Retired Inspector Arthur Rose, was our oldest Police pensioner when we heard the sad news that he had died at his home in Hastings, Sussex on Tuesday 17th March 2015, just a few weeks short of his 91st birthday.
CLICK HERE for an excellent article about Arthur published in the Royal Gazette on 23rd March 2015.
(Editors note - Unfortunately, the link to this article no longer works, but the article about Arthur published in the Royal Gazette in 2015 will be available in their archives.)
Born in Hastings, Sussex, on 27th March 1924, Arthur had served with the Lancashire Fusiliers, mainly in India during the Second World War, and joined the Bermuda Police Force in April 1951, where he served for 28 years, before retiring as an Inspector in the Police Traffic Department.
Arthur started his police career on the beat in Hamilton, then as a Parish Constable in Paget, before being promoted to Sergeant, serving in Hamilton and St. George. After promotion to Inspector he spent the rest of his service in the Police Traffic Department.
An all-round and imposing sportsman being over 6’ 4” in height, he played in both our first Bermuda Police football team, and our first Police rugby team during the early 1950’s, and was also an avid squash and tennis player. Arthur was a very popular member of the Force and was well known for always “whistling while he worked”! CLICK HERE for an article on Arthur's life story in our "Then and Now" column.
After leaving the Police he worked for Stevedoring Services for 10 years before eventually moving back to England having spent 57 years here in Bermuda. For the past 7 years he had been living with his sister, Mrs Jean Wright in Hastings, Sussex.
A funeral service was held for Arthur on Tuesday 7th April 2015, at the Hastings Crematorium in East Sussex, and there was a gathering of family and friends afterwards at Arthur’s favourite little pub, The Queen’s Head in Ickleshall at which one of our former P.C’s, Mike Caulkett, kindly gave the following tribute.
Tribute to Inspector Arthur Rose
It's a real privilege to be here this morning to say a few words about our good friend Arthur Rose on behalf of the Bermuda Police Force and all of Arthur's friends in Bermuda.
Although Arthur was born and raised here in Sussex, he spent more than half his life in Bermuda where he was a very popular police officer and sportsman. At the time of his death he was our oldest Police retiree - at the age of 90. He had arrived in Bermuda in April 1951, and by all accounts he quickly adapted to the Island's lifestyle. I had visions of him cutting a dashing figure patrolling the beat in Bermuda shorts, but I was shocked to hear that when Arthur joined the Force they were still wearing serge uniforms in the winter, and long trousers in the summer. I can tell you from first hand experience that Bermuda shorts are perfect in their lovely warm weather.
Arthur was a very active and talented sportsman who helped to organize and play in the first Bermuda Police football team in the early 1950's. And to show his versatility he also played in our first Police rugby team.
When I arrived in Bermuda in November 1964, Arthur was then a Sergeant in the capital City of Hamilton. He was no longer playing football or rugby but he was a keen squash player and tennis player. A good friend of mine, Roger Sherratt, who was also a good squash player, and much younger than Arthur, describes how impossible it was to get around Arthur on the squash court because he would always use his height to his advantage spreading his arms and legs out like an albatross! He was also an avid tennis player and continued to play doubles with a group of friends long after his retirement from the Police.
I'd like to think we had a few things in common. At our height we both tended to look down on most people, and we both played rugby for the Police team where our height was very useful in line-outs.
Back Row (l-R)Anthony Taylor, Roger Brydon, Hiram Edwards, John Instone, George Rushe,
Arthur reached the rank of Inspector and spent his latter years in the Police Traffic Department where I also spent some time. I can say without fear of contradiction that he was always a very popular policeman and colleague who was respected by all those who worked with him throughout his 28 years in the Police Force. He had a very cheerful disposition, and was always "whistling while he worked".
The present Commissioner of Police, Mr. Michael DeSilva has asked me to pass on his sincere condolences to Arthur's family and friends.
After leaving the Force he worked for about 10 years at the company running Hamilton Docks - Stevedoreing Services, where the Managing Director was a former policeman, Mike Lohan, who has written to say, and I quote, "Arthur was always a pleasure to work alongside. He was immaculate in his dress and had a great ability to get along with all of our staff. His cheery manner was only equaled by his dependability in all he put his mind to over the years I knew him. He was a good friend and his smiling face is a lasting memory that all who knew him will share."
After retiring from Stevedoring Services, Arthur and his work ethic was still in demand, and he worked part-time for several years for another former police officer, John Swift, at his paint company. John has written to say,
"I first got to know Arthur when I arrived in Bermuda as a young policeman and he was without doubt one of the nicest and kindest persons I have had the pleasure of knowing. Arthur's closest friend was Alan Waddicor - the two of them came out to Bermuda together, roomed next to each other in the Police barracks and regularly squared off against each other on the squash courts. For many years even after leaving the Police Force, Arthur and Alan would regularly get together for lunch on Wednesday afternoons along with a group of good friends from their Police days. I was fortunate to be invited to join them and will always remember those get-togethers as happy occasions as we discussed all manner of topics and attempted to right all that was wrong with the world.
Arthur always stayed in close touch with Alan, even after Arthur returned here to Hastings, and after Alan passed on Arthur kept in touch with his widow Agnes every Sunday. I know that Agnes greatly misses her weekly chats with Arthur.
After Arthur retired from full employment I had the pleasure of employing him on a part-time basis at Pembroke Paint Company. Three mornings each week Arthur would walk in and sit at the computer, cheerfully entering all the customers paint records. It was obvious that all who came into contact with Arthur enjoyed his company. It was extremely pleasing to me that I could give Arthur some extra pin money as his last employer in Bermuda."
Arthur was a much loved and highly respected police officer and friend to all of his colleagues in Bermuda. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him, and in particular those I have mentioned, along with his very good friend George Hammond, Bob Stewart, Derek Brashier, Brian Jones, Tony Saunders, and many others. Regretfully, they cannot be here today to pay their last respects to Arthur. They will take solace in hearing that this service will be followed by a gathering of Arthur's family and friends at one of his favourite pubs.
I understand that at his express wishes Arthur's ashes will be sent to Bermuda to be buried in the Police Cemetery at Prospect near to where he worked and lived for many years. The Commissioner of Police has kindly decided that Arthur will have a Police Honour Guard at the service which will be followed by a reception at the Police Senior Officers Mess where comrades and colleagues will drink a fond farewell toast to a man who has left an indelible impression on all who knew him.
May I extend our sincere condolences to Arthur's sisters Jean and Lily, and to all of his family from all those who worked and socialized with Arthur during his time in Bermuda.”
Mike Caulkett
Arthur’s ashes were brought to Bermuda, and on Friday 1st May 2015, they were laid to rest in the Police Cemetery at Prospect during a Memorial Service that was well attended by many of his old friends and colleagues, together with retired Commissioners Fred “Penny” Bean and Clive Donald, together with the present Commissioner of Police, Michael DeSilva, and other senior officers.
A Police Honour Guard was present during the service and committal of the ashes which was conducted by our Police Pastor, The Rev. Bishop Lloyd Duncan (a former Bermuda police officer), while Roger Sherratt provided Words of Remembrance.
Following the service there was a reception in the Senior Officer’s Mess at Prospect that was also well attended. Many stories were told by those present about their fond recollections of Arthur.
George Hammond movingly described how he and Arthur had always been the very best of friends, and in conclusion George read a letter from Arthur’s sister, Mrs Jean Wright, who asked all those present to raise their glasses in a toast to our dear departed friend. It was unanimously agreed that Arthur would have greatly enjoyed the reception.