The Police Recreation Club’s main hall was a hive of activity on Friday evening 23rd November 2018 as invited guests, fellow colleagues, community partners, and friends and family members gathered to wish a fond farewell to Inspector Mark Clarke who officially retires as of 3rd December 2018 after completing 37 years of service in the BPS.

Mark has always been a very popular officer who has given exceptional service to the Bermuda Police especially in the areas of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse which became his area of expertise as a result of which he became the officer in charge of the newly created Vulnerable Persons Unit when it was formed in 2012.

Commissioner Stephen Corbishley spoke about Mark’s dedication to the BPS, pointing out that Mark is the longest serving officer and that his presence will be much missed. The Commissioner presented a beautiful cedar shield to Mark in appreciation for his 37 years of dedicated service.

There were two people present at the party who were on the same Basic Training Course as Mark. These were now retired Insp. Kevin “Jimmy Moon” Christopher, and former P.C. Larry Mussenden, who went on to a legal career and is the current Director of Public Prosecutions.

Larry recalled that he and Mark had been close friends since their early childhood having attended Prospect Primary, Warwick Academy, the Police Cadets and Basic Training Course together.  He praised Mark for his outstanding investigations in cases involving child abuse when he (Larry) was working in the AG's Chambers as as prosecutor, and also for his invaluable leadership of the Vulnerable Persons Unit in recent years.

The Premier, the Hon. David Burt, MP, JP, took time out of a busy day in the House Assembly to come up to the Police Club and personally thank Mark for his 37 years of dedicated service to the commumnity and to wish him well in his retirement.

Retired Assistant Commissioner Carlton Adams, who is presently working as a consultant for the BPS investigating “cold cases” gave an excellent presentation on Mark’s 37 year career, as follows:-

“Mark Lyndon Stuart Clarke joined the Bermuda Police Force as a Cadet on the 7th December 1981 following in the footsteps of his mother Barbara, then a serving officer. After a year at the Bermuda College he commenced training on the 20th September 1982, as a member of Basic Training Course #32 along with 14 other Bermudians, among them Kevin “Jimmy Moon” Christopher, Lenora Maloney, Lloyd Duncan (now Bishop Duncan), and Larry Mussenden, the current Director of Public Prosecutions.

At age 18 Mark was the youngest on the course and will be the last of the group to leave the Service on the 3rd December. Mark applied himself enthusiastically to all aspects of the training and was described by the training officer as the best swimmer in the group.

Early on, a lifelong trait manifested itself prompting the training officer to record in the space opposite ‘Oral Expression’ in the first stage report. “Good - sometimes starts talking before thinking about what it is he is going to say.” The officer’s comment in the second stage report suggested improvement had taken place when he wrote “Good - thinking more before speaking”. However those of us who know Mark are aware that he likes to talk and says whatever comes to mind without hesitation or restraint; sometimes to the amusement if not the embarrassment of all within earshot. Not much has changed!

On the 3rd December 1982, his 19th birthday, Mark was appointed Police Constable 282 and shortly after he was posted to Central Uniform Division becoming immersed in general policing duties including static duties at Government House.

One evening when patrolling the grounds of Government House he encountered the Governor having a drink, he was looking into a mirror raising his glass, mumbling, apparently toasting himself. Not wishing to intrude Mark attempted a hasty withdrawal. The Governor called out. “I see you constable” insisting that he not leave, and inviting Mark to have a drink. Mark, apprehensive, declined pointing out that he was on duty, in response to which the Governor then said. “I am Commander in Chief, you answer to me.”

Mark complied and partook of a libation, the two entering into discussion for some minutes in relation to various artefacts (in the room) in which they held mutual interest. The Governor suddenly changing the subject imparted what he likely believed to be sage advice when he said to Mark. “Never marry the Help!”  Puzzled, Mark ventured a query. The Governor explained that his current wife was not the first and that she had prior to the marriage been in his employ in some capacity and, that now she was… miserable!  Mark eventually made it back to the station in one piece at the end of the shift.

