Death of Police Widow: Maureen Cromarty (wife of retired Superintendent David Edward Cromarty)

It is with deep regret that we inform you of the death of Maureen Cromarty, who passed away in University Hospital of North Durham, on 17th November 2022, aged 83 years.

Maureen was the widow of retired Superintendent David Edward Cromarty, who died on 22nd October 2022, aged 83 years.

Maureen was born in Preston, Lancashire and after leaving school she trained as a journalist with a local newspaper.  However, due to her father’s promotion within the Civil Service the family moved to Northallerton in North Yorkshire.  Their home was two doors away from the man she would spend the rest of her life with; David Edward Cromarty.  Their relationship quickly blossomed and on 15th August 1959 they married.

In 1962 David joined Durham Constabulary and Maureen became a typical police office’s wife of the 1960’s, taking in stray children, stray dogs and the odd stray arrested person at their police house in Coxhoe.

In 1973 Maureen became an administrator for Durham County Council; a role she later undertook with Bedfordshire County Council when they moved there, due to David gaining promotion to Superintendent in that Force.

The couple retired in 1991 and moved back to County Durham and enjoyed a long and very happy retirement together, travelling the world and completing 54 cruises!

Following David’s sad death in October 2022 Maureen suddenly fell into serious illness and in a matter of days passed away, perhaps of a broken heart following 63 years of happy marriage.

Maureen is survived by son David (retired Ch Insp) and partner Clare, daughter Suzy and partner Mick (who reside in New Zealand), grandson Stuart and granddaughters Emma and Jody and 5 great grandchildren.

A funeral service will take place at 3.00pm Thursday 1st December 2022 at Durham Crematorium, South Road, Durham DH1 3TQ.

Family flowers only, any donations in lieu to Cancer Research.

Following the service, friends are invited to join the family at the Honest Lawyer, Croxdale DH1 3SP.

Our thoughts are with Maureen’s family and friends at this very sad time.

Hardwick Camp Police Cadet Reunion: Saturday 8th July 2023 at 7pm

Hardwick Camp Police Cadet Reunion

Saturday 8th July 2023 at 7pm

Sedgefield Cricket Club, Sedgefield Village, Co Durham TS21 2BY

Admission by Ticket Only

If you worked as a Police Cadet, Junior Fireman, Cadet Instructor or member of staff at the Police Cadet Training School at Hardwick Camp, Sedgefield in the 1960’s then this reunion is for you!

1962 marked the first intake of cadets at Hardwick Camp, this year marks the 60th Anniversary and we thought it was a good time to have another reunion following our last successful event in 2021.

We would like to invite ALL who attended the camp during its tenure from the early 1960’s until its closure. Please come along, there will be someone you remember! Large name labels will be available on the night!

The venue this time is again Sedgefield Cricket Club, TS21 2BY. The location of the venue will provide the opportunity for a nostalgic visit to where you spent your teenage years!

A buffet will be provided together with an audio-visual show of pictures from your life at Hardwick Camp along with other memorabilia.

Tickets are £10.00 each, as per the last event and are limited to ex cadet, junior firemen, instructors and staff simply due to the restriction on numbers for the venue. Order soon to avoid disappointment.

Tickets available preferably by bank transfer, (I will provide my banking details) or by cheque to G. Storey 47 Greystoke Avenue, Whickham, Gateshead, NE16 5HR. (email gstorey52@hotmail.com)

Please let us know your full name, the years you were at the camp and your House. I will keep a running update of those who have paid on the site.

I would ask that everyone who would like to attend also informs those ex cadets they are in contact with.

Photographs

Send us your photos for the audio-visual show.

For digital images please email:- peterwalton69@btinternet.com

For prints please post to P Walton 69 Hillcrest, Middle Herrington, Sunderland, SR33NN. Write the information on the back please! You can collect the prints on the night or include a SAE for return.

Death of a retired Police Officer: PC William Kennedy Stableforth.

It is with great regret that we have to inform you of the death of one of our three Life Members, former PC William Kennedy Stableforth.
Bill died in the University of North Durham Hospital on the 28th October 2022 aged 92 years.
Bill was a member of the NARPO Branch committee for many years and his long-standing support and guidance were much appreciated.
Bill leaves a wife Pamela Anne and son David.
The funeral will be held at Durham Crematorium at 11:30 hours on Thursday 24th November.
The funeral is not private and the request is for family flowers only.
A retirement collection will be made on leaving the service and the collection will be divided between the NSPCC and the RNLI.

Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time

Message from Durham NARPO Secretary

I have been asked to trace a lady who transferred to Durham sometime between 1993 and 1995. Her name at that time was Cara Morley but she may have married and changed name.

If anyone knows Cara please ask her to get in touch with NARPO Branch secretary Stu Ingram ( sji1179@btinternet.com ) as he has a message for her which may be of interest.

Death of Retired Police Officer: DCI 1659 John (Jack) Ainsworth

It is with deep regret that we inform you of the death of a retired Police Officer, DCI 1659 John (Jack) Ainsworth, who died in Sunderland Royal Hospital on Saturday 29th October 2022, aged 80 years.

Jack joined Durham County Constabulary in 1962 and following his Initial Training, he served at Hartlepool, Darlington, Easington Lane, East Rainton and Fingerprint Bureau.  Following a short spell in uniform at Peterlee, for reasons of promotion, he transferred to the Crime Support Unit.

His latter service was as head of the North East Fingerprint Bureau, taking him up to his retirement in 1992.

After retiring he remained with Durham Constabulary as a civilian trainer in fingerprints, based at Harperley Hall and moving to Police Headquarters at Aykley Heads when the training was transferred there.  Jack thoroughly enjoyed this area of work, meeting and training people from all over the world.

Jack is survived by his wife Irene, son David, daughter Susan and grandchildren James, Kirsten, Alice and Richie.

A funeral service will be held at 12 noon on Friday 18th November 2022 at Durham Crematorium, South Road, Durham DH1 3TQ.

Family flowers only, donations in lieu to Cancer Research.

Our thoughts are with Jack’s family and friends at this sad time.

Digital Memorial Consultation Process

Many colleagues may be aware of the Police Arboretum Memorial Trust.  It was the Trust that built and created the new UK Police Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire that was dedicated in July last year in the presence of King Charles III (at the time HRH the Prince of Wales).

It has always been the Trust’s ambition to develop a Digital Memorial that was accessible to those who cannot visit the Arboretum to complement the physical Memorial. This online tribute will extend policing dedication and commemoration to a wider national and international audience.

This is your chance to participate in the consultation process that will help to shape future plans. The survey will close on 18th November but should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.

Please promote this as widely as possible across our force area, with bereaved families and within our local communities, so as many views and opinions as possible can feed into the process.

The online survey can be accessed at:  https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/G83P5YW

In this week of remembrance let's remember also those police service colleagues and their loved ones too, and help to ensure their memory is respected and preserved with dignity.

Next meetings of the Durham Branch of NARPO

The next meetings of the Durham Branch of NARPO are as follows :

Monday 14th November 2022 at 19:30 hours 

Thursday12th January 2023 AGM 19:30 hours

Monday 13th March 2023 19:30 hours

All the meetings are due to be held at Spennymoor Masonic Hall, Dundas Street, Spennymoor.

In order to assist with catering at the meeting, would anyone intending to attend please contact either : 

Stuart Ingram  :  sji1179@btinternet.com 

or 

Ray Jones : rayjones2341@gmail.com