One year on from the death of Bermuda Police constable Paul Marsden, who collapsed playing rugby, friends and family of the popular officer were at the national sports centre for the first anniversary fixture of P.c. Marsden?s final game.

A minute?s silence was observed by both sides and spectators before the clash between Police and Mariners ? the same two teams who were playing last January when the superfit 36-year-old fell to the ground having suffered a heart attack.

Watching from the touch-line yesterday were Paul?s parents Barbara and Brian, and his youngest brother Rob, who had arrived from England the previous evening.

They were touched by the warmth and support offered in the immediate aftermath of Paul?s death, and they were touched again by the sentiments and welcome they have received making their pilgrimage to the rugby field on Frog Lane to watch the same two teams involved in Paul?s last game.

Before the Bermuda Police Rugby Club team took to the pitch they each met the family and then lined up for a minute?s silence, as did their opponents the Mariners.

Afterwards a dedication was made at the Police recreation club where Paul?s number 15 jersey was officially ?retired? and his name was added to the Bermuda Police Service Roll of Honour.

A Paul Marsden Fair Play Award has also been established by the Island?s close-knit rugby community.

As reported a year ago, Paul is remembered by colleagues and acquaintances as ?one of life?s nice guys? and that has been underlined by around 500 messages of condolences written into tribute books in Bermuda and Paul?s native England by those whose lives he touched.

?We had hundreds of people here and at home who put comments in those books, but what was quite striking was the similarity of what people who have never met wrote about Paul. He did not seem to have any enemies and always wanted to help people out,? said brother Rob, 31.

Paul was a keen sportsman. Apart from rugby he was also a swimmer, footballer, squash player and had run half-marathon races. His high fitness level made his sudden death while playing sport all the more unexpected. There was no way of predicting his heart would not manage to keep up with the energetic lifestyle.

In the UK around 500 fit, young people die in similar circumstances as a result of Sudden Adult/Arrhythmia Death (SAD). Paul?s family have set up a memorial fund in his name to raise funds for the SAD organisation in the UK.

His parents Barbara and Brian, from near High Wycombe in the UK, spoke of the support and friendliness they have been shown by their son?s friends and colleagues.

?It is quite an honour to know that he was so well-liked by the people of Bermuda, and the people have been really good to us since we came out last January,? said Mrs. Marsden.

When they arrived on Saturday evening four of Paul?s Police colleagues were at the airport to welcome them and take them to their accommodation on Island during their five-day stay.

The Marsdens intend to visit St. George?s artist Jill Amos Raine to thank her for allowing them to chose a painting of their choice when they visited her shop a year ago and discovered she also knew Paul, who had been a resident on the Island for two years when he died.The family have been surprised and heartened to discover just how many people in Bermuda knew Paul either as a friend or as someone who would smile and wave a greeting. Even the cleaner at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel, where they stayed last January, knew of Paul.

?Everywhere we went we met people who knew him,? said Mrs. Marsden, who added that the response to the family after Paul?s death had been both overwhelming and humbling and many of their son?s friends had kept in touch over the past 12 months.

Paul had travelled to a number of countries before coming to Bermuda. He played a part in the rescue of survivors in the Paddington rail disaster outside London in 1999, and was also featured on a UK TV programme on the work of the British Police.

At his memorial service in Bermuda last January he was given a Police guard of honour.

Paul?s brother Rob may return to Bermuda each January to watch the annual match between the Police and Mariners, which has now been fixed to the Sunday as close to January 22 ? the day Paul died ? as possible.

?The guys in the Police team say they are dedicated to preserving Paul?s memory, and it feels the right place for me to be,? he said.