The man who was dubbed the "best qualified mechanic in Bermuda" by former Police Commissioner Colin Coxall, was last week called to the Bar.

Martin Johnson, 58, spent more than 25 years with the Bermuda Police Service, 16 of which were spent in the Police workshop.

He had arrived in Bermuda in 1971 from his native St. Vincent where he had worked as a deputy headmaster.

In 1979 he was transferred to the garage department.

But by 1982 Mr. Johnson had earned a psychology degree from Queen's University, Canada and then, in 1990, a second class honours law degree from London University, through studying during his spare time and using his holidays to attend courses in London.

But still the Police Service had him working as a mechanic.

"The way I was ignored as far as promotion as concerned was something I decided would not bother me but I decided to improve myself," he said in a 1995 interview.

But Commissioner Coxall, who had only weeks before highlighted the weaknesses of the Service's human resources policies, addressed the anomaly somewhat soon after by promoting him to the rank of Sergeant from Constable.

He retired from the Service and in 2000 graduated from the College of Law in Guildford, England and began a pupillage at the Attorney General's Chambers.

At the call to the bar, Mr. Johnson was introduced by his pupilmaster Solicitor General Wilhelm Bourne.

Today Mr. Johnson has a healthy sense of humour about his experience at the hands of the Police Service.

"I think it was all necessary.

"Inasmuch as I didn't get too far in the Police force, it was all positive - I was able to get that experience and I am able to use it today.

"I can fix my own car and fix my own boat.

"Life experience is all good."

There was no bitterness, he said.

"Absolutely none. I left on good terms with the Police and am still on good terms with the Police.

"It's nothing to do with the Police themselves.

"Anybody who was there had to make their choices and I made mine.

"There were other people beside me who suffered the same fate - people from the Caribbean and people from England.

"I went to work and I did what I had to do.

"My purpose was to serve the Bermudian public, not the Police themselves."

He added: "You could see that it didn't prevent me from what I wanted to do.

"As long as I was successful in the eyes of the Bermudian community then I feel I was successful."

Asked whether he was planning to go into private practice, he said: "I will cross that bridge when I get there.

"That's the hallmark of my success.

"One thing I don't do is burn my bridges."