As his career progressed he was appointed Detective Constable in Central C.I.D., becoming a competent and reliable investigator. He was also deployed to Eastern C.I.D. and the Major Incident Room investigating serious crimes. His passion however became the protection of children inspired following his involvement in separate investigations into the deaths of two very young children, murdered by their parents.

He was transferred to the fledgling Juvenile and Domestic Crimes Unit following promotion to Sgt in 2001 having been told to make it into an effective entity to respond to criminal behaviour involving children, and arising from domestic incidents involving women. In the ensuing years Mark was involved with multiple investigations securing convictions against offenders whilst forging relationships with local stakeholders Child and Family Services, the DPP’s Chambers and overseas partners by whom he is now highly regarded in consequence of his efforts.

In other investigative initiatives he consistently displayed exceptional but not surprising strength of character when called upon to investigate some of our number for quite serious offences (unrelated to Child safeguarding) when others lacking testicular fortitude declined to do so.

He has made presentations in Australia and Trinidad in relation to Child Safeguarding at meetings of the Interpol Specialist Group on Crimes against Children, and in 2014 was instrumental in arranging for the 32nd meeting of that body to be held in Bermuda. The event was attended by over 200 persons from fifty countries. Mark has also made joint presentations at NCA meetings on Child Safeguarding in Miami, Florida and appeared before Parliamentary Committees contemplating the introduction of legislation here in Bermuda in support of Child Safeguarding in 2016, and in February of this year.

Among many accomplishments Mark is proudest of a paper submitted by him in 2003 at the request of the then Minister of Health entitled Domestic Violence Child Abuse and Sex Offenders in Bermuda, a consultative document that subsequently was of huge assistance to the Government in introducing Child Pornography and Sex Offender management legislation, and amendments to then existing law relating to Registration and Public notification of Sex offenders.

Recommendations contained within the document at the time are reflected in current, and new and updated legislation, as is the ethos of investigation and Public perception surrounding Child Abuse, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Fifteen years after its writing this document remains invaluable for purposes of reference.

Mark was promoted Inspector in 2008 and with the exception of the period between 2008 and 2012 he has been the officer in Charge of what is now known as the Vulnerable Persons Unit.

During his years of service Mark has been the recipient of Commendations from the Chief Justice, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and was awarded 4 Commissioners Commendations, numerous Letters of Good Work and Merit Awards. He has also received letters of appreciation from grateful members of the Public.

Displayed on a wall in Marks office is a thin slip of paper upon which is printed the following quotation by Nelson Mandela:-

"There can be no Keener revelation of a Society’s Soul than the way it treats its’ Children."

Perhaps more than anything this explains Marks exceptional drive and commitment to ensure that our children are protected as best as can be. December 3rd 2018 will mark completion of 37 years’ service to the people of Bermuda as a member of the Bermuda Police Service.”

The speeches concluded with Mark thanking everyone in attendance for their presence. He was particularly delighted to see Kevin Christopher and Larry Mussenden, both of who had been on his Basic Training Course back in 1982.

Mark noted that during his 37 year career he had worked for 9 Commissioners, 10 Premiers and 8 Governors. As he said, “37 years … to think I’ve done all that, and may I say not in a shy way! Regrets, I’ve had a few but I did what I had to do”.

Mark paid tribute to his many friends and colleagues, and to his family without whom he said he would not have been able to do what he had to do. He commented that he may not have been able to change the world but he went to great lengths “to embarrass the guilty!” After quoting Winston Churchill who once said, “Difficulties mastered are opportunities won” Mark concluded by saying, “I’d like to think that I did that.”

Everyone present gave three hearty cheers for Mark who thanked everyone for attending this very nice event.

