This section of our website is intended for you to keep in touch with all of your fellow colleagues who have served in the Bermuda Police. We started this column by putting all entries on one post but soon realized that it would stretch for far too long so we are doing it by each year - and this one is for 2025.
We welcome news, however brief, and would also encourage you to send us recent photos. Sadly we sometimes have to report "bad" news such as illnesses - or worse - but we are always delighted to receive positive news! We can be contacted through our email address at info@expobermuda.com or through the comments column at the bottom of each article, including this one.
We are starting this year's "Keeping in Touch" column with an entry about the dreadful weather being experienced in the UK, the U.S. and no doubt elsewhere around the globe. We would love to hear from you and perhaps you can start the year by letting us know if you're being impacted by this terrible cold weather - or if you've managed to find somewhere to avoid it. Unfortunately, our Comments section below each article is still giving us problems. but you can either write to us at the email address above (highlighted in blue), or through our ExPo Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BDAExPolice/
Scottish Through and Through! A few weeks ago our good friend Ian Graham wrote to us with his critique on the new BBC 16 part serial, “ Policing Paradise” about the Bermuda Police Service. I was sure I published Ian’s comments on our ExPo website but on checking through articles relating to “Policing Paradise” I realise I failed miserably, and must apologize to Ian for not publishing his excellent observations at the time.
Here are Ian’s comments plus an update on what he and his lovely wife Maggie, have been up to recently.
"Just finished watching the first episode of Policing Paradise which I thoroughly enjoyed. I wasn’t sure what to expect but did hope the programme would have plenty of vistas of Bermuda to bring back memories and it did in abundance.
I don’t know what the next 15 episodes will contain but in the first episode I thought the officers came across as good humoured and very helpful towards the public. The uniform has changed a lot since I was an officer and in fact the only item carried that I recognised from my time was the torch with the red top!
Hearing the Bermuda accents, seeing the views of the beaches, harbour, Front Street, City Hall, pastel pink painted buildings and much more brought my time in Bermuda flooding back, happy memories indeed. I think former officers now living away from Bermuda many in the UK will enjoy what the programme gives which is great views and insight of Bermuda and hopefully give fond memories of their time on the Island and the BPS.
I note that the first four episodes are being broadcast Monday through Thursday this week and then the next 4 episodes start next Monday through to Thursday next week and I assume that will continue for the following weeks until episode 16 is broadcast.
I did not expect to see any police officer on the programme that I would recognise as I left the BPS over 45 years ago but I did!
In the piece about the drugs arrest at Harbour Nights on Front Street when the arrested man was being taken to a police car and started kicking off an off duty police officer intervened and assisted the arresting officers. He was named as Inspector Scott Devine whom I recognised. I was sure it was him and when I heard his Scottish accent I knew it was him! (Scott used to be a police officer in Scotland)
Many years after I left BPS when I was an Inspector based in the East End of Glasgow I had a communication from Scott Devine who was in Glasgow with members of the Bermuda Police Basketball Team. Within my Glasgow division was Celtic Football Club stadium and I think Scott Devine was/is a Celtic fan and wanted to show his Bermuda colleagues the Celtic football stadium. I arranged a visit and the Bermuda boys all turned up. I remember giving Scott a football which I had had signed by the Celtic team of the day. I wonder if Scott still has that football?!
Roger you asked what Maggie and I are up to these days. Well we moved house three years ago downsizing to a bungalow and then upsized it by having an extension built at the rear!
The work is all finished now and we can get back to normality. We are not long back from a holiday to Australia and New Zealand in January/February this year. We flew to Sydney and had three days there recovering from the long flight Glasgow - London- Singapore - Sydney then we flew to Melbourne for three nights which included a two day quarter finals package for the Oz Open Tennis which was great. Then it was back to Sydney for a couple of nights including a bit of culture at Sydney Opera House. Then we boarded the Oceania Regatta for a 16 day cruise around New Zealand which we thoroughly enjoyed.
Our next holiday is two weeks in Barbados in May and then 12 nights in Bermuda in August staying at the Hamilton Princess. After watching Policing Paradise we have to go back! In fact we were in Bermuda last June staying at the Royal Palms. It was busy with the Newport-Bermuda race. We did see Rex & Pam Osborne a few times and also called in and saw Ian & Louise McMillan.
You asked for a recent photo of Maggie and me so I will attach a recentish one taken at a friends wedding hence I am wearing the Graham tartan kilt!
Hope you enjoy Policing Paradise on your BBC I Player. I expect/hope you receive responses regarding the programme."
