Young P.C. Len Mustard - 1963
Leonard “Len” Mustard joined the Bermuda Police in September 1963, along with nine other young men recruited in the UK.
The group had the unusual distinction of having their photograph taken as they were disembarking their BOAC flight and were being met by Chief Inspector Roy Chandler and Inspector Tommy Doyle. The passengers are (from the bottom of the gangway) - Terry Lambert, Alex Forbes, Robert “Bob” Holdbrook, Malcolm Robishaw, Ian Scotland, Dave Chew (facing left), Alan Wilkinson immediately behind Dave Chew, Alan Kennedy (to the right of Alan Wilkinson), Peter Stubbs looking towards the wing, and Len Mustard chatting to a gentleman believed to be a member of the BOAC ground staff or crew. Peter Stubbs is the odd one out because he was just returning from a trip to the UK.
Chief Inspector Chandler was the officer-in-charge of the recently created Police Training School at Prospect, and Len and his fellow recruits attended the 4th Basic Training Course.
Top Row (l-r) Alan Kennedy, Leonard Mustard, Robert Holdbrook, Following the training course Len was first posted to Eastern Division in December 1963, then to Central Division, Hamilton, in July 1964.
While serving here he joined the Police Drama Group and was a member of the cast of the all-male 'Seagulls Over Sorrento' production performed at City Hall Theatre in October 1964. CLICK HERE to view an article about the History of the Police Drama Group which includes details of the cast and crew of Seagulls Over Sorrento.
Programme notes for 'Seagulls Over Sorrento'
We recently heard about Len from one of his fellow recruits on Training Course #4, Malcolm Robishaw who visited the Island last October 2025, and while here Malcolm visited another member of their Basic Training Course, Dave Chew, in St. George’s, CLICK HERE to read our article about Malcolm’s visit here during which he was invited to give a brief talk to the latest training school recruits.
While here Malcolm mentioned that he was still in touch with Len Mustard who was living out in Vancouver Island and had been for many years. He provided us with Len’s contact details and Len was duly contacted and gave us the following information about his time here in Bermuda over 60 years ago.
“For me, the ad for the Bermuda Police Force was a good way to begin exploring the world. After graduating from Police training, I was stationed in St. George's and remember being called into the Chief's office one morning, after a night shift. Apparently they'd clocked a motorcyclist doing 82mph on Kindley Field Road and, a few minutes later, I was seen driving my Triumph Tiger 150 through town, sedately. They put two and two together and I was told they knew it was me, but couldn't prove it. I was "advised" to get rid of my Triumph if I couldn't control my speed better. I did sell it, and bought a scooter.
My one love in Bermuda was Victoria (Vicky) Martin. In 1968 I was in Canada when I saw her, as Miss Bermuda, in a Miss World beauty contest.
While here I took and passed a correspondence course in Marketing/Advertising, and after serving for 2 of the 3 years I'd contracted for with the Bermuda Police I accepted a job offer from Compton Advertising, in New York, and resigned from the Police.
After 9 months in the USA I got an "invitation" to join the American armed forces in Vietnam. No thanks.
Luckily, one of my ad clients was Procter & Gamble, and they offered me a job in their Toronto office in 1966.\
Editors Note – As mentioned above, Len had been involved with our Police Drama Group while serving here and it appears that his experience with our drama group had more than an insignificant role in his life !
"Socially, I joined the ECHO Players theatre group and went on to perform in many musicals and plays.
I developed a love for sailing, owning several sailboats, up to a C&C 38, and served as Commodore of the Schooner Cove Yacht Club.
Soccer was my sport of choice and I played competitively with a local team, for over 30 years, wearing out both hips, then playing on their surgical replacements!
After adding two more daughters, Erica and Jody, my wife and I divorced. Ten years later I met and married Marie, and we live in an older 3-bedroom cottage on the waterfront in French Creek, midway between Parksville and Qualicum Beach.
I became the official Town Crier for Qualicum Beach in 1999 and, in that capacity, attended two Town Crier World Championships, in Bermuda and Chester, England. I met Ed Christopher, the City of Hamilton Town Crier at the Town Crier world championships in Bermuda, and was present when some oaf pushed him in the water, in full uniform, in St George's Harbour. Luckily he was a good swimmer and we got him out safely, but soggy.
A highlight of my service as Town Crier was greeting Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11, and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, and welcoming them to Victoria, BC, during their Golden Anniversary visit in 2002. When, as Town Crier, I greeted Her Majesty the Queen, she went walkabout with the assembled crowd, and the Duke of Edinburgh came over and complimented me on my uniform. I asked him if he had one memory of their tour of Canada that stood out in his mind. He told me that his favourite memory was of a dinner in the town hall of a northern native community, where they were served by tribal elders. Seing one old guy collecting the dirty plates, he combined his and the Queen's plates and offered them to him. The elder then leaned in and whispered "Hang onto your fork Duke, there's pie coming"!
Len and Marie in full regalia
I served as official Town Crier for the Tall Ships Festival in Port Alberni in 2005, and just recently retired as Town Crier of Qualicum Beach, after 26 years.
Editors Note:- On checking the internet to see if there was any video of Len in his capacity as Town Crier, I found a lovely video taken on the day Len officially retired as Town Crier after a quarter century of service. CLICK HERE to view the video.
I love driving, having owned and raced a Porsche 944, and I still have my 1985 Honda Shadow 1100cc bike, for those sunny summer days.
Now, aged 85, I look back on a full life, with no regrets. The gods have smiled on me.