We’ve just heard from our good friend Davie Kerr, who wrote to correct an error in a recent article in which we had incorrectly referred to former P.C. Ian Fraser as “Bones” Fraser when, in fact it was David “Bones” Fraser who joined the BPS at the same time as Davie.
Davie was always well known for his prodigious memory and it is great to have someone who can point out – and always politely – our errors, even if it’s from 3,000 miles away in Scotland.
Davie and his wife Jean now live Perthshire but they pay regular visits to Bermuda whenever possible. Davie is hoping they can come out for a visit somewhere around 22nd September depending on Jean being able to have what is described as ‘minor throat surgery’ before then. We wish her all the best and hope to see them both in 3 months time.
I’m not sure how many of our readers are aware of it, but our best source of information about former Bermuda Police officers is what Davie refers to a “Coop’s Big List”! This list was compiled by Dave Cooper while he was in the Force and it provides us with the joining dates, ranks, and dates of resignation or retirement of former officers going back as far as 1st October 1879 when The Late Superintendent JCB Clarke was appointed as our first Chief of Police.
Unfortunately, it does not list everyone by any means between 1879 and the 1950’s, but it is quite comprehensive from the mid-1950’s to September 2003.
Davie has even offered to try to bring the list more up-to-date during his next visit if the weather is poor, and we can provide him with access to recent records.
In his latest email Davie mentions that according to "Coops List" we have had 6 constables who were assigned the number P.C. 155 when they joined the BPS but he can only find 4 who are listed, which are John Brennan, Dennis Byrne, Terry Cabral, and Keith Hales. Please let us know if you know who are the missing two 155’s!
Davie made the following additional comments in his latest email:
“Coincidence time! We were at Jean's mum's funeral in Lytham St Anne's back in March, and Jean was going through some of Mum's accumulated documentation and found her marriage certificate. Would you believe that her parents and mine had been married on the very same DAY?
“I'm torn on the America's Cup issue. I want the Kiwis to win because I reckon they're a small nation that invariably punches well above its weight in the sporting arena, but I want the Yanks to win because then there's a chance we might get the AC back in Bermuda for their defence: decisions, decisions... We get highlights on BBC2: good viewing.
Sailing vessels have advanced a bit since I used to run my Sunfish trips from Admiralty Beach: comparing my wee Sunfish to one of those flying machines is rather like comparing a Morris Minor to a Formula 1 racer!
Anyway, I hope Bermuda has reaped some benefits from staging the AC, and that such benefits will have a lasting effect on what I've always considered (and still consider) to be a lovely wee country where I spent 39 very happy years. Just as a matter of interest, do you know who did eventually land the Radio Operator's job?
Keep up the good work with the Former Fuzz website!
Cheers. Davie.
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Editors note - The America’s Cup has been a phenominal event for Bermuda to host, and without doubt the biggest and best organized in our history. The America’s Cup Village was created on re-claimed, or rather “claimed” land at Dockyard. The whole event has gone off without a hitch and has gained a worldwide audience. Our young sailors have had the opportunity to sail against ten other countries in the Red Bull Junior America’s Cup series in which we qualified for the finals – a magnificent achievement for by far the smallest country competing.
As of this writing the only slight disappointment has been that Emirates New Zealand is trouncing Oracle U.S. by 6 -1 and will regain the Cup if they can win just one more race either this afternoon or tomorrow. I think we would all have relished a much closer finale.
Just one more point to mention re Davie’s possible visit in September. Davie and Jean are always willing to do house sits while on Island, and are happy to look after animals while doing do – with the notable exception of snakes!