regiment, Director of Music Major Barrett Dill is set to retire in 2005.

The Mid-Ocean News learned yesterday that Mr. Dill's present assistant, Dwight Robinson, will be his successor.

Major Dill joined the Bermuda Regiment in 1970 and in 1988 was elevated to the post of Band Master before rising further up the ranks to assume his present position in 1992.

The long-serving officer, who rates last July's world-famous Military Tattoo in Edinburgh, Scotland as one of the highlights of his illustrious career, last week received the Bermuda Regiment's Most Outstanding Officer Award for 2003.

"After 33 years of service to the Bermuda Regiment I believe I've made my contribution, and as for my personal philosophy I do not mark time as I've reached the ceiling that I can achieve at the Regiment and it is now time to march on," he explained.

Mr. Dill said time was nearing to close the chapter on his regimental career and begin another in the civilian world.

As for his successor, Dill said: " Mr. Robinson has successfully graduated from the Royal Military College of Music in London and he is now officially in the post of Band Master of the Bermuda Regiment." Mr. Robinson, who joined the Regiment in 1984, was installed in the post of Band Master last October.

Major Dill added: "At the moment my retirement is slated for 2005 which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Bermuda Regiment. I've spent more than half of my lifetime in uniform and so it will be a very emotional moment for me when I do retire."

Mr. Robinson, meanwhile, has yet to fathom his recent appointment as Band Master, let alone succeeding Major Dill in two years' time.

"That's still a bit far down the road but as far as my present appointment is concerned I am obviously happy to be back," he said. The long-serving band member has been away studying in the UK for the past three years.

He added: "I didn't specifically start out with this view when I started my military career in 1984, but is something that became a bit more appealing to me over the years. And here I am as the new Band Master."

Mr. Robinson, praising Major Dill, said: "I'm quite happy to be in the post and working along with Major Dill, who I stress is not retiring yet. "There are many people that are of the opinion that the new kid is on the block and so the old director has to be immediately done away with, which is not actually the case."