HQ Traffic - Informal reunion

For some time now John Bell (ex PC494) and Jim Holmes (ex Sgt 504) have been pondering over the idea of organising some sort of re-union for ex Traffic Officers - especially those who served in the Traffic Department between 1970 - 2000.
The Traffic Department came in many guises - Traffic North & South, HQ UOD, Motor Patrols Sections 1, 2 & 3, Traffic Operations etc - a rose by any other name for driving police vehicles!

In the first instance their will be an informal meeting on the second Thursday of each month initially at the Tea Barn Cafe at Pity Me Nursery (DH1 5DE) which is just off the roundabout at Pity Me on the A.167.
The idea being that people go there in the morning from 10.30am onwards, grab a coffee and see who turns up for a chinwag.
This will be done two or three times in the hope it will catch on.
Depending on interest  and numbers something can then be organised something more formally.

The first date for this informal re-union will be on Thursday 9^th March at the Tea Barn Cafe, Pity Me.

If anyone wishes to contact Jim or John for further details please send an email to : durhamnarpo@gmail.com & we will forward you their contact details

Death of a retired Police Officer : Sgt 393 Keith Arthur Gutteridge

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of a retired Police Officer :  Sgt 393 Keith Arthur Gutteridge, who died on the 11^th February 2017, he was aged 91 years.
He leaves a widow Eleanor and step-son Tony.
Keith joined Durham Constabulary on 31^st May 1947. From HQ Training he was posted to Felling and went on to serve at Durham, Carrville, Witton Park, Shotton, Castle Eden, Hutton Henry then on to CID at both Castle Eden and Wingate.
In June 1969 he was promoted to Sgt and posted to Darlington and then moving back to Peterlee in 1970 he worked in Wingate section then on town section.
He was medically retired on the 24^th September 1976
The funeral service is taking place on Tuesday 28^th February 2017 at 11am at St Saviour Church, Shotton Colliery, this will then be followed by the cremation service at 12.00pm at Durham Crematorium.
The funeral service is not private.
Donations are requested in lieu of flowers to the Alice House Hospice, Hartlepool.
Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.

Death of a serving Police Officer : PC Gavin Smith

DURHAM Constabulary is mourning the death of one of its officers, PC Gavin Smith.
Gav, who was part of the Police Interceptors team, died Wednesday, Feb 15^th aged 34.
Gav had recently undergone treatment for cancer which had spread to his spine. He was treated in hospital and was then allowed to return home to Bishop Auckland and received an escort from his colleagues.
It was at home he sadly passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. He leaves wife Kezi and daughter Tilly, four.
Kezi said: “I would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support which has been overwhelming.
“It has been a real comfort to both me and Tilly that he was so well regarded by so many.
“We will both miss him so very much.”
Gav, who was originally from Whitley Bay, had been with Durham Constabulary for 12 years and worked with the Roads Policing Unit out of the Spennymoor station.
Colleagues had been fundraising to send him and his family away for a weekend. Sadly, that was not possible but proceeds will be passed on for them to use in whichever way they see fit.
Insp Ed Turner said: “Gav was extremely popular with colleagues and always had a smile on his face.
"He really was a glass half-full kind of guy and even right towards the end he was thinking about other people and about supporting his family.
“He will be sorely missed by all at the force.”
Our thoughts are with Gavin's family, friends & colleagues at this sad time

Death of a retired Police Officer : George Hardman

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of a retired Police Officer, George Hardman who died on the 8^th February 2017. He was aged 95 years.
Mr Hardman leaves a daughter Edna
The funeral service will be held at Durham Crematorium on Friday the 17^th February 2017 at 9am. The service is not private.
Donations are requested in lieu of flowers to the North Air Ambulance Service.
Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.

Radio Mast from ‘old’ Police HQ on the move

The Radio Mast at the ‘old’ Police Headquarters is about to make its move to the new site, leaving the site free for the developers to start building houses which are already built and occupied on the main car park opposite the entrance to the old HQ.

The size of the crane which will lift the mast down is certainly spectacular & it’s worth a visit down Aykley Heads drive to see the final chapter in our former place of work.

If you haven't already seen this one before please click on this link which will take you to the vaults of the British Film Institute where you can watch the mast being erected on site (Obviously before the health & safety regs – have a look at 3m20sec, where a man in his vest pushes the mast into place !!) : http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-radio-mast-for-police-headquarters-aykley-heads-durham-1968/

Tom Rounsley helps with family photos from the past

Many Thanks to retired Durham Sgt, Tom Rounsley who has sent an email with some more info re photographs that appears on the last page of the 2016 winter edition of the Durham Peeler titled Thornley Police Station.

The officer in the doorway is my great, great grandfather Sergeant 34 Thomas Sampson. He started his police career in Plymouth transferring to Durham I believe in 1872. He was promoted to sergeant in February 1882 and was stationed at Thornley until his retirement from the force in 1901. The officer in the doorway is my great, great grandfather Sergeant 34 Thomas Sampson. He started his police career in Plymouth transferring to Durham I believe in 1872. He was promoted to sergeant in February 1882 and was stationed at Thornley until his retirement from the force in 1901. The constable in the photo I believe to be a PC Cummings and the woman Annie Barker but I have no other information on them.

Sgt Samson's daughter married my great grandfather Police Constable 382 Samuel N Rounsley who I believe spent a lot of his service in the Spennymoor area. He died not long before his retirement. At that time any pension for the widow was at the discretion of the Chief Constable The Chief Constables report on the 28th April 1919 reads - PC Samuel Rounsley No 382 died at Tudhoe on 28th February, 1919, after completing 25 years 282 days. The maximum amount of gratuity which may be granted under section 2 (2) of the Police Act is £294  3s  4d.

My family then skipped two generations with Durham Constabulary before I joined in 1976 retiring in 2006
If I've got the technology right there should be attached three pics - the original from the peeler , a photocopy of a photocopy of  Sgt Sampson, the other is two pics of PC Rounsley one near the start of his service and the other towards the end.
I find the change in the uniforms interesting.

PS. keep up the good work - I moved to Worcester over 2 years ago to be nearer family so the NARPO web site with all it's information and publications are a real tonic.
Please pass on my regards to all the team.