Eighty-four-year-old English-born Peter Thomas Smy, who made Bermuda his home for more than a half-century, was given honours at his homegoing service a week ago at the Heritage Worship Centre in Hamilton.

Five Pentecostal ministers and Elders, including the Pastor of Shekinah Worship Center, Rev. Dr. Maria Seaman, and family members paid tribute to this veteran of both the Second World War and the Korean War.

Well-known VSB TV personality Charmaine Burgess, in reading his obituary, cited how her stepfather-in-law, possessed of an adventurous spirit, left the safety of the British shores as a 15-year-old, joined the British Merchant Marine service, became a deck boy on the Furness-Bermuda liner Queen of Bermuda and worked his way up to a Quartermaster.

Throughout his 26 years at sea she said, he schooled himself, was torpedoed once, received two tattoos, one from a Zulu tribe in South Africa and circumnavigated the globe three times, before "permanently dropping his anchor in Bermuda".

"He met his third wife Thelma at the Heritage Worship Center in Hamilton. Bro. Smy had to learn how to "clap on beat", show some rhythm and to love farine pie.

Charmaine added that he won over Thelma's entire family instantly, and proudly assumed the role of patriarch, being fondly referred to amongst his grandchildren as 'Poppa Smy'.

"He worked for several decades at the Hamiltonian Hotel as a manager. To look at him one would not think he was such an adventurous man. Short in stature and lightly built, Bro. Smy was a gentleman and a gentle man.

"His soft spoken British accent combined with an enduring twinkle in his eyes and ready smile made him irresistible to love," said Charmaine.