We just heard from our old friend former P.C. Malcolm Robishaw who has been here on Island for a holiday and during his stay he visited fellow colleague Dave Chew in St. George’s. Malcolm and Dave attended the same Basic Training Course #4 back in 1963, along with Len Mustard, and these three have maintained some contact with each other over the years. To the best of our knowledge Malcolm, Dave and Len are the “last men standing” from Course #4.
After his 3 month training course Malcolm was posted to Western Division (Somerset) where he really enjoyed the camaraderie in singlemen’s quarters. As Malcolm described in his ‘Then and Now’ article (CLICK HERE to view it), how he “thought he’d landed in heaven”! Malcolm transferred to Central in 1964; he left the Bermuda Police in January 1965 and returned to England where he served in the Cheshire Constabulary then in Greater Manchester Police due to boundary changes.
Following this latest visit to Bermuda, Malcolm has written, “I now live and have done so for many years in Lytham near Blackpool.”
"I’m still in touch with Len Mustard who now lives in what appears to be a Vancouver Island holiday resort where he was the town crier for many years. I know he’s led an interesting life.
"I saw Dave Chew on my visit. His eyesight is not good these days and he rarely goes out other than with his daughter to do a weekly shop. His wife Leslie is house bound also.
"My life is very routine. We used to have a nice condo in St Petersburg, Florida overlooking the ocean but unfortunately my wife contracted Legionnaires disease over there. The American medical system was wonderful as we had very good travel insurance and money wasn’t a problem. She was in intensive care there for over 2 months and then another 6 weeks in our local hospital. Had it happened in the UK she wouldn’t have survived. As it was she managed another 7 years for which I am very grateful.
"I have a loving family, some good friends and I volunteer at the local RNLI shop so life is not too bad. I do like the sun and I visit Lanzarote regularly with friends.”
Malcolm described a most unusual event whil he was here in Bermuda - " I was taking a walk down Memory Lane around the Prospect area when I met, purely by chance A/Superintendent Rollin. We chatted and he told me he was en route to give the current training course their final goodbye speech after their previous Passing Out Parade. He asked me to join him which I did. He then made his speech and at the end of it he asked me to say a few words which i did.” Malcolm informed me that several photos were taken during his chat with the new recuits so I contacted A/Supt Andrew Rollin who kindly sent me the attached photos along with the following comment about Malcolm's visit to Prospect.
On Friday gone (10th October 2025) I was walking over to the Training Department in my capacity as Acting Superintendent for Training. It was my intention to close out RFC #85 and give them a “good luck” send off. As I left my office I saw a man at the top of HQ Hill looking around. I walked over and gave a polite hello and made sure he wasn’t lost. After the usual exchange of pleasantries he let me know his name was Malcolm and that he was a PC here in the 1960’s. He was on RFC #4 in 1963. He did two-ish years here then returned to the UK for another 26 years of policing with GMP.
I took it upon myself to invite him over to the training school and had him come in to the class as I gave them a final speech and send off. Malcolm was gracious enough to stand and speak to the team and offer them the best of luck as well as some words of advice for a policing career. PC Taylor was able to snap some shots which are attached. It was a very pleasant experience and touching I hope for the graduating class as much as it was for us older coppers in the room.”
Alex Rollin is the son of retired Sgt Steve Rollin, and we published an excellent article about Alex when he was an Inspector entitled “Profile in Excellence” (CLICK HERE to view the article). Alex is the second member of the Rollin family to have an article in our "Then and Now" column as we published an article abut Steve;s reminiscences CLICK HERE to view Steve's article).
Since working on this article, I've been in touch with Len Mustard out in Vancouver Island, and hope to publish an article about Len's Life out West in the near future.