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 2026.
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 would love to hear from you and perhaps you can start the year by letting us know where you are these days and what youre doing. 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/
5th March
Getting together at Divot's
Spotted at Divot's - This group of grey haired old timers was spotted at Divots Restaurant (the restaurant at Belmont Hills Golf Club) and it was perfectly clear they had absolutely no intention of playing golf although Keith is still a Belmont regular and Bill can still swing his clubs when he's in the mood! It was great to see them getting together socially on a beautifully warm and sunny afternoon here in Bermuda.
25th February
Young P.C. Jim McIlwain
Scottish Connections - We recently heard from our old friend, Jim McIlwain, who is planning a return visit to Scotland and would like to make contact with another of our colleagues, Hassan (Julian-Alami) Merrouni who he last saw at Alistair “Shakey” Johnson’s funeral way back in 2017. We reported on “Shakey’s” funeral held in Inverness and his lifestory at the time. CLICK HERE to view our ExPo article about ‘Shakey’.
Not many people may realize that the Annual Police Mini-Marathon, first run in 1969, was a direct result of “Shakey” challenging another ‘formidable’ Scottish athlete, Pat “Odd Job” McBride, to a head to head race down to Flatts Village via Middle Road and back to the Police Club along North Shore Road. It’s said that the challenge was issued after both had imbibed far too many "Dark and Stormy’s", that well-known Bermuda beverage!
Both had served in the Armed Forces, Pat in the Royal Marines, and Shakey in the RAF, and Shakey insisted that the RAF were physically superior to the Royal Marines. After being allowed one week to train for the run the two set off around the six mile course in 1968. Despite a ding dong battle the result failed to settle the argument because the two contestants crossed the finish line simultaneously.
Getting back to Jim McIlwain he and his wife Diane still reside here in Bermuda “out West” and seldom get into Town these days but Jim has a yearning to visit the places that meant a lot to him in his youth, and perhaps renew a few old acquaintances.
We contacted another kilt wearing former colleague, Davie Kerr, who also attended Shakey’s funeral in Scotland, and Davie was quickly able to provide us with Julian’s contact details in Scotland and we were able to put them in touch with each other. Davie and his wife Jean were out here recently visiting his daughter in Bermuda and it was obvioius that Davie was having walking problems Davie has just advised us that he had his left kneee replaced just under 4 weeks ago and he’s already walking short distances without the need for any artificial aides so hes delighted with his surgeon’s excellent work!
15th January
Sometimes Forlorn Football Fans !
Bob Kinnon - We’ve reported previously on a group of our colleagues who keep in touch from time to time to either commiserate or congratulate ourselves on the form of our respective football teams. Our group includes Bob Kinnon who probably has biggest boasting rights just now with his Leeds team having gained promotion to the Premiership this season and just holding their heads above the bottom 3 teams who are destined to go down at the end of the season.
John Headey with grandson Wylie John Headey is a lifelong fan of Huddersfield Town and was disappointed when they dropped down a Division into League 1, but he’s perked up with Huddersfield’s recent performances keeping them in 5th place with perhaps an outside chance of gaining promotion back to the Championship next season.
Three of our group, Iain Morrison, “Coco” Eve, and myself, Roger Sherratt, are loyal fans of Stoke City who started off their season in the Championship going great guns but are now in 8th place although the Potters have won their last two games. Never quite sure if it’s good for our mental health if they manage to get back into the Premiership only to bounce back down the following season!
During recent email exchanges we discovered that both ‘Coco’ and myself happened to be in the same place at exactly the same time on a magic day in February 20th 1954 when we we just 12 years old. We travelled to Vale Park in Bursem with our dads to watching our other Poytters team, Port Vale (in the 3rd Division North) took on the then 1953 F.A. Cup Final Winners in the unforgettable”Matthews Final”. Vale Park was packed to capacity, with most of the spectators, me and my dad incuded being there not only to see Port Vale, but to see our own Potters born legend, Stanley Matthews, probably the biggest name in football at that time, playing for Blackpool in what was expected to be a cakewalk for the First Divisin side. But on a cold day and a soaking wet slippery pitch a miracle happened and Port Vale strolled away with the game 2-0. That indelible memory came to mind last week when another Midland team, Macclesfield Town, pulled off what must surely the biggest surprise in FA Cup history when they defeated last season FA Cup Finsl Winners, Cystal Palace, in the FA Cup 3rd round. What a shocker!
CLICK HERE to watch a short video of the day history was made in 1954 at Vale Park. Playing football in those conditions was a far cry from today’s perfect pitches.
Dave Inwood - Our group has recently been joined by David Inwood, a lifelong Oxford United fan now living Down Under, and all credit to Dave who still supports his team even though they're struggling in 2nd from bottom place in the Championship and are going to have to pull their bootstaps up to avoid joining Huddersfield Town at the end of the season. We also hear he's a Man United fan so this is not the best of seasons for Dave but nhe remains happy as you can see here!
Cheers from Dave Inwood
Dave has just written:-
Been in Oz now since 1974!
Retired since 2016! My wife and I just finished building a new house in the Hunter Valley the wine producing area 2 hours north of Sydney!
So plenty of gardening to do for the next few months although our excessive heat recently has curtailed that!
Still keep in touch with Graham Marshall and Les Gordon who live in Sydney and are in good health as am I🙏🏻
My wife and I have been to Bali many times over the years but no plans to return in the immediate future!
Steve Taylor is hoping to visit us later this year for his first visit to Oz!
Stay well!
Cheers
Dave
4th January
Young D.C. Colin Mackenzie
Colin Mackenzie Still Keeping Fit and Active - We’re starting the New Year with an update on our good friend Colin Mackenzie who served here from 1970 to 1979, working mainly in Special Branch, before he decided to make a move to Canada where he settled with his wife Laura. CLICK HERE to view Colin’s reminiscences in our “Then and Now” column. While here in Bermuda Colin kept fit playing rugby and was introduced to squash at our Prospect Police court - a game he still plays to this day!
While in Bermuda Colin got involved in community activities as a member of Hamilton Jaycees. One of his notable projects involved organising a very special boat cruise for handicapped children for which he enlisted the support and assistance of fellow policeman, Paul Wakefield, from Marine Section, who had access to a cruise boat for tourists down at Grotto Bay. The boat cruise took place on a beautiful Ocrober in 1975 and the only problem encountered was the children didn’t want to get off the boat when they retunred to the dock!
Colin and Laura are well settled in Peterborough and have two children and two grandchildren. An active member of Rotary in Peteborough, Colin is still involved in a variety of community activties, including collecting leftover food from the kitchen of the hotel where their Rotary meetigs are held, and delivering it to children’s homes and shelters, and recently collecting and distributing warm clothes donated by Rotary members for delivery to the needy at Christmas time.
Always a keep fit fanatic, Colin is still running around on the squash court and even trying out pickleball. In fact he recently was one of three squash players who received Squash Ontario’s 2024-2025 Outstanding Achievement Award for individuals who make a meaningful impact in growing the game of squash at the local and regional level through leadership, dedication and contribution to the sport of squash.
There was a time when some of our ExPo members who settled in Canada would hold occasional get togethers. One of these was held in August 2015 when the group below gathered in Peterborough. We would be delighted to hear from Jeff, Paul, Ian and Paddy.
Paul sends best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year to his old colleagues.