It was during his teenage years in England, that John Campbell first developed a love for piano music and impressionist art.But his passion for all things creative really started to accelerate after coming to the Island, as a legal associate with Appleby, in 1968.He began acting on stage with the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society in the early 1970s; a decade or so later he became the society’s president.Before that he was invited to become a member of the Bermuda Arts Council and he eventually stepped into the role of chairman of the Menuhin Foundation, where he remained for 30 years.Mr Campbell said: “I found there were more opportunities here to become involved with the arts. That’s the thing about Bermuda if you have the interest there is an opportunity to pursue that interest.“If one is prepared to commit to helping in some way then you find people quite keen to take advantage of that.”It’s due to this passion and commitment to the arts that a new Bank of Bermuda Foundation scholarship has been erected.The John D Campbell award will provide $30,000 annually for a student educated in the performing or visual arts, including dance, music, theatre and opera.Mr Campbell, the recently retired board chairman of HSBC Bank Bermuda Limited, said there was previously little in the way of financial support for arts students.When he was told board members wanted to name a scholarship after him, it was clear to him the money should benefit a young person in this area.“I just felt that given the challenging economic times, and we are certainly experiencing this now, the arts and culture are the first to suffer from cutbacks.“Not only that, but I felt Bermuda has some extraordinarily talented young people and to some extent the opportunities available to them in terms of pursuing a career are much more limited then they would be in a larger community.”He said the scholarship served to benefit young people passionate about pursuing a career in the arts, but who were of modest means and not otherwise able to do so.“[For them] it may have been simply unthinkable to take advantage of an opportunity to pursue what they really wanted and really loved. And I just felt that here was a large gap in what was available to help children out there looking for a way in life,” he explained.Mr Campbell said it was an emotional experience when the scholarship was first announced at the bank’s chairman’s dinner earlier this year.“My children were so excited and moved by the thought that something like this was created and it was generally well received,” he said.“I am hoping when this becomes general news it will create pleasure and excitement and will be recognised as offering opportunities that simply have not been there in the past.”Mr Campbell said he hoped the scholarship would attract scores of applicants next March — with the first award being handed out in the 2013/2014 academic year.The 69-year-old will not be involved with the application process, but plans to meet and get to know the successful student at some point.Over the years, Mr Campbell said he has been richly rewarded by his dedication to the arts. Through the Menuhin Foundation, he brought in scores of “talented and professional” music teachers and has seen thousands of local children taught to use string instruments like violins, cellos and violas.He said his role with the foundation was “one of the most rewarding experiences of my life”.He also served as the director of the Bermuda Festival of Performing Arts for a number of years; and as an art patron and sponsor with the Masterworks Foundation and Bermuda National Gallery.Mr Campbell became so heavily involved with arts charities because “it seemed so very worthwhile and was something that was very much needed”.In addition to the arts, he was committed to his full-time career. By 1987, he had reached the level of senior partner at Appebly, where he eventually retired from in July 2003.Mr Campbell also worked as a director for HSBC for 25 years and served as the bank's chairman for the last seven. He retired from that post this past May.More than anything, he said he hopes he has led by example in his career and been able to add something of value to other people’s lives.“Someone once said to me after I retired from Appleby that ‘Mr Campbell I learned so much from you and you showed me what was possible and helped me realise my potential’.“The fact is when you are in a senior position you don’t necessarily know the impact you have on those around you who you are responsible, both the good and bad impact.“But it has been very rewarding to learn the impact I had for the most part was a positive one — and that in a sense is a legacy. During the course of my professional career I worked very hard and believe that it was obvious that I cared for those whom I was responsible and I was interested in them and their future.”For more information about the Bank of Bermuda Foundation’s scholarships contact Kim Pratt on 299-5394 or kim.pratt@hsbcpb.com.