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Latest Interesting Article

Interesting Articles

 

 

 

This section features interesting articles written by former colleagues on a wide range of subjects related to the Bermuda Police Service or recounting personal experiences.   We are delighted to receive articles from anyone who wishes to put pen to paper, and will assist with editing where necessary.

 

 

Craig's List of Travels!

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Interesting Articles

 

 We recently received this latest update from Craig Morfitt on the latest travels through Europe he and Bev have been embarked on riding a variety of incredible motor cycles - none of which are available here in Bermuda!  

 

Craig and Bev hiking  on the Serra de Freita mountain

 

February 14th 2022 will mark the 4th anniversary since Bev and I obtained our residency certificate for Portugal, and we are absolutely loving our retirement life over here.

We left Bermuda in June 2017, to find our retirement home in Europe. My online research had indicated that the city of Porto in Portugal might be the best fit for us, but we had never visited. Our plan was to spend several months trying out different cities and countries in western Europe, before making a choice.

We started out with a month in Porto, before travelling through France, Germany and Spain. We did some house-sitting in rural areas of France, but we were more inclined towards city living. We spent time in Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lyon and Paris in France. We also visited Berlin in Germany, Barcelona in Spain and Lisbon in Portugal. After six months of living out of suitcases, we returned to Porto in January 2018. When we got back to Porto, it already started to feel like our new home. Within a couple of weeks, we agreed that it was the place for us and decided to put down some roots.

Porto is Portugal’s second-largest city, with a population over 200,000. It has a small city feel, when compared to the capital Lisbon. Yet it still has plenty to see and do. It is very easy to get around using the excellent Metro train system. So, there is no need to own a car to get around the city.

I did want to be able to explore the rest of Portugal though, so buying a motorcycle was high on my list of priorities. In the four years that we’ve been here, I’ve bought and sold a BMW F800GS Adventure, a Honda CBF600 and a Honda XR400R. I currently down to one bike, a Honda Goldwing GL1800, and that one is a long-term keeper.

Craig and Bev  with their Honda Goldwing GL1800
in the Spanish Pyrenees mountains on Craig's
60th birthday celebration trip - 2019
 

Bev loves the comfy ‘armchair’ on the back and we’ve used it for multi-day touring in Portugal and Spain, as well as many day-trips to explore the country. It’s a lovely bike with an engine that’s larger than most cars in Bermuda. We even have a trailer to pull behind the bike, for those longer trips. I’m also in the process of buying a new Honda CRF300L, so that I can continue to enjoy the off-road trail riding that I began with the XR400. Delivery of that bike is expected mid-February.

I’m a member of two motorcycle clubs – the Goldwing Clube de Portugal and the Moto Clube do Porto. My membership of the clubs has allowed me to develop friendships with other riders as well as participate in club rides and events.

We have also taken up hiking, so that we can enjoy the amazing countryside that abounds in northern Portugal. We can be up in the mountains within an hour of leaving home. There are so many established hiking trails throughout the country, that we are really spoiled for choice on where to go each time.

In 2020, we moved to a new condo in Vila Nova de Gaia, just across the river from Porto. Whilst technically a different city, we can see Porto from our living room and we are still served by the Porto Metro system. 

Portugal is not only a beautiful country, it is also rich in culture and history. Its people are also friendly and welcoming.  It provides us with everything that we need for a happy and fulfilling life, with a significantly lower cost of living than Bermuda. We are extremely happy with our decision to move here. And the attraction of Portugal has clearly not gone unnoticed, as Paul & Angela Wright and Grant and & Kate Tomkins have subsequently made the move here.

Craig, Bev and Paul Wright hiking near the village of
Sistelo in northern Portugal - June 2021
Sistelo has been called Portugal's Little Tibert, due to the terraced hillsides

 

If anyone is interested in seeing more of what we get up to, many of our travels and activities are documented on my blog at bermudarover.com. 

At 81, Nevile Darrell is writing about his life ....

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Interesting Articles

  

Our old friend and colleague, Neville Darrell, is featured in an interesting article in the Lifestyle section of today's Royal Gazette (19th Jan 2022).  Neville is pictured on his motor cycle at the age of 81, and I wonder how many of us remember his incredible riding skills when he was in Cycle Squad, as a wicket keeper/opening batsman in the Police cricket team and, of course, as an outstanding Cup Match cricketer who captained St. George's.
 
Our exceptionally strong Police Cricket Team 1962.
Top row (l-r)  Eugene "Buck" Woods, Neville "Maverick" Darrell,  
"Sony" Roberts, Clive Donald,  Marcus Packwood, and Lynn Hall
Kneeling -  Colin Chiswell,  "Socks" Dill, Campbell Simons,
Aaron Scott, and Jim Lyons
 

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

 

At 81, Neville is writing about his
life and recording it on film

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.

Young P.C. Neville Darrell
 

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.  

 Cyce Squad in its Glory Days
Standing (l-r)  Dick Murphy, Andy Bermingham, Neville Darrell, 
Tony Watson, Mike Caulkett, Gary Perinchief, Dick Johnson
Kneeling  -  OIC Sean Sheehan and Geoff Hunt
 

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.

Narcotics Department Officers – early 1960’s
(l-r)  Fred Bean, St. Clair "Brinky" Tucker, Harold Moniz, 
Neville Darrell, Ian Morrison, and Arthur Bean
 

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.

First ExPo Function in Two Years held at PRC

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View from the PRC Patio with Gibbs Hill Lighthouse in the distance
 

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 10th November 2021, to celebrate the 50th 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 50th 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. 

Gail Correia checks in arrivals Reese and Gilda Bartley
 

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 50thAnniversary  of joining the BPS on 4th 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
(l-r)  John Baxter, Roger Kendall, Doug Joslyn, Ernie McCreight, Roddie Barclay,
Steve Taylor, Keith Cassidy, Pete Shaw and Marje Amos 
 
Her Excellency, Governor Rena Lalgie, arrives
accompanied by our Expo President, Cal Smith
 

Shortly after the reception got underway we had surprise visitor when our 50th 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.

Her Excellency chats with the Anniversary group
 

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 92nd birthday joined in  1951.  As someone noted, they joined the Police before Queen Elizabeth came to the throne!

Acting Commissioner Darrin Simons welcomes attendees to
the Reception along with ExPo President Calvin Smith
 

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. 

 

Roger and Lita Kendall
John and Helen Baxter
 

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.  

Doug and Joan Joslyn 
Chris and Marianne Wilcox
 
Rosalie Pearman, Carolyn Haynes and Clara Saunders
 

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.

More Articles …

  1. A History of Forensic Photography in Bermuda
  2. 50th Anniversary Year  -  1971 - 2021
  3. Important query about Pension Benefits
  4. Larry Dean in action at Hamilton Princess Marina
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