It is with regret that we have to announce the death of Mary Burdis, wife of retired Police Officer and NARPO member Eric Burdis. Mary passed away at home on the 14th August 2019, aged 75 years.
The funeral service, which is not private, will take place at 2.30pm on Tuesday 27th August at Durham Crematorium, South Road, Durham DH1 3TQ.
Family flowers only; any donations in lieu to the Pink Ribbon Foundation.
Our thoughts are with Eric and his family at this sad time
He leaves a widow Eileen , a daughter Sharon and a son Ian.
Mr Hillery was appointed to Durham Constabulary on the 31st May 1954, he served at training, West Hartlepool, Durham, Hesleden, motor patrol from 1963 where he was promoted to sergeant in 1968. He then joined Traffic admin from 1971 then motorcycles supervision from 1973. He joined traffic patrol from 1974. On promotion to Inspector he joined traffic management where he spent 7 years, retiring from traffic patrols on 31st May 1984.
The funeral service will be taking place on the 16th September at 11.15am at Darlington Crematorium. The service is not private.
Donations have been requested to St. Teresa’s Hospice, Darlington.
Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.
Tasers are to be made available to every frontline officer in Durham Constabulary who wishes to be equipped with one.
In a move designed to offer more protection to both the public and the police, all frontline officers are being offered upgraded Tasers and given intensive training in the safe use of the devices.
Over the next 12 months, the new X2 model will be rolled out across the force, replacing the original X26 which has been used for the last 14 years.
Chief Constable Jo Farrell said: “Sadly, there are situations in which police officers need to take immediate action to subdue violent suspects to protect the public.
“Tasers allow us to do so swiftly and safely, without causing lasting injury and are an extremely effective means of dealing with the many dangerous situations officers find themselves in.
“Too often our officers are subject to assaults in the line of duty, simply for doing their job.
“We need to make sure that our officers have the tools they need to protect the public and protect themselves”.
Tasers were first introduced into Durham in 2005, when they were issued to a handful of authorised firearms officers to provide a “less lethal” option in situations where lives were potentially at risk.
The device works by firing two small barbed darts up to a range of around 10 metres, which deliver an electrical current and temporarily incapacitate the suspect until they can be restrained.
The more powerful X2 model Taser features a number of improvements on earlier versions of the system, most notably the capacity to fire a second cartridge if the first misses its target.
Andy Jackson, chairman of Durham Police Federation, said: “I strongly support the wider roll-out of Taser to all frontline officers should they wish to be equipped with it.
“Taser is an extremely effective means of dealing with the many dangerous situations that officers often face on the streets and is a less lethal option than more conventional firearms.
“In a number of cases where Taser is drawn, it is not fired as the deterrent is enough, which helps protect communities as well as protecting officers from assaults”.
Dave is a former army officer who served in the Bosnian War and achieved the rank of lieutenant during his career with the Royal Engineers and completed a six-month tour in Bosnia protecting the besieged enclave of Gorazde.
Mr Orford joined the police as a beat PC in Consett, but his experience in the former Yugoslavia shaped his view of policing throughout his career.
He said: “I saw what can happen when law and order completely disappears and an entire country is torn apart”.
Promoted first to Sergeant at Peterlee and then Inspector at Darlington, in 2003 Dave became the first head of the pioneering Cleveland and Durham Police Tactical Training Centre at Urlay Nook, delivering firearms training for both police forces.
As chief Inspector, he was appointed deputy head of the force’s Professional Standards Department and, after a variety of headquarters roles, was appointed to the position of Assistant Chief Constable in 2014.
He has held the position of Deputy Chief Constable temporarily for the last three months, has now been appointed to the post on a permanent basis.
He leaves a widow, Betty.
Bob joined Durham Constabulary on 4th April 1961 and retired on 3rd April 1989; he served at Bishop Auckland, Barnard Castle and Traffic Patrols.
He was a keen golfer and later also took up indoor bowls.
The funeral service will take place at 12.45pm on Friday 16th August at Ferryhill Methodist Church, 2 Market Place, Ferryhill DL17 8HX, followed by a service of committal at 1.30pm at Durham Crematorium, South Road, Durham DH1 3TQ. Neither service is private.
Refreshments will follow at The Dean Bank & Ferryhill Literary Institute, Ferryhill DL17 8PP.
