The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

FORMER colleagues yesterday paid tribute to the legacy of retired Royal Bahamas Police Force Band director Superintendent Nigel Clarke.

Mr Clarke died at hospital on Monday from cancer-related illness.

He was 66.

"He developed the jazz band within the police band," said Superintendent Ronald Campbell, the band's music director, of Supt Clarke. "We never had a jazz band before and he was responsible for developing that. This section has thrived and every year we have our Christmas classical jazz concert."

"[Mr Clarke] had a style of his own, very unique. What he really believed in was the development of the young person to become better musicians. He really strived for that and was passionate toward that.

"I think sometimes he pushed too hard but that was his goal, to make everyone as good as he was, and he believed that he was the best."

Mr Clarke joined the force in 1969 and spent his entire career - nearly four decades - with the police band. He rose through the ranks to succeed Chief Superintendent Sylvester George to become band director in 2007. Among his duties, he held the position of Chief Librarian, Chief Arranger and was also a training officer.

"He was responsible for many of the younger officers," Supt Campbell said, "training them in basic arranging and assisting them in their practical examinations in preparations for the Royal School of Music exams. He was responsible for entering the younger men for those exams."

Mr Clarke retired in 2009; however, he was said to have frequented band practices on a weekly basis.

Supt Campbell said: "He would always come down. He was still playing at St Barnabas Church despite his ailing health, and also played with Duke Errol Strachan's orchestra."

The police force band's classical jazz concert will be held on December 13.