It has been a long, long road from last September until now, and doubtless there have been times when the faith and patience of those who will represent Bermuda in the Edinburgh Tattoo have been seriously tested, but today you will not find one participant who wishes he or she wasn't going, or regrets the endless personal sacrifices which have been made to reach the necessary standard.

Instead, there is mutual agreement that not only are they facing the opportunity of a lifetime but also they are thrilled to be making history as the first Bermudians to participate in the world-famous event, and make no mistake: they intend to do themselves and their beloved Island proud.

In overall charge of preparations has been the indefatigable , the Bermuda Regiment's Director of Music, who is currently working 18-hour days and fully expects to up that to 20 hours before finally sinking into his British Airways seat to Scotland. Not only has he had to rehearse the , but also to weave together the overall tapestry which includes the and steel pan player into one synergetic whole.

And that is in addition to all the other details for which he is responsible - everything from choosing and arranging the music to rehearsing the overall repertoire to be performed by the massed bands.

Yet, like all those whom he leads, the Major is also excited about what lies ahead, and regards the many months of painstaking rehearsal and keeping everyone focused as a pleasure.

"This is a magnificent opportunity for the Bermuda contingent, and a credit to them for all their hard work. It is the first time the Regiment Band has worked closely with civilians, and it has been an absolute delight bringing them all together and seeing how easily they work together," Major Dill says. "I always remind them of the Regiment Band's motto: 'Work hard to play easy', and I've told them that the harder we work now the easier it will be on the other side."

Rehearsals, which are still continuing, began at Warwick Camp last September, and have been held on Monday evenings and all day on Saturdays. Most have been joint, with some extra rehearsals for the gombeys on Thursday evenings.

Like any good coach, Major Dill has been meticulous in pacing the rehearsals, and is satisfied that everything is going to plan.

"So far things are right on target, and when the curtain goes up and the baton falls on opening night on August 1 we should be at the crest," he says.

Prior to that moment, however, the Bermudians will undergo a week of intense rehearsals with their fellow participants, for which their days will begin at 7 a.m. and continue right through until 11.30 p.m.

"They will be very, very long days," Major Dill concedes, but like everyone else he's up for it.

"The closer we get the more energised I become," he says.

"It's like preparing for the Olympics, a lot of hard work but very exciting," says cornet player , who has been with the Regiment Band since 1975. The fact that he will be watched literally by millions of people around the world does not daunt him.

"Every performance we do is important, whether we are playing for 15 people or 15 million on television. We simply go out and do our best," he assures.

Equally unfazed is trombone player , a 12-year Regiment Band veteran who managed to cope with rehearsals for seven months of her pregnancy before taking time out to await the birth of her son Nathan in May.

"I wasn't sure if I was going to make it, but once you know your basic music it's pretty easy, and I am really excited," she smiles. "It is a good feeling to know I will be going."

Since Sgt. Benjamin is taking her baby son with her, arrangements have been made to provide a support system for him in her absence, and she is buoyed to know that family members are also travelling to Scotland to see her perform.

Although trombonist is no stranger to tattoos, having performed with the Regiment Band in Europe and North America, participation in the Edinburgh Tattoo is the fulfilment of a long-held ambition.

"It is the pinnacle of tattoos, you can't get any higher than that," he says. "Considering we are a population of only around 60,000 and yet can come up to the standard of far larger countries who have greater resources is a real feather in our cap."

An added source of pride for the 30-year Regiment Band veteran is the fact that his 14-year-old son, Boy Bandsman , who plays saxophone, will be sharing the glory just six months after joining the Band.

"Music runs in the family," says Sgt. Major Pitman, who also plays violin, piano and drums.

Fellow saxophonist, Boy Bandsman , is another talented 14-year-old who made the final cut and is eagerly looking forward to his first major event.

"It is the first time I have been in a big group or a major tattoo, but the only thing I'm worried about is the weather," he says. "Rehearsals have been long and tiring, but you get better every time and I like that. It pays off, and Major Dill is very inspiring to work with."

Seventeen-year-old trombonist, Junior Servicewoman , loves everything about being a military musician, and was surprised and delighted to be included in the Edinburgh line-up. She admits, however, that the magnitude of the opportunity still has not sunk in.

"It is a great feeling to be going, and I imagine it will be a lot of hard work, but everything will be great and it will be the experience of a lifetime," she says. joined the Regiment in 1975 and is the Band's bass drummer. A veteran of countless performances here and abroad, he is taking the Edinburgh engagement in stride, but is looking forward to cementing new friendships.

"I don't get excited. You go and get the job done, but it is always thrilling to interact with others and enjoy the camaraderie and friendship. I always look forward to that," he says. "This is the about the biggest event for us. After that, where can we go - up to heaven?"

Sergeant is equally confident that the Regiment Band is "definitely up to the challenge" and will acquit itself well.

"We are only as good as our weakest link, and our weakest link is pretty good," she says.

On a personal level, the euphonium player admits she can't wait.

"I am from the UK originally so I understand just how much it means to be in the Edinburgh Tattoo. I am excited, and it means an awful lot to me. I am also looking forward to having a tailor-made uniform."

Steel pan soloist is an accomplished professional musician who is as used to playing internationally as he is here at home. He regularly performs for the Department of Tourism, corporate business and private audiences, and his long career includes working for a variety of top cruise lines. In addition, he has toured the US, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, the South Pacific, the Caribbean and South America. He is also a recording artist whose third album, 'Tropicana Steel Pan Vol. 3', is due out shortly.

Like his fellow countrymen, Mr. Symons is eagerly looking forward to Edinburgh.

"I have never been part of anything of this magnitude, but I am going to go with an open mind. I can't even begin to imagine what it is going to be like, but I know it is a great opportunity. I will also be representing Bermuda, and I wouldn't want to pass that up."

In fact, Mr. Symons says he didn't think twice about accepting when Major Dill contacted him about participating.

"He told me that Brigadier Jameson (Chief Executive/Producer of the Edinburgh Tattoo) had heard me the previous year at the airport departure lounge and asked if I would be available. I didn't hesitate for a second."

Mr. Symons will be taking his distinctive custom-made, 1960s style steel pan with him, and will join his fellow Bermudians in fulfilling a number of pre-and post-Tattoo engagements (see separate story).

Gombey captain ? has spent long hours over many months working with the 15 dancers and 4 drummers making up the National Gombey Troupe, whose members have been drawn from all of the Island's gombey troupes.

A dancer with Place's Gombeys for over a quarter of a century, Mr. Place is steeped in its traditions and artistry, and is justifiably proud of the gombeys unique history. He sees them as a vehicle to express Bermuda's culture, way of life and persona, which he is anxious to share with the world through the Edinburgh tattoo.

Speaking on behalf of the National Gombey Troupe, their captain says: "We are very excited to be part of this very prestigious event. I am certainly looking forward to it myself, and we hope to do Bermuda proud. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take part, and we are all gung-ho and ready to go. Although there have been a lot of personal sacrifices, Bermuda will gain."

Mr. Place has travelled with Place's Gombeys since he was 15 to such places as the United States and Canada, and also travelled to Spain with the National Gombey Troupe for the start of the Bermuda leg of the Tall Ships race, where the reception they received was "overwhelming".

"The people were totally in awe of what they saw and were appreciative of the culture. It was an awakening for us," he says. "People all over the world have different cultures, and most of them have never seen anything like what the Bermuda gombeys have to offer. The rhythm of the drums is magnetic."

Mr. Place expects to have a similar effect on Edinburgh audiences. Meanwhile, he is busy preparing a new costume - a labour of love which also requires countless hours of intense creativity.