feature

In Days Gone By…

Tales of a Cambridgeshire Country Copper continued

It was not until1851 that the Police Service was created throughout the county. As Cambridgeshire did not have a county town negotiations were held with Royston to try to get them to fill the position. However, efforts failed and in 1896 Royston opted to remain in Hertfordshire.

Cambridgeshire had its fair share of large villages so police stations with a magistrate’s court were built. We had one at Melbourn and one at Arrington. Over the years they became known as section stations and a Sergeant was normally in charge.

Suffice to note that Melbourn has had a police presence for over 150 years.

My first posting after returning from training school was Melbourn, in February 1951 where the late Sergeant Jimmy Adams was in charge of the area which bordered on Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Consequently the police operations for this area started in Melbourn. It was a large and busy operational station and in addition to the sergeant’s car we also had two motor cycles for use by police officers based at Melbourn and Arrington. After 12 months I was posted to Harston as Beat Officer.

In the late 1950’s a purpose built modern station was erected on a site just off the High Street in Melbourn and Sergeant Adams was the first occupant of the sergeant’s house. On the 16th May 1962 I became the third sergeant to be posted to Melbourn and occupy the station house with my family. I remained a sergeant until Nov 1976 when I was promoted to Inspector.

My days as a Police Officer have been the subject of many articles published in the village magazine and have been an eye opener to the readers what is entailed in being a section officer. Many favourable comments have been made. Those were the days when police officers and the sergeant were seen on the streets at any given time either on foot, cycles, on motor cycles or in the sergeant’s car and could be approached at any time should the need arise.

I have to admit I personally feel very sad to learn that the police site has been sold bringing to an end a permanent police presence in Melbourn.

One thing I can say is I am very proud of being the last of Melboum’s ‘old fashioned police sergeants’, available to help, 24 hours a day, seven days a week for over 14 years.

One of the highlights of being a local officer is that people talk to you.

During one chat I learnt that a well known TV personality was soon to get married at a local church. On being given the name of the groom 1 knew there would be public interest so another officer and I attended the occasion and I must add that for safety reasons it was necessary, but the scene was enjoyed by all. Who was the groom? None other than ‘Private Pike’ from Dad’s Army, Ian Lavender. Ron Brooksbank