Sergeant Laurie Phillips
16th July 2019
We were deeply saddened to report that our good friend and former colleague, retired Sergeant Laurie Phillips, passed away on 16th July 2019, at the age of 73.
Within a few hours of his passing we received the following statement from Commissioner of Police, Stephen Corbishley:-
To All Members of the Service,It is with deep sorrow that I inform you that Former Police Sergeant Laurie McMellan Phillips, passed away earlier today. Sergeant Phillips is remembered fondly as a helpful, quiet, and conscientious member of the Bermuda Police Service . News of his death today is heart-breaking, and his loss will be deeply felt by our longer serving BPS colleagues. Sergeant Phillips commenced his employment with the BPS as a Constable on 19 January 1969 and was promoted in July 1981. He retired from the BPS in February 1995 after serving twenty six years of service. Please keep Sergeant Phillips’ family and friends in your thoughts and prayers at this sad time.Funeral announcements will be made at a later time.
Stephen M. Corbishley
Commissioner of Police for the Bermuda Police Service
Commissioner of Police for the Bermuda Police Service
Laurie was born and raised in the Bequia Island, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and he joined the Bermuda Police in January 1969 and attended Police Training Course #11 after which he served in Eastern Division (St. George’s) for the first 3 years, with a short time on Mobile Reserve, and then spent time in Central Uniform, Operations (Traffic) and in Western Parishes (Southampton). Following promotion to Sergeant in 1981, Laurie returned to Central Division for 2 years before returning to Western Division, firstly in uniform then as OIC Western Parishes.
Laurie retired from the BPS in March 1995, and worked from some years in Security at the Hamilton Princess.
Top Row (l-r) David Purcell, Laurie Phillips, Winston Taylor,
Carlton Adams (Cadet), Foster Burke, Christopher Charles, Stanley Francis
Seated - Bernard Joinville, Jude Perrotte, Sgt Barrie Meade,
Insp. Derek Taylor, Albert Dowling, Ewart "Patrick" Hamlett, Gordon Bolah
Anyone who worked with or knew Laurie would describe him as a very efficient officer who was always cool under pressure and a pleasure to work with.
We offer our sincere condolences on behalf of all Laurie’s colleagues to his beloved wife, Beverlyann Roberts-Phillips, and their children Laurie and Lauritta Burrows, Sebastian and Dominic Roberts-Phillips, and to all of his family. We will publish further information about funeral arrangements as soon as we receive them.
16th July 2019
Editors note - An obituary for Laurie has been published in the Royal Gazette on 17th July and can be viewed at
UPDATE ON FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
5th August 2019
Memorial Service for Sergeant Laurie Phillips - We have been informed that a Memorial Service will be held for Laurie at St. Anne's Church in Southampton at 6pm on Tuesday 6th August to be followed by a reception at the Police Recreation Club to which his friends and former colleagues and Lodge members are invited to attend.
8th August 2019
Memorial Service and Reception
The Memorial Service for our good friend and former colleague, retired Sergeant Laurie Phillips, was held at St. Anne's Church in Southampton on Tuesday 6th August 2019. Below is the Order of Service, the List of Tributes, and the Obituary read during the Service which was well attended by Laurie's family, friends and former colleagues of the Bermuda Police Service. The Service was followed by a reception held at the Police Recreation Club which was also very well attended.
Commissioner Stephen Corbishley also paid the following Tribute to Laurie:-
Laurie was born and raised in Bequia Island, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and he joined the Bermuda Police Force in January 1969 at the age of 23 years old.
Laurie attended Police Training Course #11 which included David Purcell, Winston Taylor, Foster Burke, Jude Perrotte, a young Cadet by the name of Carlton Adams, Stan "The Man" Francis, Patrick Hamlett and a few other local and foreign officers.
Upon leaving Training School he served in Eastern Division (St. George's) for the first 3 years, with a short time on Mobile Reserve, before spending time in Central Uniform, Operations (Traffic) and in Western Parishes (Southampton.
In October 1971, Laurie was awarded a Commissioner Commendation "For excellent observation and inititiative which led to the early arrest of an escapee."
On 1st July 1981, he was promoted to Sergeant. Laurie returned to Central Division for 2 years before returning to his beloved Western Division, firstly in Uniform then as OIC Western Parishes.
In January 1987, Laurie was awarded the Colonial Police Long Service Medal.
Laurie retired from the BPS in March 1995, having served for over 26 years. He went on to work for some years in Security at the Hamilton Princess Hotel.
Anyone who worked with him or knew Laurie would describe him as a very efficient officer who was always cool under pressure and a pleasure to work with.
Former Colleague Davie Kerr describes Laurie P as a lovely lad that had trouble remembering his colleagues' names, and always called then "Offisah"!
Wayne Hugh Robinson recalls, "I worked in Eastern Division at the same time as Laurie was there. He also lived in barracks; a really good guy, very upbeat, hardworking, and a lot of fun. R.I.P. Laurie and my condolences to his family.
Other comments about Laurie can be found on the ExPoBermuda.com official website.
On behalf of all of our Officers and colleagues in the Bermuda Police Service, the Bermuda Reserve Police, Police Staff, and on behalf pf the Bermuda Ex-Police Officers Association members, we offer our sincere condolences to his beloved wife, Beverlyann Roberts-Phillips, and their children, Laurie and Lauritta Burrows, Sebastian and Dominic Roberts-Phillips, and to all of his friends and family. May he rest in Peace.
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