 

When I arrived in Bermuda on 29th May 1964, Admiralty House was no longer being used by the Police to house single men but we still had access to the entire grounds, the beach and the dock. Having arrived at the airport after dark I had seen nothing of the Island until the next morning which happened to be overcast and cloudy with no sign of sun. Our small group of Frank Thompson, John Charlewood and myself were dropped off at Admiralty House in a kombie to relax and swim, and it was as though we had died and gone to heaven! There must have been at least a dozen bikini clad young ladies, all nurses, stretching out along the dock, and the water was so warm and inviting.

It all seemed like a perfect introduction to Bermuda as we sat on the dock for hours chatting to the nurses. What a shock I had though after returning to Henderson Block at Prospect and taking a shower, only to make the agonizing discovery that I was suffering from the worst sunburn across my shoulders that I will ever have!

Even after that painful experience I was one of dozens of young policemen who spent many happy hours enjoying the company and the ambiance of Admiralty House, and at that time most of us would slather ourselves in Johnson's baby oil with a touch of iodine in the false belief we could quickly build up a tan - with no side effects!

"Irresistible!"

Mike "Cool Cat" Caulkett and Roger Sherratt

 

Mike enquired if anyone knew what happened to Adrian Brindle (served from 1961-1966), Ray Hackett (served from May 1961-August 1964) and Maurice Winston Thorne (served from May 1961- May 1964), after they left Bermuda, but we have no information about any of them after then.

Editors note - According to brief records in the Police Register at Prospect, Adrian Brindle returned to Wiltshire, and Ray Hackett returned to London.

Mike was also interested in a guy believed to be named Lew Dunkley who Mike says wore regular Bermuda Police uniform, ate at the Mess, stayed at Cypher Block, and to all appearances was one of the lads who would drink at the Police Club, but as Mike remembers it, Lew said he was “seconded” to Bermuda from the Met. Mike saw him once after he left Bermuda when he appeared on a TV broadcast with Princess Margaret at a refugee camp and was clearly identifiable as the same Lew Dunkley who spent a short time here although his name was not mentioned in the video.

Strangely, there is absolutely no record at all of a Lew Dunkley ever having served in the Bermuda Police, and I wondered if anyone might recall him and perhaps know what he did while here. I gather that Mike has also made an enquiry at the Met but had not received a reply.

I decided to make some enquiries about the guys who were in the Police Force at the time Mike was here and asked them for their recollections of singlemen’s quarters at Admiralty House. I received the following responses:-

P.C. Dave Gillery 

Dave Gillery  -   Dave recalls, "I came out to Bermuda on a BOAC Britannia via Gander in  October 1959 together with John (“Extra”) Brennan and Frank Thompson. John was a really nice chap, partial to a drop of scotch which led him into trouble with our Hamilton watch sergeant, John Cribbin!

I was posted to Central Division, Hamilton, and I was only in the barracks at Prospect a couple of weeks before being offered the alternative of moving to Admiralty House which I accepted as did Frank Thompson.

Admiralty House, as most us who ever stayed there will recollect, was a superb location above Admiralty Cove with a jetty and statue of Neptune.

Neptune stands guard over the nurses!

The beach on the other side of the cove was great for picnics, and the swimming and snorkelling was brilliant (apart from the moray eels living in the rocks).

The Signal block or Cypher block was on the right hand side of the drive to the house but I think it was being renovated when I arrived.

To the best of my recollection Admiralty House was populated at that time by the following:-  Downstairs  -  Bob Woolley - Hamilton Central, Bill Freeman - CID, Ian “Crash” Kane - CID, Ian Morrison - CID.   Upstairs  were Jack Shaughnessy - Traffic, and  Mike Kelly - CID.

I moved into the room down the corridor from Jack, and Frank moved into a room on the left up a further flight of stairs. Harvey Fothergill, Keith Lovell and Fred Beard, who also arrived in October, became occupants of the Cypher Quarters. They were followed by Bob Stewart who moved in next to Mike Kelly and George Hammond who moved in next to Frank Thompson. 

A highlight for any visitor to Admiralty House was a quick visit to Mike Kelly's famous chest of drawers. The drawers in this fine antique piece of furniture contained an enormous array of ladies lingerie to rival Victoria’s Secret. This fine collection was acquired by Mike (as gifts) from various ladies who arrived on the island on cruise ships, during college weeks or hotel visits.

