The Tribune

NEXT week will mark the birthday of the first Bahamian conductor of the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band, the late Chief Inspector Fred Neville Seymour.

Born August 2, 1923, in Smith’s Bay, Cat Island to Arthur Seymour and Epsie Johnson, Mr Seymour received his early education at Knowles’ Cat Island before moving to Nassau at age 11 where he continued his education at Western Senior School.

According to his official biography, provided by his son Keith A Seymour, Mr Seymour joined the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) in 1942 and was eventually promoted to Corporal.

He received various accolades during his life including the Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry from Sir William Murphy – the then Governor and Commander-in-Chief – on June 10, 1948, the occasion of the King’s official birthday.

His son noted: “Mr Seymour was responsible for the capture of a dangerous escaped convict by the name of Neville, during which he received a lifelong cutlass wound to the side of his head, at the hands of that convict.”

In 1949, he was promoted to Sergeant, appointed the first Bahamian conductor of the RBPF Band and served in that position until 1958.

During that time, Mr Seymour also pursued a conducting course for military band directors at Kneller Hall in London.

He was very involved in his church and regularly played at special events and worship services at Transfiguration Baptist Church.

He also played at his wife’s church, Rhodes Memorial Methodist Church, as well as his adopted churches, St Agnes Anglican Church and St Georges Anglican Church.

Mr Seymour retired from the RBPF in 1965 having achieved the rank of Chief Inspector, and was then appointed Chief Clerk of the Supreme Court. Among the Chief Justices he served was the first Bahamian Chief Justice Sir Leonard Knowles.

He held the position of Chief Clerk until his death on August 7, 1981.