Durham Peeler : Winter 2011

Durham Peeler WINTER 2011

“Eis Servire Qui Serviverunt”. “Of Service to those who ser

A brief N.A.R.P.O. National Conference overview. By Alan S. Watso

I suppose you have all immediately recognised th significance? Well, I know now, having been advised who speaks the lingo… Just to further your kn N.A.R.P.O. can be broadly described as “To safeguard promote measures for their welfare, with particular re would add “and a whole lot more”

Being armed with this knowledge and a remit from th Barry & AngieDURHAM Crawford and yours truly set forth to BRANCH best Conferences in recent years at Scarborough (o N.A.R.P.O. Magazine further memorable because this year is the 90th Anniv National Association Retired Police Officers and a Mike Thornton, the retiring NARPO Chief Executiv

Front Cover: Robert Needham. Town Crier for Colchester and also currently Mayor- busy lad! He was photographed at the Darlington Market Cross on 20th August, where he was competing in the Darlington Annual Town Crier Competition.

He went on to win the Best Dressed Crier classification, not surprising either when you learn that his uniform of a Peeler has been well researched, meticulously fashioned and professionally manufactured. Note the impressive high top hat, the genuine Queen Victoria Jubilee Medal doubling as Long Service Medal and the leather belt is authentic antique City of London.Robert served 30 years in Essex Police, most of his service as a Dog Handler. He has pursued the hobby and duties of Town Crier for some 15 years

Christmas in Myanmar (Burma) Fred Farley and his wife Ma Lay have recently been on holiday in the U.K. and the article “Back Home Again” in this issue tells the continuing success story at their Mission in northern Myanmar, the Mercy Orphanage at Py in OoLwin, the Yangon Christian Fellowship and Education Centre for the Blind, the Christian Leper Hospitalof Moulmein, to name but a few. The devotion and hard work, kindness and happiness they bring to the less fortunate is indeed a vocation.

George Hartley dedicates his Christmas article, “A Journey through History” (South Africa), to cheer up one our older (and very popular) widows, Freda Brown who is a little under the weather at the moment.

Hope you feel on top of the world soon Freda.

‘Durham Peeler’ reaches LashkarGah, Afghanistan (photo and report by Frank Kirby) I know that the ‘Peeler’ travels the world and I am sure it has travelled further than this one. However, I am pretty certain that this is the first one to have travelled to this part of Afghanistan.

LashkarGahPRT (Provincial Reconstruction Team) is situated in the middle of main operating base LashkarGah which is the capital of Helmand. I am the EUPOL (European Police Mission Afghanistan) Police Training Advisor for a small police team operating out of the PRT and I have been here since November 2010.

I mentor the Afghan Uniform Police training officer in this area, and provide policing expertise in support of the Military who carry out the bulk of the police mentoring across their area of responsibility in Task Force Helmand. My second role is to be responsible for institutional development of the AUP on behalf of 2MEF, RSC SW, NTMA. (Everybody talks like that out here!) It means second Marine Expeditionary Force, Regional Support Command South West, NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan. That’s the US Marine Corp.

This means that I travel between Lashkar Gah and Camp Bastion/Leatherneck every week by helicopter.

When I first arrived I thought it would be a real novelty, never having travelled by helicopter before, but take it from me, it soon wears off! It is uncomfortable, usually very noisy and often extremely hot from the exhausts. It is now endured, not enjoyed unless you go via one of the forward operating bases, then you tend to flying very low and twisting and turning all over the place, which is very interesting to say the least!

Regards, Frank Kirby (retired 2003)

Count your blessings this CHRISTMAS. On behalf of the Committee of the Durham Branch of NARPO, we extend to you and your families, season’s greetings, wishing that you have a very Happy Christmas and above all, a peaceful and contented New Year.

‘Peace, good will to all men’ springs readily to mind when we approach the most important festival in the Christian calendar, yes folks it always will be Christmas. Most other creeds accept and enjoy it as a time to be happy and to be good to each other. If only we could sustain and continue this peaceful frame of mind worldwide. (Dream on?).

Meanwhile back in the real world, spare a thought for our Armed Forces especially those thousands of miles away from home in the Afghanistan never ending conflict. We can only hope and pray for their safe return and somewhere and somehow, a peaceful end to the conflict there and the many trouble spots around the world. We salute the honour bestowed on the community of Royal Wooton Bassett, a once sleepy village, where over 350 of our bravc Armed Services men and women have been repatriated following their demise in the Afghan War, .with dignity and pride We also think of those colleagues and friends who have recently lost loved ones. Our sympathy and condolences are sincerely extended to them. Just to remind everyone, your NARPO committee members can offer friendly advice and support in most aspects of welfare issues. We do have an enthusiastic volunteer in Angie Crawford who continues to be our Welfare representative as a first point of contact. All committee contact numbers are appended below.

Once again, as far as practicable, our Committee will be delivering gifts personally to most of our widows in the County area but some will of necessity receive theirs by post. The personal contact seems to be very welcome; judging from past year’s feedback and it always helps to see a friendly face now and again doesn’t it?

“Happy Christmas everyone” from all the members of the Durham Branch committee “and a Happy New Year”

N.A.R.P.O. Committee 2011/12 Chairman& Editor Durham Peeler magazine:.

Alan S. Watson, 38, Hummersknott Avenue, Darlington, DL3 8LG Tel. No. 01325 465609 suenala7@ntlworld.com Honorary President: Derek Harrison L.L.B.;M.B.E., Helen McArdle Care Home, Durham DH15SE. Vice Chairman:

Tom Baxter. Tel. No. 0191 3849036.

Treasurer: Colin Appleby, 23, Lea Rigg, West Rainton, Houghton le Spring, DH4 6SR. Tel 0191 5846178

appleby.colin@btinternet.com Secretary: Barry Crawford, 8, Warwick Place, Peterlee, SR2 2EZ.0191 5180996 barrychiltoncrawford@yahoo.co.uk Welfare Rep & Assistant Secretary: Angie Crawford. Tel No. 01915180996.e mail:angiechilton@yahoo.com 8, Warwick Place, Peterlee, SR2 2EZ. Committee Members George Bennison. Tel.01325 314879 Bill Bramfitt.Tel.01388 604369 Ches.Brighouse.Tel. 01388 818288 Tony Burn. Tel.01388 813904 Alan Drake.Tel. 013225 315820 Bob Gadd.Tel. No. 0191 3862688 Stuart Ingram. Tel. 01388 814768 Ray Jones.Tel. 01388 663098 Audrey Ledger.Tel. 01388 601267 Mob.0779125383 Don Moody. Tel. 01325 460314 David Muckle.Tel. 01325 462398 Tim Wilson.Tel. 0191 38650

Forthcoming social occasions. Mark them in your diary!

N.B.The Annual Durham Constabulary “Retirees Reunion” and Social Afternoon will be held at Aykley Heads on Sunday, 20th. May, 2012 at 1.30pm to 5pm. All retired officers, civilian staff and regular officers are once again invited to apply for tickets early to Angie Crawford or Colin Appleby (addresses above).

NARPO (Durham Branch) Meetings 2011/12

Meetings commence 7.30pmprompt.Light buffet afterward.All members are invited to come along and enjoy.

Monday, 16th January 2012 7.30pm………………….

Durham Indoor Bowling Club Monday, 19th March 2012 7.30pm.............................A. G. M. Durham Indoor Bowling Club Monday, 14th May 2012 7.30pm………………….

Bishop Auckland Hospital Club th Monday 9 July 2012 7.30pm………………….

Bishop Auckland Hospital Club Monday 3rd Sept.

2012 7.30pm ………………….

Durham Bowling Club Monday 12th Nov. 2012 7.30pm ………………….

Bishop Auckland Hospital Club

HMI Inspection of the Traffic Department at Aykley Headsby HMI Mr.Scroggie and includes several of our

current NARPO members including Colin Appleby, Gordon Balderstone and John Knaggs in the foreground with Jeff Carlon and Ken James in the background to the right of Mr.Scroggie(photo Colin Appleby)

Aykley Heads whilst undergoing firearms training which involved a vehicle stop, arrest and search of the offenders. In case you do not recognise me, I am the good guy and the villain is Alan Miller!By the way, I have not lost my revolver - the practice was to hand over one’s firearm to a colleague whilst doing the arrest and search so that there was no chance of the offender getting possession of it.(photo, Colin Appleby)

Pioneering Police. C.C.T.V. Aykley Heads 1970s Sgt Gauden and Bob Nicholson operating cameras. Harry Rogers and Bob Gadd “studio

Durham Constabulary Police Band 1985.

Drum Sgt Major David Cromarty (Senior) on extreme right. (photo, David Cromarty (Snr.)

