@EDITRULE:

eaving the Bermuda Regiment after 26 years must surely be a gut-wrenching experience for the only man to have risen through the ranks of both Messes of the Bermuda Regiment to become its Commanding Officer.

Not so says the deeply spiritual Lt. Colonel Edward J. Lamb, TD, tacsc, whose four-year tenure at the top of the military tree ends in a colourful change-of-command ceremony at the National Sports Centre tomorrow evening.

"Tomorrow I will close this chapter in my life, and on Sunday morning I will turn the page and begin a new one. I believe that life is all about timing, and my time in this part of the Father's vineyard is coming to an end. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 says: 'To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven'."

Admitting that he has never been a man to "let the grass grow" under his feet, Col. Lamb will hardly pause for breath before departing on Monday to examine the merits of an overseas business venture in which he has been invited to become a partner. Shortly thereafter he will travel with his sons, 15-year-old Jordan and six-year-old Dakota (Bucky), to St. Kitts for a Test match. In July he will accompany the Under 19 national cricket team to Barbados as tour manager. A building project in St. David's will also keep him occupied, as well catching up on all the family and leisure time which his duties as Commanding Officer precluded.

But surely there will be some emotionalism as he bids farewell to army life?

"Of course there will," the Colonel says. "I will miss the personal interaction with the soldiers because I care deeply about these guys. I look at the bigger picture: these are young men in whose lives I have a vested interest."

While resolutely philosophical about becoming a permanent resident of civvy street, the once-reluctant recruit has no doubt that in the fullness of time his heavenly Father will guide him in terms of full-time employment.

"I have had quite a few prospects, and there are a few positions in Government in which I am interested. As of this date and time I have not received any firm offers in black and white, but I am not really bothered because I have 12 weeks' accumulated leave, so it will be September at least before I think about putting my feet under another desk."

Twenty-six years ago, like so many young Bermudian males facing compulsory service, citizen Lamb was not really interested in becoming involved, but he also reasoned that, since he would "almost certainly" be called up, it was better to volunteer than wait for the proverbial axe to fall, possibly when he was 23 or 24 years old.

"My concept of the Regiment was based on ignorance," he recalls. "Like many young soldiers, I was not aware of the opportunities the army provides: self-growth and fraternal friendships that last a lifetime among them. My life has been doubly enriched and blessed by the hordes of friendships I would otherwise not have made."

It didn't take the young recruit long to "see the light" It didn't take the young recruit long to "see the light" in terms of self-improvement, and he realised that here was a golden opportunity to acquire a host of life skills, including leadership, presentation, time-management and planning. which would stand him in good stead whatever his future.

Today, Col. Lamb credits three main influences with shaping the character of the man he has become: The army, the church, and the St. David's Community Cricket Club.

"Each one of them has a basic theme of service. Through the army it was serving my country; through the church it was serving my Creator, and through the cricket club it was serving the local community."

So it was that Private Lamb listened and learned, rising steadily through the ranks until, on July 6, 2002, he accepted the Sword of Command which he will relinquish to his successor, Lt.Col. William White, tomorrow.

Naturally, with so much accumulated knowledge and experience under his belt, Col. Lamb has many views to share, not least on the controversial issue of conscription, of which he remains an avowed supporter.

"Too many men in this country abdicate their responsibilities, so the army is an excellent place where young men can get together and benefit from the association with other men," he begins. "In serving their country we are trying to develop the character of our soldiers, and a man's greatest asset is his character. I would like to think that in my command I have been able to assist in that process."

In addition, Col. Lamb cites the greatly expanded opportunities available to today's soldiers as opposed to 26 years ago.

