The Bermuda Police Service’s oldest pensioner Inspector Arthur Rose died last Tuesday at the age of 90.

Born in Hastings, England, on March 27, 1924, Insp Rose joined the Bermuda Police Force, as it was known then, in April 1951, where he served for 28 years before retiring as an Inspector in the Police Traffic Department.

“Arthur was just a few weeks short of his 91st birthday and was the oldest Bermuda Police pensioner,” President of the Bermuda Ex-Police Officers Association Roger Sherratt said. “He was an extremely well-liked policeman and known for always whistling while he worked.

“Although Arthur left Bermuda a few years ago, he will be fondly remembered by all those who knew him.”

Insp Rose, who at the age of 18 enlisted with the Lancashire Fusiliers and served mainly in India during the Second World War, started his career with the Bermuda Police Force on the beat in the City of Hamilton.

Two years later, he became a station constable at Hamilton Police Station and a year later he was made a parish constable in Paget before being promoted to sergeant and serving in Hamilton and St George’s.

After his promotion to Inspector, he spent the rest of his service in the Police Traffic Department.

Mr Sherratt said that Insp Rose played in the first Police football team as centre half and the first Police rugby team during the early 1950s, and he was an avid squash and tennis player.

“We had a very good Police squash team and used to play against visiting teams,” Mr Sherratt said. “He was a key player.”

Mr Sherratt added that in 2013 he interviewed Insp Rose about his time in Bermuda for an article on the Bermuda Ex-Police Officers Association website.

Insp Rose said: “After arriving in Bermuda I had started playing football, first for BAA (Bermuda Athletic Association), and then we formed a Police team.

“Prior to this the only football game the Police ever played was the annual ‘Cops versus Robbers’ match against members of the business community.

“I think it was me who first organised the Police football team.

“I can remember that when we started we used to play in our undervests — no football shirts,” Insp Rose said, adding that one of the team’s supporters was Mr Dunkley, grandfather of Premier Michael Dunkley.

“I remember him asking one day why we played in undervests.

“When we told him it was because we couldn’t afford shirts he went out and bought us all blue shirts, which we really appreciated,” Insp Rose said.

He added: “I don’t know what it’s like in the Force now but during my time I felt that we had a great spirit and camaraderie.

“I worked with some great guys and, in fact, I would say that most of the men and women I came across in the Bermuda Police Force were a pleasure to work with.”

After leaving the Bermuda Police Force, Insp Rose spent a decade working for Stevedoring Services before moving back to England.

He spent 57 years in Bermuda.

For the past seven years he had been living with his sister Mrs Jean Wright in Hastings, Sussex.

A funeral service will be held at the Hastings Crematorium on April 7 at 11am.