Chief Constable’s Update (NARPO). by Jon Stoddart It is a great pleasure to update members with events in the constabulary.

As everyone is aware these are very hard times for not just the force, but the whole public sector. Last July I was one of the many chief constables who attended 10 Downing Street where the Prime Minister warned of the impending, as he called them, “Eye-watering cuts”. Twenty percent over four years, but with the majority in the first two years, was Durham’s eventual target. Although this has proved to be a real challenge, fortunately we had anticipated the cuts and taken the decision 12 months earlier to stop all recruiting, working towards developing a significantly smaller workforce.

Painful as it has been, with many difficult decisions and personal sadness, 200 police staff left the organisation either voluntarily or through compulsory redundancy. We haven’t recruited any police officers for two and a half years and there are only five cops under the age of 25 years in the force!

Despite this, crime is still falling and is lower now than in any time over the past 25 years. The detection rate stood at 42% for the year 2010/11 (and not a prison write off in sight just in case you were wondering!) and annual sickness rates are at an all time low of five days per staff member per year.

Much of what we do to build such great performance is based on our tradition of neighbourhood policing, of great partnerships with our communities and with our very professional hard working staff. We also have a very supportive and demanding police authority and excellent IT systems that help rather than hinder our operational staff.

As you cannot have failed to note, we were recently called upon to help our colleagues in the Metropolitan Police Service during the widespread unprecedented rioting. Despite the requests for support coming at peak holiday periods, ACC Michael Banks sent three PSUs to London and Nottingham. All of the cops sent were volunteers and some sacrificed their own leave periods to help. The feedback from the service and indeed local politicians has been very positive. My staff, as you would hope, rose to the challenge and performed professionally and skilfully. They also drew praise from the communities for their humour, tolerance and fairness. Qualities we perhaps take for granted, but are not always necessarily seen elsewhere. As the rioting broke, we were amazed at the response from within and out of the force. Officers and staff volunteered to work longer for no reward, but perhaps most touchingly we received phone calls from a significant number of retired officers like yourselves, offering to help out in any way they could. This included retired DCI Colin Pearson offering to come in and “answer phones, support cops, anything really. . .” and two recently retired officers from emergency planning and resourcing, Steve Belshaw and Stuart Jackson, who gave a tremendous level of support and expertise for their hard pressed colleagues.

This is an area I think we could explore with NARPO. At a recent event Alan Watson and I mooted as to whether we should keep a database of recently retired officers who may want to help out in periods of extreme demand. It would be purely voluntary and probably very rarely utilised, but it could be the difference between success and failure.

I have asked ACC Michael Banks, who leads on volunteering, for the force to explore this further. There are real benefits on both sides and I would be interested to hear from members as to what their views are.

Anyway, I am about to hop onto the train to London. I have been asked by the new Met. Commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, to lead a review team into the “phone hacking” inquiry, Operation Weeting, and am pretty busy interviewing key individuals and helping our colleagues in the Met. I will update you further in my next article!

Regards, Jon Stoddart Editor’s Note: It’s great for us all to feel involved and belonging once again. We are grateful to Chief Constable Jon Stoddart and the Executive officers for their enthusiastic and active co-operation in the promotion of good relations. We look forward to further regular writings, updating us regarding Force activities. I’m sure you will agree there is now a much stronger bonding between retirees and the Force. It is of course a two way effort and it would be helpful if colleagues would actively promote those relations. Alan S. Watson Editor

Some Mothers…..

A keen Motor Patrol Officer was waiting by the road side in Doncaster to catch speeding drivers. He sees a car puttering along at 22 MPH. He thinks to himself, “This driver is just as dangerous as a speeder!” So he turns on his lights and pulls the driver over.

Approaching the car, he notices that there are five old ladies, two in the front seats and three in the back...wide eyed and white as ghosts. The driver, obviously confused, says to him “Officer, I don’t understand, I was doing exactly the speed limit! What seems to be the problem?”

“Ma’am,” the officer replies, “you weren’t speeding, but you should know that driving slower than the speed limit can also be a danger to other drivers.”

“What, slower than the speed limit? No sir, I was doing the speed limit exactly...Twenty-two miles an hour!”....the old woman says proudly

So Who Wants Police Commissioners?

Alan S. Watson

One of the pledges the Conservative party included in their manifesto for the 2010 general election was a plan to introduce a ‘directly elected Police Commissioner’ for all English and Welsh police forces. The plan continued to feature in the Conservative – Liberal Democrat coalition agreement made after the election, and the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill 2010-11 proposes the introduction of “police and crime commissioners”.

Unless pressured by public opinion, (as if…) Government will next year introduce elections for the nomination and appointment of new police and crime commissioners. It is proposed that the commissioners will replace the tried and tested and largely reliable police authorities which we are all familiar with. We are being conditioned to accept that this is a brave new initiative. To old cynics like me ‘thinking outside of the box’– could this be a revenge attack for the humiliating spurning by the Police Federation, of Sir Patrick Sheehy’s proposed controversial police reforms back in 1993? Incidentally, one of his team at that time was a bright special advisor named David Cameron! Certainly the same Federation is alarmed at the proposed development and the many seemingly unrealistic economic cutbacks, to the point of accusing the Government of “hating the service”!

Assuming Commissioners become an unwelcome reality, all 43 Police Forces Chief Constables will be accountable to an unfettered ‘supremo’, with far reaching powers, (whose parameters are not yet known), untried and tested. With only a few months left before the implementation of the proposals, none of the political parties have even addressed the crucial issue of the selection process. Have they acknowledged that setting up this new supervisory layer will cost up to £150 million before even considering the inevitable development of support staff? Is this merely another cockeyed idea of creating new career paths for a chosen few? Remember the high expectations of the previous Crime and Drug ‘Czars’(another cautionary tale!) All very British and in my book and in my opinion, a recipe for yet another disastrous stumble in the dark! I thought only lemmings inevitably dashed headlong to their doom?

Do we really need to promote further inevitable erosion of public confidence in the credibility and respect for the once great principle of policing by consent? Why stop there? Perhaps this could be a precursor to the creation of a National Police Service. Do we even need an independent police service at all? Tory governments must realise that it is essential to support the police, the very thin blue line – not demoralize it and shake it to its foundations.

I do however have doubts about the modern ethos of the Association of Chief Police Officers, which has so many times ‘shot itself in the foot’ – the dabbling and positively politicising of its membership, not to mention the vain growing commercialisation and business interests within the organisation. The recent conduct of a small number of ACPO members has been incredibly stupid and deplorable. As previously stated, everyone would do well to remind themselves of the definition of a constable. Adage: “Chief Officers must remember that they were appointed – not anointed!” Of course the same sentiments apply to our political leaders although they may think they know better…..until they’re found out!

Nick Herbert, the Policing Minister, on the other hand considers that opponents for elected police commissioners are acting out of an “elitist fear” that they might reflect public opinion, arguing the case for commissioners in England & Wales…. will give people a say in how they are policed. Legislation is currently going through the Parliamentary process and if it goes through, the first commissioners will be elected on the same day as local elections next year and elections will be held every four years. He argues that it was “nonsense” to suggest that extremists could be elected and that it was a “disreputable” argument that people could not be relied upon to make the right decisions. (Really?)

Under the current scheme, the Home Secretary sets overall strategies and provides national funding to police authorities (made up of local councillors and appointees) who fix local budgets and hold police forces to account.

Can we and should we risk a further £150 million to launch these American style directors, individuals who have never walked the beat, met an angry man and may even be inclined toward one or other of the political parties. What about checks and balances of their powers too? To whom will they be accountable? We’ve been successful with the Chief Constable and Police Authority system for over 100 years – should we gamble it away on an idyll that may prove to be an expensive and damaging social and political folly. I also don’t believe pigs can fly!

Please Note new date for 2012

We have changed the date to avoid clashing with the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympic Games celebrations!

Durham Constabulary & Durham N.A.R.P.O.’s “Retirees Reunion”& Social Afternoon Durham Police Headquarters, Aykley Heads

Sunday 20th MAY, 2012, commencing 1.30pm (for 2pm) until 5pm Isn’t it good to know in these trying times, Durham Constabulary and Durham Branch of N.A.R.P.O. are once again working extremely hard to deliver a most enjoyable “Retirees Reunion” social afternoon?

We are delighted to extend an invitation toALL retired Police and Civilian personnel [Serving personnel very welcome] to share the 2012 “Retirees Reunion”& Social Afternoon at Aykley Heads on Sunday, 20th May, 2012.