"We are looking to empower the men and equip them with life skills during their service ? but the soldier has to be willing and open-minded enough to take advantage of the opportunities," he says. "There are greater opportunities for travel and overseas courses, as well as Bermuda College scholarships. There are also a lot of things going on in the Regiment whereby they can gain certification. We now have certified EMT training; we sent men to Canada on a coxswain's course. We have a small boat troop who worked with the Jamaica Defence Force coast guard boats in January, and we are now negotiating with the Barbados Coast Guard to send guys down there to train on their vessels. In addition, we have run a culinary arts programme at the Bermuda College from which four have graduated, with another six expected to do so later this year."

Noting that Bermuda is "a very materialistic country so there is a lot of 'me, me, me syndrome' ", Col. Lamb stresses that not only is it the army's aim to "develop the whole person with a sense of service and selflessness", but also to inculcate in the soldiers "the concept of giving".

"The army represents the concept of giving on a grand scale," he says. Using as an analogy the Biblical parable of the mustard seed, he continues: "The rewards of military service are not always seen during the mandatory three years, but often blossom long after the soldiers have left. I believe the parable of planting the seed, tilling the soil, fertilising it and tending it is how we can improve our community. We are not going to turn around every single soldier because I think the social problems are so severe now that our influence on a weekly basis is not as strong as some of those outside the gates of Warwick camp. They come to us with a mixed bag of problems. Quite a few of our young men are engaged in all kinds of anti-social behaviour ? sitting on walls, not working, and all kinds of foolishness that detracts from this thing called Life."

Unmoved by the naysayers and bleeding-heart mammas who decry conscription, Col. Lamb simply says: "I don't expect people to always be supportive of me, or agree with me, but I do believe in the cause. What the Regiment does is of immense benefit to the country, and I am a prime example of that.

"Are we a perfect organisation? No, nobody is, but I think that what the Regiment does makes an invaluable contribution to this country, not just by providing a disciplined, organised body of men who can answer the call in times of need, but while we are training to perform our roles we are also shaping lives."

Indeed, it takes very little time to realise that Col. Lamb truly cares about every soldier under his command, and not only skilfully treads the fine line between meting out discipline and compassion, but also is prepared to go the extra mile to save some young men from themselves. He is particularly proud of one erstwhile deeply troubled young man from Ord Road who went from being in constant trouble with the Police, mixing with gangs, skipping military duty, and more to staying on in the Regiment, rising to Corporal, going on courses, and even sharing Christmas dinner with the Colonel and his family.

"Deep down he was a decent boy who just needed a man to show him some paternal guidance" is how his Commanding Officer puts it.

Happily married to Ruby ("my Queen"), and as a devoted father, Col. Lamb strongly believes that there is no more important role in life for a man than fatherhood. He has no time for the feckless males who spawn children but sit on walls, sell drugs, and worse.

"I tell the soldiers real fathers don't sit on walls. Real fathers don't want other people selling poison to people. Real fathers are home spending time with their children. We try to teach the soldiers to be responsible citizens, sons, employees ? and fathers."

Immensely proud of his own children, the Colonel notes that both ? without any influence from him ? are already showing signs of following in his footsteps.

"Jordan, a student at Berkeley, voluntarily joined the Regiment cadets, and 'Bucky' marches up and down the house saluting everybody. He's got a cracking halt and salute, and I haven't taught him anything! He stands outside the house when I leave in the morning and salutes me, and he is always putting on my hat."

In fact, Col. Lamb is "very much into children", and during his tenure regularly visited primary schools, where he was a popular figure sitting in classes, reading to the students, and taking them on field trips in a Regiment truck. In the immediate future, the soon-to-be civilian reels off a list of activities he plans to pursue: increased training in martial arts; learning to play the piano; hopefully starting a ministry in his church for adolescents aged ten to 16 to enhance their spiritual and mental development; and generally using the time "to do other things that are going to round out this person called Eddie Lamb".

In a final tribute to the men he commanded, Colonel Lamb says: "Most have served this country honourably. There are some really fine, decent, beautiful men in this battalion who are making a valuable contribution to Bermuda, both in and out of the Regiment, and I have been really blessed to have been given the honour of being their Commanding Officer."