11 minute read
PC Joe Smith
Evenin’ all
Policing in the 50s and 60s was in many ways encapsulated in the long-running TV serial Dixon of Dock Green. Deeping had its own Dixon – he was PC Joe Smith.
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Born in Colleyweston, he saw service in the RAF in the Second World War when he was stationed in Louth and survived being a rear gunner. He moved to Deeping with his wife, Nell (nee Riggall) and four daughters in 1958. They lived in the Police House on the corner at number 2 Market Place. It was previously a Sergeant’s house and people often referred to Joe as Sergeant. He said with four daughters in the house he couldn’t concentrate for long enough to take the relevant exams!
Living in the heart of what was then a rural village, the family would be given pheasants and rabbits at Christmas which Nell used to pluck and draw. Nell worked in the butcher’s shop, Mayfields, sited where Briggs Estate Agents are now. This was the era of teddy boys and it wasn’t unknown for Joe to give them a clip round the ear for some misdemeanour, and they thought it was better than being booked and getting a criminal record.
However, Joe was strict when it came to abiding by the highway code and he was often at Bourne Magistrates’ Court with motoring offences as well as dangerous dogs and the usual drunks. There was one long-running dispute with William Mulligan of the Harlequin Café in Church Street, who would park on the wrong side of the road in the hours of darkness. Mulligan told the Court that opposite his house was a garage and he often found it difficult to get onto the proper side of the road; no one had ever complained and the summons came down on him like ‘a ton of bricks!’ He was given a conditional discharge on payment of four shillings costs. piece of kit, he mounted many expeditions to try and recover it, and on one such in October 1960 he was accompanied by his children Alan, Marilyn and David. A metallic gleam on the river bed revived his hopes but his catch proved more sinister than a rowlock! It was a 3.7 inch anti aircraft shell, its steel case badly rusted but with the brass proximity fuse and copper driving band in good condition. Said Dick, ‘We were about 50 yards above the bridge, poking about for the rowlock, when Alan spotted the glint of metal in about 18 inches of water. He picked it out with his hand and we all got a bit of a shock when we saw what it was.’ The
shell was handed to PC Smith who informed the bomb disposal officer at RAF Wittering.
In 1963 Nell gave birth to a little boy, Paul who had Down’s syndrome. His sister, Margaret remembers, ‘He had a fantastic memory and had lots of toy cars of which he knew all the names.’ Unfortunately Paul, like many Down’s children had a hole in the heart and he didn’t survive an operation to cure it. He died in 1971 at the age of eight but says Margaret ‘We were all so thankful to have had him in our family but he certainly left a big hole.’
In his spare time in 1962 Joe set up a meeting in Market Deeping which was to see the establishment of a youth club. In December 1964 he took part in a film written by Brian Branch and Kenneth Charity and made by students of Deeping Secondary Modern School called In the Long Run. The action-packed film told the story of two boys, played by Tony Martin and Graham Bush, who escaped from an approved school. Following their adventures and after a realistic fight they were captured and led into the Police Station by none other than PC Smith!
His three eldest daughters married in quick succession, all in St Guthlac’s Church. These were the days of grand church weddings which followed a similar pattern, with the rector, Revd Davies officiating and Mrs Mathias on the organ. In a magnificent wedding in July 1964 Anne, a hairdresser at Margaret Evans of Church St., Market Deeping, married Ronald Blessett, an architectural assistant of 87 Horsegate. Both had been connected with the Youth Group since its formation and the groom had been a leader. The bride, in a gown of white Nottingham lace over taffeta, was given away by her father. Her bouffant veil was held by a headdress of roses and she carried apricot roses and stephanotis. Her marcasite necklace was a gift from the groom. The bridesmaids, sister Margaret and cousin of the groom, Tina Grace, wore short dresses of apricot lace over net and taffeta with white accessories and headdresses of white leaves, and their silver necklaces were a gift of the groom. The best man was Graham Mitchell (groom’s cousin) and groomsmen and ushers were Arthur Bickers (groom’s uncle) Paul Braddick (brother-inlaw) and Alf Maddison. The choir sang and the organ trumpeted. The bride was presented with lucky tokens by Clive and Malcolm Grace and Elaine Toull (cousins). A reception for over 100 was held at The Georgians after which the happy couple left for a honeymoon on the south coast, the bride travelling in a coral two-piece with white accessories.
