Ian and Maggie Graham
with Ian proudly wearing his kilt
SCOTTISH THROUGH AND THROUGH! In April 2025 our good friend Ian Graham wrote to us with a critique on the new BBC 16 part serial, “ Policing Paradise” about the Bermuda Police Service. I was sure I published Ian’s comments on our ExPo website but on checking through articles relating to “Policing Paradise” I realise I failed miserably, amd must apologize to Ian for not publishing his excellent observations at the time. You can view Ian’s critique on our ExPo website at https://expobermuda.com/.../1435-keeping-in-touch-home...
During his time here in the BPS Ian would no doubt have felt quite at home showing off his knees wearing Bermuda shorts, because being a Scotsman through and through he was used to baring his knees whenever he donned his kilt!
Ian sent us the above magnificent photo of him and Maggie looking exceptionally smart, with Ian in full regalia wearing his kilt and all the accessories. I wondered if we had any other photos on our website of our Scottish colleagues wearing their kilts, and after a rigorous search this is the only one I could find.
This is a group of young bobbies attending a party at “Highland Cottage” (a most appropriate house name!) in the 1960’s in which Alex “Sandy” Sommerville is wearing his kilt. I know for sure that our star Scotsman, Davie Kerr, would often turn up at functions in his kilt, and I know we’ve had literally dozens of Scots serve in the BPS over the years.
I would be delighted if our Scottish colleagues would send us photos of themselves in their kilts along with details of their clans. And, Davie, that includes you! The easiest way to send them would be via email at info@expobermuda.com
6th May 2025
Would you believe it we've received our first response to the request for Bermuda Police "kilt wearers" and we may now have to change the title of our article!
KILTS OR CILTS? - We’ve just learned something new after receiving this “magnificent” photo of two well dressed young men, Calum Welsh and Alan Oliver wearing what we would have sworn were kilts – but in one case, we stand to be corrected!
It was Calum who sent us the photo and he explains, “I am wearing the Dress MacDonald and a little unusually Alan is wearing a Welsh 'cilt', as there is no 'K' in the Welsh language.
Although the Scottish kilt is well known the Welsh not so much and history of this differs somewhat from the Scottish traditions of linking to 'clans' or 'families', to that of the Welsh Woollen Industry and 'plaids' being regional to particular Welsh areas.
Myself and Alan got talking about this and he ended up tracking down his Welsh 'cilt' and we are both wearing our Kilt/Cilt at the BPS ERT Xmas dinner of 1996. "