I wondered if we had any other photos on our website of our Scottish colleagues wearing their kilts but could only find the one below of a group of young bobbies attending a party at “Highland Cottage” (aptly named) in the 1960’s in which Alex “Sandy” Sommerville is wearing his kilt. I know for sure that our star Scotsman, Davie Kerr, would often turn up at functions in his kilt, and I know we’ve had literally dozens of Scots serve in the BPS over the years.
I would also be delighted if our Scottish colleagues would send me photos of themselves in their kilts along with details of their clans. And, Davie, that includes you! You can email me either directly at my home email address or at info@expobermuda.com
LOYAL FOOTBALL FANS - We have a small “exclusive” ExPo group of four football fans who keep in touch with each other, usually to share bad news about our respective teams, all of which have played in the Premiership at some point in their history.
Down in the depths at the moment is John Headey who has witnessed the steady decline of his home club, Huddersfield Town (The Terriers) who were playing in the Championship when we started communicating, as were Stoke City and Leeds United. Iain Morrison and myself (Roger Sherratt) were and still are Stoke City (Potters) fans, while Bob Kinnon is a died-in-the-wool Leeds United (The Whites, or is it The Peacocks) fan.
The Terriers have had a steady season in the First Division so John doesn’t have to worry too much about his blood pressure! The Potters, on the other hand, have kept Iain and myself on edge all through the season, especially just now when they’re needing every point possible to stay in the Championship, and yesterday’s result against Leeds was disastrous – for Ian and myself when our Potters were trounced by a 6-0 thrashing by Bob’s Boys – but triumphant for Bob because their win guaranteed they’ll be playing in the Premiership next season.
I guess Iain said it best after the match when he wrote to us, “I didn't expect to get anything from the game...but I also didn't expect that scoreline. Absolutely outclassed and some of Stoke's defending was real schoolboy stuff. I didn't hear what our manager said after the game, but I do think he is decent. Hopefully, he can sort them out for next season and start pulling them up the table. That said, with the way the other results went today, we are not 100% safe yet... and with 2 difficult games left, we could well be relying on other teams to help us out!”
Iain was magnanimous in sending his congratulations to Bob on Leeds' triumph, with Iain aknowledging they have been best team in the league this season, and as he pointed out the challenge now is, of course, to avoid being relegated straight back down next season which happens so much to the teams who come up!
And how did Bob take the victory? Well, he sent us these two photos which speak for themselves. Congratulations Bob. Richly deserved.
"Cheers" Bob
EDITORS NOTE - If you are a devoted fan for your home team, even if it’s not top of the Premiership, we’d be happy to hear from you about the state of your team and to hear how long you have been a loyal supporter. You can contact us directly at info@expobermuda.com and send us a photo.
A Celebration of Alex’s life will be held on Sunday 6th April from 4pm-6pm at Coral Beach Club to which his friends and former colleagues are cordially invited to attend.
Colin "Dusty" Hind
Young P.C. Dave O'Meara
We’ve just heard from Dave O’Meara who is one of the 35 police officers recruited back in 1975 and who this year will be celebrating his 50th Anniversary of joining the Bermuda Police, as we reported in our "50th Anniversary Year for 1975 Recruits" article (CLICK HERE to view it.)
CLICK HERE to catch up with the happenings and travels of Dave and his wife Jan in our Latest News column
19th January
Following publication of our article about Mike Burke being interviewed recently by ITV in Jersey (CLICK HERE to view Mike’s article) about his recollections of the German invasion of Jersey in 1940 when Mike was just 7 years old; the terrible conditions Jersey islanders faced during the occupation, and their relief when a Red Cross ship loaded with urgently needed food and supplies arrived after the ‘D” Day landings, I wrote to those of our ExPo members who were working here when Mike was serving – that is, the guys for whom we have contact details – to let them know about Mike’s wartime recollections, and to ask if anyone else who served with us have their own stories to tell.
On the subject of “War Stories” we heard from Keith Hatfield who was born in 1939 “the day war broke out” and he had some interesting memories of the War that we have added to Mike Burke’s article.
Keith had written to us earlier to say that he would very much like to come out to Bermuda for a visit with his wife maybe later in the year. Keith and Nadine met here in Bermuda.
Keith has previously sent us a totally unique photo taken when he was a Tour Guide at Lord’s Cricket Ground, escorting a group of Tibetan monks around the home of cricket! CLICK HERE for Keith’s article in our Then and Now column.
We also heard from Ray Sousa who wrote of stories he’d heard on the American military bases here, also rumours of spy rings operating in Bermuda, and a Bermudian crew member survivor of a transport ship torpedoed by a German submarine who earned the nickname “Take it Easy!” Ray and his wife Pat are living with their family out in Australia, and he now retired but no chance he’ll be standing still for long! We’re added Ray’s comments to Mike's article.