Come along and enjoy a great afternoon out - lots of things to see and do. Meet old friends and colleagues - you will be amazed how good it can be to get together again and share old times in a lovely relaxed atmosphere. Everyone who attended last year enthusiastically agreed that it was a wonderful afternoon out. Don’t miss it!

Last year we had the following attractions:Police Band and Police Choir; Motor Patrol and Motor Cycle vehicles on display.

The latest in technology on display Dog Section practical demonstration; NARPO and Constabulary H.Q. Displays.

We are in negotiations for many of the above to enhance our day once again.

NARPO will once again be organizing a huge raffle with proceeds to subsidise this event *Chair lift installed for those who are unable to manage the stairs to the Dining Room. **Note: Only light refreshments will be provided.

ADMISSION is by ticket only.

Apply for your ticket(s) early to be sure of your place and to help in the organization of security, safety and catering (light refreshments only) please Tickets are available on application: N.A.R.P.O. members & Widows from:Mrs. Angie Crawford, angiechilton@yahoo.com.

Telephone 0191 5180996 or write to: 8, Warwick Place, Peterlee, SR2 2EZ All other applications from: Colin Applebye-mail: appleby.colin@btinternet.com. Telephone 0191 5846178 Or write to 21 Lea Rigg, West Rainton, Houghton le Spring, DH4 6SR

Don’t delay! Apply today (it’s later than you think) to avoid disappointment.

Hartlepool BoroughPolice 1912 R.L. Potter; P.C. W.C. Ray; P.C. J.S. Walker; P.C. J.J. Whitehead; P.C. F. Tonks; P.C. J. Rowson; P.C. H. Metcalfe; P.C. J. Fishburn; P.C. W.C. Johnson; P.C. E.W.H. Holmes P.C. H. Rae; P.C. J. W. Jackson; P.C. J. E. Hartland; P.C. H. Farrand; P.C. L Byron, Det. Officer H. Brudenell; P.C. J.W. Edmondson; P.C. G.R. Johnson; P.C. J. Wilkinson; P.C. R. Lax. Sgt. J.J. Crowther; Sgr. G. Carr; Inspector A. Hewitt; A.WinterbottomEsq. (Chief Constable);Sgt. J. Cooper; Sgt. J. Brown; Sgt. H. Piggott;

Hartlepool Borough Police 1931 P.C. L.Wilkinson; P.C. W.H. Gyllenspetz; P.C. J.H. Lowery; P.C. W. Kilner; P.C. W.C. Ray P.C. J.G.R. Hugill; P.C. J. W. Edmundson; A/Sgt. H. Rae; D.C. J.W. Ogleby; P.C. R.F. Raw; P.C. C.C. Cameron; P.C. C.W. Greenless; P.C. W. Lawty.

P.C. F.P. Hawks; Sgt. F.A. Thirsk; Sgt. W.G. Blowfield; Inspector J.S. Walker; H. Piggott Esq ( C.C.) Sgt. F. Tonks; P.C. J.J. Whitehead; P.C. J.H. Rowley

Back in the ’Peeler some time ago there was a piece written by Jim Wilson who left Durham and joined The West Midlands. He mentioned about being posted to The Midland Links Motorway Police Group. Back in 73/74 on the local amalgamations I went onto The Mid Links from Sutton Coldfield Traffic. I have attached a photograph that was taken during this time when we attended a Range Rover course at Lode Lane, Solihull.I am 3rd from the right (what a smart young looking lad) We also had an Insp. from Durham who also transferred with the Durham lads and I think his name was Harry Ashworth. I’m sure Jim Wilson will recognise a few more faces. Tony Stainthorpe.

Letter from Alf Charlton Hello Alan, I was hugely interested in your article about Assistant Chief Constable John Wright, OBE, QPM published in the summer 2011 edition of the Durham Peeler. What an excellent publication.

As a Police Cadet who served in the Traffic Department at Police H.Q. in Court Lane, Durham from March 1945 to March 1947, I remember him clearly.

I would endorse the comment that he was a man of powerful physique and great bearing. I can picture him now, always immaculately turned out in uniform every day, an imposing figure whose every action and word seemed to be precise, clear and decisive. He was a man of immense presence and one who was looked upon as a “ father figure”.

I recall him going out to test and assess each driver who completed the first driving course in the County. I’m not sure how many passed and how many failed! Different to nowadays!

On one of the ten days of his tragically short retirement, I saw him driving his own car on the A1 at Nevilles Cross. He was the proud owner of a large red saloon car (a Morris, I think) which had the registration number CSF 888, registered where else but Edinburgh.

He was a gentleman a man who deserved much longer than the 10 days of retirement, much more. Alf Charlton

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Another Policeman’s Story Ken Thurlbeck Teesside and Cleveland Following changes to local government boundaries, on 1st April, 1968, the County Borough of Teesside came into being which in turn led to the birth of a new police force. Separate components of the Middlesbrough, North Riding of Yorkshire and Durham Constabularies were combined to form the new Teesside Constabulary with the remit to police the urban areas of Middlesbrough, Stockton, Thornaby, Billingham, Redcar and South Bank.

Initially its strength was just over 600 officers but this gradually increased to over 1,000.

My reasons for transferring to the new force have already been documented and at 2pm on 1st April, 1968 I reported for duty as a Foot Patrol Sergeant at Stockton. Most of that day was spent in acclimation and familiarisation with beat boundaries and, as the cupboards had been stripped bare by the outgoing occupants the night before, obtaining forms for use in accident reporting, crime reports occurrences, etc. My first actual tour of duty commenced at 7am the following day, when with Sgt. Bob Scott, we entered the parade room and were confronted by what I thought was the whole division…. This was attributable to an increased number of town beat officers and personnel from defunct former section stations and detached beats, now reporting to a central point.

Not having seen so many officers on duty at any one time and satisfying ourselves that they were actually our shift , or relief as it was called, it took us about two hours to find places to put them! They were a mixture of former Middlesbrough, Durham and North Yorkshire officers and understandably there was much confusion as to which procedures to follow, together with much wandering about, inside and outside the police station to find out where things were. To their credit, all officers tackled their new challenges with great enthusiasm and application to put those early difficulties behind them.

On a larger scale throughout the new force area, there were difficulties in imposing urban style policing on rural areas, often resulting in priorities. There was little time for in-depth preparation, but eventually, most of the early problems were overcome and a semblance of uniformity established. It would be naïve however to deny that the creation of the new force was not seen as a merger but more of an expansion and take over by the largest constituent force. The ensuing resentment and parochial attitudes on all sides took many years to overcome.

My spell at Stockton lasted just over two months until I was promoted to the rank of Inspector on 6th June. Prior to my promotion, I visited the Stores Department at North Ormesby to be measured for my new uniform. As a temporary measure I was fitted out with an ex- North Yorkshire cap, a pair of leather gloves and a handful of pips to replace the stripes on my current uniforms. I was also told that I would have to wearmy own white shirts until new stocks were obtained…

I was posted to patrol duties on 7th June and my first tour of duty 7am to 3pm. It would be hard to describe my feelings on viewing my station for the first time that sunny morning – most of it was obliterated by smoke from the nearby coke ovens and steelworks, but I felt much better after meeting my relief of mainly ex North Yorkshire officers with a style of policing similar to that which I had enjoyed in my previous force.

Introductions were necessarily shortened when I found a bundle of court files on my desk from the newly formed central prosecutions department, who I learned had already selected all the “guilty plea” files! Somehow I muddled through the day, the first of many that my colleagues and I would spend on court duties when working the 7am to 3pm shift.

In time, I managed to find my way around the sub division and the adjoining one at Redcar, which I occasionally covered and found little difficulty in settling into my new rank and responsibilities. My duties were not too strenuous and relatively problem free, for which I was grateful to the mature constables and sergeants on my relief.

Minor problems did arise at the busy ports of Eston Jetty and Teesport, which at that time did not have their own security force and therefore we were obliged to give regular attention to prevent large scale thefts and deter unauthorised persons from entering dock premises, particularly at night tome. #those duties brought a little light relief on several occasions when the local “ladies” would board recently arrived cargo ships to ply their trade.

In response to a request from the ship’s master or information from a watchman, we too would board the ship and arrest them for being there without the master’s permission – an offence against the Merchant Shipping

Act. It was a good training experience in boarding and searching ships and quite a challenge to discover their hiding places. The number of “ladies” was directly proportionate to the length of time the ship had been at sea, leading to a desperate crew being relieved of their frustrations and their money, in the shortest possible time! It was not uncommon to find up to eight females working their way through the crew’s quarters in a commendable short time. Had they not been interrupted, I’m sure they would have moved on for a repeat performance at the next ship in line.

