Young P.C. Robert "Rob" Porter

In June of this year we published an article about an impending visit to  Bermuda by our old friend and former colleague, Bob Porter and his wife Anne who were planning on bringing 17 members of their immediate family to the Island for family reunion here in July.   CLICK HERE to view the article.

Bob, had  served in the Portsmouth City Police, before  joining the Bermuda Police in October 1970 along with a group of young men from the UK with prior police experience, including Brian Anderson, Frank Smith, David “Dai” James, Raymond Thomas, Dave Shakeshaft, Henry Parry, Keith Bird, Alistair “Angus” Brown, Alan Bolton, Michael Sample,  Michael Walker, Keith Pellow and Gerald Harmer.  They were joined on their Localisation Course by P.C. Raphael Honore who joined as an experienced officer from the West Indies.

During his 11 years on Island,  Bob’s postings included Central Division (Hamilton), Mobile Reserve, Eastern Division, Smith’s Parish Constable, CID (Murder Room), and several stints in “F” Department where he became a highly experienced Outward Bound instructor.

Bob and Anne were married in September 1972, and their first two children, Nicola and Amy were born here in Bermuda.  Bob served until June 1981 after which he and Anne returned to the UK.

On 25th June the Royal Gazette published a lovely article about the Porter’s planned visit (CLICK HERE to view the RG article) which stated,  

‘In April 1981, Anne and Robert Porter “sadly left beautiful Bermuda” and returned to England. The couple have been back several times since, but their trip next month is a special one. Coming with them on July 13 for a week’s stay at Grotto Bay Beach Resort & Spa are 15 members of their family.

For the Porters, who met on the island in 1970 only months after they relocated here for work, the vacation is “the fulfilment of a dream” of having their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren together in “the beautiful place where their story began”.

Unfortunatey, I was off Island for most of their visit but I asked Bob to write and let us know what impression Bermuda made on their family members.  Here is his reply:-

“It was a hectic week trying to make sure all 17 were entertained and educated but was nonetheless relaxing, great fun and made everlasting memories.

Sadly I didn't manage the PRC but Steve & Juanita Shaw came to visit us and we had a great time and a lot of laughs together.

Mary van de Weg also came with daughter, Rachel, and the reunion involved our oldest daughter, Nicola, who was at Nambour with Rachel. 

I also met Ben Beasley on the flight over when he recognised my Bda Police necktie!

We also paid a visit to see Walwyn Hughes, for whom we used to house-sit.

The whole trip went so smoothly and the staff at Grotto Bay Beach Resort and Spa were very friendly.

Being the only  All-inclusive hotel, it was a great deal and the facilities were ideal for all. Swimming in one of the grottos was a treat and was so cool in both respects!

Public transport was included and we took the ferry to Dockyard and bus back via South Shore Beaches. The family were able to visit John Smith's Bay, the Aquarium and the "Police" Beach, which Nicola & Amy remembered with such fondness.

We had a great time at The Swizzle Inn Trivia Quiz even though we didn't win this time.

Our 3rd daughter, Sarah celebrated her wedding anniversary there and her husband, Andy, hired a Boston Whaler for the two of them to get away for the day. 

We had a wonderful time but no doubt an extra day or two would have been better!

I would have liked to have visited Paget Island again to see what OBB have done since I left. Ben Beasley even offered to organise a boat but I felt my priority was to the family.

Given the time and 17 people to move around we were  more than content with our casual itinerary.  There was certainly nothing that we regret doing and would recommend GBBR to any  Bermie Expo returnees.

Hopefully Anne & I will return next year  if someone needs seasoned house-sitters !?”

And just to show how enthusiastic Bob and Anne were about visiting with all their family,  they were interviewed again by Royal Gazette reporter, Heather Wood, while they were here.  Heather wrote a second article about their visit, titled,   ‘Absolutely amazing’ Bermuda gets thumbs-up from British family"   CLICK HERE to read the RG article in which Anne summarises their visit as “absolutely amazing”.  

For any of our members thinking of planning a return to Bermuda on holiday,  Bob certainly provides some excellent input about what to see and do, and how to travel around the Island.  

19th August 2024

Would you believe it? The BBC is in the process of producing a documentary highlighting the work of our Bermuda Police Service and the Royal Bermuda Regiment Coastguard (previously our Marine Police Department) as reported in the Royal Gazette on 1st July 2024.

As a young lad in England in the 1950’s I grew up watching Jack Warner playing P.C. Dixon in the TV series “Dixon of Dock Green” set in East London, and from vague recollection P.C. Dixon was an older constable who embodied what we all thought a policeman should be -  firm but kind, always polite and a person to be respected.

For those of us raised on Dixon of Dock Green,  it was a major culture shock when the BBC introduced a new police series in 1962 by the name of Z Cars which can only be described as a “gritty drama” set in the fictitious Newtown near Liverpool or Manchester.  Z Cars had a really raw edge compared with Dixon of Dock Green,  and having joined the Staffordshire County Police in 1961 and being stationed in Bilston near Wolverhampton, Z Cars was the first series I can recall that showed life as it really was in the 60’s and what it was like to be a police officer.  Whoever wrioe the scripts must surely have liaised very closely with real police officers because we could clearly identify both with the policemen in the show, and the side of life it portrayed.

I have a personal reason for never forgetting Z Cars!  Shortly after arriving here in Bermuda patrolling the streets of Hamilton, I was confronted by a Bermudian officer who had recently attended a police course in the UK  -  Edward “Boxhead” Foggo.  “Boxhead’” took one look at me and exclaimed in his dulcet tones, “Sweet Pea! You’re Sweet Pea on Z Cars." He was referring to young P.C. Ian Sweet, played by the actor Terence Edmond who apparently decided to leave the series to seek his fortune in the US,  so his character met a tragic end when – to the best of my recollection  - he dived off a bridge into a canal to save a drowning boy not realizing the water was less than 2 feet deep, and he died as a result.

Bermuda being what it is for nicknames, “Sweet Pea” became my nickname from then on, and I even named my first boat “Sweet Pea”.  CLICK HERE for our extensive list of nicknames of Bermuda police officers.  If you had one and it isn't recorded or if you know of someone else who had one (and it's fit to print) please pass it on to on our website at info@expobermuda.com 

According to the Royal Gazette article, written by Stafanin Ausenda:-

(The) new documentrary series will highlight work of the Bermuda Police Service and Royal Bermuda Regiment coastguard.

The 15-episode series, tentatively titled Policing Paradise, will be shown on the BBC in the UK.

According to a police spokesman, a producer from British television production company Spun Gold Studios visited Bermuda earlier this year to explore the possibility of making the series.

The film crew arrived in Bermuda last week and will mostly document “feel-good” stories for the next seven weeks, according to the spokesman.

They are also working with the Bermuda Tourism Authority and Method Media while on the island.

The spokesman added: “This TV programme is designed to show Bermuda, the BPS and the RBR coastguard in a good light, while encouraging UK citizens to consider visiting the island.”

CLICK HERE for the full article.

We've come a long way since the days of Dixon of Dock Green.  It should be fascinating to see this BBC documentary on policing in Bermuda.  Will keep you posted.