CLICK HERE to read Ray’s “Then and Now” article which is one of the most detailed and comprehensive we have ever published here on our website.
Mike Rickards wrote to thank us for the information we publish in our website, and confirmed that he’s “still running around” (with his wife Rosalie’s permission!). Mike was a regular member of our Police football team and was always as fit as a fiddle. And would you believe it, he took part in this weekend’s International Race Week, running in the 10k race from the National Stadium to Flatts and back. How’s that for a guy who’s well into his 80;s and is still a familiar sight churning through the miles on our roads. CLICK HERE to read more about Mike in our “Then and Now” column.
Another fitness afficionado, Bob Stewart, wrote to say he really enjoyed Mike’s article and commented that Mike was an excellent football player. Bob reports that he’s generally in good health, not playing squash any more, but still trying to improve his tennis.
Bob is no slouch when it comes to tennis. In fact his name is mentioned in the Sports Section at the end of our second article about the tenure of George Robins term as Commissioner of Police. (CLICK HERE to view the George Robins article, and if you scroll down to the bottom to Sports News and look under Tennis, you’ll see that Derek Singleton won the 1961 Police singles tennis final beating Bob Stewart after a very hard fought two sets, which is quite an achievement considering that Derek was one of the finest tennis players on the Island and went on to become a tennis professional at Coral Beach Club.
CLICK HERE to read a fascinating article about Bob’s reminiscences in our “Then and Now” column.
Bob was an excellent footballer who played for both the Police team and who represented Bermuda on numerous occasions and also had the privilege of playing against the two of the greatest England players of the time, Stanley Matthews and Tom Finney when they came here , separately, to play in exhibition games.
One other sport that Bob excellent at was squash, and although he doesn’t mention it in his “Then and Now” article I know for sure that he won the Caribbean Senior Squash Championship in 1988. A man of many talents.
Richard “Dick” Johnson also wrote to us to let us know that he has been back in England for the past 3 years, is presently living in Surrey but will be moving to Devon hopefully in the next 2-3 months. Sadly, Dick’s wife Jennifer (nee Barritt) passed away in 2023, and he returned to Bermuda in November 2013 for a memorial service for Jennifer. Dick was also an avid sportsman and played both rugby and cricket for our Police teams. Dick says he lives near to Terry Bawden and his wife, Joanne, who is a Bermudian and was a good friend of Jennifer’s.
One more former colleague we also heard from is Anthony “Tony” Saunders who is still keeping active playing regularly at the Bermuda Bridge Club at the age of 94, and, much to his credit, his name often appears very positively in the results column of David Ezekiel’s weekly bridge reports in the Royal Gazette.
Tony served in the Bermuda Police from 1955 -1960 (including an attachment to the Prison Service) during which time he played football in the Police team, and as reported in the Sports Report in our 2nd article about George Robins, Tony won the Police Club’s table tennis final in 1962 by which time he had left the Police but remained a member of the PRC, an association he has always maintained, with Tony and his wife Janice having attended our ExPo social functions.
CLICK HERE to read the fascinating article Tony wrote for our “Then and Now” column.
12th January
Colin MacKenzie
Colin MacKenzie shivers in Peterborough - We just heard from our old friend Colin MacKenzie who now resides with his familty in Peterborough, Ontario, and he's written to give us the latest news about their cold Canadian weather, and to send Best Wishes to our readers and especially his former colleagues from 1970-1979.
Hi All,
Always glad to read news about former officers and colleagues from the 70 - 79 time frame, and even about officers, news and events outside of those years. I received interesting articles recently about the Police Rugby team from past years and the names brought back nice memories. Thanks to Billy Butterworth and John Price for the memories.
I live an hour east of Toronto and all of last week January 6th to 10th we had really cold temperatures, especially at night, but the days were filled with sunshine and blue skies but just soooo cold during the daylight hours. So, touching metal or even the steering wheel on your vehicle was not nice. However, that cold weather has left us and it has been much milder in the last couple of days. Lots and lots of snow in the northern part of the Province of Ontario a couple of weeks ago, with many roads closed and photos of residents shovelling snow that had accumulated above the height of parked vehicles. Today the sun is shining and we have a little snow on the ground but the roads are clear and dry until….. well, the next dumping! Supposed get about an inch or so overnight tonight and that is really nothing to complain about. Not like Brighton, Sussex, where the only cold I remember was the wind coming of the sea down at the sea-front!