My short time (pun not intended? Ed.) at South Bank came to an end in mid-November that year, when I was selected to attend a Marking Panel for the Police Promotion Examination. ‘Selected’ may not be the right word in my case. The memo asked for an Inspector with instructional experience be allowed to attend. In the margin were the words “who can we spare?” underneath which appeared two or three names with lines drawn through them. No such line appeared through my name, so in that sense I suppose I was selected. It involved spending four weeks with about 40 other officers, in a good class hotel at Scarborough marking the crime papers from the recently held promotion examinations, Constable to Sergeant. I was to attend many similar Marking Panels in the years to follow.

During my absence at Scarborough from South Bank to Force H.Q., Middlesbrough and on 15th December, 1968 I became the first Communications Officer. Once again my suitability for this post appears to have been based on a deep fund of ignorance for all things electrical and mechanical, but I learned later that my redeeming feature was an earlier attachment of nine months to Communications Department in my previous Force, albeit limited to clerical duties and washing the departmental Land Rover. Since no one else in the new Force could boast a comparable experience, I appeared to have been the most qualified for the post.

On arrival at Force H.Q., I met the Deputy Chief Constable, Bill Ashton, who had a special interest in Traffic Communications due to his previous experience in Manchester City Police. He took me under his wing, kept me on my toes and I will always be grateful for his profound influence on my career development over the next few years. His brief to me was to bring the new force up to date to meet its current demands and then we would look at the future. For good measure, he threw in that I would be responsible for the day to day running of the Information Room and also appointed the first Press Liaison Officer! I found myself in the unique position of reporting to the Deputy Chief Constable on matters involving communications and press liaison but directly to the Assistant Chief Constable (Operations) in respect of operational matters in the Information Room.

Initially I was a one man band and my new duties very demanding and time consuming. My Press Liaison role continually interrupted my other duties to answer or find answers to press queries. There was also a conflict of interests when arranging emergency communications at serious incident scenes and at the same time expected to deal with members of the press, local radio and T.V. Thankfully after 18 months, the situation was resolved by the appointment of a full time Press Liaison Officer who developed media relationships rather than being the mere focal point for press enquiries that I had been.

Good day Mr. Watson I hope you are well. We moved to Cyprus in January 2005 and have enjoyed a wonderful time on this island. Unfortunately Val is struggling at the moment with ill health.

We have had quite a few visitors in our time here, who have enjoyed the different lifestyle we have out here.I read with great interest the ‘Durham Peeler’ magazine and also items on the website. I am delighted to see new names appearing on the Committee list, although I am sure some are older than I, not to mention any names in particular.

We have a Police Society here in Cyprus. It is known as CARPO (Cyprus Association of Retired Police Officers) and this year ’for my sins’. I am chairman of the Association. It only lasts a year and I shall be removed from office in June next year. We have nearly 100 members, including wives/partners and meet 4/5 times a year for a very ‘laid back’ lunch and meeting. Any matters of interest are discussed and part of the protocol is that rank is never discussed. We have too much going on to be worried about that!! Our Hon Sec, an ex. Lancs. officer is keen to try and swell our membership and has contacted NARPO regarding a mention in the magazine.

If there is anyone considering moving to the island or visiting on holiday I would be more than happy to welcome them to Cyprus and if their visit fell within one of our meeting dates, they would be more than welcome to attend. Regards to all up there, keep up the good work Ray Bradley Note from Alan Watson: Since receipt of this cheery letter, Ray’s wife, Val. died in early August, 2011. Our deepest sympathy and

condolences were extended to Ray and family. Several of the Durham NARPO Committee and ex. colleagues in the Traffic Department attended the funeral in support of Ray. He has returned to Cyprus where he will continue to be domiciled

Student Instructors Course, Newby Wiske 28th Dec. 1965 – 5th Feb. 1966 (photo Ken Thurlbeck)

Back row l – r: Sgt. G. Walker, Durham; Sgt. A. Owen, Northumberland; Sgt. A. Todd, Gateshead; Sgt. K. Thurlbeck, Durham; Sgt. N. Weatherley, Northumberland; Sgt. T. Tate, Durham.

Front row l – r: Sgt. B. Rutherford, Durham; W/Sgt.Grieveson, Middlesbrough; Inspector J. Norris, Durham (Course Director); C/Supt. W. Ord (Commandant); Insp. A. Dawkins, Durham; Sgt. E. Hamilton, York City; Sgt M. McNulty, Middlesbrough.

Syndicate 998.Plawsworth, 1951.(photo Ken Thurlbeck)

(Naming Durham Officers only) Back row: Don Smith, Dennis Robinson,Harold Coulson.

Centre row: Irving Machell, Eric McGovern, (Unknown?), Alan Smith, Ted Lee. Front row: Alf Parish, Les Matthews, Colin Thackeray, Sgt. H. Clarke, Sid Welsby, Ken Thurlbeck, Cliff Walker

Constables’ Refresher Course, Harperley Hall circa 1948/49. (photo. Ken Thurlbeck) (photo appears also in durhamnarpo.com web pages) I remember many faces but unfortunately names escape me. Those I remember are: Middle Row: 1st left, the Nattrass brothers, 3rd left Cecil Crawford, 3rd. right George Cameron, 2nd right- ?Elwood.

Front Row - second left Ray Smith, 4th, 5th & 6th are staff members Jim McNab, Roy Atkinson (Commandant), George Morecambe, extreme right Jack Bogan, Seated: Cadets: Stan Husband and Ken Thurlbeck (Staff).

Jack Fidiam to the rescue!

Back row: extreme right R.V. Robinson: (Retired Heworth Colliery, Felling–died 3 years ago) Middle row: 2nd left: Fred Harness; 2nd from right-J.A.T.B.E. Elwood – Retired at Darlington.

Front Row: 1st left: Arthur Harness (brother of Fred); 3rd from right Bill Scrowther??? 2nd right: George Cowie??

Hello Alan, Hope you don’t suffer a heart attack or any other unwanted illness by receiving a message from me. I’ve been going to write to thank you for the funny stories you send me but somehow I’ve never found the time to do so. However, after reading the latest issue of the “Peeler” I’ve managed to find the strength to stagger upstairs and switch on my “magic machine”. In the summer issue of the Durham Peeler you ask for information re the photograph showing two black Africans “witnessing” the signing of a document. The two Africans are two Kenyan Police District Commissioners who were on a visit to Durham County Constabulary in the early 1960’s. I got to know these two officers quite well while they were staying at Harperley Hall.

Their names are,Thomas Titus OkadoOgarya (back row) and Jomo?

(I forget his other names). Thomas is actually a Tanganikan but had to drop the surname of Ogarya because it was his tribal name and he wasn’t allowed to use it in Kenya. (Shades of sectarianism among races even in those days, don’t you think? I hope the information about the two Kenyan Policemen is of use to you. The only other information about these two men I can recall is that each of the “Districts” they were responsible for covered an area larger than the whole of Northumbria, Durham and North Yorkshire Police Areas and the number of Policemen they had under their command at any one time was between 90 and 120 men.

I really enjoy reading the Durham Peeler and the photographs of those good old days gone by, bring back so many memories of the people I served with. Thanks again for the funny stories, just love them.

Give my regards to Susan. Take care of each other and smile at all those people you don’t like as it will make them think that you know something about them that they don’t want you to know.

Brian Snaith.

Here’s one to make you smile, Brian. I’ve called it “Sign of the times – INFLATION! ”

Michelangelo’s Statue of David before and after a 2 year loan to the United States.

Top This For a Speeding Ticket – you may have seen it before but it is priceless. Reported on the Internet.

Two British traffic patrol officers from North Berwick, east of Edinburgh, were involved in an unusual incident whilst checking for speeding motorists on the A1 Great North Road.

One of the officers used a hand-held radar device to check the speed of an vehicle approaching over the crest of a Hill. He was more than surprised when the speed was recorded at over 300 mph. The machine then stopped working and the officers were unable to reset it. The radar had in fact locked on to a NATO Tornado fighter jet over the North Sea whilst engaged in a low flying exercise over the Borders district.

The Chief Constable fired off a stiff letter of complaint to the RAF Liaison Office.

Back came the reply in true laconic RAF style. “Thank you for your message, which allows us to complete the file on this

incident. You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Tornado had automatically locked on to your ‘hostile radar equipment’ and sent a jamming signal back to it. Furthermore, the Sidewinder air to ground missiles aboard the fully armed aircraft had also locked on to the target. Fortunately, the Dutch pilot flying the Tornado responded to the missile status alert and was able to override the automatic protection!”

Back Home Again by Fred Farley

Back Home Again is the title of one of my favourite John Denver songs. It tells the story of someone who has been out on the road for long periods of time and describes just how good it is to be ‘back home again’. Well, for me, although I love Burma, the people, their way of life and the opportunity to serve God by helping the poor, it’s still good to be back home again, even for short periods of time. I reckon I have clocked up almost one million miles by air and vehicular transport since my first stay here back in 2001….

