One of this country’s oldest cultural institutions, the Barbados Landship Association (BLA), will celebrate a milestone this weekend and next week.

That’s when the group will commemorate its 145th anniversary with a week of activities from tomorrow, Saturday, October 18, to Saturday, October 25, 2008.

The week commences with a brief ceremony tomorrow, at 11:00 a.m. in Heroes Square, the City. The highlight of that event will be the swearing-in of Captain Vernon Watson as Lord High Admiral of the Barbados Landship Association.

The launch will be preceded by a parade from Jubilee Gardens, the City, starting at 10:00 a.m. with the Landship and specially invited groups.

The following day, Sunday, October 19, members of the BLA will attend a special church service at the St. David’s Anglican Church at 4:00 p.m. 

The programme will be heralded by a march past, where the new Lord High Admiral is expected to give his blessing. During the service, there will also be readings by patron of the Barbados Landship Association, Chief Justice, Sir David Simmons and remarks by trade union leader, Sir Roy Trotman and the Lord High Admiral Watson.

There will also be musical renditions by the Landship ‘engine’, the Goodwill Singers and the St. David’s Anglican Church Choir. The service will be
followed by a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of the former patron of the BLA, the late Sir Clyde Gollop.

On Wednesday, October 22, Lecturer in History at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Dr. Aviston Downes, will deliver a presentation entitled “The Landship in the Atlantic World” at Solidarity House, Hindsbury Road, St. Michael at 7:30 p.m.

The week of activities will culminate with an awards ceremony on Saturday, October 25, at Solidarity House at 7:00 p.m. where awards will be presented to several Landship stalwarts and well-wishers.

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