I heard this the other day from a friend who went to New Zealand for Christmas, visiting family so I thought I would share. He asked if I knew the difference between the English International Rugby team and a tea-bag. After I said no, get to the point (😂), he said the tea-bag stays in the “Cup” longer! Ouch!!
That's the scoop from here. Best wishes to everyone, where-ever they may living now, and to my former colleagues from 1970 - 1979. Where the heck does the time go!?
Colin.
CLICK HERE to view Colin's article in our "Then and Now" column.
Just to keep our collective memories ticking over, here's a group photo of Colin with his fellow colleagues from a particular department that shall be nameless! If you feel like testing your memory, see how many you can remember and drop us a line at infor@expobermuda.com or check out our ExPo Facebook page at
Hi, there.
Aways glad to read news about former officers and colleagues from the 70 - 79 time frame, and even about officers, news and events outside of those years. I received interesting articles recently about the Police Rugby team from past years and the names brought back nice memories. Thanks to Billy Butterworth and John Price for the memories.
I live an hour east of Toronto and all of last week January 6th to 10th we had really cold temperatures, especially at night, but the days were filled with sunshine and blue skies but just soooo cold during the daylight hours. So, touching metal or even the steering wheel on your vehicle was not nice. However, that cold weather has left us and it has been much milder in the last couple of days. Lots and lots of snow in the northern part of the Province of Ontario a couple of weeks ago, with many roads closed and photos of residents shovelling snow that had accumulated above the height of parked vehicles. Today the sun is shining and we have a little snow on the ground but the roads are clear and dry until….. well, the next dumping! Supposed get about an inch or so overnight tonight and that is really nothing to complain about. Not like Brighton, Sussex, where the only cold I remember was the wind coming of the sea down at the sea-front!
I heard this the other day from a friend who went to New Zealand for Christmas, visiting family so I thought I would share. He asked if I knew the difference between the English International Rugby team and a tea-bag. After I said no, get to the point (😂), he said the tea-bag stays in the “Cup” longer! Ouch!!
That's the scoop from here. Best wishes to everyone, where-ever they may living now, and to my former colleagues from 1970 - 1979. Where the heck does the time go!?
Colin.
https://expobermuda.com/index.php/tan/76-cmackenzie?highlight=WyJjb2xpbiBtYWNrZW56aWUiXQ==
10th January
What a chilly start to the year - Bermuda is sure going through a long spell of cold, wet, and exceptionally windy weather over Christmas and into the New Year although all things are relative! By our standards, this cold spell, with temperatures sometimes dropping below 60 degrees (we’re expecting a low tonight of 50 degrees), and never-ending blustery high winds from storm force to gale force – and beyond - is downright miserable, but who are we to complain?
We’re inundated with news of severe floods in the UK followed by heavy snows and freezing temperatures resulting in flood waters now freezing over, and bitterly cold weather in Scotland with thermometers forecast to be plunging down to minus 16C this weekend.
We hear of freezing cold Arctic air blasting across the US which is especially dangerous when combined with high winds, although extremely cold weather with high winds must be preferable to the horrendous fires rampaging through the LA area where they have been rapidly spreading so quickly during winds as high as 100mph.
The above photo was taken in England during ‘The Big Freeze’ that struck the UK during the winter of 1962-63 when I was a young constable on the beat in Bilston, near Birmingham. It was said to have been the coldest winter since 1895. ‘The Big Freeze’ brought the whole of the UK to a standstill in the middle of December 1962, caused by huge snow storms followed by bitterly cold weather with persistent temperatures below freezing until Easter 1963. There were reports of the sea freezing up to a mile off the coast of Kent.
The “bobby” above is wearing a regulation police issue “great coat” which was much less than great for protection against the persistent bitter cold. Made of wool it was stiff as a board, weighed a ton, it wasn’t waterproof and it didn’t compare with today’s lightweight puffer coats. I vividly recall wearing thick pyjamas night and day – never taking them off – under my uniform - two pairs of socks, my white gloves underneath black leather gloves, and a thick sweater under my uniform jacket. Even then it was so bitterly cold that we were allowed extra time in the station (Bilston had the only police station in England with a “moat”!) during the night and drank endless mugs of hot tea. A large thermometer near the Town Hall in Bilston dropped down as low as 5 degrees F at night.
With that winter in mind I jumped at the chance to apply to join the Bermuda Police and found myself the following June wandering the beat in Hamilton wearing short-sleeved shirts, Bermuda shorts, and exactly the same “bobby” hat - and that was 60 years ago.
This column is intended for you, our readers, to write about what you’re doing, where you are these days, and for us to keep in touch with each other. We would be pleased to hear from you, wherever you are, and right now we would be interested to know about the weather in your part of the world.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy and much warmer New Year