RBR To Join Forces With Police For Cup Match
More than 20 Royal Bermuda Regiment soldiers will team up with police to keep the annual Cup Match holiday safe.
The soldiers – all Special Constables – will work on land at hosts St George’s Cricket Club and at sea over the four day holiday weekend which starts next Thursday.
RBR Second-in-Command Major Ben Beasley said: “They are being attached to the Bermuda Police Service as part of our ongoing Special Constable programme so we can reinforce the police either with generalists like the soldiers at the ground or specialists like our Boat Troop.
“They will all be working with a police officer to help provide security and safety for the public.”
Maj. Beasley added that – despite the holiday atmosphere – there was no shortage of volunteers to work during Cup Match.
The RBR Band & Corps of Drums perform at the Harbour Nights event on Wednesday. [Photograph Corporal Andre Place]
He said: “That’s testament to the great spirit we have in the Regiment that we have so many willing to serve even over the holiday.”
Maj. Beasley added: “It’s good for the Regiment to have our personnel out in the public eye to remind people we’re here for them in a variety of roles, not just when disaster strikes, but throughout the year.
He said the Band and Corps of Drums, part of B Company, performed one of the Regiment’s most high profile duties, Beating the Retreat, at Harbour Nights on Wednesday.
Maj. Beasley added: “We are a versatile and modern organisation capable of fulfilling a range of duties from ceremonial to security.”
He highlighted the major contribution of the RBR to Exercise Tradewinds, a multi-national training event held in the Dominican Republic and St Vincent & The Grenadines last month.
Major Beasley said: “The RBR was feted for its abilities at Tradewinds and many of the soldiers from A Company working over Cup Match will go to the UK in September for Exercise Active Shield to train with the UK Armed Forces to help provide a higher tier of security for Bermuda and develop their common core skills.”
Cup Match truce: [L to R] Vashun Blanchette, the president of Somerset CC, RBR CO Lt Col David Curley and Mishael Paynter, vice-president of St George’s CC, at the Beating the Retreat ceremony on Front Street. [Photograph RBR]
He added: “The soldiers from B Company pivoted seamlessly into ceremonial duties and have performed two Beatings of the Retreat after their return from Tradewinds.”
The Band & Corps of Drums was front and centre at the weekly Harbour Nights summer event, alongside the Bermuda Islands Pipe Band and its Highland dancers.
The night also took on a Cup Match flavour as the guests of honour of RBR Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel David Curley were Somerset Cricket Club president Vashun Blanchette and Mishael Paynter, the vice-president of St George’s Cricket Club.
Col Curley said after the RBR’s musicians entertained the Harbour Night crowds with classics like Bob Marley’s Jammin’: “Both bands performed very well under the direction of the Director of Music, Major Dwight Robinson.”
He added the two rivals for the coveted Cup Match title, due to be played in St George’s at the start of next month, were “extremely enthusiastic and good company”.
Col Curley joked: “I sat between them to make sure there were no ambushes.”
The RBR Band & Corps of Drums prepare to march on to Front Street for Harbour Nights. [Photograph Andre Place]
He said: “Cricket shows camaraderie and teamwork at its best, as does the Royal Bermuda Regiment.
“I wish both clubs good luck in the coming game. Hopefully, we won’t have a draw but actually have a winner.”
Mr Blanchette said he approved of the red and blue elements of the RBR’s colours and that he joked with St George’s supporting soldiers that the colours suited them.
Mr Paynter said: “It was an eclectic selection of music, a very good range and the execution was top notch.”
But he added: “Perhaps next year Colonel Curley can wear some dark blue and light blue to even things up.”
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