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Birmingham City Police 1839 - 1974

Wobblyclogs said:
The ventriloquist tale had more substance; Ackerman was pretty talented as a comic. He convinced a visiting Chief Inspector from up North that we had 'radio-pens' for use on stake-outs, by doing an impromptu vent act with his Parker pen! !

Just one more reminisce.. Who recalls the Sturdy brothers, Bob and Jim?

John
[/QUOTE Unfortunately they both passed away recently. I knew both of them Two great characters. Sad loss taken too soon
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Hi all Paul Such here I have just joined the forum I was in Birmingham City Police from 1960 to 1965 when I left to come to Australia Initially stationed at Sparkhill as F119 living in single men's quarters there and then at Kings Heath until transferring to Traffic Motorcycle patrols at Duke Street as R 348 does anyone remmeber me?
 
George1468 said:
Hi James, I worked with your father on Traffic about 1963, he was known as Ken, lovely chap with a good sense of humour. Mind you in those days you had to have a sense of humour other-wise you wouldn't survive. Others around at the time were Leo Harris, Ken Fisher (the white boot man). The Vicar -Stan Green, Bullet 'R'. 303. I will explain the 'White boot man' If anyone visited Duke Street Garage and stood talking for more than a minute. They would leave with white painted boots. Your mom and dad lived at the back of the Odeon Perry Barr. As mentioned previously he died whilst pushing a car. A tragic loss.
George Thursfield.
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Yes I was one of those who got their boots painted white
 
Does anybody know Martin Green joined Birmingham City Police after demob from the Coldstream Guards in 1960 discharged on medical grounds in the 60s went to work for the Birmingham Mail.
 
New police badges from Firmin Ltd, Aston in 1967. Viv.70240F40-DCA3-44A8-A0C2-E192AC230886.jpeg
Source: British Newspaper Archive
 
rick said:
Reading through posts reminded me of Green Lane baths, 2301307229_73400b00d0_z.jpg every Tuesday night (I think) it was for Police and their families. I remember the victorian interior with the changing rooms around the pool. My sister and I used to catch the bus from our Police house in Sheldon and after got chips and a pickled onion from the chippie down the road before catching the bus back, early 60's. I remember watching the Police water polo matches of which my Dad was a player, I learnt to swim there, its a real shame the interior was not protected as a "listed interior". Its now a mosque now I believe?
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My dad, Doug Corrie, also played water polo there. Rick, what was your dad's name?
 
Hi Grea...
I knew John Butler, your brother-in-law very well. I got on quite well with him, as although I was a 'nozzer' so to speak, I was almost 27 when I joined the force. He was somewhat older than me, and yes he was a character indeed; a dry wit, and no lack of 'smarts'. Well thought of by the gaffers, and most everyone else who knew him. Most of his age group were the backbone of the force. He used to regale us with tales of his National Service, in Aden, (if I am not mistaken) and he had a full 'handlebar' moustache at one point. He plodded the beat from Thornhill Road too, for a while, and lived in Handsworth Wood if I recall correctly. There is BBC footage of him in connection with a serious incident in the mid nineteen-seventies.
Thanks for the memory.

John Walker
 
aschuck said:
Thanks for the response! No he didn’t need a radio God Bless Him. Yes I am his son and was in the job 1972_2005. My son was wise enough to choose a different career! Where did you work with my dad?
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The same place I seem to remember meeting you! :) At Thornhill. I was on the Dog Section at the time, and Ted cost me a brace of high profile prisoners, as he wouldn't let me come in to speak to CID! Happy days.

John Walker (Retired 1990)
 
Paul G said:
Hi all Paul Such here I have just joined the forum I was in Birmingham City Police from 1960 to 1965 when I left to come to Australia Initially stationed at Sparkhill as F119 living in single men's quarters there and then at Kings Heath until transferring to Traffic Motorcycle patrols at Duke Street as R 348 does anyone remmeber me?
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You might recall Roger Ryder, Ken Wareham and Ralph Pettit then?

John Walker
 
We had a cop living just across the road from us in the 1940s a Mr Summers stationed at Kingstanding, he'd wave his finger at us when we were playing football/cricket in the road as he went off on his bike but never bothered us much.
 
Wobblyclogs said:
Hi Grea...
I knew John Butler, your brother-in-law very well. I got on quite well with him, as although I was a 'nozzer' so to speak, I was almost 27 when I joined the force. He was somewhat older than me, and yes he was a character indeed; a dry wit, and no lack of 'smarts'. Well thought of by the gaffers, and most everyone else who knew him. Most of his age group were the backbone of the force. He used to regale us with tales of his National Service, in Aden, (if I am not mistaken) and he had a full 'handlebar' moustache at one point. He plodded the beat from Thornhill Road too, for a while, and lived in Handsworth Wood if I recall correctly. There is BBC footage of him in connection with a serious incident in the mid nineteen-seventies.
Thanks for the memory.

John Walker
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Thanks for your reply and memories of John. We always enjoyed his company, always cheery and a decent chap, we miss him a lot. I wonder if the tv programme is available on archive. Best wishes G
 
Hello G.