There is little doubt that my acquired life skills have enabled me to meet and marry Ma Lay and together, to serve to minister to the needs of the poor and the needy, whilst preparing our 64 disadvantaged kids to face the world with confidence and the skills they will so badly need when facing and surviving in the world without our support. I thank God for my 73 years to date and for every day for my health, strength and the privilege of serving in our ministry.

Our children are our family and we prepare them according to their individual abilities. The non-academics are given a practical foundation and knowledge in painting and decorating, the skill of basic carpentry so that they are able to use tools effectively when building or manufacturing furniture. We also have knitting and sewing machines to train those practically inclined. They already know the fundamentals of growing garden produce and can cultivate the paddy fields, growing wheat and rice and most can even handle the buffalo.

We do have academic success too, many have left us with sufficient education to become leaders in their own villages, where they work with the community and for the church. Those who are academically smart continue their education and are genuinely grateful for the wonderful sponsorship received in recent years to help their further advancement.

At the moment we have one girl who is reading for her Master’s degree at the Myanmar Institute of Theology, whilst two others are attending the Eastern Institute in Yangon. One of these girls is taking a correspondence course in English Major at Mandalay University, whilst her boyfriend is attending the British Council Course in Yangon to improve his English to enable him to apply for a Civil Engineering degree course at a university in Thailand. Two of our students have just passed their high school examinations and looking forward to advancing their academic life. Next year, ten more of our students will take the same examinations–without sponsorship, this could not be possible.

Children come to us from near and far, scantily clad, with only the clothes on their backs. Their parents have passed away or they have only one parent who cannot support them or from very poor families who long for their children to be educated and escape the poverty trap. After a short period of time with us, I become a grandfather, father, an uncle or simply a friend to each of them. Yes, I do shed a tear for them and sometimes I get angry! They have to be disciplined at times, whilst I laugh with them, have fun with them, but most of all I have the opportunity to share my love with them.

These things are my greatest inspirations as it serves as the very fuel I need to generate the motivation and determination to help these children. I teach them English songs, Christmas carols and Hymns. I am Santa Claus and joint guardian. I also write songs for them and listen as they progress in the English language, gently helping them with their pronunciation.

We have now acquired a number of musical instruments, drums and tambourines, maracas and cymbals. I have my own microphones and P.A. equipment and collectively, we can entertain ourselves and visitors. Music has been my mainstay throughout my life and I have many very happy memories of my life whilst serving in the Police force, including reminiscences of our musical exploits at Darlington Police Station and the Civic Theatre.

Many readers have shared those memories and can recall the pleasure and success that we shared in those happy days-when we were allowed the luxury of a police welfare club.

Back in Myanmar, our priorities are: to develop our food programme further, education tuition, helping those in desperate need, people whose crops have failed due to climate change, medicines and medical aid for the sick.

Our survival here is through the investment in pigs. At the moment we have sixteen of them, small, medium and large.

Up to a few months ago we had twenty two, one of which was pregnant with at least 8 piglets but a national outbreak of swine fever devastated our stocks. Thanks to Ma Lay’s sister and medical experience with hypodermic needle inoculation, we have maximised the preventative treatment which has helped to minimize our livestock losses. Our stock of pigs not only provide pork and piglets to sell, the by- products, (dung) saves us about 600 U.S. dollars per year in capturing the methane gas used for cooking and heating. Thanks to sponsorship, we have been able to build a gasometer, (a miniature of those we used to see in towns and cities during the coal mining years). We also use the gas to drive our gas converted generator to produce our own electricity, quite unique in this part of the world. After the methane has been extracted, the bio residue provides us with invaluable fertilizer for the crops.

We have two and a half acres of paddy field producing enough rice to sustain our communities for five months. In addition we now grow wheat and half an acre field of vegetables and the introduction of fertilizers has improved the yield by a third, twice the size and much more flavoursome than ever before.

Ma Lay’s ministry of the Christian Lisu Church, stretches well beyond the borders of our Mandalay Division, endeavouring to meet the many demands of the people. A priority at the moment is the small village of Kin Chaud, which is west of Mogok, (an area from which foreigners are prohibited) has no electricity. A team of outside workers, together with the villagers themselves, will be working round the clock for approximately 1,000 days digging a trench from the jungle to the village, diverting water and simulating a waterfall force to produce hydro-electricity. It will cost 1.5 thousand U.S. dollars to provide the generator and the cabling to complete this ambitious project.

Another village student centre, houses 33 poor children – some of whom have travelled more than one hundred miles to seek shelter and education. Once again they are desperate for water for cooking, washing, sanitation and general needs.

There is a well for drawing water but because of the sand belt surrounding the area they cannot draw sufficient quantities for their ever growing needs, even in the rainy season. The solution lies in the drilling of a 100 feet borehole to reach the bedrock,but the costs are in excess of one thousand U.S. dollars. They live in poorly constructed bamboo dwellings and walk several miles to the river to bathe and wash their clothes. The irony is that they have ample surrounding land and their dream ultimately is to build a substantial student centre with acceptable sanitary facilities.

Thank you for publishing the article “Message From Myanmar” in the last issue of the Durham Peeler, featuring Matt Hutchinson and the Sikh gentleman Sarwind Singh. Matt has always been an inspiration to me and reflecting on his exceptionally interesting and good life makes me feel very happy and content. I have many stories to tell, some happy and some sad, but thank God, mostly successful. I am alive and kicking, my health is good, a hard working and loving wife and a mission to continue out here until I can do no more.

Please let me use this time of writing to say thank you to those who have so generously helped me in the past-without Their help we could never have established the ministry that we now have here. You have been instrumental in laying the very foundations on which we have built this successful ministry of which I am so proud and privileged to serve.

Dear All

(Retirees reunited)

It is with sadness that I will not be able to join you all this year, I will be part way through a sponsored cycle ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End for my charity. Please give my regards to all and my thanks and admiration to the Chief and his top team for thinking of us old folk. We are their best advocates if they treat us well!!

Regards George Hedges

LOOKING BACK. Things That Made Me Smile. Tony Broughton My first posting was Darlington Sub Division, where I lived in Harewood House hostel with all the other single probationers. Our meals very quickly became THE topic of our moans and groans. The evening meal for instance was usually chips with ‘something’– not very imaginative, tasty, tempting and most certainly not palatable. In fact on many occasions, it remained a horror story on a plate! In particular, we had an issue with one of the cooks who had ‘this thing’ about half cooking large batches of chips before leaving them swimming in fat or oil until we came for our meals, whereupon she would ‘finish them off’. They were the greasiest and disgusting chips ever and despite regular complaints to Miss Rewcastle, the hostel manager, nothing was ever done about it.

Essentially, we had to ‘like it or lump it’!

Being a group of like minded coppers, we agreed to make a stand and have a food strike! Well why not? Healthy eating may not have been in vogue then, but we were not prepared to eat the low quality offerings at the hostel.

Instead, we existed on takeaways, which as you would appreciate, soon became quite an expensive self denial but to our minds, well worth the protest Our culinary revolution very quickly reached the ears of our Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Fred English, who clearly decided that “mutiny” was not acceptable in a disciplined service such as ours. Each shift was arched into his office to sort the matter out. At last it was the day that “D” shift officers were standing to attention before him. As we aired our grievances, one of the aggrieved officers (who is still serving and therefore I should not name) rocked back on his feet slightly , making contact with the display cabinet which housed all the silver plates and cups from long gone sporting events. Bang! CRASH! The whole lot of trophies fell over with that distinctive metallic racket! We all desperately tried to stifle our amusement at the unforeseen and unplanned “clanger” and even Fred English could be seen to be struggling not to laugh.

They say every dog has its day, but our growling never really resolved , although we did see a smidgeon of improvement in the ensuing months – but there again, memories often mellow-in time.

Nag, Nag, Nag! (risque but funny) (from the internet)

An attorney arrived home late, after a very tough day trying to get a stay of execution. His last minute plea for clemency to the governor had failed and he was feeling worn out and depressed.

As soon as he walked through the door at home, his wife started on him about, “What time of night to be getting home is this? Where have you been? Dinner is cold and I'm not reheating it” ……. and on and on and on.

Too shattered to play his usual role in this familiar ritual, he poured himself a shot of whisky and headed off for a long hot soak in the bathtub, pursued by the predictable sarcastic remarks as he dragged himself up the stairs.

While he was in the bath, the phone rang - the wife answered and was told that her husband's client, James Wright, had been granted a stay of execution. Wright would not be hanged tonight.