Dave and Margaret at Forty Thieves with Mike Kelly & (first wife) Mary  

George Hammond joined the Bermuda Police Pipe band which was formed about 1960. This resulted in the atrocious sound of George practicing on his bagpipes at all hours of the day and night  - an Englishman’s worst nightmare! I seem to remember that Bill Pratt and John Allen also spent some time there at this early period. Bob Woolley and Bill Freeman both resigned in early 1960. Bill went back to England and Bob Woolley went to New York where I understand he joined the NYPD.   

“Cynical” Syd Gregory moved into Woolley’s room and I think Bill Elliot may have replaced Bill Freeman. Bob Irons and Bill Elliott were great drinking buddies and together with Joe Colton spent a lot of time at every place on the island which served rum! However, I don’t think Bob Irons actually lived permanently at Admiralty House during my time there. "Pip" Carter may have lived there but I seem to recall he was married. Jack Shaughnessy got married and Colin Finnegan moved in there for a while prior to co-habiting with Alistair “Shakey” Johnson.

I think the residency list at Admiralty House stayed fairly constant during the early 1960's subject to a few changes due to resignations and marriages. The arrival of Scottish officers like Andy Heggie and Andy Dryburgh, required the local “Diddleybops” to learn a second language other than English, while Jim Lyons, Ken Norman, George Garrod, Ron Mullan and Alan Wyatt lifted the quality of the soccer team, but I don’t recall any residing at Admiralty House. 

CLICK HERE to read Dave's excellent article in our "Then and Now" column. 

The things I remember clearly are:

1. Lots of space and great views of the North Shore. I had a room that looked right along the shore, and the other side was a view across Spanish Point and a little bit of the harbor;
2. The ballroom which always impressed first-time girlfriends from the States who were convinced that those who lived there were millionaires
3. The tennis court which was used a lot by the police and others - including the Colonial Secretary, John Sykes. who often called me up for a game
4. The gigantic washing machine which I used when I could not get anyone to do my laundry;
5. The gardener who woke us up when we were on days. I don't recall his name but he was a delightful person who kept the grounds in great shape;
6. The 2 beaches which were like private swimming pools
7. The endless parties - usually after midnight;
8. “Shakey” Johnson and George Hammond fighting on the ballroom floor after we came off evening shift;
9. A reduced mess bill because we missed many meals because of the distance we had to travel to the mess at Prospect.
10. The anger when John Patton as Minister of Public Works who, somewhere around 1975, had the whole house demolished.

It was a great place to live for young and single policemen and I always have happy memories when I pass it on the way to Spanish Point.

On Lew Dunkerley I recall him vaguely but he was never a friend or on my watch. Ray Hackett became a lawyer and returned to the UK around 1964.

CLICK HERE to read more about Bob Stewart in our "Then and Now" column.

JEFF PAYNE - I think Maurice Thorne went back to the Gloucester Police. and Adrian Brindle also went back to the UK. He was good mates with P.C. Robert (“Bob”) Bates (Served from Jan 1961-March 1963) and Carol Royer who worked in Traffic at that time. He came back a few times on visits.

NICK HALL - I remember them but have no information on them. Always ask after Somerset’s Colin Vincent* who used to attend my USC machine gun shoots at what is now Dockyard’s prime beach.

PS I once met Ian Davies at Farnborough Air Show in 1970s,

• Editors note - According to the Police Register P.C. Roger Colin Vincent served here from February 1962 - December 1963 and was stationed in Western Division.

George Hammond - I remember the person you are mentioning although I believe the surname is spelled “Dunkerley” or “Dunkerly”and his first name was spelled “Lewerley”. He came out here from the Met with Gerry Stiles in the early sixties. I’m not sure if the spelling is correct but I remember him well.

