Bermuda will be represented on the streets of London this Saturday in the world’s oldest civic procession as soldiers of the Royal Bermuda Regiment join the annual Lord Mayor’s Show for the first time since 1984.

The RBR Band & Corps of Drums will fly to Britain on Wednesday, after the Remembrance Day parade, to accompany the Band of The Royal Yeomanry (Inns of Court & City Yeomanry) in a tradition that dates back to the 13th century.

The regiment will also feature in a concert entitled Carnival at the Guards’ Chapel of Wellington Barracks on November 19 and a Captain’s Inspection at Buckingham Palace on November 21, with training alongside other bands — including that of the Royal Military School of Music — between events.

The parade has its origins in an order by King John in 1215 granting that the City of London could appoint its own Mayor — but requiring the newly elected official to travel to Westminster for a pledge of loyalty to the King, with a colourful procession evolving around the occasion.

Captain Sheldon Fox II, the RBR Band Officer, said the band had been hard at work over the past couple of years and was now “ready to execute internationally”.

He added: “We’re preparing music that has a Bermuda and Caribbean feel and stretches the musicians — this is a great opportunity to switch our focus from being a marching band to working on more long-form pieces.

“This will be a reintroduction to the United Kingdom for us, a reintroduction to what the Royal Bermuda Regiment musical fraternity looks like.”

He said it was also an opportunity for development, particularly for younger musicians.

Junior Leader Corporal Liam Figureido, 16, a cornet player from Devonshire and pupil at The Berkeley Institute, said: “It’s a very big parade that I’ve watched multiple times throughout my life, and now I’m going to be in it.

“What’s impressive about it is the quality of the music while the band members also keep in step — it’s mesmerising and inspiring.”

Colour Sergeant Gerald Swan, who took part 42 years ago, will make a second appearance at the Lord Mayor’s Show and will even be wearing the same helmet as he did then.

The tuba player, from Pembroke, a customer service manager at Bermuda Container Line, recalled it as “a great experience”.

“I was 20 years old, just a youngster, and I was very inspired by some of the older persons in the band at that time — you’re there, you’re cold, you’re not wanting to do this, that and the other.

“However, I looked up to those people who were more senior to me and thought, if those persons at their age can do it, so can I. I have to show that same sort of thing now.”

Corporal Chanara Smith-Rookes, a piccolo and flute player who is a personal trainer in civilian life, looked forward to working alongside people with different skill sets.

The 27-year-old from St George’s, a member of the RBR band for almost ten years, said: “Even though we are a small country, we have a huge reach in that you can find Bermudians anywhere you travel.

“This will continue to showcase that our small island has a lot of talent within it and help further strengthen our connections.”