Death of a retired Police Officer : PC 1273 Ralph Graham Suddick

It is with deepest sadness that we have to announce the death of a retired Police Officer : PC 1273 Ralph Graham Suddick, who passed away on the 18^th July 2018, aged 84 years.
Mr Suddick does not leave a widow.
Graham Suddick joined Durham Constabulary on 3^rd April 1956. From HQ Training he began his service at Darlington where he spent two years before moving to Jarrow for a year. In April 1959 he joined the motorcycle unit and after six months moved into traffic patrols working throughout the Durham and Stockton area in 1966 he became an instructor in motor school, instructing on advanced driving courses before retiring medically on 16^th January 1985.
The funeral service will be held on Monday 30^th July 2018 at 10:30 at Durham Crematorium. Please note the service is not private.
Donations have been requested in lieu of flowers to Stroke Association.
Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.

Prisoner Transfer to Parkhurst , Isle of Wight

These pictures turned up recently on Facebook with Ian Dickinson asking if anybody could help identify the officers & what they were doing as it was thought that they were on an escort to the Isle of Man

John Andrew Bell & Gordon Bacon ‘came to the rescue’ and put the names to the faces.

The top photo  shows Dave Kilner & John Tait standing in front of Westminster and to the left of them is Gordon Balderstone & Ken Garbutt.

On the bottom photo the three officers standing in front of the Westminster car are Norman Cuerdon, Dave Kilner and Billy Hall (Malcolm Hall's brother) formerly all stationed at Hartlepool.

Gordon Bacon spoke to Dave Kilner and they believe it was a prisoner escort from Durham to Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight.

Gordon remembers a number of Cat A prisoners were moved at short notice following the escape from Durham Prison of John McVicar in '68.

Death of a retired Police Officer : 288 Ernest William (Bill) Midgley

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of a retired Police Officer : 288 Ernest William Midgley (better known as Bill), who passed away on the 16^th July 2018. He was aged 88 years.
He does not leave a widow.
Mr Midgley retired from Durham Constabulary on the 22^nd May 1977.
The funeral service will be held on the 27^th July 2018 at 1.45pm at Darlington Crematorium, the service is not private.
Donations have been requested in lieu of flowers to Cancer Research.
Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.

Death of retired Police Staff : 5778 Brian Donkin

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of retired police staff member 5778 Brian Donkin, who passed away on the 24^th April 2018. He was aged 73 years.
He leaves a widow, Kleophatty and a son Chris.
Mr Donkin joined Durham Constabulary on the 29^th July 1996 where he served as a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator at Consett, he was then posted as a Community Liaison Officer where he served at Consett and Stanley. He retired from Durham Constabulary on the 12^th November 2009.
The funeral service will be taking place on the 26^th July 2018 at 1pm at St. Aidan's church, Brunton Park, Gosforth this will then be followed by refreshments at Northern Rugby Club.
Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.

Death of retired Police Officer : DC 340 Kenneth Thomas Parkin

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of retired Police Officer : DC 340 Kenneth Thomas Parkin, who passed away on the 27^th June 2018. He was aged 72 years.
He leaves a widow Susan and a daughter and son, Catherine and Andrew and four grandchildren.
Mr Parkin joined Durham Constabulary on the 7^th October 1974 and he retired on the 4^th November 2003.
The funeral service will take place on the 6^th July 2018 at 10.30am at Durham Crematorium. The service is not private.
Donations have been requested in lieu of flowers to Alice House Hospice.
Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time