Here's an extract from the Royal Gazette article written by Jessie Moniz Hardy:-

Neville Darrell is 81, but has no thoughts of retirement.

After a long and varied career that included stints as a police officer, an insurance salesman, and a security services firm owner, he is still working.

“Officially, I’m a taxi driver, although I haven’t driven in a while,” the St George's resident said. “One should never retire. I tend to always keep myself active in different ways.”

In 2002, he published Acel’dama, a book about his police career. With the help of Rick Richardson, the former chief executive of the Bermuda Broadcasting Company, he is making it into a documentary that he hopes will be completed this year.

Mr Darrell is also writing a sequel to the book. His favourite time to work is in the early hours of the morning, when most people are asleep.

“I am at my most creative at that time,” he said. “When I was a police officer that was also the best time to arrest someone; the clubs were closed and most people are at home at 4 or 5am.”

He became an officer in 1960. Then 19, he intended to only do the job for six months.

“I wanted to earn money to study abroad to become a teacher.”

His friends laughed when he told them about his new job. Together, they had committed multiple petty crimes through their teens.

Mr Darrell decided it was time for change after the people he and his friends planned on robbing turned on them.

“I realised that I could be hurt in return,” he said.

He and his friends started reading about and practising self-defence techniques. Mr Darrell was seduced by the philosophy in many of the books - that it was always better to avoid a fight and not cause harm.

Six months into his job with the police, he realised that he had not earned enough to go overseas and actually liked the work he was doing.

“It came easy to me,” said Mr Darrell, who worked in every department during his 17 years as an officer. “It was quite an interesting and challenging job. It can be very rewarding, particularly if you are people-oriented.”  ......

CLICK HERE to view the rest of the article.

Neville joined the Police in 1960 and was initially posted to Eastern Division, St. George's. 3 years later he was posted to Cycle Squad where he had several stints and was without doubt an exceptional motor cycle rider.  

During his service Neville served in a wide variety of departments including Central Division (Hamilton) "E" Department as one of the first Narcotics officers, at the Civil Air Terminal,  Training School, Western Division (Uniform) on Mobile Reserve, and at least 4 years in Central CID and the Murder Room.

Neville received at least five commendations including three for excellent investigations of cycle thefts, and one from H.E. The Governor for courage and initiative displayed during the course of the arrest of Erskine "Buck" Burrows for the series of murders of the former Governor, the Commissioner of Police and others.

Aptly nicknamed "Maverick" Neville had his ups and downs in the BPS having been promoted to Sergeant and subsequently demoted.  He left the Police Force in 1978 after 18 years service, but without question he was a legendary character in the BPS with a somewhat "unorthodox style of policing" who will be always remembered by those who served with him.

After two years of literally no ExPo social activities we were finally able to hold a very special reception at the Police Recreation Club on 10^th November 2021, to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of those of our members still residing here in Bermuda who first joined the Bermuda Police 50 years ago – in 1971, and we also invited our members who celebrated their 50^th Anniversary last year.  The event was very well attended.

With severe restrictions on social activities due to Covid since last year, there was finally an opportunity for us to seek a “Large Group Exemption” to hold our event at the PRC which also required that all attendees had a “SafeKey” -  a Government issued document confirming that the holder has either been fully vaccinated or has had a negative Covid test within the last 72 hours. 

As we all arrived we were required to wear masks and show our ID and SafeKey before entering the club.   A masked Gail Correia did the honours of checking documents outside the main door.

We also invited all of our ExPo members to attend and the result was that we had an excellent turnout on a beautiful November evening.  The only pair not residing in Bermuda were our former ExPo President, Steve Taylor, and his partner, Jan,  who had specially flown out from the UK at the beginning of the month so Steve could be here to celebrate his 50^thAnniversary  of joining the BPS on 4^th November 1971. 

Steve Taylor and partner Jan

Steve was one of 69 young men and women who joined during 1971 and of those 11 still residing on Island, we had 8 attend the reception. They were  Roddie Barclay, Ernie McCreight, Bernie Pitman, Pete Shaw, Doug Joslyn, Chris Wilcox, Marjory Amos, and Steve Taylor.  “Moby” Pett sent his apologies as he was off Island.  CLICK HERE for an article about the 1971 group

As we could not hold any functions last year we also invited those of the 82 recruits still residing here who had joined in 1970,  and both John Baxter and Roger Kendall attended, with Steve Shaw sending regrets as he was also off Island. CLICK HERE to view an article on this group on our ExPo website.

50th Anniversary Group Assembles

Shortly after the reception got underway we had surprise visitor when our 50^th Anniversary members were asked to assemble, and ExPo President  Cal Smith, and Acting Commissioner Darrin Simons, escorted Her Excellency the Governor,  Rena Lalgie, into the main hall where she met with the group and congratulated them on their service to the BPS.

Ms. Lalgie circulated through the room and spent time chatting with attendees, especially our two senior retirees, Glad ‘Doc” Hall and Dudley Swan, and their wives, Lillian and Marlene.   “Doc” joined the Police Service 71 years ago in 1950 and Dudley, who recently celebrated his 92^nd birthday joined in  1951.  As someone noted, they joined the Police before Queen Elizabeth came to the throne!

ExPo President Cal Smith welcomed everyone to the reception, and he was followed by Acting COP Darren Simons who also welcomed everyone and said he was honoured to be attending his first ExPo function in his capacity as Acting Commissioner. 

With over 60 people in attendance the evening proved to be a great success.  During the evening we had a slideshow featuring as many of those in attendance as possible, and Roy’s kitchen put on delicious spread of roast turkey and ham on rolls, along with pumpkin soup which all proved very popular.  it’s sincerely hoped that Bermuda is through the worst of the Covid pandemic and we will soon be able to return to something near normalcy, perhaps starting with our annual ExPo New Year’s get together in January.  

Events such as this need the support of our membership to be successful, and this reception was just such an occasion because of the excellent turnout.  For the record our attendees were Carlton Adams. Marjory Amos, Alex Arnfield, Gertie Barker, Roddie Barclay, Reese and Gilda Bartley, John and Helen Baxter, Peter and Pam Borland, Keith and Joan Cassidy, Dave and Patsy Cook, Gail Correia, John and Betty Dale. Michael and Mirela DeSilva, Hiram Edwards, Dennis Gordon, Gladwin “Doc” and Lillian Hall, Pat Hamlett, Larry Dean, Carolyn Haynes, Robin and Nadine Henagulph, Colin “Dusty” Hind, Doug and Joan Joslyn, Roger and Lita Kendall, Bernie Pitman, Ernie and Barbara McCreight, Charlie and Anne-Marie Mooney, John Skinner and Ann Morgan, Rosalie Pearman, George Rose, Mike and Jan Shaw, Pete Shaw, Roger Sherratt, Jerome Simons, Cal Smith  Clara Saunders, Robert “Bob” and Susan Stewart, Dudley and Marlene Swan, Phil Taylor and Judy Richards, Steve Taylor and Jan,  Gary Venning, Andy and Gail Wright, and  father-in-law Gerry,  and Chief Insp Arthur Glasford. 

Special guests were Her Excellency, Rena Lalgie, Acting Commissioner of Police Darrin Simons,  and the Governor’s ADC.