More than 600 former and serving members of the Boys’ Brigade and the Girls’ Brigade will gather at Chatham’s Historic Dockyard tomorrow (Saturday) to celebrate their 125th anniversary.

Eleven bands, encompassing 400 musicians, will perform.

Formality will be scarce on the day, organised and sponsored by former members’ organisation the Stedfast Association London.

A small guard of honour will form at 10.55am to welcome Stedfast Association London president Sir Douglas Lovelock, chairman, the Rev John Lines, and Boys’ Brigade dignitaries.

Then the fun starts with music, gymnastic demonstrations, exhibitions of classic vehicles, children’s entertainers and face-painting.

The day-long event will finish with a musical tattoo and a Beating Retreat ceremony.

One of the organisers, David Kemp, said: “It will be a spectacular day on a very important anniversary. The emphasis will be on music, celebration and reunion – but there will be something for everyone.”

The Boys’ Brigade was founded in 1883 by W.A. Smith in Glasgow. He struck up a friendship with Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout movement, and half of the boys on the first Scout camp were Boys’ Brigade members.