If you'd like, I can elaborate more on this. If you send me a private message I can answer it there.

Regards John
 
I have discovered that my Great Grandfather x2 stated he was a constable in the 1841 census, and as he lived in Cheapside at the time, I am assuming he was in the Birmingham City Police. I have written to the folks at the W. Mids Police museum to check heir archives to see if he is there. While I wait for them to come back to me, can anyone recommend any good sources about policing in Birmingham at the time that could give me some background - I know the basics about the founding of the force, but I'm particularly curious about life on the beat. Cheers.
 
Welcome MdeL. Although this article (post#1 in the link below) is specific to Duke Street Station, there are parts of the background material that could apply to any area. Viv.

Duke Street Police Station Gosta Green

An interesting read about the station and police history. I’ve numbered the pages. Images quite poor but they accompany the article. Viv. Source: British Newspaper Archive
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk
 
rowan said:
Anyone remember Graham Kent a Cornishman in Birmingham police force?
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Does anyone remember a young Police Woman from 1969 to 1970 a Jennifer Bradshaw she was a nice girl met her for drinks in the Queens Head in town a number of times that was back in the day Raz X
 
Vivienne14 said:
Welcome MdeL. Although this article (post#1 in the link below) is specific to Duke Street Station, there are parts of the background material that could apply to any area. Viv.

Duke Street Police Station Gosta Green

An interesting read about the station and police history. I’ve numbered the pages. Images quite poor but they accompany the article. Viv. Source: British Newspaper Archive
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk
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This is so interesting. Thanks for taking the trouble to share, Viv.
 
MdeL said:
I have discovered that my Great Grandfather x2 stated he was a constable in the 1841 census, and as he lived in Cheapside at the time, I am assuming he was in the Birmingham City Police. I have written to the folks at the W. Mids Police museum to check heir archives to see if he is there. While I wait for them to come back to me, can anyone recommend any good sources about policing in Birmingham at the time that could give me some background - I know the basics about the founding of the force, but I'm particularly curious about life on the beat. Cheers.
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HI
There are several books available from West Midlands Police Heritage Museum. They are 1) A Fair Cop, 2) Condition Red, 3) Out Of The Blue Police Strike 1919 4) Birmingham The Sinister Side 5) The Birmingham Central Lock Up. There is also another book An Account of 150 Years of Policing Birmingham by John Reilly Isbn 0951515209.
Hope this helps.
 
A WOODHALL said:
HI
There are several books available from West Midlands Police Heritage Museum. They are 1) A Fair Cop, 2) Condition Red, 3) Out Of The Blue Police Strike 1919 4) Birmingham The Sinister Side 5) The Birmingham Central Lock Up. There is also another book An Account of 150 Years of Policing Birmingham by John Reilly Isbn 0951515209.
Hope this helps.
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A quick update. My GG Grandfather was indeed in the Birmingham City Police. He enrolled as constable no31 in November 1839 making him one of the original police officers for the city, so there are a number of records specific to him that are still in the archive, and the W Mids Police Museum folks have kindly digitised and sent them to me. Enormously helpful!!! Sadly, he doesn't have a great record! He was dismissed after just over a year having consistently been late for duty, been found drunk in various places, loitering and gossiping (often with prostitutes) and possibly dealing in stolen goods. The last straw seems to have been not showing up for duty or inspection one day and then being found drunk in a brothel! The good news is, that I think the woman he married shortly afterwards may have sorted him out, as after 6 weeks he was re-instated and served then until 1845 (though they don't have his disciplinary record for that period). Many thanks again to the volunteers at the museum, especially a chap called Bernard, for doing the research for me.
 
MdeL said:
A quick update. My GG Grandfather was indeed in the Birmingham City Police. He enrolled as constable no31 in November 1839 making him one of the original police officers for the city, so there are a number of records specific to him that are still in the archive, and the W Mids Police Museum folks have kindly digitised and sent them to me. Enormously helpful!!! Sadly, he doesn't have a great record! He was dismissed after just over a year having consistently been late for duty, been found drunk in various places, loitering and gossiping (often with prostitutes) and possibly dealing in stolen goods. The last straw seems to have been not showing up for duty or inspection one day and then being found drunk in a brothel! The good news is, that I think the woman he married shortly afterwards may have sorted him out, as after 6 weeks he was re-instated and served then until 1845 (though they don't have his disciplinary record for that period). Many thanks again to the volunteers at the museum, especially a chap called Bernard, for doing the research for me.
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Hi MdeL, I have loved reading this post, it has given me a good laugh (hope you don’t mind) it is really funny. Not so I know back in the day and for your GG Grandfather but he did get a second chance and obviously proved that he was dedicated to the job. Thank you, Jen
 
I can’t be sure, but could these have been the children of serving policemen ? Or would they have been local children ? Or connected with a particular charity/organisation ? Viv.

9D96446B-3C0C-432C-A95B-EFA3E1DD2149.jpeg
Source: British Newspaper Archive
 
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