The Englishman poised to become Bermuda's deputy Police Commissioner this week cleared up confusion over his past.

Mr. Michael Joseph Mylod said he had served in Northern Rhodesia -- now Zambia -- for eight years while in his 20s.

He joined the Police Force there in November 1957 after answering an advertisement.

"I carried out general Police duties, in rural and urban areas,'' Mr. Mylod told The Royal Gazette .

"I also spent a two-year spell as a law instructor and I was a public prosecutor.'' Mr. Mylod went on to say how much he was looking forward to coming to Bermuda.

"It's a very beautiful country.'' He added the Bermuda Police Force also had an excellent reputation in Britain.

It was the first time 57-year-old Mr. Mylod had spoken since the furore over his appointment.

Controversy burst after Labour Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman told a public meeting Mr. Mylod had served in Southern Rhodesia in the 1960s.

The Progressive Labour Party immediately described Mr. Mylod as an inappropriate choice for deputy Commissioner, saying he had propped up a racist colonial regime.

Mr. Pearman, however, later admitted he had made a mistake.

And this was confirmed by Mr. Mylod, who is Deputy Chief Constable with England's Hampshire Constabulary.

Speaking from his office at the Constabulary's Winchester headquarters Mr.

Mylod said he served in Northern Rhodesia until February 1965.

Mr. Mylod, however, was anxious not to comment on the controversy surrounding his appointment.

"I don't think it would be appropriate to speak on this today.'' He pointed out his appointment had been confirmed, and he expected to come to Bermuda at the end of March.

Born in August 15 1937 in Carshalton in the southern English county of Surrey, Mr. Mylod served with the Royal Navy between 1955 and 1957.

While in the navy he went to the Middle and Far East, before going to Northern Rhodesia.

He then returned to England and joined the Devon Constabulary in April 1965, rising to the rank of Chief Superintendent over the next 19 years.

As a Superintendent he commanded a specialised crime prevention unit at Police headquarters with heavy emphasis on community policing.

He played a major part in setting up the "Force schools liaison unit''.

In 1977 Mr. Mylod obtained a bursary when he attended the Senior Command Course at the Canadian Police College in Ottawa.

Seven years later he was appointed Assistant Chief Constable to the Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

He moved into his present position with the Hampshire Constabulary in October 1988.

"Hampshire is a gorgeous county. I've been very lucky in serving in some wonderful places,'' said Mr. Mylod.

Mr. Mylod said he was excited by his latest appointment.

A Policeman's job always threw up problems and challenges, and he was looking forward to taking them on.

Top Policeman looking forward to Bermuda He was not deterred by the possibility of taking flak as a foreigner, and believed he could adapt to the local flavour of Bermuda.

"Bermuda is a good force. It has a good reputation,'' he said.

Asked how he would describe his personality, Mr. Mylod laughed and said: "I don't think anybody can answer that about themselves.'' Quoting a line of poetry he said: "It is for others to describe what you're like.''