Finally realizing what a terrible day he must have had, she decided to go upstairs and give him the good news..

As she opened the bathroom door, she was greeted by the sight of her husband, bent over naked, drying his legs and feet. 'They're not hanging Wright tonight!' she said.

He whirled around and screamed, 'FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WOMAN, DON'T YOU EVER STOP?!'

A (Conducted) Journey through South African History by George Hartley I attended the Durham Constabulary Retirees Reunion on Sunday, 12th June, 2011. Thanks to the Chief Constable, Senior Officers, the Strategic Management team, ably assisted by the Chairman and committee members of our Branch of N.A.R.P.O. I met many old friends and ex-colleagues and had a great afternoon. I would like to make particular mention of one elderly lady, Freda Brown, the widow of Douglas Brown, who I first met when he was an Inspector at Newby Wiske in 1959. Mrs. Brown asked me if I was the person who wrote those stories about Africa, which she liked, because as a young person she had not been able to travel abroad. “Well never mind Freda, this story is written especially for you. So pack a bag, climb aboard the ‘Backie’, drink your beer and chew some ‘Biltong’ (cured meat- a speciality of S.A.), as we travel through South Africa for a few days”.

Our journey will start in the Orange Free State town of Ladybrand, named after Lady Catherine Brand, mother of President Brand of the Orange Free State Republic. It was founded in 1867 and I love the old sandstone buildings and those very wide streets which are typical of South African towns. Its claim to fame is that the sandstone for the UNION BUILDINGS at Pretoria, came from Landybrand. We will travel south on Route 26, keeping the Maloti/ Drakensberg Mountains and the Caledon River (named after Lord Caledon c.1811) on our left. The river is the border between South Africa and Lesotho.

We pass the town of Hobhouse, named after Emily Hobhouse, an English Lady who came to South Africa to help the Boer women and children in the concentration camps during the Boer War 1899 – 1902. The next town(or what is left of it) is Wepener on the banks of Jammersbergspruit and named after Louw Wepener who was killed in 1865 whilst trying to storm Moshweshwe’s stronghold in the Free State’s second war against the Basothoand the scene of many battles and skirmishes during the 19th Century. There is a nice little church but some of the houses have deteriorated to ruins, leaving only the foundation bases.

The river has flooded and the Afrikaaners have dismantled the housesand rebuilt them elsewhere because they don’t want to live in houses that were occupied by the white people!

On we go to Zastron, a small settlement, where we can stay at a rambling house which belongs to Thako Kruger. In English, Thako is the maker of fine furniture and a collector of Boer War antiques. Never have I seen a more meticulously laid out and preserved collection and only Duggie McMasters Blockhouse at Ladysmith or Colin Steyn’s cellar at Bloemfontein provide more artefacts. On we go through Rouxville (named after the Boer War General Roux who was also a Church Minister…)

We leave the Orange Free State and cross the border into the Eastern Cape at Aliwal North- an Indian name in honour of a battle fought by General Harry Smith when he was serving in the Sub Continent. It still has a British Blockhouse of the same pattern as the one on the ModderRiver and adjacent to it is a very well kept British military cemetery with the names of the men and their regiments still legible. The next town we come to is Burgersdorp, a very smart town with beautiful houses and various monuments, including an old British Blockhouse high above the northern entrance to the town. General Lord Kitchener, (much loved by Corporal Jones of Dad’s Army) thought he could build these Blockhouses all over South Africa, string barbed wire between them and hoped to contain the Boers into small areas. Needless to say, it didn’t work in that vast country.

Now I know I should not get political, but whilst staying at Burgersdorp, I read in the Stormberg Gazette that the people of that town are complaining of neglect and poor management of their municipality. They pay huge taxes to a council headed by the Mayor, Mr. Xolile Ka Solani, aided by his Municipal Manager, Mr. Momwabisi Nlogla (salary of 500,000 Rand/year) which spends 52% of the budget on salaries! Already overspent by 2,000,000 Rand, the white taxpayers are not able to question the council as the dialogue at the meetings are exclusively spoken in XHOSA! We move to a fabulous old town with the widest streets ever, called Molteno. It has a small museum and library with many artefacts and old books, particularly old Bibles. Continuing south to Sterkstromthe lady in the museum here is called ‘Topsy’, a big busty Vrouw, very professional and she describes the building and the history of everything housed there. We press on to Queenstown which I presume to be named after Queen Anne as there is a King William’s Town further south, but our route lies due west to Cradock on a minor twisting and turning road through the Stromberg mountain passes. The weather has turned to rainclouds below the mountain peaks, yet the sun is still orange and a red sunset with a strangely coloured blue sky and with a foggy mist clinging to the mountain sides, giving the illusion that the mountains are on fire. A memorable sight.

At Cradock we can stay at the Shalom Guest Housewhere an old Jewish lady knows exactly how to fry my eggs so I can dip my ‘soldiers’ and I get too much bacon and Boerwurst (sausage) but I manage it – you know me! Cradock has a lovely church with beautiful Jacaranda trees in full blue bloom. It is the home town of Olive Shreiner who wrote “The Story of an African Farm”which has been made into a film starring Richard E. Grantfilmed on location at nearby Graff Reinett and gives an insight into this part of the country. We stop here a while before starting our journey north.

More next time. Hope you have enjoyed your tour so far George Hartley

WILLING? ARE YOU?

by Michael McGarry. Principal Solicitor, McGarry & Co.

As we get older, inevitably our minds turn to who will benefit either immediately or in the longer term from our estates when we die.

Unfortunately many of us fail to put into place proper arrangements to ensure that our nearest and dearest are looked after. This often causes anxiety and sadness, family fall outs and even hardship. Of course the sensible thing to do is to get on and make your Will whilst you are able, so that your family know your wishes and are caused a little less trouble I am a Solicitor and practised in the field of Wills, Probate, Tax, Trusts and Powers of Attorney and have been for in excess of twenty years. During that time all too often I see the results of the death of a family member where a Will has not been made or there has been a failure to update an old Will; or the deceased has made a Will which, for one reason or another, has not put in place the provisions which they thought were to be in place.

There are many reasons why we don’t make a Will, and in no particular order a few of these are the following:

Making a Will tempts fate!!

Making a Will is expensive.

People do not wish to think about their mortality.

I can say from experience only a tiny fraction of my Clients over the years have died shortly after making a Will and in these cases that has happened because I have been called to a hospital, hospice or nursing home where the person knew they had a limited time left and wanted to make a Will or make changes to their existing Will (known in the trade as a “Death Bed Will”).

On the issue of cost, you get what you pay for, but at the cost of £100.00 to £150.00 for a Will or £150.00 to £200.00 for two Wills, (depending upon the complexity and less in some cases) is that not better than the alternative of the heart ache and possible financial constraints which are put on those you leave, and indeed the additional costs which invariably are involved in dealing with estates which are not left in order.

Finally, it is fact that we are all going to die sooner or later, and therefore you cannot pretend that you are immortal!

If you die without a Will you are “Intestate”. The law then decides how your estate is passed on. This is usually contrary to what most people would want. If no close relatives are found, your estate will pass to the Government (Crown).

WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER In thinking about making a Will you need to consider the following: 1.

Executors Who would you like to entrust with the administration of your estate - “Executors”. This seems a very simple question, but is not always as easy as it looks at first glance. I would always recommend that unless circumstances are against you, that you should involve a member of your family or a close family friend to act as one of your Executors. They will have knowledge of your family, the personalities and needs of your beneficiaries. Beneficiaries can be Executors, and this therefore need not rule them out, however, you should be careful in the event that an Executor who is a beneficiary might wittingly or unwittingly prefer themselves to another beneficiary which in itself can cause all sorts of trouble. You can also appoint professionals such as Solicitors, Accountants, or Banks. All professionals will charge for acting as an Executor and whilst this is the case, and whilst I would never push the appointment of a professional as an Executor, sometimes it is desirable to have a professional as an Executor. The professional can act as an honest broker between the family (or beneficiaries) and can ensure that administration is conducted in the best interests of all the beneficiaries. Although there are always bad apples in any barrel, powers to bring a professional Executor to account in many respects can more easily be used than the remedies against a wayward nonprofessional Executor.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Specific Cash Gifts For example, “.........I GIVE the sum of £500.00 to each Grandchild (or to specified individuals) .

Specific Gifts For example, “.........I GIVE my painting of Durham Castle to my neighbour, Fred Smith”.............

Specific Property Gifts For example, “............I GIVE my house known as “Dunroman”, Durham to my son JOHN...........

Residue (What if Left) This might pass simply outright to your spouse or to a child or children in equal shares or be divided between other relatives or charities.

