Of all the sports activities by members of the Bermuda Police Force, one must surely stand out as the only one in which our team remained unbeaten from start to finish -- and that is Tug o’ War. Here are some reflections on the history of our Police Tug o’ War Team through the eyes of the person who inspired our team to be the best on the Island throughout his time in Bermuda. His name, of course, is Pat McBride.

This article, written by Pat McBride, first appeared in the Police Magazine in 1969

Credit for the introduction of Tug o’ War as a PRC sponsored sport must be placed squarely on the shoulders of that well-known sporting correspondent of the Bermuda Police Magazine, Sergeant “Grim Jim” McNiven.

Casting my mind back a few months, I remember the original proposal for the event coming from a gathering of sporting types at the Police Club on a Saturday evening when the “Grim One” was recalling his days in the British Army and the happy times he spent pulling on ropes!

There then followed a lively discussion by the sporting types on training and pulling techniques, resulting in Sergeant McNiven, with his limited knowledge, declaring that he could train a team to beat any other in the Force …. Tug of War was back!

The first event of any significance was an Inter-Divisional competition held opposite the Gymnasium at Frog Lane on 15^th February 1969, when the Central team pulled its way to victory with wins over Dog Section and St. George’s.

They were duly awarded the Ocean Monarch Cup, presented by the Commissioner, Mr. George Robins. To the readers who have been waiting patiently to hear what happened to the McNiven team – well - we can reveal that they went out early, panting and puffing!!

The victorious Central Team that day was Pat McBride, Ray Sousa, Davie Kerr, Mike Parris, Barrie Mancell, John Balsden, Brian Hanney, John Eve, and Inspector Dave Parsons coaching.

Shortly afterwards a headline article in the Sports Section of the Royal Gazette read,

"A GRAND OLD SPORT TO BE REVIVED HERE"

The article went on to announce that Tug o’ War was going to return to the Island with the introduction of a competition planned for the 1969 annual Agricultural Exhibition.

Again, Pat McBride takes up the story in another article published in the Police Magazine:

Shortly after (the inter-Divisional Tug o’ War competition) an invitation to enter a Police Team at the Annual Agricultural Show was sent to the PRC. This caused a little consternation because nobody wanted to see the Boys in Blue humbled in a public event such as the Agricultural Show.

At a meeting that followed the invite, P.C. Pat McBride (who had pulled with the Glasgow City Police for four years) was asked if he could raise and train a team that would be good enough for the competition. The answer was a resounding “YES.”

Training started one month before the Show, and the comedians from the Traffic Department had a field day as the potential team strained and heaved to move a pick-up truck (with its hand-brake on); pulled against each other; ran with heavy boots on; lifted telegraph poles above their heads, and sweated on the hill at Prospect (as only yours truly could make them!)

They also began to learn teamwork. Come the Show we were as ready as we ever would be.

On the first day of the Show the spectators were treated to the sight of eight giants from the N.O.B. Fire Brigade annihilating the Bermuda Regiment. Inspector Harry Lister, in police uniform, informed Pat that no team on the Island could beat the Brigade (Oh ye of little faith!).

On the second day the Police came on and had a good pull against HMS Malabar, beating them by two pulls to nil. The scene was now set (fat versus fit). Could we overcome the weight advantage which was about two stone (28 pounds) per man?

Saturday came and it was quite obvious which event the crowd wanted to see. Our team was nervous, but not the Motor Cycle Display team and Ian “Baby” Douris who were quick to reach for their wallets when a gentleman shouted, “Twenty pounds on the Brigade!”

At 4 p.m. we strode into the arena like a bunch of schoolboys against our gigantic opponents who were already behaving as if they had won. The team that Spring day was Pat McBride, Gary Perinchief, Davie Kerr, Owen Marsh, Barrie Mancell, Ray Sousa, Mike Parris and Keith Pratt, with Mike Caulkett as coach.

By five minutes past four there wasn’t one Police chest which wasn’t bursting with pride, as we walked off with the Shield (after two quick pulls) , leaving the Brigade wondering what had hit them, Deputy Commissioner Frank B. Williams waited outside the arena and shook every man’s hand as the team left the park. Also delighted were the members of the Motor Cycle Display Team (no wonder!)

