A former Bermudian resident has been recognised by the Queen after he sent her a copy of his Bermuda-inspired book of poetry and songs with the traditional greeting 'I see for you'.

Oscar 'Ozzie' Carrasquillo, who now lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, lived in Bermuda from the age of five to 19 and draws on this inspiration in his songs.

As well as sending her the book, though, Ozzie as he likes to be called, included on the front page a greeting he became accustomed to while living on the Island 'I see for you'.

A letter written by the Queen's Lady-in-Waiting, says: "The Queen wishes me to write and thank you for the present of the booklet which you recently sent and with which you enclosed various photocopies of letters you have received.

"Her Majesty thought it kind of you to send her a copy of your collection of song lyrics and poems entitled 'Excursions on Galer Way' and I am to thank you for remembering her at this time.

"Your message of good wishes was greatly appreciated."

Speaking from his home in Vancouver where he takes care of his father, Ozzie said he was thrilled the Queen had enjoyed the book and he got a kick out of her response to the Portuguese greeting.

He said: "I took a shot over here of sending it to the Queen in March this year. In April I got the response. The 'I see for you' was a tongue in cheek saying to the Portuguese community.

"Because when we first moved to Bermuda it was an easy transition because the Portuguese community stuck out their hand of welcome and friendship and showed us the intricate way of Bermuda life."

He also attributes his respect of the Queen and England to the schooling he received at the Saltus School when he was five.

"In 1956 I was five-and-a-half years old and went to Cavendish where things were very English and I got it instilled in me," he said.

"The book was published in 2006, but I still felt like the right people haven't read the book for it to go bouncing off the shelves, so one morning I woke up and thought I'll send it to the Queen."

Ozzie's book has also been reviewed and praised by Michael Bloomberg, the Mayor of New York who also owns a house on the Island.

Mayor Bloomberg sent Ozzie a letter with the golden seal of New York City and thanked him for sending a copy of Galer Way.

It makes sense because Ozzie dedicated the book to the people of Bermuda, New York and Canada — all places where he has lived.

His time in Bermuda was also spent in various neighbourhoods, because unlike other kids from the American base, his family decided to live outside their community.

From Camp Wellman Lane to Salt Kettle, all of his experiences as a child as well as his regular visits to friends on the Island became fodder for his poetry.

Now he has also set many of these poems and songs to music and has recorded a CD.

A drummer from an early age, he left Bermuda in 1970 to go to Winnipeg, Canada to pursue his career and subsequently left after four winters froze him out and sent him to Vancouver.

He still manages to keep his Island musical contacts and those who compiled the CD titled 'Romp in the Swap' were mostly former residents, including Bill Kelly.

The CD, which includes many tracks written by Ozzie — proving a drummer can actually write — can be found on the iTunes store as well as other online music sources.

These include "Stranger no More" which remembers a visit to hear friends play in St. George's and a tourist couple visiting for their 50th anniversary he helped after they fell.

It's little vignettes such as these that come to him, he said, after a night out in Bermuda and was the reason he titled the book 'Excursions on Galer Way.'

"It would conjure up those flights of fantasy. I would go out with friends and when I would get home I would be inundated with ideas," he said.

Ozzie's not done yet with cataloguing Bermuda's history however.

His current project includes documenting the nicknames that are so abundant on the Island.

He is also focusing his energy on learning the guitar.

Anyone who would like more information about his book or the music can email him at: oz.c@shaw.ca.