Inspector Dave Garland

We are deeply saddened to report that our dear friend and former colleague, Dave Garland, passed away yesterday morning (3rd October 2025) at 'Westmeath' where he had been a patient for several months.

Dave was what can only be described as a “character” by all who knew him!  A Yorkshire man through and through he joined the Bermuda Police in April 1961, having previously served in the Royal Military Police and in the East Yorkshire Police.

An outstanding sportsman,  he was blessed with a tremendous “kick” and played both football and rugby for the Police, along with being a member of the Police hockey teams, our darts team and our Tug o’ War team.  

Victorious Nichol Shield Winners -  1967

Dave was also a “Jack-of-all-Trades, and he and Derek Jenkinson built our first ever police boat, the ‘Blue Heron’ in 1962.  Dave’s first posting in 1961 was to Central Division (Hamilton), and he then had spells in Cycle Squad and in Operations (Traffic)  before being posted to Marine Section for the first time in 1966, and in 1969 he was promoted to Sergeant in charge of Marine Section.   

Dave loved sailing and marine activities including offshore sailing, and for many years he ran courses for police officers and others to obtain their “C” Pilots licences, going on to teach hundreds of students to get their Pilots Licences at the Bermuda College.  He was also an early and active member of the  Bermuda Sailboat Club which organised the first junior sailing programme.

In 1973 Dave was promoted to Inspector after which he spent several years in Central Division as a Watch Inspector and also worked as Coroner's Officer. In 1975 he was posted to Murder Room for several months before  returning to Hamilton as a Watch Inspector until his retirement in 1976.

Dave had met the love of his life, Sue McIntyre, during the summer of 1968 when she was on vacation here in Bermuda visiting a good friend,  Sian Williams (married to Johnny Williams). Sue returned to her homeland, Wales, but not for long!  Dave and Sue were married at Christchurch in Warwick in March 1969. They went on to have two children, Caitlin and Chris, but they also “adopted” several young single policemen who much appreciated finding a “home” in Bermuda where they were always made to feel welcome, especially at Christmas. Dave and Sue were also blessed with two lovely grandchidren, Jodie and Isla, and have always been actively involved in their lives.

Never one to stand still, Dave took up golf as an active member of Belmont Golf Club, and in the early 1980s  he became involved in the junior golf programme  which started at Belmont where the Bermuda Junior Golf Association was founded. He was actively involved in the Junior Golf programme for 17 years or more and was very proud of the fact  that many of  Bermuda's best amateurs of today went through the programme. 

In recent years Dave had a few health issues but nothing would stop “our Dave” from enjoying the other great love of his life  -  following his beloved Yorkshire County Cricket Team, and the exploits of his alltime favourite cricket player, Joe Root, who he enthusiastically praised when the young teenager first started to play for Yorkshire, and predicted that Joe would become one of Yorkshire and Engand’s finest ever cricket players.  

In fact, Dave himself was enthusiastic about everything he did in life.  He will be sorely missed by his family and all who knew him.

We will publlsh funeral arrangements as soon as they are confirmed.

Editors Note -  CLICK HERE for an extensive "Then and Now"article about Dave's reminiscences published here on our ExPo website.

Published 4th October 2025