On January 26, 1971 Barrett Dill walked into Warwick Camp and joined the Bermuda Regiment as a Boy Bandsman. Little did he imagine that, thirty years later, he would be its Music Director, and rejoice in the title Major Barrett Dill, A.V.C.M., E.M.

Major Dill's progress to the top of his military career did not come automatically, or even easily. Behind today's title lie many years of study, dedication and hard work. Not that the Major regrets a day of it, for it seems he was born with music in his veins.

His father was a trumpet player, and his older brother, Kenneth, was first a clarinet player in the Regiment Band, and ultimately its Director of Music.

Little Barrett began his musical journey at the age of nine as a member of the North Village Junior Band, where he played bugle and trumpet. When he joined the Regiment as a boy bandsman at brother Kenneth's suggestion, it was as a cornet player. By age 14 young Barrett's progress was such that not only was he invited to join the Regiment's senior band but also he became the lead cornet player.

Along with his fellow musicians, the talented teen was required to travel wherever the Band had engagements, including abroad.

"Travelling all over the world was very exciting, but special letters had to be written to the headmaster of Berkeley Institute, Mr. Freddie Furbert, seeking repetitive leave,'' he recalls. "My very first trip out of the Island was to Jamaica with the Regiment, and my eyes were opened in a wondrous way!'' Following his graduation from Berkeley, Major Dill elected to retain his Regimental connection, and at age 18 completed the statutory recruit camp. He also became the youngest Lance Corporal at the same age.

"From there the thirst for learning got me, and I continued with my education, both academic and musical,'' he relates. "Following my graduation from Bermuda College I attended Walsall Technical College in Britain where I studied telecommunications, and when I returned to Bermuda I resumed my association with the Regiment.'' In July 1980, Barrett Dill said good-bye to civvy street and joined the Regiment's permanent staff with the rank of Colour Sergeant. It wasn't long before he was off on a four-month course at the Royal Marine School of Music in Deal, Kent -- a move that would become an important stepping stone on his march to the top.

Four years later, the military musician set off for England again -- this time to pursue a four-year degree course at Kneller Hall, which is the Royal Military College of Music in Twickenham, Middlesex. This time he was accompanied by his new wife, Shirley.

"I was married in June, 1984 and my wife and I left Bermuda in December, 1987,'' he recalls. "I had gone on ahead, and the day she arrived was one of the worst snowstorms ever!'' According to Major Dill, Kneller Hall is regarded as "the cre ome de la cre ome of military music schools'', and the study programme was both comprehensive and demanding.

"It was a basic requirement that we learn how to play every military band instrument to performance standard -- from the piccolo to the tuba and bassoon,'' he relates. "The course was very intense. Not only that, but there were the social activities. I was on the school's football side as well.'' Still, there were perks, including regular visits to two of London's most famous concert venues, the Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall, "for cultural enhancement,'' and Major Dill recalls those years with fondness.

Not only did the ambitious Bermudian graduate from the Royal Military College of Music in December, 1987 with flying colours, but six months' later he repeated his success by passing the examinations that made him an Associate of the Victoria College of Music -- a course he paid for himself.

"That was a slightly different mode of learning from the military band studies, because it involved church orchestras and choirs,'' he explains.

While Major Dill still misses the "cultural enhancements'' of London, and the thrill of listening to 400 to 500-voice choirs, since returning home in 1988 he has been more than busy.

Behind all the colourful ceremonies, concerts, and other engagements in which he is seen in full dress uniform at the head of the Regiment Band, the Director of Music has many responsibilities.

His working day starts at 9 a.m., and usually ends far into the night. He has little time to relax as the days and evenings are taken up with a full schedule of activities. These include separate band rehearsals for experienced players and beginners, who also learn theory. Late Wednesday afternoons are devoted to teaching primary, middle and high school students, all of whom get 15 minutes of individual tuition followed by group lessons. Since their tastes are varied, Major Dill teaches both classical music and jazz.

Throughout the week people who work shifts, such as policemen and firemen, turn up for lessons in their spare time during the day.

During the tourist season, the Regiment performs at Harbour Nights, and then there are all the other performances for which the Regiment Band is in constant demand, both here and abroad.

The Director of Music also writes his own music as well as arrangements for the Band -- a time-consuming task made somewhat easier thanks to his trusty computer.

Of all his compositions, Major Dill is particularly proud of the words he put to the Regimental March composed by the first Director of Music, Major Laurie Dunn. In fact, during a recent visit to the UK, the Regiment Band visited 99-year-old Major Dunn at the retirement home where he lives, and presented him with a framed copy of the words.

"He is as sharp as ever -- you would never think he is 99. The Band gave a concert for all the residents, which was featured on the BBC,'' Major Dill says proudly.

The Director of Music is also proud of his ceremonial uniform, which now includes a heavy wool frock coat that he wears all year round. Noting that the fabric was deliberately chosen so that the long coat tails wouldn't swing around, he says that while it is hot to wear in summer, "I always think cool.'' "The main thing is to look the part of an officer and a gentleman,'' he notes.

Naturally, the man who was named the Regiment's "Most Outstanding Officer'' in 1994 has accumulated a host of memories and highlights during his 30 years' service, which it would take a book to record. He does, however, select a few.

"One of my favourite things relates to the Wednesday afternoon classes.

Teaching an under-12 student and then ten years later seeing her still in the Regiment band is special. She went away to university, got her degree, and re-enlisted on her return, so I have watched her progress from a child to a mature soldier, complete with a university education. It sends chills up my spine.'' Major Dill will never forget the excitement he felt from the tremendous reception the Regiment Band got during a tour of the Far East in 1992, nor yet the reaction of his opposite number at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina when the Bermuda Regiment Band performed the Beat Retreat ceremony.

"We got such a rousing reception from the audience that the Director of Music of the US Marine Marching Band accused me of coming to his home country and showing him up,'' he chuckles. "I felt that was a great credit to our members because their band is considered one of the best in the world.'' A Major march to the top Acknowledging that there are differences in style between American and British military music, the Director of Music says that, given a choice, he prefers the English style "because of the character that seems to come out of playing'' the latter.

Married with three daughters, none of whom are musical, Major Dill acknowledges that he devotes most of his time to his job and never really "switches off'' from music.

"But my wife is a soldier's wife, she understands,'' he smiles.

He does, however, love to read, and says his hopes for the future include getting more involved in "not just the musical aspects of society but also the social'', and teaching what he terms "courageous integrity in society -- people doing the right thing.'' With his replacement now undergoing training at Kneller Hall and due to return in 2002, Major Dill says he is approaching the stage where he is "looking at the future with regard to retirement''.

And what will he do then? "I have a few options,'' he smiles.

Happy days: Early in his music career, Major Dill studied music for four years at the prestigious Royal Military College of Music in England.

An officer and a gentleman: Director of Music, Major Barrett Dill, A.V.C.M., E.D., has proudly served in the Bermuda Regiment Band for 30 years. Joining as a Boy Bandsman at age nine, he has risen to the top through years of study and hard work.