The following month saw us invited to the Sandys Flower Show where we again lifted the silverware, beating HMS Malabar and the U.S. Marines. The only change to the team was Mike Caulkett pulling and Owen Marsh coaching.

All that’s left now is our contribution to retaining the Commodore’s Cup. So here’s hoping that we can preserve our unbeaten record. A last word of thanks to all the lads who trained so hard. Thanks also to the boys from the barracks who we used as cannon-fodder as the event came closer.

Last but not least a big thank you to Jim McNiven for remembering his Army days!

Pat McBride

Editors Note - The Police Tug o’War team went on to beat all comers for the next seven or eight years. They were a source of great pride within the Force and tremendous goodwill ambassadors.

MORE TUG O’ WAR SNIPPETS

The longest and toughest pull by the Police Tug o’ War Team was at the 1971 Agricultural Show against the Royal Navy ship, HMS Bacchanti. The Police Team won the first pull but the sailors took the second.  However, the second pull certainly seperated the men from the boys, lasting for more than 4 minutes.  This was the toughest competition the Police Team had ever encountered, and in Pat's own words, "that was the day our boys discovered what tug o' war was all about"!

Pat remained confident that the Team would pull off the victory, but just before the deciding pull started he spotted Police Commissioner George Duckett bounding out of the stands and bearing down on the boys. Pat immediately realized that this was not a social visit!   Commissioner Duckett explained to Pat that he had wagered quite a substantial sum on his team winning, and he they lost then the whole gange would be heading west  - transferred to Somerset!

Needless to say the old fighting Police spirit came through and the team handily won the last pull.  When asked if the Commissioner's threat of immediate transfers had any effect on the result, Pat laughed and said that he seriously doubted it because, as soon as the referee called, "Take the strain" he knew by the tension on the rope that the sailors were finished.

Pat also noted that, “A beaming Mr. Duckett was waiting outside the area for us, along with "Gruff" Hammond and Inspector Dave Parsons, and they presented us with a PRC chit for 4 cases of beer."

Members of the Police Tug o' War Team display their trophies outside the PRC

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In December 1972, Mr. Duckett was again butting heads with the Royal Navy – HMS Glamorgan, one of the guard ships for the Heath-Nixon Talks   The Royal Navy was providing two guard ships for the Summit,  HMS Glamorgan and HMS Phoebe, both of which were berthed on Front Street. Glamorgan had challenged Phoebe to a tug o' war match on the jetty and had beaten the smaller ship 2-0 so they were casting their eyes for bigger fish and had heard about the much vaunted Bermuda Police Team.  Darby Allan, the ship's PTI then challenegd the Police who explained that it was out of season for tug o' war in Bermuda.  He hinted to his Captain that the Police might be a little "windy" of the "Jolly Jack".   This was obviously music to the ears of Commander Baird who promptly issued a challenge to Commissioner Duckett and he even had the temerity to suggest that the Police Team was scared of his ship's team

George Duckett sent back the famous reply shown below accepting the challenge and concluding with the words, “Put your money where your mouth is.”

Chief Inspector J.C.P. Hanlon then duly sent the following memo to P.C. McBride making it clear that "The Commissioner instructs that you inform your team, hold practices and win the event!!"

The result was another comprehensive victory for the Police Team much to the delight of Commissioner Duckett and the rest of the Police Force.

When Major and Mrs R.L. Johnson, Commanding Officer of the Marine Barracks,  Bermuda was departing the Island he wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Police in which he stated:-

"... Many names and faces will be embedded in our thoughts. Of course with all the seeet must be some bitter.  We never beat your Tug o' War Team.  I still think you import your strong talent.  Please relay to your men my grateful appreciation for the cooperation and professional attitude we received and also in which my Marine have been treated."

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Pat points ot that during this time period the Police Team used about 20 men on the rope ALL of whom contributed to the great record and stories.

The old grunt and groaners included:-

Patrick McBride, Keith Pratt, Barrie Mancell, Mike Caulkett, Ray Sousa, Mike Parris, Davie Kerr, Gary Perinchief, Owen Marsh, John Balsden, Steve Bond, Paul Wakefield, Alex Arnfield, Graham Maddocks, Bill Butterworth, Andy Lavery, Eddie Foggo, Mick Richardson, Tony Laughton, Paul Deans, Roger Brydon, Pete Swan. P. Gimson, Dave Cook and Peter Brown.

