What a great photo!

Three retired BTP Police Dogs – Lazer, with his brother Teddy, and Robbie – enjoying a boy’s weekend away.

These and other retired BTP police dogs are supported by the Railway Dogs Benevolent Fund. Donations can be made via their website.

A reminder that there are more police dog photos in our gallery:
Police Dogs

Source: Raildogs Facebook page

Diane McCarthy has been awarded an MBE in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours list for her commitment to improving inclusion and diversity within the force.

All of us at the BTP History Group would like to send our congratulations.

Diane joined BTP 30 years ago in the Force Control Room. From there, she branched out into BTP’s Learning and Development team and now sits within Inclusion and Diversity as a Training Delivery Lead.

Her citation reads: “Diane is a true ambassador to BTP, thanks to her exceptional dedication, outstanding service, and commitment to supporting others.”

It adds: “Diane’s efforts extend beyond her role, as she engages with colleagues to ensure that her work is tailored to meet the diverse needs of the police officers and staff. She has made a significant impact by assessing their needs, customising the course content, offering varied formats, gathering feedback, and carefully adapting to ensure inclusivity.”

On receiving her commendation, Diane said: “When I first found out I thought it was a joke at first. I spent ages trying to work out who in my circle was smart enough and had enough time on their hands to plan such an elaborate hoax. When I realised it was real, I then cried!

“I feel very flattered that somebody went to the effort of recommending me. I would like to acknowledge that nobody can receive this kind of recognition without the support and contribution of friends and colleagues, so this is a tribute to all that work in policing. My husband is now asking if he can put ‘married to an MBE recipient’ on the side of his work van!”

Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi said: “Diane has done some remarkable work during her time in BTP, particularly since joining the Inclusion and Diversity team. She is a true professional and she has continued to strive to make the force a better place both for officers and staff, as well as the communities we serve.

“She is an exceptional member of BTP, and her dedication is inspirational to those who get to work alongside her. On behalf of everyone in the force I would like to congratulate her.”

The Honours, Decorations and Medals table has been updated.

Source: BTP

by Tony Thompson (Chair)

Former Detective Superintendent Graham Satchwell has authored a new book ‘The Great Train Robbery and The South Coast Raiders’.

Graham writes:

“The Great Train Robbery was immediately the subject of world attention in late 1963. Being the biggest and most audacious robbery ever committed, it quickly led to popular myths that have become embedded in our national psyche. ‘Robin Hood’ characters? The truth is quite different.

The plot. One year before the Great Train Robbery, Alfredo and Shirley live in poverty. Unemployed and threatened by a loan shark, and against Shirley’s wishes, Alfredo turns to crime. But he quickly finds himself on a very slippery slope towards murder and The Great Train Robbery.’’

Already reviewed by leading journalists, including Duncan Campbell (The Guardian) and Stuart Tendler (former chief crime correspondent with The Times), Graham’s book tells for the first time, the important backstory to the Great Train Robbery. This is realistic storytelling, some of it is ‘adult’ reading, and not for the faint hearted, but with the help of Train Robber Tom Wisbey, Graham seems to have captured well the culture and demeanour of the robbers.

Graham wrote to me: “No work of non-fiction can explore character and culture like fiction, and in writing this I had a great deal of help from one of the train robbers, Tom Wisbey. I honestly believe that no other work of fiction (book or broadcast) better captures who the robbers really were.”

“I must also thank some old colleagues for helping me improve the many drafts – Andy Bicknell, Peter Holden, Wayne Clayton-Robb and Gerry Stuart. As I typed that last full-stop, I was aware that I have likely failed to mention the help of at least one other, so please forgive me.”

The Great Train Robbery and The South Coast Raiders is now available on Amazon, in hardback, paperback and Kindle editions, and on order from bookshops.

 

Notes:
This article first appeared in Retired Lines, the NARBTPO newsletter.
Other (non-fiction) books by Graham Satchwell can be found on our virtual BookShelf.

Gravestone Dedication

On Monday 29th April 2024, a memorial and dedication service took place at York Cemetery where wreaths were laid at the site of a new headstone, which will act as a lasting reminder of the life of PC Robert Smith.

Robert, aged 64 years, was killed during the early hours of the morning of the 29th April 1942, during the biggest raid by the Luftwaffe carried out on York in World War Two. PC Smith and LNER worker William Milner, were among 94 people who lost their lives during the Baedeker air raid.

See full webpage here: PC Robert Smith –  Memorial and Dedication Service

UPDATE:
The dedication ceremony was featured on the local regional ITV news, which included a short interview with BTPHG Treasurer John Owen:
🎥 LNER police officer honoured 82 years after he was killed in WW2 air raid at York Station

In another of our ‘The Story Behind the Picture’ series, BTPHG member and historian Kevin Gordon researches William Holman of the Brighton Railway Police; and from one sepia photograph he discovers a very interesting story.

