26th January 2015
We just received an email from former P.C. Rod Fowkes who wrote about one of our former police officers, Thomas Derek “Bud” Abbott, who Rod met a few years ago at which time the two discovered they had both served in the Bermuda Police, Rod having served here from 1971-1974.
Rod wrote, “Several years ago, I had the happy coincidence of "bumping" into a gentleman named Thomas Derek “Bud” Abbott at the same hospital in Canada where my parents were residents. Although in his last months, Bud enjoyed reminiscing with me about his days in Bermuda and hearing about my time there in the 1970s. I have only just discovered the Bermie ExPo website and thought you might want his obit for your Hall of Fame.
With great sadness, we announce the passing of Bud, after a short battle with pneumonia.
Bud passed away at Saanich Peninsula Hospital, Extended Care Unit 2, surrounded by his family. Predeceased by his parents, Christopher and Sally and his wife, Mary. Survived by his daughter, Susan Abbott and son-in-law, Colin Pain.
He was born in the Lake District of England, in the Village of Askham. After training as a radio operator in Wales, he served with the Palestine Police.
He moved to Bermuda in the early 1950’s to set up the first radio system for the police. He met and married Lois Morran in Bermuda. After daughter Susan was born, they moved to Winnipeg in the fall of 1952.
Bud worked as a policeman for the Winnipeg Police for 33 years, retiring in 1986. He and his wife, Mary moved to Falcon Beach and then to Sidney, BC in 1989 and shortly after to Saanichton BC.
Bud was an active Ham Radio Operator throughout his life and remained in touch with his many “Ham” friends until his death. He spent most of his time on-line, over the past few years, talking with friends from around the world via Skype.
A detective at heart, he had a keen memory for detail and continued to share many stories with family, friends and careworkers. Dogs always had a soft spot in his heart.
Susan and Colin wish to thank the staff of the Saanich Peninsula Hospital for their care over the last few years, expecially the staff of Extended Care Unit 2 over the last year. A special thanks to Louise and Heather for your kindness and friendship.
At Bud’s request there will be no service. His ashes will be returned to England and interred at St. Martins Church in the Martindale Valley, close to his parents.
Editors note - After receiving this information from Rod, I checked the only alphabetical list of Bermuda Police personnel that we have which does list some police officers who served in during the 1950’s and earlier, but “Bud” Abbott did not appear on the list.
Unfortunately, many of our old Police records no longer exist except for details of police officers and other Government personnal which are listed in the Blue Books at the Bermuda Archives. These blue books were meticulously kept until 1950 at which time they were discontinued.
Last year I happened to visit the archives to review the blue books, partly to check on the records of our oldest surviving retired police officers. By coincidence, we had three Bermudian police officers who all joined in 1950, Hubert Simmons, Gladwin “Doc” Hall, and Dudley Proctor. I had photographed random pages of blue books as far back as 1902, and several paged from the last one, published in June 1950. I had no expectation of finding “Bud” Abbott’s name but by incredible coincidence, his was the very last entry at the bottom of the last page I had copied.
This page records that Thomas Derrick Abbott joined the Bermuda Police on 14th June 1949, that he was being paid £550 per annum as of June 1950, together with uniform and quarters (no doubt in the old police barracks then located on Victoria Street in Hamilton at the rear of where City Hall Car Park now stands.
We would be interested in contacting any relatives of “Bud” Abbott or anyone who can provide more information about him.