The coaches included Pat McBride, Mike Caulkett, Mike Parris, and Dave Garland.

The legend lives on!

Editors Notes -   If you have any photographs, or  reminisences of your own involvement in our Tug o' War Team we would be delighted to hear from you.  Photos can be sent in either TIFF or JPEG format by email to info@expobermuda.com 

*   The photo of Pat McBride in "drag" was taken during the time when Bermuda was experiencing a spate of handbag snatches by "diddlybops" from women riding livery cycles.  Both Pat McBride and Tommy Barnes were used as decoys.  To the best of our knowledge neither fell victim to the handbag snatchers although this had nothing to do with the fact that they refused to shave their hairy legs!

 Without doubt, one of the most successful sporting events on the Bermuda Police calendar has, for many years, been the Annual Police Boxing Tournament.

Below is an article written by Pat McBride that was published in the Police Magazine in 1969, shortly after the first ever Boxing Tournament held at the PRC, but before that we want to share a few observations made recently by Pat from his home in Vancouver as he fondly recalls his sporting days in the Bermuda Police.

 

“When I first came out to Bermuda from the United Kingdom it didn’t take me long to realize what a unique body of men I had joined. For although the Police would at times struggle against individual teams, their overall performance covering numerous sports could not be matched. For example, our record against the Royal Navy was second to none!

Very few members of the Force were devoid of physical ability, which ran the full gamut of sports, from darts to full contact rugby union (knock him down; and leave him down!) There was no quarter given or asked for in the four-team Island rugby league.

This was especially true when a group of sporting types from “Out of the Blue” produced and staged what has to be considered one of the very best, if not the finest sporting production ever staged on the Island - without the benefit of professional backing and expertise! This was, of course, the Annual Boxing Tournament.

We based our evening of boxing on the National Sporting Club in London, which was basically a Gentleman’s Night Out - with strict rules applied during the bouts. Okay, it may be argued that a few of our attendees may not have been “gentlemen” exactly, but we did, however, insist that they dress up in their tuxedos - a dress code that was strictly enforced. We restricted the alcohol to champagne, and smoking to cigars only. I’d like to think that all those who attended our first night of boxing, along with all those dozens of men who have stepped into the ring since that momentous night in 1969, and everyone who has ever attended the annual Police Boxing Tournaments, will be able to look back with pride and fond memories at having been an integral part of the sporting legacy of the Bermuda Police Force.”

Best wishes to one and all

Pat McBride

March 2012

Curtis DeGraffe and Pat McBride in action during the first Annual Boxing Tournament

Here is a first-hand account of the first ever Police Boxing Tournament held at the PRC in 1969, written by the inimitable Pat McBride who was the driving force behind the event. The article was first published in the Police Magazine in 1969.

At the usual gathering of sporting types in the PRC last Christmas (1968) it was casually mentioned that with new sports being introduced to the Police Club, it presented an opportunity to introduce a little boxing. Not that the “Noble Art” had ever really been dead in Police circles, as witnessed by the blood-stained grass on the lawn outside the club!

A few drinks later, plans began to form and a newsletter was circulated to the various Divisions to determine the support that the event would have.

We, as usual, had our supporters and the pessimists - “Can’t be done” they said, “nobody will fight”. We got our fighters.

“You won’t get a ring into the lounge.” We got our ring into the lounge.

“Commissioner won’t allow it”. He did.

So on they went with their ideas for saving us from failure. Luckily we ignored these types and went ahead with an evening, which in every opinion, was the finest nights entertainment ever witnessed in the Police Club. “D” Day was set for the 22^nd March (1969).

Training started in Parker Block, with some old gloves we had borrowed, a few skipping ropes, and some old mattresses for punch bags. What the boys didn’t have in equipment was made up for with the enthusiastic manner in which they applied themselves to training. The only casualty at this stage was Davie Kerr who walked into a straight right and lost a front tooth.

Behind the scenes, a Boxing Committee was formed to attend to the many things required to stage a boxing show. Ring, seating, refreshments, tickets, programmes, lighting, mikes, guest list. In this department our tireless workers were Dennis Byrne, Willie McCracken and Gerry Swales.

