Police Constable Keith Winter
The late Constable Keith Winter joined the British Transport Police as a Cadet at Hull Docks in 1964, and was duly appointed Constable in 1967.
On the morning of Friday 23rd October 1970, a B.R.S. lorry, conveying a propane gas tank, attempted to enter St. Andrew’s Dock, Hull, via the subway from West Dock Street to Billingsgate Crossing. The tank valve caught the overhead railway bridge and gas escaped. P.C. Winter was informed and immediately entered the tunnel to render assistance. There was a terrific explosion and P.C. Winter received extremely severe burns. He died in hospital on 23rd November. Nineteen civilians were injured and one, aged 49, also died in hospital.
Constable Winter was 22 years of age and had been married five months.
The funeral service took place at Beverley Minster on 27th November 1970 and was attended by a large number of Police Officers from our own Force, the Kingston upon Hull City Police and York and North East Yorkshire Constabulary. Also present were L. H. Bradley, Esq., Area Commander, H. W. Martin, Esq.. Divisional Police Superintendent, Chief Inspector L. R. Cockerton, Mr. J. A. Lacey, Chief Docks Manager and Mr. R. Carr, Development Manager, British Transport Docks Board, and members of the Hull Royal Infirmary staff.
Keith’s parents wished to set up a memorial to their son and donated a Cup in his name. The Keith Winter Cup was to be awarded to each year to the Probationer who achieved the “highest aggregate marks” during his or her training.
Below is a list recipients of the Cup:
For highest aggregate marks:
| 1971 | Pc Keith GROVES | Coventry |
| 1972 | Pc Anthony THOMPSON | Hull Docks |
| 1973 | Pc A WHITE | Doncaster |
| 1974 | Pc Colin D S SINCLAIR | Victoria |
| 1975 | Pc Stephen LLOYD | Waterloo |
| 1976 | Pc Michael REAL | Victoria |
| 1977 | Pc Paul B SCUTTS | Victoria |
| 1978 | Pc Robert CRUMPTON | Bradford |
| 1979 | Pc Steven GALLAGHER | Kings Cross |
| 1980 | No Award Traced | |
| 1981 | Pc David S PENNINGTON | Leeds |
| 1982 | Pc Steven BORSZOWSKI | York |
| 1983 | Pc G BATCHELOR | Baker Street |
| 1984 | Pc Steven DELEMERE | Stockwell |
The awarding of the Cup was suspended when a reorganisation of police training made it impossible to fulfil the criteria.
In the 1992, with the approval of the original donors, Mr & Mrs Winter, the Cup was rededicated to be awarded for meritorious police work by a Probationary Constable.
For meritorious Police work by a Probationary officer:
| 1993 | Pc John F CLEMENT | Aldgate |
| 1994 | Pc David HEANUE | Hammersmith |
| 1995 | Pc Brendan MALLEN | Aldgate |
| 1998 | Pc Marion CRANE | Stockwell |
| 1999 | Pc Tara C DOYLE | Hammersmith |
| 2002 | Pc K. SPENCER | Baker St |
| 2003 | Pc Thomas NAUGHTON | Tottenham Court Road |
| 2005 | Pc S BREARY | York |
| 2018 | Pc Ryan ARNOLD | South Yorkshire Team |
Whilst this now completes the list of recipients, I still have to track down the citations for the post-1992 awards.
I would also like to identify the following: Pc A WHITE Doncaster (1973), Pc G BATCHELOR Baker Street (1983), Pc K SPENCER Baker St (2002) and Pc S BREARY York (2005).
If anybody can put a first name to any of these – or indeed, if your name appears in this list – please contact me.
Project Manager: Colin Sinclair
Contact Details: colin.sinclair@btphg.org.uk
See the main Project Profile page: Whitbread Shield / Keith Winter Cup Project
For more information on other current BTPHG Projects go to the Projects page.