We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of retired P.C. Howard Dill on Tuesday 3rd June 2025. Howard had served in the Bermuda Police for 25 years from 4th May 1955 until 4th  May 1980.

Howard was one of 49 young Bermudian Dockyard apprentices who were selected to complete their apprenticeship training in Portsmouth, England, and sailed to Portsmouth on the MV Georgic in September 1950.  

This group of apprentices included Hilton “Jellybean” Wingood, Alan “Harry” Lister,  Howard Dill,  and Neville Phillips, all of whom went on to join the Bermuda Police following their return to Bermuda.   CLICK HERE  for our article on the Dockyard Apprentices.

At that time overseas recruits in the 1950’s were required to attend a police training school in the UK for 3 months prior to coming to Bermuda so they had first class training before they arrived here.   Local recruits, however, received the bare minimum of training before being put on the beat, usually in Hamilton.

Hilton Wingood, who joined a couple of months before Howard recalled spent 2 weeks having lectures from Supt. Percy Miller from 9am-5pm, studying laws such as the Summary Offences Act, the Road Traffic Act and the Criminal Code.  This was in an office on Victoria Street where the barracks were located. Hilton had described how the young recruits kept notes in exercise books and were shown how to write up tickets.

Although there was no Police Training School until 1961,  the Police started to  bring out instructors from British police forces in the mid-1950's to provide Refresher Courses to young constables, and Howard attended one of the first such courses in 1955, and a second course held in June 1958 as shown in the photo below. 

Howard went on to spend most of career serving in Western Division which included a spell as an Aide in CID, and as the Parish Constable for Warwick Parish for a number of years. He spent the last 4 years in Central Division Hamilton in uniform.

Western Parish Officers

Interviewed  by Roger Sherratt on his 84th birthday, Howard chatted about the good old days when he worked in Warwick Parish, and as he said,  "in those days the Parish Constables knew just about everybody  - and where to find them!" There was no question that Howard thoroughly enjoyed his years as a Parish Constable.  CLICK HERE to read about "The Men from the West"

Howard was also a longtime member of the Police Choir at a time when they were in much demand for singing engagements at local churches and other venues, and they also travelled abroad.

Throughout his 25 year police career Howard was a very popular and well liked officer.  

Howard was predeceased by his loving wife Ruth, and we offer our sincere condolences to  Howard's family Including his sons, Rev. Howard Dill Jnr, and Herman Dill, his daughter Cynthia Cummings, sister Gretchen Tucker, brother Jerl Dill and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other relatives and friends.

We understand that the funeral service will take place on Monday 8th June 2025 at 11am at Mount Zion AME Church in Southampton, with internment to follow at St. Anne's Anglican Church to follow.

6th June 2025