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Young Tyrone Smith

 

We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our good friend and former colleague, retired Chief Inspector Tyrone Smith this last weekend.   We understand that Tyrone had been ill for some time.

Tyrone was born in Christ Church, Barbados in 1955, and after completing his education he served in the Royal Barbados Police for two year prior to joining the Bermuda Police on 6th August 1978. 

After attending a Localisation Course, Tyrone was initially posted to Central Division (Hamilton) for a year  before transferring to Eastern Division (Uniform) and in March 1981 he moved to Western Division (Uniform) and then to Operations (Traffic) where he was a regular member of MCPS for several years, a member of the Task Force, and two years as a  Driving School Instructor.

Tyrone was promoted to Sergeant in May 1991, to Inspector in December 1998, and to Chef Inspector in November 2002.

An excellent driver and highly skilled officer, Tyrone attended an Advanced Motor Cycle Course in Kent (1987), an Advanced Accident Investigation Course in Ontario (1989) and a Senior Police Administration Course at the Canadian Police College in Ottawa, in 2001.  

In addition to being an excellent police officer, Tyrone certainly made his presence felt on the cricket field.  He had played to a very high standard in Barbados, and his talent quickly showed following his arrival in Bermuda when he played for the Police Cricket Team for many years and in Cup Match for Somerset from 1981-1986.

Tyrone was without doubt one of Bermuda’s most explosive batsmen as he demonstrated when playing for the Police Recreation Club in the Central Counties Cup in 1988 when he scored a record breaking 214 not out against Nationals.  

Tyrone retired as Chief Inspector on 25th November 2010 after 32 years in the Bermuda Police Service.

Perhaps Tyrone’s personality can best be summed up from one of his Annual Appraisal reviews as a Sergeant:-  “Sergeant Smith is a very popular individual. He is well respected by his colleagues and members of the Public alike.  His charismatic nature tends to make him a leader with a strong influence on others.”  Tyrone will be missed by all who worked with him and all who knew him.

We extend sincere condolences to Tyrone’s son, Ryan Shepherd, and to the rest of his family and all of his many friends.  We will provide funeral details as soon as they are announced.

We have received the following Cricket Tribute to Tyrone from our good friend Richard Austin “for the glory Tyrone brought to Police Cricket and the pride and joy he brought to all cricket fans in Bermuda.”

 

Cricket Tribute to Tyrone O’Brien Smith
The Master Blaster (Poetic License in use of Paul 
Keens Douglas’ work, The Master Blaster)

 

Bring on the fastest man you got, I am declaring war today
Bring on all of them spinners, I am treating them the same way.
Me cap pull down, my collar up, me pads they buckled tight
I am playing for Police; it is fight I come to fight.
 
I am playing every stroke they got, the drive, the cut, the hook
And even those you would not find, in any cricket book.
You can put ten men in slips, which do not bother me
And if I were you, I would put ten more, on every blasted boundary
 
When you see me start to hit, its only four and six.
No matter what ball you bowl, this batsman sharing licks.
I make them Stars bowlers cry, Bay them were next
And the blows I put on St Georges, they not recover yet.
 
I play each ball on my merit, hear the fans go ‘oooh’
Sometimes I throw away my wicket, causing my skipper to lose his cool.
But when you see me cover up, not a bowler getting through
So, it pointless to shout, ‘Umpire, LBW!”
 
Watch me how I use my feet to get to the ball
It is the simple ones they toss up that make your wicket fall.
Short ball, bouncer, googly, they all the same to me
I read them bowlers like a book, and blade them equally.
 
When I catch them slacking off, I treat them with disdain
Crack! Through the covers. If you put your hand, it is pain.
You must be brave to stop my shots because I give it all I got
So, when you see that ball coming, you know it coming hot.
 
Big bowlers start to tremble when I walk to the crease
See them rearrange the field as if they trying to catch a thief.
My fans they make merry and carry on when I take my stance
And every time I play a ball, hear them shout, “Ty’s the man!”
 
Umpires all respect me and my integrity
I know the game, I read the rules
They cannot put one on me.
And if by chance, some lucky fluke
They get me out in some way
The grace with which I leave the field is like I now come out to play.
The umpire word is final, I shout it loud and clear
And I walk to the pavilion, my head high in the air.
 
Ty’s last innings has been played
The scorebook will show T. Smith, run out, sixty-six.
Time at the wicket 1955-2022
He lived a full life and gave us great memories along the way
Take your pads off, put your bat up. Rest in Peace. 
 
______________________________
 

8th February 2022