We are deeply saddened to report that our old friend and colleague Patrick “Pat” McBride passed away early this morning, Friday 9th November 2018, in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada after a battle with dementia for which he had been in care for over the past year.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, in June 1939, Pat served in the Royal Marines from 1959-1961, then served in the Glasgow City Police from 1962 –1966 before joining the Bermuda Police in September 1966.

Pat could aptly be described as a “larger than life character” who made an immediate and positive impact on his fellow officers from the moment he set foot on the Island. Pat was first posted to Central Division (Hamilton) for 3 years before being transferred to Training School as the physical training and drill instructor where his prior experience in the Royal Marines was a great asset. To put it mildly, Pat was a great believer in physical fitness and discipline – as his participation in a variety of sporting activities clearly showed.

Pat was an active member of the Police Rugby Team at a time when we had one of the finest teams ever to wear blue shirts.

It was as a result of a challenge between Pat and another great character, Alastair “Shakey” Johnson that our first ever Police Mini-Marathon took place in 1969. These two Scotsmen had challenged each other to a running race from the Police Club down to Flatts and back in which they crossed the finish line together. This resulted in the running of our first ever Police Mini Marathon as described by Pat in an article he wrote for our ExPo website which you can view at
http://expobermuda.com/index.php/articles/78-the-first-prc-mini-marathon-1969 

 

Pat was also both the inspirational leader and coach behind the amazing success of our Police Tug o’War Team which completely dominated this tough sport for as long as Pat was in charge of the team. Again, Pat has written an excellent article on the history of our Police Tug o’War Team which can be viewed at http://expobermuda.com/index.php/lia/91-policetugowar

 

But there is no doubt that Pat’s greatest legacy was his involvement in our first Police Boxing Tournament that became one of the most popular and successful annual events ever undertaken by the Bermuda Police. Not only was Pat greatly involved in organizing the tournament, he also participated in the first evening as a boxer.

Pat also wrote an article on the History of the first Boxing Tournament which can be viewed at http://expobermuda.com/index.php/lia/89-first-boxing-tournament 

To have a true understanding of Pat’s love of Bermuda and the Bermuda Police you need go no further than his introduction to his article on that first Boxing Tournament which reads as follows:-

“When I first came out to Bermuda from the United Kingdom it didn’t take me long to realize what a unique body of men I had joined. For although the Police would at times struggle against individual teams, their overall performance covering numerous sports could not be matched. For example, our record against the Royal Navy was second to none!
Very few members of the Force were devoid of physical ability, which ran the full gamut of sports, from darts to full contact rugby union (knock him down; and leave him down!) There was no quarter given or asked for in the four-team Island rugby league.
This was especially true when a group of sporting types from “Out of the Blue” produced and staged what has to be considered one of the very best, if not the finest sporting production ever staged on the Island - without the benefit of professional backing and expertise! This was, of course, the Annual Boxing Tournament.
We based our evening of boxing on the National Sporting Club in London, which was basically a Gentleman’s Night Out - with strict rules applied during the bouts. Okay, it may be argued that a few of our attendees may not have been “gentlemen” exactly, but we did, however, insist that they dress up in their tuxedos - a dress code that was strictly enforced. We restricted the alcohol to champagne, and smoking to cigars only. I’d like to think that all those who attended our first night of boxing, along with all those dozens of men who have stepped into the ring since that momentous night in 1969, and everyone who has ever attended the annual Police Boxing Tournaments, will be able to look back with pride and fond memories at having been an integral part of the sporting legacy of the Bermuda Police Force.”Best wishes to one and all
Pat McBride
March 2012

Promoted to Sergeant in December 1973 while serving in Training School, Pat was transferred to Central Division early in 1974, until he made the decision to resign from the Bermuda Police in December 1974 and emigrate to Canada where he settled in Vancouver.

We offer our sincere condolences to his wife, Colleen and his family, and will keep you informed of arrangements for Pat’s funeral. We are aware that we have many former colleagues living in Canada, and we hope that some of our friends will be able to attend Pat’s funeral.

