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We need you! Please send in your old photos and stories and we’ll publish them here so we can share old memories of the branch. Please send them to: sthelensnarpoweb2@gmail.com
Blasts from the past
Thanks to Eileen Cummings for this ‘blast from the past’ Eileen, with Bernie Burillin and Sandra Knowles in the DCR at St Helens.
Reflections on policing throughout Her Majesty The Queen’s reign by Deputy Chief Constable Tim Forber:
The forthcoming Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are a time for reflection on Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne. I have just received my third Jubilee medal; I had just shy of six years service when I received the Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and with nearly 26 years’ service now, there is a limited number of us who have received all three. I have always been extremely proud to be a police officer, and I am very grateful for the opportunities and experiences my career has offered me. Many things have changed over the years, but even more so since my dad joined the police in 1957. Between my dad and I, we have been serving police officers in every decade of the Queen’s reign.
I was born and brought up in St Helens, as were both my parents who still live there now. My dad left school at 15 years old, and after working in the stores at a local pit, joined St Helens Borough Police as a cadet aged 17. He went to Bruche Training School aged 18 and a half, and was sworn in as a constable on his 19th birthday on 19 November 1959. He was PC 174 Brian Forber and this was his joining photo.
Policing in those days was very, very, different. There were no radios, so he had to keep in touch with the station by making fixed points on his beat and ringing in. He was paid weekly in cash at the end of the week. There were very fewfemale officers, and there was a completely separate Police Women’s Department. He spent many years on nothing but foot patrol, but he was photographed here in 1967/8 driving one of the first ever ‘panda’ cars in St Helens.
In the late 1960s policing was reorganised and St Helens Borough Police was amalgamated into Lancashire Constabulary and in 1974 became part of Merseyside Police. In the late 1960s he moved into Roads Policing, or the Traffic Department as it was then known.
However in June 1972, I arrived on the scene, and this is the first picture of me wearing an item of police uniform aged four and half months old.
My dad was promoted to sergeant in 1977, the year of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, when I was five years old, and was posted to Walton Lane Police Station in Liverpool, covering both Anfield and Goodison Park in the eastern side of the city. He later became a divisional training sergeant, and in 1985 he was promoted to inspector and moved back to work at St Helens.
This was a photo of me aged 13 or 14 with him and my mum on the day he got his long service and good conduct medal. He had not long been promoted at this time.
n the late 1980s and early 1990s he enjoyed a further period in Traffic as an inspector. This is him in 1991 when he introduced video cars into Merseyside Police (ANPR was a long way off at that point!).
Roll on to 1996 and I joined the Metropolitan Police in London where I spent my first nine and half years of service.
This was my dad and I on the day I passed out from Hendon Police College in November 1996. I had started on my 24th birthday on 23rd June 1996. I was really pleased that he was there in uniform as he was well over his 30 years by that point – it was a very proud moment for both of us.
The internet had only just been invented and very few households were online.
Dad retired from Merseyside Police as an inspector in May 2000, by pure coincidence in the very same week I was promoted to detective sergeant. He was 59 years old at that point.
One of the things we did to celebrate was go to Australia together to watch the Ashes. We are both big cricket fans and try to watch England play whenever we can.
I was newly promoted to Peckham Police Station in South East London and had a great few years there working in the Crime Squad and CID Main Office. It was a challenging place to work and I learnt an awful lot in a very short period of time. One thing I recall from the time was the exponential growth in mobile phone usage. The use of cell site analysis in investigations became much more mainstream, but mobile internet was still some way off. If you were to talk about‘cloud data’ people would have thought you were talking about the weather!
It was in September 2002, the year of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, that I was promoted to detective inspector. I moved to Lambeth, based at Kennington Police Station. We covered a patch of South London stretching from the London Eye in the north to Clapham in the west, and the Brixton estates to the south. It was great fun and very, very busy. One of the more unique jobs I had was leading the investigation into the theft of jewellery belonging to Marilyn Monroe, including a ring given to her by Joe DiMaggio. I took the job onto Crimewatch with Nick Ross and Fiona Bruce, which was a great experience. We never did recover the jewellery but we did charge and convict the thief.