• Editors note - Although there is no record of a “Lew Dunkley” in the official police registers, I checked in the Winter 1961 edition of the Police Magazine, and discovered his name recorded under “Attestations” as Constable L.S. Dunkerley who joined on 3rd January 1961.

Mike Cherry - Although I joined the BPS in 1959 I do not recall any of the names mentioned. I did not have the fortune of being billeted at Admiralty House, as I was one of the first to take up residence at Prospect in July 1959 in one of the recently renovated rooms in the two-story block opposite HQ.

We did spend a lot of time at Admiralty House though due to the beach and boating and it was a regular venue for parties.

I moved out of Prospect in late 1961 after getting married, and also was transferred to Traffic, so did not get to know the guys on the beat too well.

Some of the guys that I recall staying at Admiralty House were Ian Kane, Bob Irons, Jack Shaughnessy, ‘Pip’ Carter, Dave Gillery, and I will think of others.
Best regards
Mike

Editors note - Mike wrote a lovely article for out Then and Now column. CLICK HERE to view it.

Terry Bawden - I landed at Bermuda sometime in February 1962 and it was night-time when I landed. I was met by a Sergeant and taken directly to Admiralty House. I was only there for couple of weeks before being posted to St George’s barracks, so I don’t have too much knowledge of the place.

At that time the police inmates seem to have been on the first floor and the Bermuda Rifles were using the ground floor although I don’t really know what their function was there. On the first morning there I awoke, and it was of course the first view I had of Bermuda in daylight, and having left England in winter where all was drab and grey, I think it was the most beautiful place I had ever seen, with all the houses in pastel shades and white roofs.

To me the houses looked a bit like child’s dolls houses, but I soon got used to seeing them everywhere. Within a few days I became very homesick, it being the first time I had ever left my family or even England, but once I was moved to St Georges’ and had a close circle of colleagues around me, I soon grew out of that and settled down to happy days. That’s all I can really say about Admiralty House.

We also have an excellent article about Peter “Pip” Carter in our Hall of Fame column (CLICK HERE to view it) which was kindly written by his wife Diane “Dee” Carter. GEOFF HUNT - Adrian Brindle was an usher at John Swift's wedding but I think John lost contact a long time ago. Ray Hackett took an external law degree and became a barrister. Maurice Thorne came from Gloucester - managed to save £3000 in his 3 year contract and left abruptly!

DAVE GARLAND - Adrian Brindle was a nice quiet fellow - he was not a police type. I remember him taking part in an athletics meet in 1962 when D.J. Williams challenged the Police to compete in a competition against the pick of Bermuda’s athletes. The meet was held at BAA Field.

P.C.  Anthony "Tony" Harper

Results:-
Adrian Brindle - 2nd to John Morbey
Dave Garland - 2nd to John Morbey
• Please note that John Morbey was a brilliant athlete who won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and ran the 100 yards in 10 seconds.
Jack Rouse won both shot put and javelin
Tony Harper won both 220 yards and 400 yds
Jeff Payne won both 1 mile and 2 miles against David Saul in both his events

Police finished up easy winners of this athletic meet, and I believe it was another clear indication of the depth of talent we had then in the Police Force.

We never received another challenge but D.J. Williams then coached Tony Harper and Jeff Payne who qualified for the Olympic Games. To reach the required times to qualify for the Olympics l used to run with Tony Harper half laps when training. Because they set their times on grass they were allowed time off times set on laid tracks. Both Tony and Jeff were superb athletes.

Editors note - I have to fully agree with Dave Garland about the depth of talent we have had in the Bermuda Police in such a wide variety of sports and other activities. In fact we recently published an article on the History of the Police Drama Group which was very active during the mid-1960's.  CLICK HERE to view it.

Conclusion -    Without doubt,  we've had lots of young police officers who have spent many happy hours enjoying the facilities at Admiralty House whether they were billeted there, or they spent time swimming and sun bathing, messing around with  boats, and attending social functions.  Those were indeed the days!

If you have memories of time spent at Admiralty House or if you have any photos we would be delighted to hear from you.