From our HistoryBank – Research section:
A Policeman involved in a Sussex Disaster

For other well researched articles have a look at HistoryBank.

For more from Kevin go to Quirky Sussex History

Earlier this week retired BTP Officer and BTPHG member, Brian Deacon, was given an award by the International Police Association (BTP Branch).

In recognition of his 60 years of membership, the branch created the Brian Deacon Award, given to the Branch member who has most embodied the IPA and/or contributed significantly to the BTP Branch.

The Branch reported: “At our AGM earlier today in London we presented Brian with the first award for his many decades of service (he did smile in person, I promise). In the background is an article from the BTP Journal (Force magazine) from 1969 with Brian in his IPA role presenting a plaque.”

The BTP History Group would like to add our congratulations.

Sources: IPA_BTPBranch on ‘X’ / BTPHG Collections
The HG were able to assist in providing the image used at the ceremony.

 

New Crime Fiction Book

BTPHG member Gary Powell fills us in on his recent publication.

🚓 🚓 🚓

Following a long career in the British Transport Police (BTP) I’m often asked if I miss the ‘job’. Some aspects, for example: working long unsociable hours, the trail of never-ending paperwork and having your every move recorded and examined; then my answer would be certainly not. However I do miss the banter and the dark sense of humour shared among all members of the emergency services; behaviour which is frowned upon in today’s modern, woke police service. Of course some habits are hard to leave behind: sitting with your back to the wall facing the door in a pub comes to mind.

My first crime novel Mind the Killer introduces DI Ryan McNally and DS Marcia Frost; members of the BTP Major Investigations Team. McNally is a detective with some traditional views. Frost is young and very keen to impress. Both work in a unique policing environment and serve in a police force that is frequently over-looked in contemporary crime fiction and often mis-represented.

    The novel is set on London’s underground. When the skeletal remains of a male are discovered in an unused, subterranean, tunnel beneath Lambeth North London Underground station McNally and Frost are called in to investigate. It soon becomes apparent, from the crime scene examination, that the victim had been murdered and buried some twenty years earlier. Just as the pieces begin to fall into place a new mystery unfurls and lands on McNally’s desk. A string of female suicides across several London tube stations emerges to be a mask for a darkly orchestrated series of murders. As McNally’s team delves deeper, the eerie connection between the cold case they are investigating and the recent murders grows impossible to ignore.

    The London Underground has a community of workers serving a transient population of millions throwing up difficult challenges for any investigating detective. My novel will introduce a new world of police investigation to the crime reader and shine the spotlight on a very dedicated, hard-working, professional police force.

🚓 🚓 🚓

Gary is a member of the Crime Writers Association.

The book is widely available through all the usual channels – Amazon, WH Smith, Waterstones etc.

Gary has previously written four true crime non-fiction books.

 

A new award for UK emergency service workers who die in the line of duty has been announced today, after a campaign by the father of a murdered police officer.

Named after the late Queen, the Elizabeth Emblem will be given to the families of public servants.

The award is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which recognises members of the UK armed forces who have died in action or due to a terrorist attack.

The Elizabeth Emblem can be retrospectively awarded; eligible nominations will be for deaths which occurred on or after 1 January 1948 or have taken place in Palestine between 27 September 1945 and 31 December 1947, which mirrors the eligibility of the Elizabeth Cross.

The design of the Elizabeth Emblem includes a rosemary wreath – a symbol of remembrance – around the Tudor Crown.

It will be inscribed with “For A Life Given In Service” and will have the person’s name on the reverse. It will include a pin to allow the award to be worn on clothing by the next of kin of the deceased.

The Emblem recognises how the sacrifices made by public servants who have lost their lives as a result of their duty could be recognised within the honours system.

Relatives can apply for the Emblem on the government’s website: Elizabeth Emblem. They will be reviewed by the George Cross Committee and recommendations made via the Prime Minister to the King.

Sources:
BBC News
Gov.UK

Also see: BTP Roll of Honour (Line of Duty)

[Click image to go to the gallery.]

Our photo expert, Steve Beamon, has traced another picture taken at Kings Cross in 1924. This ties in with the photo of a larger group of other sporting teams taken on the same occasion.

Both photographs are available in the Sports and Social gallery.

HG member Ian Oliver advises that John Glyn DAVIS (known as Glyn), passed away on Thursday 25th January 2024 at the age of 91, at Lymington, in Hampshire.

Glyn joined the BTC Police in 1953 and retired 32 years later, having spent his entire service at Southampton Docks.

Although not an HG member Glyn did complete a HG Police Service Record and with it included a short memoir of his life. This is available in our HistoryBank section as:
Glyn Davis Recalls ……The reminiscences of an ex-Southampton Docks Officer

 

Just a reminder that we do ask retired Officers and Staff to complete a Police Service Record (PSR1) detailing their history with the Force. This will form part of an invaluable record of the BTP’s history which will otherwise be lost. As with Glyn, membership is not required, although new members most welcome.