I was promoted to DCI in 2004 and stayed at Lambeth, but in late 2005 I left the Met to join West Yorkshire Police as a detective superintendent. I worked in Professional Standards initially, but then spent three years as a Senior Investigating Officer on the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, leading murder investigations all over the county. This photograph was at a press conference following a murder in Manningham, Bradford, in May 2008.
Roll on to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. By that time I was a chief superintendent in Great Manchester Police and the Oldham District Commander. I was there from 2010 to 2013 and worked with some great people.
After a few other jobs in Manchester I was selected for the 2016 Strategic Command Course and later that year joined South Yorkshire Police as ACC Crime. Now in 2022, at the time of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, I find myself as Deputy Chief Constable and couldn’t be prouder to be part of SYP.
My dad is still going strong at 81 years old and enjoying retirement. Since leaving the police he worked as a Magistrate for a number of years, and he is a very active member of NARPO.
This is us recently watching England play rugby at Twickenham with my two sons.
Policing has changed a lot in the last 70 years: new technology and the internet changed everything, but some things are still the same and will never change. Policing needs people who have integrity, who care about protecting people, and want to do their best for the community. My dad and I are both very proud to have had the careers we have enjoyed over the Queen’s 70-year reign.
Roy’s service display
The display looks great! If you have photos of similar collections you would like to share please email them to.
Branch Holiday 2020
Isle of Wight
The last Branch Holiday was to the Isle of Wight in March 2020. It was a lovely break at the Warners Bembridge Coast Hotel. We drove back home with everywhere closing behind us as the pandemic started to bite.
A coach full of smiling faces , we are on our way !
Our secretary directing operations !
Stunning view from the Hotel grounds over the Solent.
Lovely hotel !
Brilliant evening entertainment
There is another trip planned in April 2022 at Warners Littlecote House in Berkshire. Photographs will follow, watch this space !
Branch member Dennis Firth awarded
Ordre national de la Legion d’honneur.
(Photograph by kind permission of Cllr Mike Haw)
left to right Elizabeth Skepper, Anita Ashcroft QPM, Teresa Sim, Chairman Geoff pearl, Carol Pearl, Mike Haw (all Eccleston Parish Councillors) Seated Dennis and his wife Marjorie.
Former Branch President Dennis Firth, was awarded the Legion d’Honneur by French President Emmanuel Macron for his part in the D-Day landings during the Second World War.
Dennis a veteran of the RAF played his part in the landings on June 26th 1944.
The medal was presented to him by Eccleston Parish Council Chairman Geoff Pearl at Christ Church Eccleston where Dennis and his wife Marjorie worshiped.
St Helens Branch of NARPO were proud to have Dennis as our President. Sadly Dennis has since died.
Below Dennis proudly showing his medal.(photo by St Helens Star)
Harold Barker’s Retirement Do
This photograph is the ‘retirement do’ held for Harold Barker. The event took place at Newton-le-Willows around 1975/76. There are many familiar faces, some, sadly, no longer with us.
The photograph was sent in by Branch member Eileen Cummings who can be seen on the right of the photograph. Do you recognise anyone? Send your comments to: sthelensnarpoweb2@gmail.com
Norman Skeath as a commando. Can you assist ?
I received this photograph and information from Jeff Hewitt.
Former Borough officer Norman Skeath training to be a Royal Marine Commando in 1943.
He’s stood with his hand on my late father Harry Hewitt’s shoulder.
My dad was a PC in the Oxfordshire Constabulary and had volunteered to join the marines.
Both Norman and my father served with 46 Royal Marine Commando.
They departed from Cowes on the Isle of Wight on D Day 6th June 1944 and fought together with their comrades through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany ending on the Baltic Coast in June 1945.
Both safely returned but many of their comrades didn’t.
Jeff is currently writing a book about 46 Commandos war journey, and is asking if any of our members have any stories about Normans time as a commando which could be included in the book.