Well, the big night arrived and from the moment one entered the Police Club one could almost smell the success of the venture. Admission was by ticket only and the appropriate evening dress had to be worn. Officers in Mess Dress and the men in tuxedos, black or white. Champagne was the drink of the night. Our main guest was the Hon. Lancelot Swan, M.C.P. The Commissioner and most of the Senior Officers were in attendance, with over two hundred other ranks.

M.C. Inspector Dave Parsons was in outstanding form, and gave an air of professionalism to the proceedings. Referees were Mr. Arthur Wallington and Detective Sergeant Bryn Jones, both men who had graced the sport in their younger days.

Seconds in the blue corner were Dave Garland and Malcy Smith, and in the red corner Mike Palmer and Les Tomlinson. Chief Whip was Sergeant Jerry James, and the three gentlemen ushers were Barrie Meade, Denis Meehan and Dave Fraser.

Both the press and television cameras were in attendance at ringside.

From the moment Dick Murphy and Dennis Byrne (Timekeeper) rang the first bell it was two hours of solid action which kept everybody hoarse with excitement. In the first bout Dave Cann stopped George Rose in the second round. The referee stopped the fight to prevent George taking any further punishment. In the next, Ian Mitchell (The Rochdale Thunderbolt) set the proceedings alight by knocking out John (Cocoa) Eve in the second.

New boys Bryan Warraker and Syd Gordon continued the good work with the first fight to go the distance, Gordon on points. Alan Keagle and Bob Hay followed this, a real punch up with Bob Hay being knocked out cold with 9 seconds of the first round to go and then being revived in his corner to face punching Alan again. Fight stopped in the second.

John Balsden and Davie Kerr performed in the “Fight of the Night” award. What a bout! Fighter versus boxer, Kerr hammered for two rounds and then winning the last with sheer guts. Fight to Balsden on points.

Now to the big boys - Paul Wakefield and Paul Field. Two boys giving everything they had, with science winning. Field on points. After that we deserved an interval to let everyone cool down. What was the opinion at this stage - “Magnificent!”

Back to the boxing again with Fred Beach and Spider Mackenzie making good use of the ring! Fred’s fight on points.

Now a big surprise – big favourite Tommy Barnes beaten by the fighting Irish Kid Willie McCracken. Great fight!

Peerless Pat McBride and Curtis DeGraffe next. Curtis, a last minute substitute, fought a very good fight but could not avoid the right hand. McBride on points.

Surprise again, Dave Needham outpointed another substitute, Jeff Payne. Good fight with Dave tiring badly in the last round. We all know you can’t tire with Jeff around.

Jack Rouse in the last fight of the night made us all breathe a sigh of relief that we had not fought him as he displayed his big punching ability on a very game John Mulholland who, it must be admitted, was giving away a lot of weight.

The Commissioner of Police then entered the ring to thunderous applause and gave an amusing and complimentary speech on the proceedings. Medals were then presented and the fans filed through to the bar to relive the fights. Incidentally, over 400 bottles of champagne were consumed during the show. Before I forget - a big vote of thanks to Doctor Whalley, and to everyone who helped to make this night such a night to remember.

 

With over 200 spectators attending this Boxing Night we are sure there are numerous people who still have great memories of this event.  If you would like to add your comments, or send any additional photos,  please contact us at info@expobermuda.com Photos can be sent by email in either JPEG or TIFF format.

Just to jog your collective memories,  here is the programme for the 10th Evening of Boxing held on Sunday 7th October 1979.  By this time the event was so popular that it was moved to the Empire Room at the Southampton Princess Hotel where it continued to attract a packed auditorium in much more palatial surroundings than the PRC.

Front Cover of the 1979 Evening of Boxing

In the blue corner -  "Fast" Eddie Davies, Mike Chlebek, Doug Docherty, Norman Wilson, Raimondo Harrison (who is STILL boxing in 2012!), Bob Kinnon, Paul Bradshaw, Steve Rollison, Donville Yarde, Michael Lumb, Derek Richardson, Davie Kerr, and Paul Davies.

And in the red corner  -  Neil Halliday, Mick Ross, Kevin Reeves, Adrian King, Merv Dickenson, Stuart Donaldson, Phil Holder, Terry Lee, Bill Henry, Dave Shakeshaft, Eric Muncer, Bill Butterworth, and Jeff Baker.

Also included in this Souvenir Programme were all of the boxers who had stepped into the ring between 1969 and 1979.

We hope you can recognize some or all of these brave young men.