Bo Nalls
21st Dec 2003, 09:45
From the Bermuda Royal Gazette 20/12/03
Cabbie ends RAF high jinks
A taxi driver came to the rescue after a bunch of drunken RAF officers tried to steal a Bermuda landmark – the sign outside the Swizzle Inn.
The worse for wear airmen took the heavy sign from outside the pub in the early hours of Tuesday morning after a heavy session the night before.
The officers, who were staying at next door Grotto Bay Beach, wrapped it up in stolen hotel towels and were planning to take it to the Airport next day when they were due to fly to England.
But after Grotto Bay bellman Wayne Mouchette spotted the sign and pointed it out to taxi driver Keith Astwood, the cabbie stepped in and told the officers it was going nowhere.
Mr. Astwood told The Royal Gazette yesterday: “I was at Grotto Bay and I saw the sign wrapped in towels by the trash container where the taxis park.
“I saw these RAF guys in their uniforms and they were going to take the sign into another taxi.
“I told them: ‘Don’t take that sign. I don’t care where you are from, it doesn’t belong to you’. They didn’t say nothing, they just looked at me.
“I’m not scared of those guys. That sign’s been there for years and it attracts tourists.”
Swizzle Owner Jay Correia said the RAF team, which stopped off in Bermuda after more than half a dozen caught food poisoning in the Caribbean, had also been in boisterous mood at Grotto Bay, stealing towels and flags.
He said: “They were a good bunch of guys who spent a ton of money and got out of their minds.
“I was surprised because normally I don’t get any trouble from the RAF guys. I am disappointed they tried to take it because it is a kind of tourist landmark, and I joke it is a national treasure of Bermuda.
“Grotto Bay were more upset about all this than I was. I spoke to (resident manager) Clyde Darrell and he was real steamed up because they stole all flags off the poles and a bunch of towels.
“They drank here the whole weekend and we did a great bit of business. I just wish they hadn’t tried to steal my sign.
“It’s back safe and sound now and I’m just glad it’s not hanging in some RAF squad room in England.”
Deputy Governor Nick Carter said two RAF Hercules stopped off in Bermuda after about 18 officers took food poisoning while in the Caribbean and had to go to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.
He said he did not know which squadron they were from or that there had been high jinks at Swizzle and Grotto Bay.
“Its news to me. They were flying from the Caribbean and they think about a dozen and a half of them caught food poisoning and we put them in touch with KEMH,” said Mr. Carter.
Mr. Darrell of Grotto Bay said yesterday: “I think it was just one flag. There’s no big deal.”
Cabbie ends RAF high jinks
A taxi driver came to the rescue after a bunch of drunken RAF officers tried to steal a Bermuda landmark – the sign outside the Swizzle Inn.
The worse for wear airmen took the heavy sign from outside the pub in the early hours of Tuesday morning after a heavy session the night before.
The officers, who were staying at next door Grotto Bay Beach, wrapped it up in stolen hotel towels and were planning to take it to the Airport next day when they were due to fly to England.
But after Grotto Bay bellman Wayne Mouchette spotted the sign and pointed it out to taxi driver Keith Astwood, the cabbie stepped in and told the officers it was going nowhere.
Mr. Astwood told The Royal Gazette yesterday: “I was at Grotto Bay and I saw the sign wrapped in towels by the trash container where the taxis park.
“I saw these RAF guys in their uniforms and they were going to take the sign into another taxi.
“I told them: ‘Don’t take that sign. I don’t care where you are from, it doesn’t belong to you’. They didn’t say nothing, they just looked at me.
“I’m not scared of those guys. That sign’s been there for years and it attracts tourists.”
Swizzle Owner Jay Correia said the RAF team, which stopped off in Bermuda after more than half a dozen caught food poisoning in the Caribbean, had also been in boisterous mood at Grotto Bay, stealing towels and flags.
He said: “They were a good bunch of guys who spent a ton of money and got out of their minds.
“I was surprised because normally I don’t get any trouble from the RAF guys. I am disappointed they tried to take it because it is a kind of tourist landmark, and I joke it is a national treasure of Bermuda.
“Grotto Bay were more upset about all this than I was. I spoke to (resident manager) Clyde Darrell and he was real steamed up because they stole all flags off the poles and a bunch of towels.
“They drank here the whole weekend and we did a great bit of business. I just wish they hadn’t tried to steal my sign.
“It’s back safe and sound now and I’m just glad it’s not hanging in some RAF squad room in England.”
Deputy Governor Nick Carter said two RAF Hercules stopped off in Bermuda after about 18 officers took food poisoning while in the Caribbean and had to go to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.
He said he did not know which squadron they were from or that there had been high jinks at Swizzle and Grotto Bay.
“Its news to me. They were flying from the Caribbean and they think about a dozen and a half of them caught food poisoning and we put them in touch with KEMH,” said Mr. Carter.
Mr. Darrell of Grotto Bay said yesterday: “I think it was just one flag. There’s no big deal.”