News, Views and Comments (BLOG)

Congratulations to PC Benjamin Hawkins on the award of the British Empire Medal (B.E.M.).

Ben has been recognised for his outstanding service to Emergency Care, Staff Wellbeing, and Mental Health. He currently volunteers as a Community First Responder with East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

His volunteering work inspired him to campaign for improved mental health support within the emergency services.

Prior to joining BTP in 2024, Ben worked as a Call Handler and Dispatch Team Leader with the Ambulance Service.

More details here: Peterborough Telegraph and here BBC News.

The Honours page has been updated.

 

 

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all at the BTPHG!

2025 sees the 200th anniversary of train travel since 1825. On the 27, September 1825 the Stockton and Darlington railway ran a steam train carrying members of the public for the first time. A few months later on the 30, June 1826 came the first recorded mention of a police establishment of one Superintendent, four officers and a number of Constable or ‘Gatekeepers’. One of the Constables was PC Metcalfe and a crude oil painting of him in his red tunic and been seen at the National Railway Museum in York. Joseph Sedgwick was the earliest known name of a railway policeman who served at Stockton in 1825, 200 years ago next year.

On 19 September 2024 Railway 200 festival was launched in Darlington. This is a national event throughout the United Kingdom. It will officially. commence on 1 January 2025. One of the highlights will include an exhibition train which will tour Britain calling at various stations and depots.

Further details can be found on the website: Railway 200
and within the various railway magazines on sale.

Additional post: Whistle-Up for New Year’s Day

In another of our occasional ‘The Story Behind the Picture’ series, the purchase of a postcard from the 1930s leads to a connection to a serving BTP officer.

Go to LMS Police Carlisle 1931

 

For other well researched articles have a look at HistoryBank.

As we approach Remembrance Day it is time again to reflect on those RDC officers who were killed during the conflicts, either overseas or on duty.

A reminder that we have the Roll of Honour pages detailing those officers.

The 2024 Poppy Appeal for the Royal British Legion is well underway. There are volunteer collectors out on the streets and stations. You can also donate online.

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

Retired Police Dogs Teddy & Robbie wearing poppies for remembrance of our armed forces & service animals both past and present. Especially those who lost their lives in service.

Photo from the Railway Dogs Benevolent Fund

Purple poppies available from Murphy’s Army Purple Poppy Campaign

 

 

Today we remember those who made sacrifices in the line of duty.

For more see the Police Remembrance Trust

The Ladbroke Grove Train Crash Commemorative Events

This year sees the 25th Anniversary of the Ladbroke Grove Train Crash. The commemorative events are being co-ordinated by the BTP History Group Chair, Tony Thompson.

Details below:
(click on poster to enlarge)

 

See also the Clapham Junction Memorial

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.