It was a real pleasure attending the "Ex-Bobbies Christmas Bash" held at Mad Hatters Restaurant in the Mariners Club on Thursday lunch-time 8th December 2016.  There were about 30 of our former officers present for the occasion and a very good time was had by all.

Dave Cook opened the proceedings by welcoming all those present.  Dave gave a brief history of this popular annual event:-

Dave Cook welcomes everyone

"As best my memory serves me, back in 1992 after I retired and was working for Paul Field at Bermuda Alarm Company  I received a call from George Rushe inviting me to lunch around Christmas time. To the best of my recollection joining us were Barrie Meade, John Instone, Peter Duffy, maybe others but I can’t recall. This became a regular occurrence at Christmas time just with the four or five of us. Over the years the numbers steadily increased. We met at MR Onions Restaurant on Par-la-Ville Rd. When they closed we moved to Fisches Place, now the Mad Hatters Restaurant,  here at at the Mariners Club.  We have had as many as 40 attend the lunch which has become a regular yearly get together. "  At the conclusion of his remarks Dave asked everyone present to raise their glass in a toast to "absent friends" and listed all those guys who have left us since last December.

Attending todays "bash" were  Dave Ashurst, Oliver Bain, Dave Barber, Roddy Barclay, John Barnett, Reese Bartley, Arthur Bean, Ray Bell, Foster Burke, Bill Butterworth, Keith Cassidy, Dave Cook, John Dale, Orson Daisley, Eddie Davies, Steve Dunleavy, Alan Gorbutt, John Greatrex, Neil Halliday, Pat Hamlett, Gerry Lyons, Brian Malpas, John McConnie,  Rex Osborne, "Moby" Pett, Kevin Reeves, Mike Shaw, Pete Shaw, Roger Sherratt, John Skinner, Phil Taylor, and Norman Wilson.

We had assembled at the Mad Hatters at 12 noon for drinks before taking our seats for an excellent meal.  In recent years it has become the custom to have "Fast Eddie" Davies tell a few jokes during the proceedings and he never fails to bring the house down.  On a more sombre note,  Eddie announced that he was retiring from his position at the Monetary Authority at the end of January and he and his wife will be heading to the U.S. to settle there later in the year.   Most of us believe he is irreplaceable - as a comedian! 

The food was superb and camaraderie was first class.

Eddie Davies in full flow! 
...... and the smuttier the jokes - the louder the laughs!  Just ask Phil Taylor.

We had two of our former officers visiting from abroad. As we reported last week, John Greatrex, was visiting from South Wales,  and Orson Daisley had just arrived from Barbados. Our most senior man was probably Brian Malpas who had travelled all the way from Somerset, while Arthur Bean arrived from the east.

Mad Hatter - a great place for lunch
(l-r) Kevin Reeves, Foster Burke, Oliver Bain, Orsan Daisley, John McConnie, Reese Bartley and Dave Cook
(l-r) Pat Hamlett, Kavin Reeves, Foster Burke and Oliver Bain  
 (l-r) Dave Barber, Bill Butterworth, "Moby" Pett (hiding), Pete Shaw, Keith Cassidy, Phil Taylor,
Mike Shaw, Norman Wilson, Roddy Barclay, Alan Gorbutt and John Greatrex
(l-r) Bill Butterworth, "Moby" Pett, Pete Shaw, Keith Cassidy
Roger Sherratt and Dave Barber (Dave is getting new teeth soon)
 Roddy Barclay and Alan Gorbutt
 John Greatrex, Rex Osborne and "Fast Eddie" Davies
Neil Halliday, Dave Ashurst, Arthur Bean and Brian Malpas 
Gerry Lyons, Ray Bell and John "Flaps" Barnett 
 (l-r) Dave Ashurst, Arthur Bean, Brian Malpas, Neil Anderson and Steve Dunleavy
John Skinner, John Dale, Neil Anderson and Dave Ashurst 

Everyone who attended has been invited to write a quick note about where they are what they're doing these days for the information of our members abroad.  We will also endeavour to locate their old warrant card photos and post them with their replies, although some photos are missing and others have deteriorated - the photos that is!  If that is the case we'll try to find a photo in our ExPo collection. Here are the replies received so far:-

 

Oliver Bain

Oliver served from 1969-1995 and after retirement in1995, he was appointed Executive Officer of the United Bermuda until 1998 when the Progressive Labour Party became the government. I am sure you are aware that when one has a political appointment you become a casualty if your party is unsuccessful. Subsequently l worked  for Sun Life of Canada for three years selling life insurance. In 2003 a former colleague and l formed a taxi company and drove and organise transportation for corporate clients. I still do a bit in that regard so l consider myself semi retired. I play tennis three times a week but only doubles as l could always blame my partner if we lose. I am still very competitive. I travel frequently to NY to see my 96year old mother and to Grenada to see family members.

