Newsletter

history-lines

Each quarter our Secretary, Bill Rogerson, sends out a fresh copy of our newsletter – History Lines – to each member. His hard work in compiling each issue is greatly appreciated. Items include regular updates on the progress of the BTPHG, news relating to our sector of interest, and a regular feature – Memory Lane – where members contribute their recollections of their time in the BTP.

These pages contain selected highlights of items and articles that have appeared in previous editions. To receive a regular copy of History Lines you will, of course, have to join the Group!

 

1. Sergeant Alfred Loft

Extract from the June 2011 edition of History Lines (No. 22)
Steve Daly starts us off with a photograph and article on Sergeant Alfred Loft from his Great Eastern Railway Police collection…..

 

2. BTP Remembers Fallen Comrades.

Extract from the May 2010 edition of History Lines (No. 9)
The sacrifice and bravery of First World War soldiers was remembered across the Force in November 2009…..

 

3. A Tale of Two Brothers

Extract from the June 2010 edition of History Lines (No. 10)
A gentleman from the Granite City, Aberdeen, contacted the Force looking to trace a couple of his relatives……

 

4. The Midland Railway Police and The Great War by Bob Butcher

Extract from the July 2010 edition of History Lines (No. 11)
The news in Newsletter Number 9 that a party led by the Chief Constable himself had visited Ypres to pay tribute to the 109 Railway Policemen who lost their lives during the Great War was of considerable interest to me. It reminded me that some years ago…..

 

5. Augustine Sylvester Conlon

Extract from the July 2010 edition of History Lines (No. 11)
A photograph of some medals helps fill in some details of an old colleague, plus a web update solves a mystery.

 

6. The Closure of Tadworth? by Colin Thomas

Extract from the August 2010 edition of History Lines (No. 12)
A look back at a couple of previous attempts to sell off Tadworth Training School.
Does anyone know the current state of Tadworth? Are the buildings still standing? Have they been sold off? Let us know via the Contact page.

 

7. Changes in the Early Sixties by Bob Butcher

Extract from the September 2010 edition of History Lines (No. 13)
Bob reminisces on some significant changes to the BTP that brought the force closer to mainstream policing.

 

8. Police posts in the Birmingham area at or before October 1956

Extract from the November 2010 edition of History Lines (No. 15)
Eddy Breakwell shares his memories of Police posts that were known of when he joined the force, many of which were closed then or have been since. Additional comments by Bill Rogerson.

 

9. MEMORY LANE 70’s 80’s & 90’s

Extract from the December 2010 edition of History Lines (No. 16)
Following on from Eddy Breakwell’s Memory Lane snippets (above), Colin Bryan who joined at Birmingham New Street shares his career memories.

 

10. Down Memory ‘Line’.

Extract from the January 2011 edition of History Lines (No. 17)
Following on from Eddie Breakwell and Colin Bryan’s reminiscences of Police Posts past, Bob Davison continues the theme.

 

11. Southern Railway Police Vehicle

Extract from the March 2011 edition of History Lines (No. 19)
Can you identify the location in this photograph?

 

12. Docks and Canals

Extract from the April 2011 edition of History Lines (No. 20)
Bob Butcher recalls the absorption of various dock and canal forces into the BTC police.

 

13. In the Poet a Detective

Extract from the April 2011 edition of History Lines (No. 20)
Glyn Thomas looks at a little known railway policeman, whose poetry is remembered by many…..

 

14. Wardens

Extract from the May 2011 edition of History Lines (No. 21)
Bob Butcher recalls the introduction of security wardens…..

 

15. Criminal Investigation – Old Style

Extract from the June 2011 edition of History Lines (No. 22)
Bob Butcher remembers crime reporting from yesteryear…..

 

16. Railway Police And The Great War

Extract from the August 2011 edition of History Lines (No. 24)
A short piece on the roll of the railway police in the First World War.
See also First World War – Roll of Honour.

 

17. The Night Ferry 

Extract from the October 2011 edition of History Lines (No. 26)
A Young Constable’s Nightmare…..

 

18. The Southampton Docks Police – Birth of the Division

Extracts from the November and December 2011 editions of History Lines (No. 27 & 28)
The formation of Policing of Southampton Docks, Town Quay and the Terminus Railway Station.

 

19. Career Memories 1965 – 1993

Extract from the January 2012 edition of History Lines (No. 29)
Gil Tyler reminisces on some of the highlights of his career…..

 

20. Working on the Royal Train

Extract from the February 2012 edition of History Lines (No. 30)
Ralph Orchard shares some memories of first trip aboard the Royal Train…..

 

21. Remembrance

Extract from the March 2012 edition of History Lines (No. 31)
Bob Butcher comments on the GWR Roll of Honour and also on military service in the Second World War…..

 

22. The Southampton Docks Police (Part Two) – Birth of the Division

Extracts from the July and August 2012 editions of History Lines (No. 35 & 36)
David Caplehorn continues his examination of the Minute Books held at the Southampton Archive…..

 

23. Recollections of PC Peter Park, a North Eastern Railway Policeman

Extracts from the March and April 2014 editions of History Lines (No. 55 & 56)
Peter Park gives an interesting insight into his long career…..

 

24. Charles Albert Tyrell – the story behind the picture

Extract from the September 2012 edition of History Lines (No. 37)
Mrs Doris Summers gives an insight into the life of her father…..

 

25. The Ash Vale Murders

Extract from the November 2012 edition of History Lines (No. 39)
W. O. Gay looks at a murder in transit…..

 

26. Beyond the Angels’ Share
Extract from the December 2012 edition of History Lines (No. 40)
Tracking down the whisky thief…..

 

27. The Great Storm, 1987

Extracts from the January and February 2013 editions of History Lines (No. 41 & 42)
Rob Ekins recalls the storm as it affected one group of officers…..

 

28. Wipers Lines
The History Lines Special Edition documenting a BTPHG trip Ypres…..

 

29. Promotion Exams
Extract from the February 2013 edition of History Lines (No. 42)
Bob Butcher examines an earlier route to promotion…..

 

30. Janet Barker – the story behind the picture
Extract from the September 2015 edition of History Lines (No. 73)
We deal with an enquiry and find out about the life behind the photo…..

 

31. The Birmingham Bombings
Extract from the March 2013 edition of History Lines (No. 43)
Keith Fleetwood recalls the events of 1973 / 74 …..

 

32. The Sands of Time Revisited
Extract from the April 2013 edition of History Lines (No. 44)
Ian Murray looks into the theft of whisky…..

 

33. Zero to Hero
Extract from the May 2013 edition of History Lines (No. 45)
Ian Murray remembers sporting triumphs and the BTP’s contribution…..

 

34. Make the Difference Awards 2019
Extract from the January 2020 edition of History Lines (No. 125)
Glyn Thomas reports from this years ceremony…..

 

35.The History of the BTP Scenes of Crime Department
Extract from the September 2020 edition of History Lines (No. 128)
Martin Thurston recalls the early days of SOCO…..

 

36. Obituary: Chief Constable Desmond O’Brien CBE QPM
Extract from the March 2022 edition of History Lines (No. 135)
Paul Robb pays tribute to the former BTP Chief Constable

 

37. Memories of Birmingham Snow Hill
Extract from the March 2018 edition of History Lines (No. 103)
Rob Davison looks at the history of Snow Hill.