With a stately air, the marching bands of the armed forces serenade and entertain Belizeans and guests alike at many formal functions, including Independence Day ceremonies. They take great pride in what they do, but their art form is so little appreciated by the wider Belizean population.

This week?s Personality of the Week feature pays tribute to one of the many Belizeans who has contributed to keeping the tradition alive.

For just over two decades, Mr. Robert Anderson, formerly a cabinetmaker, was enlisted in the Belize Police Force. He was an officer of the volunteer guard, which later became the Belize Defence Force.

Anderson?s romance with music got sweeter in the armed forces. He recalls that the first bandmaster of the Police Band was Mr. Eric Jones, who is now deceased. After Jones?s retirement, Anderson took over the helm. He became chief recruiter for the band and conducted the band from 1973 to 1982.

In 1964, he also started the Hostel Band. He remembers Lucio Alcoser of Orange Walk as one of the band members. The band was birthed with borrowed instruments, Anderson recalls.

As for the Police Band, which he later directed, they played on brass and reed instruments.

?I got them to take exams through Royal School of Music, and there were 15 passes of 19 [who sat the exam,? he informed.

He also got two weeks study leave to play with the Barbados Police Band.

In 1982, he was transferred from Belize City, where he had been born and raised, to Dangriga. He remained in Dangriga for 9 months and returned to serve as the officer in charge of the prosecution branch. He also prosecuted in court for several months.

Anderson was subsequently transferred to Belmopan, where he spent his last 8 months before retirement from the Police Force. He retired as assistant superintendent of police.

According to Mr. Anderson, he was 31 years old when he joined the Police Force.

?It was easy to get in there, because I was a member of the volunteer guard and used to be in the band. When I retired from the Police Force, within 8 months or so, I got a job with Belinsco and worked there 11 years 8 months as a claims adjuster,? he further revealed.

Apart from playing and directing the Police Band, Robert Anderson also played with private entertainment bands. He remembers starting out with the Imperial Band, under the direction of a Mr. Bowman.

?My primary instrument is the bass. I also played the tuba and the bass guitar. I build it [the bass guitar] myself,? he said.

The Cello, a large stringed instrument related to the violin, is another instrument he recalls having played.

The former bandmaster told us that he comes from a very poor family; his father was a shoemaker and his mother was a housewife. He says that he feels fulfilled after having served in the Police Force.

?I am not sorry at all,? he affirmed. ?I have been able to reach quite a number of young people?young men?who probably would have gone off the track, and they have respect for me up to right now. All those from the Police Band still keep in touch with me.?

We asked the retired police officer how he views his successors in the force today. To this he replied:

?The era is completely different and people had more respect for authority during my service. I wouldn?t want to condemn the Police Force now, but what you have to look at is that the members of the Police Force are people from out here that grow up with a different mentality so the behavior would be completely different from my time.?

Anderson was married twice and now has a common-law wife. He is the father of 9 children (6 daughters and 3 sons). He has 24 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

His grandson, Steven Vaughan, currently doing his masters in music, is carrying on the musical tradition, but Anderson would not take full credit for the legacy and indicated that there are some musicians on the boy?s father?s side of the family as well.

For his part, it seems that his long marriage with music has come to a friendly end.

?I believe the music left me,? he said.

In explaining his statement, Anderson told us that now, ??people are inclined to play music by ear. I don?t indulge in that; you have to be able to read music. Because of the advent of electronic instruments now, it?s kind of difficult. I would be prepared to teach any group of young people who is willing and ready and prepared to go into it again, because it?s my first love?[but] people think of money first. As they are able to blow a few notes, they want to go out and make money and you can?t develop proficiency that way.?

Mr. Anderson is now spending his retirement days in the lovely village of Burrell Boom.

(NB: The Belize Police Force was renamed as Belize Police Department)