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ROYAL BARBADOS POLICE FORCE BAND
The Band of
the Royal Barbados Police Force was established in 1889 with a
compliment of 19 serving Policemen. At that time they wore
regulation police uniforms, and their selection was due to the
love for music and the knowledge of the art.
The first Bandmaster was Mr. Willocks who came to the Island
with the 2nd. Battalion of the West Riding Regiment, as its
Bandmaster.
In 1914, Major Emmanuel Bennernagel of the British Guiana
Militia Band was appointed as Bandmaster, and took it on its
first overseas tour to St. Lucia in 1945.
Captain Charles E. Raison, A.R.C.M replaced Mr. Bennernagel in
1946, and since then the band has had a number of Directors of
Music which included, Lt. William Griesley, L.R.A.M., Lt. Joseph
Griffith, L.R.A.M. Mr. Prince Cave, A.R.C.M., Mr. Gordon Lovell,
L.R.S.M. L.T.C.L. and Mr. Kenrick Moore, L.T.C.L., A.V.C.M.
The Band has toured extensively, visiting countries like U.S.A.,
England, Scotland, U.S. Virgin Islands, Suriname, St. Kitts
Grenada, Canada and Germany to name some, and from all reports
they are confirmed ambassadors for Barbados as a whole.
In 1984, history was created within the ranks of the Band when
three beautiful young ladies, Yolande Bourne, Dorian Seale and
Juan Walrond joined the Band, and broke tradition in a male
dominated department. There is now not a department in the Force
where a woman has not worked.
Our Band today is made up of 54 Officers, men and women, along
with 10 Band Apprentices who through their hard work and
enthusiasm, have proven to be an asset, not only to the Force
but to Barbados as well.
DR.
CHRISTOPHER ARCHIBALD ATHERLEY S.C.M
Sen. Supt. of
Police, Director of Music Royal Barbados Police Force Band
S/Supt. Christopher Atherley started his formal career in music
with the Tuba, in 1963, but began to study the Clarinet in 1966,
which he mastered. It was through dedication and hard work that
Dr. Atherley was made a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music
London (L.R.S.M.) in Clarinet playing in 1973. He was admitted a
Licentiate of Trinity College of Music, London (L.T.C.L.) in
Clarinet Teaching 1974, and in 1976 he was made a Fellow (F.T.C.L.)
of the same college in the Art of Performance.
Apart from developing his performing skills, he has studied and
mastered the discipline of Music itself. He is an Associate of
the London College of Music, London (A.Mus. L.C.M) in Theory and
Composition, 1979. Having been introduced to conducting with the
St. Mary’s Church Augmented Choir and Combermere Cadet Band, he
started the Barbados Regimental band in 1974 and was its first
Honorary Director. His first formal lessons in conducting were
under Dr. Alexander Brott at McGill University, Montreal in
1979. During that time he was made a Licentiate of Trinity
College of Music London (L.TC.L) in Military Bandmastership. In
1980 S/Supt. Atherley graduated from Concordia University,
Montreal with the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A) with
Distinction and 1981 obtained the Master of Music degree (M.Mus)
in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Regina,
Saskatchewan. In 1987 he was made a Doctor of Philosophy, (PhD)
in Music, Carolina Christian University.
In November 1991, Dr. Atherley was promoted to the rank of
S/Supt. and appointed Director of Music, of the Royal Barbados
Police Force Band. |
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