Family flowers only. Any donations in lieu to Ferryhill Methodist Church.
Our thoughts are with Betty at this sad time.
Ken Lavery worked most of his 30yrs service with Durham Constabulary at Darlington, until his retirement on 15th August 1993.
Upon retirement Ken was our general manager of Darlington Football Club for several years and guided the club through some testing years in the mid-nineties, until he left in 1999. After leaving Darlington FC, he worked for the Great North Air Ambulance before moving to Lytham St Anne’s.
Mr Lavery leaves a widow, Linda Lavery.
The cremation service will take place on Wednesday 14th August at 2pm at Carleton Cemetery & Crematorium, Stocks Ln, Blackpool, Poulton-le-Fylde FY6 7QS. The service is not private.
There will also be a memorial at The Mowden, Staindrop Road, Darlington DL3 9BE on Saturday 31st August 2019. This is not private and everyone is welcome.
Donations in lieu of flowers have been requested to Trinity Hospice Blackpool.
Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.
Back in 1955 Jeanette Hooper (nee) Allen joined the West Riding Police and served at Pontefract and Ripon for approx. two years then she transferred to Durham Police on promotion to Sergeant.
Jeanette died on the 16th July 2019. I realise it was a long while ago but I thought maybe some of your members would remember her. See details below.
Jeanette Hooper (nee Allen)
It is with sadness that we have to inform you of the death of Jeanette Hooper (nee Allen), aged 88 years, a retired Police Officer. She died on Tuesday 16th July 2019.
The funeral is at 11.00am Tuesday 30th July 2019 at Embleton Parish Church, Alnwick, North Humberland NE66 3UW. The Undertakers is Alister Turner, Garden Lodge, Greenwell Road, Alnwick NE66 1HB.
Jeanette joined West Riding Police in 1955 and worked at Ripon and Pontefract.
After passing her exams she transferred to Durham Police as a Sergeant.
Two years later she transferred to Newcastle Police as Inspector and two years later to Hull City Police as Chief Inspector.
After a further two years she successfully applied to for the post of Superintendent and took charge of the Forces Policewomen Department.
In 1977 with the disbanding of the Policewomens Department she was appointed the Officer in Charge of Carlton Police Station.
We do not have her dates for joining or retiring.
After retiring she moved back to the North Humberland area.
John Kennedy
Secretary, Notts NARPO
As many of you will be aware, 2019 is the Centenary Year of the National Association of Retired Police Officers.
To celebrate this, the Durham Branch of NARPO held a successful river cruise and barbeque onboard the ‘Prince Bishop’ on the River Wear at Durham on Saturday 22 June 2019.
We also intend to hold our annual reunion luncheon at Durham Indoor Bowling Club, Rylands Way, (behind Abbey Leisure Centre) Durham DH1 5GR. This is usually held in October, however this year we have brought the date forward to Sunday 15 September.
The luncheon, arranged for 12.30pm for sitting at 1.00pm, consists of a 3-course meal with tea or coffee and is provided at £15 per person (after subsidy by the branch); a free raffle is included.
Please be aware that this IS NOT a closed event and is open to all retired and serving Police Officers, Police Staff and family and friends.
Due to this being NARPO’s Centenary Year, there will be a small exhibition of Durham Constabulary memorabilia, including video photographs coving more than 100 years of Durham Police Transport. If you have any items of interest and are prepared to have them on display during the luncheon, please contact any Branch Officer or Committee Member.
You should have received a flyer advertising the event and showing the menu choice with the last edition of the Durham Peeler, distributed in May 2019. Please complete the booking form, with your meal selection and forward it with a cheque to Jim Jennings, 18 Willowtree Avenue, Gilesgate Moor, Durham DH1 1EB as soon as possible to aid catering. If you require additional copies of the booking form please contact one of us:
Jim Jennings 0191 386 5028 Stuart Ingram 01388 814768
Ray Jones 01325 327165 Susan Knaggs 0191 388 4052
I know that some of you have attended our previous luncheons and hopefully have enjoyed the meal and meeting up with friends and ex-colleagues, but haven’t yet returned your forms for ; can I respectfully ask that you check your diaries and book your places.
Many thanks
Ray Jones (Chairman