 
 
Young P.C. John "Flaps" Barnett
John Barnett a.k.a. ‘Flaps’
John was born on June 17 1939. He served in the BPS from 1961 to 1969. During this time he walked the beat in Hamilton, was in the Marine Section, served as a traffic officer and completed his service as a clerk in Police HQ when senior officers found he could type!   He married Sandra Jones on December 10 1964 so celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary two days after the ex-bobbies bash. He has three children and seven grandchildren.  After leaving the BPS John entered the life insurance business with Sun Life of Canada. John and Sandra left Bermuda in 1981 while John was still with Sun Life, moving to Toronto for 10 months then to Vancouver until 1997 when he returned to Bermuda to set up a company, Life & Annuity Services Ltd., dealing with jumbo sized life insurance policies issued by Sun Life and Manulife.
John retired from L&A in 2014 at the age of 75 after handing over the reins of the company to his son Scott. He is the current President of the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Bermuda, which produces quality musicals in Bermuda. Now that he’s retired he and Sandra spend as much time as possible traveling and have just completed a round the world trip.
Editors note -  John is also a Past President of our Ex-Bermuda Police Association who did a great job during his tenure as President.
 
Sergeant Dave Cook
Dave Cook
After retirement from the Police in 1992, Dave worked for an alarm company for 2 years then went to Butterfield Bank security depatment alongside former Sgt John Graham. During his 11 years at the bank  he was made Head of Security, retiring in December 2005.
Dave is now fully retired but he and his wife, Patsy, are very busy in retirement.  Dave has played a vital role in re-activating our Ex-Police Association. He and Patsy travel whenever possible, They have three lovely granddaughters aged 15,4 and 2  who give them a lot of pleasure, and Dave keeps fit by attending aqua aerobics at the National Sports Centre.  He is, of course, the organizer of this annual Ex-Bobby Bash
P.C. Alan Gorbutt
Alan Gorbutt
Alan retired from the Police in 2007 after 25 years.  He worked for 5 years  at an office furniture company and now coming up to 5 years as an assistant facilities manager for the Bermuda Hospital Board.   Alan has been married for over 25 years to Susan and they have a 24 year old daughter Alexandra.   He is still an avid collector of Royal Memorabilia and managed to be featured in a recent new book 'Royal Bermuda'.  Alan has promised faithfully to write an article for our website on his amazing memorabilia collection – if he can find somewhere to sit down at home!
P.C. John Greatrex
John Greatrex
Since return to the UK, John have travelled extensively, visiting 21 new countries, making a total of 73 in all  -  definitely a world traveller! John is an avid sports fan.  He attends the Oval cricket ground to watch England (not sure if he’s a member of the Balmy Army!),  He also follows the Welsh rugby team attending all their home games. Next year, he has plans to visit France, Jersey, Hong Kong, San Francisco, and plans on traveling to New Zealand to support the British Lions rugby team against the All Blacks.
 
Neil Halliday
After leaving the Force Neil  moved to the Bank of Bermuda then after qualifying as a lawyer he worked with MJM for a number of years and recently moved to Winchester Global Trust – still working full-time.
 
Kevin Reeves
Kevin left  the Police in 2001 after 25 years. He worked at the Bank of Butterfield for eight years and has been at the Bermuda Monetary Authority for seven years. He will be retiring next year and he and his wife Susan, who has just retired from nursing,  plan to move to the Dordogne area in France.
 
Mike Shaw
Mike Shaw
Mike Shaw - retired from the Police in 2003 after 27 years service and went to work for Will Cox running The Waterfront Marina, at Barr’s Bay. Mike retired again in 2011 to look after an estate for some friends. Enjoys golf days  with like minded ex-police colleagues, and travel to UK on a fairly regular basis.
 
John and Sheila Skinner in happier times at an ExPo function
John Skinner
I joined the Bermuda Police in 1972 after service in Sussex Police. I retired from the Police in 2003 .  I later joined the Bank of Bermuda, then a real estate company before joining AF Smith from where I 'finally' retired in 2014 to look after my wife Sheila.  I have since returned twice for short term contracts.  Sheila and I were married for 37 years.  She passed away in December 2014.  I have one daughter Claire and two grandchildren, Chelsea (10) and Santi (6), who all live in Bermuda.