Memories of my dad
I was recently contacted by Phil Moran who me a number of photographs of his dad’s time in St.Helens Borough Force. How dad was Fred Moran who was born in 1922 and died in the 1980’s. he retired in 1969 when the Borough Force amalgamated with Lancashire Constabulary.
If you recognise anyone please let me now as most of the people are ‘unidentified’
Top right. Left to right. Fred Moran, the Scotsman David Syme. The next one is more difficult, I think it is PC 10 Tom Corms, who left not long after I joined the Cadets. Drinking from the glass might be DS Ray Liptrot who started work at the Bispham Hall Brick Works in Billinge at the age of 14. (information from John Hook)
the four by the pier are left to right Ted Cross,Fred Moran, Tom Crutchley and John McCormack (information from John Hook)
Saints South African Winger, Tom Van Vollenhoven , who played from 1957 to 1968, with Terry Price and Fred Moran
left to right Bill Shepherd, John McCormack, Ronnie Hunt,Fred Moran, Tom Crutchley (information from John Hook)
The people and events on the following photos require identifying , can you help? if so please email any information giving the photo reference number to sthelensnarpoweb2@gmail.com
Photo one , who is this at the Police Club?
Photo two
Photo three. Looks like someone is enjoying that turkey leg!
Photo four. Who are members of this cricket team ?
Photo five. Looks like the Police Club, whats the event? Who is on this photo?
Photo six. This photo looks like it may have been taken at the Town Hall. what the event?
Memories of Norman
Sad to hear of Norman Gannon’s passing. Many fond memories of him. Was my ‘tutor’ when I did CID training in the Boro. Constant source of encouragement in honing my rugby skills. Couple of pictures attached. Hope your forum sustains them. Broke my leg in the PAA final at Chester, 1967, and Norman came to the hospital with me. I complained of having cold feet whilst in A & E so he got his cigarette lighter and set fire to my toes. What a laugh?
Picture is of the Boro rugby team, late sixties. What a great team it was. ‘Manager’ Norman is on the back row right in civves with Ray Edwards and myself similarly attired on the left. Team led by Dennis Glynn but with the ex-Saints player Fred Leyland, reserve for the 1961 or was it ’66 Wembley Cup Final against Wigan. We (Wigan) lost them both! Never allowed to live it down.
Other photo is Norman, sorry a bit blurred, at Lancs HQ changing room for a match. Norman would train and play with a piece of plastic sheeting around his middle to sweat off a few ounces.
RiP Norman.
Stewart McLoughlin
More memories of Norman
It was sad to read of Norman Gannon’s passing, but nice to read of Stewart McLoughlin’s memories of him. I would beg your indulgence to offer some of my own and reflect on other matters Stewart has raised.
There was a day at City Road, when Norman dislocated his shoulder playing rugby. I was a spectator as I was injured and accompanied Norman in an ambulance to Providence Hospital. In casualty we were seen the legendary and saintly Sister Kathleen Duffy. As Norman was in a lot of pain, Sister Duffy anaesthetised him and with a couple deft manoeuvres put his shoulder back in place. I praised her skill and she told me it was quite easy and promptly re-dislocated it and but it back in place in seconds. I never told Norman what happened.
Sister Duffy was a treasure and I understand the flag on the Town Hall was flown at half-mast when she died.
Stewart’s rugby photograph I can assure you was taken at the City Road ground in Nov/Dec 1966. The match was against Bruche and I was on my initial training and was playing for the opposition. Stewart Mac had just returned from his initial course.
Being a Boro player I wanted to get in on the photograph, but was promptly told were to go. The game was mostly one sided, but towards the end I recall being in the clear with only Fred Leyland to beat. I chipped the ball over his head and he reacted by nearly taking my head off. He leaned over me and said “where do you think your going young Johnny” We never got a penalty let alone a penalty try.
To clarify Mac’s query over Freddie Leyland’s Saint’s career. He narrowly missed out on the 1961 Challenge Cup Final losing his place to none other than Cliff Watson, and Fred retired the following year.
