Author: Martin McKay

Update for the Updates

You may have noticed that we have a new entry in the ‘Pages’ column to the right of the screen called ‘Website Updates’.
Unsurprisingly this links to the new Website Updates page. If you are a regular visitor to the site it’s a handy page to look at to see what new articles and items of interest have been added to the website recently.

Of course smaller items, such as photographs in the Photo Gallery, are being added all the time – so it’s still worth having a look around the site to see what you might find!

Tadworth – the beginning of the end?

It was reported last week in the Surrey Mirror local newspaper that Berkeley Homes have now formally submitted a planning application to build 13 homes on the St. Cross site, formerly the British Transport Police Training Centre at Tadworth, Surrey. The old buildings are to be completely demolished. Thanks to Geraldine Joyce this fact was highlighted on the BTP Group on Facebook (closed group) and a considerable amount of interest was generated amongst Group members. Several people expressed an interest in paying a last visit to Tadworth and this seemed a good opportunity to make a photographic record of the building before demolition.

The BTPHG had already made contact with Berkeley Homes with a view to having a plaque erected somewhere on the site to mark the nearly 60 years of BTP occupation. Rob Davison, who had originally suggested the plaque had been the BTPHG liaison point with Berkeley; and so today (Wednesday 5th December 2012) Rob made contact with them to see if such a visit could be organised.

Unfortunately the news is bad. Berkeley consider that the property is not safe to visit in its current condition. The interior was stripped of anything of value or interest at the behest of the Police Authority when the building was about to be handed over to Berkeley. Since then, floorboards have been removed, ceilings have fallen in due to water damage, and the place is virtually gutted, particularly in the search for the dreaded asbestos! Of course, Health & Safety considerations also come into this and we should be mindful of Berkeley’s responsibilities in this respect. This also applies to anyone just wanting to photograph the outside of the buildings. Berkeley do have some photographs of the outside that were taken after the hand-over and are willing to share these with us. We would therefore suggest that no-one be tempted to try and gain access to the site.

So a disappointing end to our connection with Tadworth. On the plus side we are still pressing ahead with the proposed plaque.

Also, I have today started a new Photo Gallery on this website with a selection of photos from the Tadworth archives. It is still in the early stages, but already a few gems are present.

Project Update: Keith Winter Cup

Following on from last month’s good news (below) about the intention to re-instate the presentation of the Keith Winter Cup, Project Manager Colin Sinclair has now completed an interim report on the history of the award.

This includes a full listing of recipients and the background to the award. There are, however, still some items that Colin could do some help with.

Please go to: Keith Winter Cup.

Project Update: Whitbread Shield

The Whitbread Shield
The Whitbread Shield

 

Colin Sinclair advises me that the Whitbread Shield part of his Project is almost complete. In the meantime he has prepared an extensive report from his endeavours so far.

See the update on the Whitbread Shield / Keith Winter Cup Project Profile page.

It comes complete with news of the Shield itself and a description of the merits that led to the granting of the awards.

For more information on other current BTPHG Projects go to the Projects page.

UPDATE: September 2012

And the good news is:-
I have just been advised by the Chief Constable’s Office that the Keith Winter Cup and the Whitbread Shield have been reunited at FHQ and that said office is working on a procedure to re-instate these awards for outstanding police work by a probationer and an established officer respectively. My personal thanks go to everybody who has helped to uncover these items, bring them into the daylight and back into the consciousness of the powers that be!

In the meantime the Project continues on the remaining goals to achieved.

Colin Sinclair

Website Update: November

Poppy Appeal
Click here to donate.

 

We have made quite a few additions to the website in recent weeks.

In addition to our ‘Short Papers’ articles in the Police History section, we now have ‘Proceedings of the Old Bailey’ a series of historic transcripts from trials at the Central Criminal Court which have a connection to our subject. Additional transcripts will be added regularly over the next few months.

We have also begun posting extracts from our regular Newsletter – History Lines – and again, these will be added to on a regular basis.

Perhaps most fittingly, in early November, we have our second Roll of Honour. This time dedicated to Officers from the various Railway Police Forces who died serving their country in The Great War. This has been compiled by Committee Member and long time force historian Kevin Gordon and we are very grateful for his efforts.

Lastly there have been a couple of additions to the Photo Gallery.