Alternatively it may be appropriate for a trust to be put in place. For example provision may be made to allow your surviving spouse or partner to occupy the family home for the remainder of his or her lifetime and then after the surviving spouse or partner’s death for the property to pass to children or other Beneficiaries. This is often quite useful when looking at ensuring that assets do pass from your estate to particular beneficiaries and to protect them so far as you can from attack by the state when looking to your estate to pay care home fees and the like or when dealing with estates when two families are involved, after a second marriage.

IMPORTANT NOTE It has been thought that within England and Wales, people making Wills have had, what is called, absolute testamentary freedom which means that you can leave your estate to whoever you wish. Whilst that is to a large extent very true, we are

still bound by the provisions of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 which gives power to the Courts, after your death, to make provision for those persons for whom you have not made appropriate financial provision.

This includes not only your surviving spouse or partner, but also children and even unrelated third parties, where the Courts conclude that you have not made appropriate provision. These are factors which you need to consider before making your Will.

There are various tests the Courts use depending upon your relationship to the person seeking greater provision.

6.

Non Financial Provisions Your Will can also deal with non-financial matters, for example who will look after your pets, or if you wish parts of your body for transplantation purposes (although a Donor Card is much better) funeral arrangements and make any final statements which you wish to make provided these are not derogatory.

OTHER REASONS Wills can be used for reasons other than simply ensuring that your estate goes ultimately where you want it. They can be used to assist with planning in respect of care home costs, after the first death, in a marriage or civil partnership or long term relationship and also to assist with Inheritance Tax planning. That said, your main reasons for making a Will and any provisions contained in that Will should never be solely for the benefit of either nursing home or care home planning or Inheritance Tax mitigation. These are things which can be looked at alongside your Will and often significant savings can be incorporated as a result of structuring a Will and other Estate Planning in an appropriate way.

PROBLEM WILLS It is important that when making a Will you take proper advice. You can obtain a pro-forma Will from the Post Office and certain other Stationary shops and sometimes these work perfectly well. However, what are known as “home made” Wills, provide jobs themselves for Solicitors, because quite often the wording of the added provisions to the Wills have not been incorporated in a way which is clear when administrating the estate, (although they were probably clear to the person having made the Will). It is unfortunate also that they quite often leave out significant portions of an estate and therefore the Will may deal with certain assets, but not with other assets, giving rise to what is known as “a partial intestacy”. Therefore your Executors or the people who are administering your estate, then have to deal with the estate partly in accordance with the Will and partly relying upon the law. Also often these are not correctly signed and witnessed.

I would recommend that you see a Solicitor to make a Will (as you might expect), but not all Solicitors are able to give all and proper advice regarding the preparation of the Will. I would not deal with a Client who had been charged with a criminal offence and needs representation and many Solicitors who deal with other fields of work would struggle with Wills, Estate Planning, Powers of Attorney and the like. I would recommend that you seek out a Solicitor who is either a Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner with the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (Tel: 020 7340 0500) or is a member of Solicitors for the Elderly (Tel: 0844 567 6173) or via their websites, both which organisations have stringent membership criteria and continual updating to ensure that their members know what they are doing. Importantly, Solicitors have significant Professional Indemnity Insurance so that in the event that there is a problem professionally with the Will that has been drawn by a Solicitor, compensation may be obtained.

Unfortunately, there is a whole industry around unregulated Will writing these days and there are a number of Will writing companies who entice people to make Wills on the basis of a very small fee for the preparation of a Will - often £25.00 plus VAT - it will be appreciated that their overheads are very limited not least because they have no Professional Indemnity Insurance. Therefore if anything goes wrong, there is no comeback or insurance against which to claim, nonetheless, despite offering what appears to be extremely attractive rates. I have never come across a fee charged at that level! My advice - make a Will.

Finally, it is always useful if you keep a list somewhere safe which sets out details of your assets (savings) any stocks and shares, insurances and the like with details of account numbers, bond numbers and full names and addresses. This helps immeasurably in the days and weeks after death when loved ones are invariably in something of a state.

Death affects us all! If you care about your loved ones take some of the worry and strain off their shoulders by making provision for the management of your affairs and for the division and administration of your estate.

M. B. McGarry Solicitor, Principal McGarry & Co 21 Galgate Barnard Castle DL12 8EQ Tel: 01833 600160 e-mail : office@mbmcgarry.co.uk

A PERFECT HERITAGE by Ken Fisher On the 1st November 1969 my household effects were unceremoniously taken off the removal van in Dene View, East Stanley. There is no need to compare my C type house with the new property I had left in Hertfordshire as anyone reading this will have lived in a similar or worse Police property during their police service. There were four Police houses together, my neighbours being Ray Greaves, Bill Hodgson and George Hartley. Another sharp shock followed on my first day of duty when I found myself with Harry Wise throwing salt onto Barn Hill bank, helping the traffic get into town, after a very sharp frost. Another eye opener was trading my Police issue boots for a pair of Wellingtons and discovering that the patrol vehicles were little mini vans.

However, this writing is not about me or my police service, I want to write about Beamish Museum and how many of its buildings and exhibits have crossed my path during my life. By the time I had arrived in Stanley the plans to establish the Museum were in their early stages and the vision of Mr Frank Atkinson the founder was still sometime away from coming to fruition. Mr Atkinson had realised that the history of the North East was fading and unless something substantial was done to preserve it little would be retained of our Mining, Commercial and Industrial heritage. So a perfect location in a magnificent rural setting was found and established just to the East of Stanley.

I was brought up in the small mining village of Hetton-le-Hole and when I was a young boy I took a job as a paperboy. My employer was a Mrs McBride who cooked a pair of kippers in a frying pan on a small gas ring on the shop counter every morning. I delivered my papers, most of which were Daily Heralds and Northern Echo’s to many miners’ houses situated in back to back streets with outside toilets and coalhouses down the yard and rarely a lock on any door. On a Sunday my paper round varied slightly to take in extra streets and one of them was FRANCIS STREET. I could never have imagined that nearly sixty years later I would find the very same FRANCIS STREET reproduced brick by brick in the Colliery area of the Beamish Museum.

Back in Stanley it did not take us long to settle in and to establish the attendance of our two children Deborah and Nigel at the local school at East Stanley. The school was locally known as the tin school, I have no idea why. It was obvious from its fixtures and fittings that it was well past its best and that it was still immersed in the Victorian age for which it was built. It eventually became a fine acquisition for Beamish and it is now reproduced within the Colliery area of the Museum. The school still retains its historic magic from the ancient classrooms and cloakrooms to the playground games of booling the metal hoop, hitchy dabber and skipping that have been carried forward from generations ago. I have enjoyed the many visits I have made to the school sometimes within my two grown up children and happily handing on the heritage to my grandchildren.

When I left school in 1955 I was accepted as an apprentice electrician for the No2 Area National Coal Board. I was to spend the next seven years working mostly underground at the coalface of Elemore Colliery in Easington Lane. There is a fine working colliery, engine house and pit head at Beamish and a drift mine that are a constant reminder of my early working years. On the 16th February 1909 at the West Pit, Stanley 168 men and boys died in an underground gas explosion. My Grandfather and many of his fellow miners walked from Hetton-le-Hole to Stanley an eighteen mile round trip to attend the funerals and to pay their respects. The story of the explosion is graphically illustrated in words and photographs within the new pit lamp cabin in the Museum.

Another huge acquisition was the securing of the Annfield Plain Cooperative Society a building that had stood in a central position in the village of the same name for dozens of years. I used to check the property on nightshift when I drove around in my mini van.

It had always been a popular haunt for burglars from far and wide. The store functioned as a multi shopping area and housed several different departments under one roof. I remember re visiting it on its new site in the Town at the museum and to my astonishment there on the shelf was a pair of pigskin football boots identical to the ones I used to wear playing football for the school team. I never had a big toe nail on either foot in those days as the constant jarring of the hard toecaps did the damage. Next to the boots was the old leather T ball which when wet was so heavy that to head it was asking for concussion or worse.

Finally I must not forget about the trams. My father came back from the war in 1945 and not long afterwards we became staunch supporters of Sunderland A.F.C. The old steam train used to pull into Hetton Station and takes us via Murton and Seaham into the town. Fawcett Street was a sea of flat caps as hundreds of men made their way over Wearmouth Bridge towards Roker Park. There was also the trams clicking and sparking the overhead electric wires and clanging there way to many destinations. The outside advertising hoardings asked us to Shop at Binns and to buy the Sunderland Echo. We occasionally managed to board a tram, they were all invariably full on match days, but even a short ride on one was a thrill. This unique experience can be enjoyed once more at Beamish where a perimeter track runs the full 2.8 miles around the circumference with the old trams from Sunderland and Sheffield making the trips.