Stewart’s story about the PAA final at Chester was the funniest moment I have ever witnessed on the playing field. Mac who was a travelling reserve, was drafted into the final match against Cheshire, as we had injuries during the earlier rounds. Within a few minutes he had broken his leg. That was only the beginning.
Chester RUC was bereft of first aid team and even a stretcher. An unwise decision was taken to remove Stewart from the the field of play before an ambulance arrived. A large 4 legged table was brought out and Mac was unceremoniously put on top of it. He looked like some latter day Prince Regent on a Sedan Chair.
Ever the stalwart team team player Mac called out to our captain Dennis Glynn as he left the field “bring back the cup Dennis”. Needless to say we lost, and had a similar experience with injuries at Fylde the following year. Soon after we were successful in the PAA at Penrith.
A final recollection was best performance was in defeat to West Park in the final of Birkenhead Park 7’s in 1969. In the semi-final much to their surprise we beat St. Helens
RUC. In that game Ian Broughton had been kicked in the head, and he played in the final with severe concussion. What a player.
Hoping you all keep well as the lockdown eases. Here in Somerset the Ciders back in full flow.
Kind regards,
John Hook
Did you now my Grandfather ?
I received an enquiry from Darren Carr. Darren is a serving officer who followed his grandfather in to the police service.
Darren is researching into his grandfather, Frank Carr’s police service.
Frank joined St Helens Borough in August 1930, his collar number was 39. He retired after 25 years service as an Inspector in August 1955. Frank died in 1990 aged 80 and sadly never saw his grandson join the job nor did he ever discuss his time in the police with him.
The family still have Franks invitation to a Borough reunion in 1987.
Does anyone out there remember Frank, who lived, we believe at 33 Newlands Road, Haresfinch, either from his time in the job or from subsequent reunions?
Please send any information via the email link below to the website administrator. sthelensnarpoweb2@gmail.com
Charity Football Match
Here are a series of photographs from a Charity Football match held at Ruskin Drive circa 1990.Can you recognise anyone?
Blast from the past
Dennis Glynn has sent these photographs from his collection.
An athletic sevens team. Who,when and where?
A fine St Helens vehicle registration number.
Who, when and where?
I know its not a football team due to the shape of the ball!
Who are they? When and what was the occasion?
Sadly a number of the people in this photograph are no longer with us.
JR’s description states, two are civvies and one was the father of one of our members. also on this photo is the gentleman who is reputed to haunt the toilet at the police Club.
Who are they? When was it taken?
From JR:- back row Terry Price, not known, Benji Davies, Kearns (first name not know thought to have gone to Lancs County)
centre row Max Woosey, Jim Kenny, Brian Ward, not known, Billy McKain, Dave Smith
front row Frank Ward, Dennis Glynn, Jack Watson, not known, George Hale
Updated information following a chat between Dennis Glynn and Eddie Downes at the 2026 AGM has assisted in part. The occassion was a Crown Green Bowls presentation evening. The unknown on the top row is still unknown, also on the top row it is indeed one of the Kearnes brothers. The unknown on the middle row is a gentleman who with his wife frequented the club for very many years – we think his first name was Steve though he was not a police officer. The not known on the front row is Tom Crutchley.
A fine cricket team!
Back row standing Dave Conway, Dick Fairhurst, Jim Kenny, Keith Wilkes, Bill Harris, Eric Stokes, John Hind
seated front row, Brian Foy, Norman Kerfoot, Bill Lord ,Dennis Glynn
Names supplied by Arthur Jennion, Dennis Glynn and Eddie Downes
St Helens Borough C.I.D
Happy Days !
In the 1950’s and early 1960’s the St. Helens Borough Police Force operated a small but magnificent fleet of black coloured Wolseley patrol cars of grand design having leather upholstery and walnut veneer fascias which were so brilliantly maintained, being the envy of other local Forces.
Marie’s Archive
Marie Curran has unearthed an article from the local paper from November 1977. Only a year or two ago!
Can you see anyone you know ?
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