IT?WAS?not the real thing.
But the almost 300 personnel representing the military and police forces stuck to their routine when they converged at Downes & Wilson Funeral Home Eagle Hall, St. Michael, yesterday for a dry run for the funeral of Prime Minister David Thompson who died October 23.
The rehearsals for the funeral started to take shape as five Transport buses, pulled up along the funeral home with soldiers of the Barbados Defence. Later a coach with members of the participating members of the Royal Barbados Force band joined their colleagues on site for the rehearsal that started north of the funeral home.
10:14 a.m. As the casket, draped in a flag marked Barbados Defence Force was borne to the hearse orders by the warrant officer in charge of the bearer party were taken on cue: “Inside, Outside”; “Still” ; “turning left”; “slow march” etc.
10:27 a.m: The engines of the four police outriders and the sweeper, who goes out front , roared to life.
The procession was on.
The occasion was made even more sombre as the strains of Dead March Saul transformed the bustling Eagle Hall four cross into an area of solemnity and reflection.
More details to come.
