A new dimension was added to the morning worship service of St. Peter's West Anglican Church, St. George's last Sunday.

It took the form of a musical salute to retired Bermuda Regiment Bandmaster Horace Gibbons, MBE, on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

There was the congregational singing of hymns, vocal and instrumental solos, recitation of poetry, all climaxing in the presentation of a suitably engraved plaque specifically detailing appreciation for the dedicated service of Capt. Gibbons to St. Peter's West.

The old soldier sat pensively in the front seat of the church, with his wife of 71 years, Artimeza, at his side, absorbing every note sounded in his praise.

Ordinarily for many years, he has delighted in dividing his time every possible Sunday playing his clarinet at 'West', which, in fact, is his wife's church. Having performed that duty, he would journey to a later service at his own church, Richard Allen AME Church, further in town to regularly play his saxophone there.

The plaque was presented to him by Ms Carolyn Welch, president of St. Peter's West Guild. Priest-in-Charge of the Anglican Parish of St. George's, the Rev. W. David Raths, signed the citation before he travelled to the US intending to return in time for the service.

However, he was stuck in Atlanta when adverse weather forced cancellation of weekend flights to Bermuda. He put an urgent call to his Parish Worker, Ms Grace Rawlins, to fill in for him.

Ms Rawlins, the retired Head Government Librarian, who normally worships at Chapel of Ease, St. David's, dutifully voiced Rev. Raths' regrets. Later, when delivering the morning message, she said how overjoyed she was at the good fortune that was hers being able to pay tribute to Capt. Gibbons on such a blustery morning in what for us Anglicans is a novel way.

And towards the end of the service Ms Rawlins exclaimed, she couldn't believe she was in an Anglican service after having joined the rest of the congregation singing 'Praise to God Almighty', jazzed up by saxophonist Edwin (Doc) Simons, with Ms Quinell Kumlae at the piano.

Other musicians rendering tributes to Bandmaster Gibbons were his granddaughter, Dr. Melissa Gibbons Tankard, clarinettist; Alfred Smith, saxophonist; Dr. Tammy Warren Trott, flautist. The Bandmaster's sister Melvina recited a poem after singing a duet with her husband John (Johnny) Barnes.

Ms Rawlins said it was appropriate that we should worship God while at the same time acknowledge and give thanks to God for the life of Horace. For God is the author of Horace's life and indeed the lives of us all."

She went on to reflect on significant changes Capt. Gibbons has witnessed in Bermuda over his 90 years. They included changes from bicycles and horses and carriages to motorised vehicles; from oil lamps and candles to electricity; from very small schoolhouses to mega schools: from a farming and fishing community to an international business community; also from segregation to desegregation; from an Anglican Church of all white clergy to an Anglican Church with several black Bermudian clergy, and, most recently, at least one black Bermudian clergywoman; from life in the slow lane to life in the fast lane.

Those and many more changes have been witnessed by Capt. Gibbons. Indeed, some would say changes from paradise to paradise lost. One of the most telling changes is the slow erosion of our respect as a community for our elderly, the people we should be looking to for their wisdom.

Our elderly are the people we should be looking to for guidance, for their knowledge, for our history. These are the very people who can help to anchor us. But no matter how stressful we might find these changes God is always with us, his children, to help and comfort us and to bring us through the storms."

Ms Rawlins cited how in the Bible God frequently used old people to carry out his plan.

Abraham was 99 and Sarah 90 when God promised them a son. Noah was an old man when he built the ark. Moses was 80 and Aaron 83 when they approached Pharoah asking him to free the Israelites. And God is still using us. There are many seniors who don't really hit their stride until they are in their nineties or older. Folk artist Grandma Moses was one such person.

As we celebrate with Horace today, we think on his life of service to this country, especially through the military. We think of the pleasure he has given countless people through the gift of his music. We think of the young people he has encouraged through words and by example to pursue music. We think of the way he has used his God-given gift in service to and in praise of God."

Capt. Gibbons hasn't exactly been a swashbuckling old soldier. His career was tempered by the fact that music was his forte throughout his army career and practically everything else in which he has been engaged.

That included his church work, in the classroom as a schoolteacher, earning extra money to support his family as a saxophonist in one or another of the leading dance bands in the Island.

Born in 1920, it was as a pre-teen that Horace Gibbons began cultivating his love of music as a member of the Richard Allen AME Church band, playing the clarinet. He was aged 15 when he joined the band of the Bermuda Militia Artillery (BMAs).

In 1958 he took over the Bermuda Regiment Band and when the predominantly black BMAs and the white Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps (BVRCs) amalgamated into the Bermuda Regiment he became the first Bermudian Director of Music.

In 1974 he was succeeded by now retired Major Kenneth Dill, whom Bandmaster Gibbons had sent to the famous Knellar Hall in Britain for further training.