Amazed by kindness

September 24, 2009

Dear Sir,

I have just returned home from visiting relatives in Bermuda, my previous visit was approximately eight or nine years ago. Outwardly I did,t see much change apart from some more big office buildings in Hamilton and more traffic, oh and I missed Trimminghams store.

But reading the letters page in your paper led me to believe that some things have changed for the worse. Your readers write about the same things that worry us in the UK, escalating crime, teenagers in gangs , burglaries, muggings and gun crime, rape and murders anddrug crime. How sad, I thought, that a piece of paradise can not escape the things that highly populated countries have to endure.

With a population of 70,000 or so I would think a decent police force could keep a lid on it. Your population is about as many as Manchester United get at one of their football matches. I should think a year of zero tolerance could make all the difference as it did in New York City, but you would need a strong administration and tough sentencing to make it work. I don'to profess to have the answers unfortunately just wishful thinking & good wishes for the Island.

I must say I enjoyed my stay and didn't tire of the scenic splendours.

I met some very nice people who were very kind. One particular occasion my wife and I took the ferry from Hamilton to Rockaway Wharf with the intention of walking up the road to the main road and catching a bus to Gibbs Hill Lighthouse. When disembarking from the ferry, a kind lady asked where were we going and offered us a lift to the bus stop. She had a nice coupe, and chatted to us en route. When we reached the road she said she would run us down to Gibbs Hill, though it was out of her way. She took us all the way to the Lighthouse car park and wished us well.We were both amazed at her kindness. I wish I had asked if she had an e-mail address so I could write and thank her properly.

I don't suppose I shall visit Bermuda again as we are both in our seventies, though never say never. Thanks Bermuda for fond memories and a sun tan.

R A CLEMENTS

United Kingdom