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We are a voluntary organisation under the auspices of The Thames Valley Police, with a committee of serving officers and a retired police officer. | |
The curator, Ron Spendloff, is a retired Metropolitan Police Officer who resides in Newport Pagnell. The picture shows him impersonating a 'Peeler ' during the London Branch of the I.P.A.'s tribute to the Metropolitan Police 150 anniversary celebrations in 1979, when over 200 reps. from foreign Forces attended. The museum contains a collection of memorablia from two decades in The Force. It includes over 130 hats/helmets world-wide, numerous uniforms, truncheons and handcuffs, and many other items. These have been augmented by donations from relatives of members of the local Force, and include over 600 model police cars, a hundred or so model motorcycles, summons books and a cell book. |
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The cell book covers a period from 1904 and gives an indication of problems encountered with inmates of ' Rennie Lodge ' the local work-house, and receiving sentences of Hard Labour, also the period of the First World War with large numbers shown as deserters and absentees from the various Forces.
The hand ambulance already noted, would have been used for accident victims, as well as for the conveyance of drunks to the 'nick'. You could say they were the fore-runner of the para-medics wearing their first aid proficiency badge on the sleeve. A man-trap emphasises excerpts relating to the poaching of conies, fortunately made illegal circa 1885 as compared to the 'hand-made' stocks and 'pillory', both circa 1996. The hand-operated air raid siren with the early warning equipment is given a twirl for the benefit of the younger generation, with a personal account of school-days during the Second World War. A personal encounter with the legend himself, namely Jack Warner, has resulted in a corner set aside with items of interest: the helmet worn during the filming of 'Dixon of Dock Green'; a personally signed photograph; and a scroll giving him unlimited access to police station canteens contained in a casket with references to 'The Blue Lamp', 'Mind My Bike', and 'Writing a Letter home to His Mum'. Pride of place is given to a letter received from Sir Douglas Bader, when he was invited to attend the farewell 'Do' by Ron Spendloff, at the Baden Powell H.Q. in 1982, in which he suggested help would be needed to carry the culprit out at the end of the day. He resided in the area covered by Ron as Home Beat Officer. Trying to make an impression, Ron had discovered a ground floor window to his Mews House open and pointed this out, only to be told that everyone on the other side of the mews had us under observation. This was an instance of 'Neighbourhood Watch'. |
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