Mr Atkinson with his vision and determination has secured the historic future of our native North East for posterity, while providing a comprehensive and worthwhile heritage for our children and grandchildren for future generations. Perhaps above all of that and for me personally I am proud to have been part of that generation.

Ken Fisher

Syndicate 221B(photo Victor Brown) Only six Durham County officers. back Row . 1st left-Harry Clark. 2ndleft- ??; Right- Joe Alderson second Row. 1st left-Victor Brown, 4th left- Billy Weddle. frontRow. 1st left-? Souter.

The remainder were from Hull City, York City, Sunderland Borough, Newcastle City, North Riding and Middlesbrough

Can You Help?

P.C. Arthur Charlton (1482) Catherine Storey wrote: My Grandfather was P.C. Arthur Charlton (1482) in the Durham Constabulary from 1963 – 1993 in the Dog Section. I am trying to find any pictures of him and his working dogs as I am keen to retrieve them.

He is unaware of my research but I am sure he would be thrilled if any archive material can be found. I occasionally read the NARPO blog and noticed you constantly have old photographs of various Police Officers. Any help would be greatly appreciated.If anyone can loan relevant photographs, Please forward them to the Editor Alan Watson in the first instance and copies will be forwarded to Catherine and the originals returned by return of post.

Colin Campbell (born 1880) Sandra Capes is trying to trace information about her grandfather, Colin Campbell who was born in 1880 and enlisted in the police in Glasgow. Little else is known of him except that records show that he married in 1907 at the Police Station in Jarrow. He apparently moved to Hebburn and later Stockton on Tees where he retired (date not known). Any information to the Editor, please.

Best

speeding excuse EVER!

When asked by a young patrol officer “Do you know you were speeding?”

This 83-year-old woman gave the young officer an ear to ear smile and stated: “Yes, but .... I had to get there before I forgot where I was going.”

The officer put his ticket book away and bid her good day.

Makes perfectly good sense to me.

Syndicate 299B Newby Wiske Feb – April, 1967 Durham Officers only: back row: 2nd left. Derek Rodgers; 2nd from right Barry Wood; far right Colin Rutherford middle row: 3rd left Geoff Perry. end right Gordon Wilson front row seated centre:.Instructor. Sergeant Jack Goldsborough

Syndicate 287B Newby Wiske February to April 1965

Obituaries 14th May, 2011 to 14th October, 2011 Margaret Anderson

aged 78 years

died 18th May 2011.

Croxdale

Valerie Harding

aged 69 years

died

17th May, 2011

Durham

Hugh Geddes

aged 84 years

died

4th June, 2011

Durham

Vince Myhan

aged 45 years

died

8th June, 2011

Darlington

Paul D. Tulloch

aged 52 years

died

7th June, 2011

Durham

Alan C. Thompson

aged 58 years

died 12th June, 2011

Crook

John G.(Joe)Baker

aged 55 years

died

25th June, 2011

Trimdon Village

Alex Allan Rennie (nee Milburn)

aged 94 years

died

8th July, 2011

Worcestershire

Norah Mackay

aged 83 years

died

10th August, 2011

Hartlepool

Marshall J. Dodds

aged 74 years

died 3rd September, 2011

Morpeth

Thomas F. Ord

aged 93 years

died

4th September, 2011

Darlington

Richard Jackson

aged 91 years

died

8th September, 2011

Whitby

Norman Smith

aged 83 years

died

26th September, 2011

Sunderland

Thomas Robinson

aged 89 years

died

25th. September, 2011 Cambridge (ex. Darlington)

Donald Scott

aged 77 years

died

4th October, 2011

Whickham

GeorgeW’m Lear

aged 76 years

died

14th October, 2011

Blyth

George Walker

aged 87 years

died

11th October, 2011

Grimsby

A POLICEMAN’S LOT

I have been where you fear to be I have seen what you fear to see I have done what you fear to do All these things I have done for you I am the man you lean upon The man you cast your scorn upon The man you bring your troubles to All these men I have been for you

Recognising a Stroke

The man you ask to stand apart The man you feel should have no heart The man you call the man in blue But I’m just a man like you

T * Ask person to TALK & Speak simple sentence

And through the years I’ve come to be That I am not what you ask of me So take this badge, take this gun Will you take it? Will anyone?

T * “Stick out your tongue”. If tongue is ‘crooked’ or

And when you watch a person die And hear the battered baby cry Then do you think that you can be All these things you ask of me? (poem courtesy Peter Thompson)

S

* Ask the individual to SMILE

R * Ask person to raise both arms Goes to one side or other, could indicate a Stroke.

If person has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks – Call emergency number immediately & describe symptoms

Retirees ReuniTED

Social Afternoon Sunday, 12th June, 2011 at H.Q. Aykley Heads, Durham Last year, thanks to the combined efforts of Durham Constabulary Executive and their Staff working in close co-operation with the Durham NARPO Officers, Alan Watson, Barry & Angie Crawford and Colin Appleby, all pensioners were invited to attend the first, spectacular combined social function where ALL police and Support Staff retirees were able to come together for a great social occasion (Read about it in our archives).

On Sunday, 12th June, 2011, the same winning team, working once again very closely with H.Q. Strategic Manager, Amanda Dodds and Amanda Wilson, prepared for a second and hopefully even more successful social afternoon.

A number of those who enjoyed the event last year, were absent, (mainly due to off peak holidays….). George Hedges was doing a charity cycle ride from John O’ Groats to Lands End (ouch)! The numbers were however once again swelled by many retirees who had learned of the previous success and decided to attend – all very welcome I assure you.

All we need now is for ALL retirees to get the message!

Thanks to the determined and enthusiastic cooperation of the Executive, ably led by Chief Constable Jon Stoddart despite the severe financial constraints placed on the Force, (helped in no small way by the financial input by Durham Branch of NARPO), we were able to match our previous great day for pensioners. We should at this point acknowledge the many volunteers who selflessly extended their services to help make this a wonderful occasion – all too often such an immense volume of voluntary organisation is taken for granted Durham Constabulary’s magnificent Band and equally prestigious Choir provided a great afternoon of music and song to over 250 attendees. The weather was a little more kind this time and NARPO, Durham Constabulary Archive, the Beamish Museum, Force HQ and The Blue Knights group all provided eye catching static displays.

A volunteer Force photographer captured parties as they came in and free photographs provided to fit into the very tastefully designed commemorative Programme of Event souvenir and a free draw for a beautifully iced and presented celebration cake made by Mrs. Swinburne.. A magnificent NARPO financed Raffle, organised by Tom Baxter and ‘the Crawford duo’ raised £305.00 which was generously donated to offset the costs of the “do”.

Traffic Department once again excelled themselves with an impressive display of the ‘state of the art’ Police cars and motor cycles (much to the delight of all those able enough to go downstairs and chat to the officers present. This year, three excellent Operational Presentation were made by D/Supt Neil Malkin (The Ricin Investigation); Murder Investigation by D/Supt Adrian Green and Organised Crime Groups by Inspector Dave Turner were well attended.

As you would expect from such a gathering, the constant chatter, back slapping and gleeful and genuinely pleasant reunions of retired colleagues (some even forfeiting their customary afternoon nap (only kidding folks…) gave an overall, magical atmosphere. To the organizers, it was a sense of great satisfaction to see so many people having such a great and enjoyable afternoon out. Naturally, the refreshments on this occasion were a little more modest (typically noted by one or two of the more “optimistic souls” who attended…).

Watch this space for next year’s event. We are planning to hold the event on Sunday, 20th May, 2012 (to be confirmed) Be there!

************ Durham NARPO Pensioners Reunion and Luncheon.

Durham Indoor Bowling Club. Sunday, 25th September, 2011 This should be marked on every NARPO member’s calendar for it is one of the nicest events of the year, when old and new friends get together have a good old “chin wag”, enjoy a lovely (NARPO subsidised) meal, a free raffle for nice prizes and every lady receives a single dress flower. It was a joy to see so many retirees returning to enjoy good company.

Fred “Bomber” Harris was brought there from Cambridge and he thoroughly enjoyed himself.

This year, Chief Constable Jon Stoddart, Assistant Chief Constable Michael Banks and his wife Susan, together with Amanda Dodds and Amanda Wilson of the Constabulary Strategic Management Team were our guests (the latter were responsible for the fine organisation of the Open Day in June).

It was also a special occasion (if a total surprise) for two of our long serving Committee member, Bill Stableforth and Derek Davison who both recently retired from the committee due to ill health. Jon Stoddart presented them both with Life Membership badges and Alan Watson complimented them with framed certificates of Life Membership.

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