Young P.C. Robin Stuart
Earlier his year (2024) we posted an article in our “Interesting Articles” column about the fact that we had 30 young men and women join the Bermuda Police during the year 1974, and those who are still chugging along will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary of joining us during 2024. CLICK HERE for the article which includes a list of all those officers recruited during 1974 along with their dates of joining. We invited those to whom this applied to write and let us know where they are and what they’re doing these days, and the first person to respond was Robin Stuart who has provided the following fascinating account on life after leaving Bermuda.
According to our records, Robin was actually born in Germany, but we believe he was Irish, and after being accepted into the Bermuda Police Service he arrived on Island in April 1974
Basic Training Course #18 He attended Basic Training Course #18 and was first posted to Central Division (Uniform) spending time on the beat in Hamilton. Two years later he transferred to Administration at Police Headquarters, Prospect.
Robin met his wife, Marion on Island, and he remained at Police Headquarters until he completed his 3 year contract, after which he and Marion made the decision to leave Bermuda.
We had no official information about where Robin and Marion settled or what they did after leaving Bermuda - until Robin read our article about the 1974 50th Anniversary group, which resulted in him writing the following account of what they have done since then. It’s quite amazing what so many our former colleagues do after their time in Bermuda, and Robin is no exception, especially his choice of profession which has literally taken him and his family around the world as described in his email reply to us as follows:-
“Delighted to receive your email Roger about the 50th anniversary of joining Bermuda Police…. so many happy memories flooding into my head - where did the time go…
Bermuda for me is where I made so many friends, where I met my wife Marion, where John Kandziorka (fondly remembered) introduced me to Barry White’s music & R&B/Soul, where I tasted my first Rum Swizzle, where I learnt The Bus Stop dance at The Half & Half disco in the Southampton Princess.
I think we all fell in love with Bermuda’s turquoise sea & pink sands & sunshine!!
After leaving Bermuda Police in April 1977 I found work within the Hospitality Industry first as a barman then moved into management in the Hotel industry near Belfast. Marion & I married in 1979 & have two girls & two boys. In April 1984 I started working for P & O European Ferries, responsible for onboard Hotel Services on the Irish Sea.
In 2001, I travelled to Washington DC to be interviewed for a position with a Saudi princess and whilst there, it occurred to me that working full-time as a Butler might be an exciting way to develop my career. The knowledge & skills I had gained working in hospitality were very transferable to Private Service.
I subsequently attended a Butler training course in England before securing my first position, working as a butler in Oxfordshire on a 2000-acre Georgian estate, for members of the Cadbury & Heineken Families!
The next position I worked for was a Family based in Austria & I travelled extensively to their many homes around the world.
I returned to the UK in 2003 to work for a well known Russian family as Head Butler on their East Sussex Estate.
From 2006 to 2011 I became Palace Manager for a Lebanese Family based in Riyadh KSA, leading a team of over 160 multi-national staff to ensure all the Family needs & their Guests were met at all times.
In 2009 we visited Bermuda with our children!!
After leaving KSA I undertook further training in order to be able to provide formal training in Butling & Household management & set up Exceeding Expectations, in 2012. Readers can view Robin’s website at www.exceedingexpectations.ie
In this capacity I have undertaken training projects in London, Riyadh, Las Vegas, PR China, Tokyo, Singapore, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Mexico & St Lucia.
Editors note - It was a real pleasure hearing from Robin, and it’s clear that he and Marion retain fond memories of their time in Bermuda. They even returned here to Bermuda with their children and managed to squeeze the whole family into the birdcage on Front Street where one of Robin’s first duties would have been directing traffic on Heyl's Corner.
I must apologize to Robin for having misplaced the draft article earlier in the year, and having just found it decided it definitely needed publishing immediately.
Many thanks Robin for taking the time to write. Hope you had a Happy 50th Anniversary in April and wish you and your family all the best.