12th November

Although we just published the following information from Nick Bolton about Pat's passing in our Keeping in Touch column we are also publishing it here so that we have all the latest information and comments about Pat in one article.

Comments from Nick Bolton:-

"This is very sad news, in many ways the end of an era. I remember well my first meeting with Pat. On June 6th 1973 at 1645 hrs we had just landed and were met by (Dick) Murphy, (Battie) Meade and Pat McBride.They had one of those big old vans that were used to transport the riot squads. On the way to Prospect we came across an MVA (still called a 10-56 ?) and Pat was junior man so he had to get out and assist until a unit attended. The rest of us continued on to HQ where we were met by Sykes Smith who bought us all a beer.

We then went through a (thankfully) shortened Basic Course with Pat as the PTI.

Imagine my joy when I got here and found Pat was the PTI at the BC Police Academy. He was highly respected and well liked here in BC , many people have told me how influential he was on both their personal and professional development."

Nick very kindly forwarded to us the Departmental announcement of his passing which reads as follows:-

Last night retired Inspector Patrick Aloysius McBride PIN #126 passed away after a long and difficult health battle. Pat served with the Matsqui and Abbotsford Police Departments from 1975 until his retirement on June 30,1999. He also served with the Royal Marines, Glasgow City Police, Bermuda Police and Delta Police. If you had the privilege of knowing Pat you will remember him as a sharp witted, tenacious and proud member of the department. He was an ex Royal Marine who brought his toughness to the JIBC when he was a PT instructor. A steep hill behind the old JIBC on West 4th was named after him and he expertly used ”McBride Hill” to break, test and build new recruits. Pat also coached our men’s and women’s tug of war teams to several world championships instilling a pride in all of us as we defeated some of the largest police departments in North America.

Those of us that have been around a while remember the personalities of the “old guys” when we started; and Pat is one of those personalities. He struck fear into new members and ensured that no matter what time you arrived at your first briefing you would be greeted in thick Scottish accent with “YOU’RE LATE”. After that initial encounter he would ask you “What’s a police officer’s most important tool?”; those of us that knew him have that answer. After that, and once you proved yourself Pat was one of the best and most supportive bosses anyone could ask for.
Pat received the Medal of Bravery in 1984 for his actions during the Matsqui Prison Riot for being a part of a team that landed a helicopter on a burning roof at the Matsqui Penitentiary rescuing staff members.

He also received the Medal of Bravery for a fire rescue in 1983 one of very few people to have two awards of this medal.
http://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/121-58415

Pat became the historian of our agency and wrote “Police, Politicians and Pioneers” which was the history of Matsqui PD from 1905-1925 then 1955 to 1995.

Pat lived in Abbotsford after his retirement and is survived by his wife Colleen.

Our thoughts go out to his family.

12th November 2018

          

Gerry Lyons  -  Gerry just wrote to us about his close connection with Pat from their childhood as he describes below:-

"I stayed next door to Pat as a wee boy in Pollok. Ten years apart in age, but he pulled my 4 year old ass out of the River Cart when he was a young teenager. I moved to another area but moved back to Pollok at age 11. By that time Pat was in the army and then joined the Glasgow Police.

I heard he had moved overseas, but no idea where. His brother, Eugene, became our Parish Priest a few years later. Andy Hall stayed just around the corner from us although I did not know Andy very well. He went to Protestant School, I went to Catholic School.

When I stepped off the plane in 1973, got the shock of my life to see Pat at the bottom of the stairs. He took me under his wing and introduced me to dozens of people during my first few days here.

It was quite amazing to have three Pollok boys, who stayed within 100 yards of each other, all serving thousands of miles away in the BPS at the same time. That is what I would call an amazing coincidence. Sadly, both my neighbors now departed."

EDITORS NOTE -    Gerry maintained close contact with Pat and Colleen, and it was Gerry who informed us of the sad news of Pat's death.

UPDATE -  Colleen has kindly been in touch with us and advised that the Celebration of Pat’s life will be held on Friday November 16th. at 2pm, at Bradner Community Hall, 5305 Bradner Road. Abbotsford B.C.  Bradner is the small community where we live, and Pat loved it here. Again... Thank you.