After 130 years of serving the island’s needs, The Salvation Army is celebrating community support with a weekend of public celebrations.

Captain Alfred Esdaille, area commander, announced that commemorations begin at 12.30pm tomorrow with a proclamation from the steps of City Hall in Hamilton.

Territorial leaders for The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda will join dignitaries including Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, with Michael Branco, the Mayor of Hamilton, Ed Christopher, the town crier and Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors.

Celebrations continue on Saturday at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts at CedarBridge Academy, with a reunion of people whose lives have been touched by the organisation to be held from 5pm in the foyer.

The charity said: “So many people are connected to The Salvation Army either through attending Sunday School, Brownies, Girl Guides, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, youth groups, Singing Company, church or have been a recipient, donor or volunteer of community services offered.

“This is a time to reunite with friends and neighbours. There will be a photo booth where you can capture these reunions. Lots of old photos will be on display to reminisce over.”

It will be followed at 6pm with a free 130th anniversary concert.

The show will be provided with The Salvation Army and Royal Bermuda Regiment bands, joined by various singers and an anniversary timbrel brigade.

Flying in from Canada for the occasion is Kevin Hayward, a guest brass trombone soloist and Bermudian Salvationist.

On Sunday, the charity will hold a march through Hamilton starting at 9am on the corner of Front Street and Court Street, to call upon various sites of its history in Bermuda.

It will finish at the North Street Citadel, where a public anniversary worship service starts at 10am.

The church-based charity began operations in Bermuda in 1896, providing food and shelter along with community outreach and addiction counselling.