Latest Interesting Article

 

 

 
Young Evan wins first place in his age group in the
Ontario International Ju-Jitsu Championship - May 2019
(photo courtesy Bernews)
 

Our eagle-eyed resident researcher and ExPo Committee member John Skinner recently spotted an article in the Bernews Sports section, about a young lad with a Bermuda Police connection who made headlines in Canada when he won first place in the Kids 5&6 age group of the Ontario Open International Ju-Jitsu Championship held in Toronto on 5th May. You can view the Bernews article on their website at http://bernews.com/2019/05/bermudian-win-ontario-jiu-jitsu-championships/

At first glance this young lad’s name, Evan Sexsmith-Brosseau, wasn’t familiar but it was reported that he was born in Bermuda, the son of Diane Sexsmith-Brosseau (nee Bissell), and her husband.

 
Diane and Sean with their children Evan and Sienna
 

Diane is, of course, the daughter of retired Assistant Commissioner Alan Bissell who served in the BPS from 1965-2000. Diane and her husband Sean now reside in Ontario with their two children Sienna and Evan (the Ju-Jitsu champion). Alan and his wife Pauline also had a son, Andrew, now who lives with his wife Katerina and their two children, Ryan and Alexandra, in the Czech Republic.

 
Andrew and Katerina with their children Alexandra and Ray
 
I’m sure many of our ExPo members will remember Alan from his years as the Inspector in charge of Training School.  Alan had served in the Leicestershire and Rutland Constabulary prior to coming out to Bermuda in November 1965.  Initially posted to Central Division (Hamilton), he worked in Cycle Squad, "A" Department, Central CID,  and as OIC Eastern CID before moving to "F" Dartment as OIC in 1982.  Alan was an excellent administrator and at the time of his retirement in 1990 he was Assistant Commissioner.
 
Sgt Alan Bissell
 
Alan and his Canadian wife, Pauline, were married in November 1967, and raised their two children Andrew and Diane on Alexandra Road in the Police Family neighbourhood. 

Unfortunately, Pauline suffers from Parkinson’s and three years ago Alan and Pauline moved to a retirement home in Maple, Ontario, to be near to Diane and Sean and their two children. We understand that Andrew manages to visit Canada several times a year to visit his parents.

We wish Alan and Pauline and their family all the very best, and we recommend that Alan remains on very good terms with young Evan as he develops his Ju-Jitsu skills!