Police Memorial at Prospect Cemetery
Photos courtesy of Dexter "Fudge" Flood
Our annual Police Memorial Service was held at the Police Cemetery, Prospect, on a beautiful afternoon on Sunday October 2nd 2016.
Attendees start to arrive
This service is one of the highlights of the annual Police Week activities held during the first week of October, and it is a great credit to the Bermuda Police Service, led by Commissioner Michael DeSilva, who is always very supportive of our Bermuda Ex-Police Officers Association.
Commissioner of Police, Michael DeSilva
Attendees included Her Excellency, the Acting Governor, Mrs. Ginny Ferson, COP Michael DeSilva, Commandant of the Bermuda Reserve Police, Ms. Sandra Beach, Senior Officers from the Bermuda Police Service and the Bermuda Regiment, retired and former Bermuda Police Officers, and families and friends of those we were remembering at the service.
Colour Party arrives at Cemetery(l-r) Sergeants Andrew Harewood, and Carlton Jackson bearing the Police Colours,
accompanied by P.C.'s Preston Gill, Suzanne Moniz and Rawle Massiah,
under the supervision of Sergeant Larry Dean
As the dignatories entered the cemetery they were preceded by a Police Honour Guard and Colour Party who’s presence greatly added to the dignity of the occasion.
Rex Osborne and Dave Cook with Assistant Commissioner Martin Weekes
The service began with the interment of the ashes of the Late Sergeant Cyril Plant, who passed away in May in the U.K.
Honour Guard accompany ashes to graveside
Honour Guard under the command of Parade Commander Troy Glasgow, with Sergeant
Cornelius Marc as Urn Bearer, and P.C's Jean-Pierre Freeman, Thompson and Simons.
Cyril had requested that his ashes rest in the Police Cemetery, and Deputy Commissioner Paul Wright kindly liaised with Cyril’s wife, Pauline, and brought the ashes back to Bermuda.
Sgt Cornelius Marc inters the ashes of The Late Sergeant Cyril Plant
Bishop Reverend Dr. Lloyd Duncan said a prayer as Cyril ashes were interred and this was followed by a minutes silence. This was a brief but very moving addition to the service.
A prayer of reflection was offered by Chaplin Kevin Santucci, and this was followed by Commissioner DeSilva reading a roll call of all of our former and retired police officers who have died in the past two years as listed below.
Wreaths were then laid at the memorial by Acting Governor Ferson, Commissioner DeSilva, Reserve Commandant Beach, and ExPo President Roger Sherratt. Deputy Commissioner Paul Wright also laid a wreath on behalf of the Plant family, and Mrs Karen Hollinsid also laid flowers in memory of her son, Vincent Hollinsid.
Commissioner DeSilva lays a wreath at the Police Memorial
Bishop Duncan offered a final prayer and the service concluded with Reveille played by bugler, Neilson DeGraff of the Somerset Brigade Band.
Assistant Commissioner Martin Weekes, who acted as Master of Ceremonies and who had been responsible for organizing the service, then invited all attendees back to the Police Recreation Club for a reception and light refreshments.
Assistant Commissioner Martin Weeks, Master of Ceremonies on left Back row (l-r)
Superintendents Sean Field-Lamont (behind ACOP Weekes) and Darrin Simons, Chief Inspector
Steve Donnelly, DCOP Paul Wright, ACOP Antoine Daniels, and Reserve Officer Mikkel Harris
At the reception Roger Sherratt thanked the Commissioner, and all those who took part in the Service. He noted that when the Memorial Services were first held the Commissioner would read the names of all the officers who had passed in the previous ten years, which might have numbered maybe 30-40 in total, but last year alone we lost 21 of our old friends and colleagues, along with 12 so far this year for a total of 33 just in the past two years - a disturbing trend for all us who are still here! The list included one police officer, Joe Mercer, who had first walked the beat in Hamilton back in 1949, along with too many of our former colleagues who were far too young to be on the list such as Jasmine Saltus who was only 41 years old at the time of his passing.
Acting Governor Mrs Ginny Ferson, Mel Ferson, John Dale, Ray Bell, Dave Cook and Roger Kendall
That Somerset Lot!
Our three Somerset men, Jimmy 'The Wop" Costello (left), Brian Malpas (white shirt)
and Louis Griffith (yellow shirt) are joined by Rex Osborne (standing) and Gerald Fletcher
(l-r) P.C. Simons (formerly Sgt Major WO2 in the Regiment), Charlie Mooney,
Regimental Sergeant Major, WO1 Alvin Harvey, and Commanding Officer
of the Royal Bermuda Regiment, Lt. Col. David Curley
P.C. Roseann Mienzer, Darlene Philpott and Karen Hollinsid
Caya Martin, Juanita Young, Jenea Saltus with Rihana, Itoni Lambert and Roselita Saltus
Commissioner Michael DeSilva with his proud parents Eugene and Carol DeSilva
Juanita and Steve Shaw
Dudley Proctor and Roosevelt Maronie
Sharon and Brian Robinson with Julie Senior
Paul and Lorna Singh with Gilles and Kocha Korn Marchand
Roger offered sincere condolences to the families of all of our departed officers and assured them that their colleagues will always hold fond memories of their time with us in the Police Service.
He noted that this year was the first time we had ever had the ashes of one of our departed officers interred during the Memorial Service, and he thanked Deputy Commissioner Paul Wright for liaising with Pauline Plant to personally bring Cyril’s ashes back to Bermuda.
Roger concluded by saying that the service was beautifully organized and clearly illustrated the esteem which the BPS has for its former officers and their families.
Rick Hawke (foreground) interviews Deputy Commissioner Paul
Wright and his wife Angela to record a message to Pauline Plant.
Editors note - Jack and Joanne MacPhee, close friends of Cyril and Pauline Plant, very kindly kindly arranged for professional videographer Rick Hawke to film the service and the reception for the Plant family. Rick has produced an excellent video of the Memorial Service which can be viewed on UTube at https://youtu.be/Xpg6x4dUKq4
Rick also recorded interviews at the reception with attendees who wanted to pass on a message to Pauline.
Honour Roll of former Bermuda Police Officers
who have died during the past 2 years
Commandant Eugene Sinclair Vickers (Reserve Police)
Inspector Hubert Simmons
Constable Frank Maddern
Superintendent Victor Graham Richmond
Inspector Arthur Rose
Constable Rodney Nathanial S. Trott
Deputy Commissioner Alfred Cyril Morris
Constable Anthony Reginald Butler
Constable John Michael Fryer
Constable John Richard Allen
Constable Lawrence "Mincy" Rawlins
Constable Ian Henderson Douris
Constable Graham Stanley Swinyard
Constable Thomas Gray
Constable Peter Blogg
Chief Inspector Jeffrey M. Sanders
Inspector Edward Conrad "Boxhead" Foggo
Constable Thomas Robert Alan Barnes
Constable Elizabeth "Betty" Osborne
Constable Graham Ian Mitchell
Constable William Connell McBurnie
Sergeant Peter Huw Morgan
Constable Charles "Joe" Mercer
Constable Jasmine Eugene Saltus
Constable Steven "Terry" DeSilva
Constable Albert "Keith" Foggo
Sergeant John Cornelius Van de Weg
Constable Andrew Comrie Hall
Sergeant Cyril Edward Plant
Sergeant Edward James Woodward
Sergeant Peter Jackman Bonner Edney
Constable James Robertson
Constable Edward Christopher Spencer
Constable Eric Kent Ingemann
Constable William "Bill" McCormack (Chief of Police Toronto Metropolitan Retired)