Maureen (Mo) married Malcolm Butcher, owner of MFB Fabrications of Suttons Lane, in 1965. She wore a satin gown falling into a train with a waistlength veil held be a single satin rose, she carried a bouquet of red rose buds and lily of the valley. Her sister, Margaret and Susan Butcher, the groom’s cousin, were in attendance and wore red velvet dresses carrying balls of white carnations held by white ribbon. The best man was Derek Wilson, cousin of the groom, and ushers were Ronald Blessett and Ken Butcher (uncle of the groom). The church was resplendent with spring flowers, the work of the bride, her sister and the groom’s mother, and the choir was in fine voice. As the couple left the church, the bride was presented with a black cat token by Paul, her brother. After a reception at The Georgians the couple left for their honeymoon, the bride wearing a cream suit with
Joe and Nell Smith
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navy accessories. They made their home in Colleyweston.
In March 1966 Patricia, now a telephonist with the Peterborough Citizen & Advertiser, married Jim Colman, an employee of Peterborough City Council, who came from Stanground. Patricia wore a full-length dress of white figured brocade with a train and white veil; her headdress was of roses and the bouquet of deep red roses, white hyacinth pips and lily of the valley. She wore a silver locket and chain, a gift of the groom. Best man was Malcolm Butcher, ushers Ronald Blessett and Ronald Coleman. On leaving the church Paul, who was now getting used to this, and his cousin Nicola, presented horseshoes to the bride. This time the reception was at the New Inn, now The Stage, after which the newlyweds left for their honeymoon, the bride wearing a light blue suit with navy accessories. The couple set up home in Peterborough.
In 1965 Joe had left the police force and the family moved across the road to 102 Church Street where he started Deepings Advanced Driving School, his motto being ’better be late Mr Smith than the late Mr Smith! However, he missed the police force and rejoined in the summer of 1966 moving the family to Grantham and then to Stamford.
Eventually ill health forced Joe’s retirement from the force and he, Nell and Margaret returned to live at 10 Church Gate, Deeping St James. In 1976 he was nominated to fight for a District Council seat for the Conservatives and a year later also became a County Councillor. He fought for a bypass for Market Deeping and maintained an interest in the Youth Group which he had initiated.
In September 1973, Margaret married Michael, the third son of Mr and Mrs Chambers of Woodnewton. The wedding was at St Guthlac’s, the bride wearing a Nottingham lace dress with a tiered hem and a short matching veil held in place by a flowered headdress. She carried a bouquet of yellow rosebuds, lilies of the valley and freesias wearing a gold locket which was a gift of the groom. Bridesmaids were Nicola and Rachel Butcher, Jacqueline Blessett, and Fiona and Sharon Coleman (the bride’s nieces). They wore full-length lemon and white cotton border print dresses and pearl drop necklaces, gifts from the groom, and carried white chrysanthemums and yellow rosebuds. The best man was the groom’s brother and ushers were Ronald Blessett and Malcolm Butcher. The church was decorated by the mothers of the bride and groom, the bride and her sisters with chrysanthemums, dahlias and greenery. Mrs Mathias played the organ. After the reception at the Deepings Secondary School the couple flew to Austria, the bride wearing a black-and-white short-sleeved suit accessorised with white. The couple settled in Woodgate, Helpston.
Obviously a family man and dedicated to the community Joe was also remembered as a character and could often be found having a pint or two at The Bull. He ended his days in Maxey House in 2004, his wife having predeceased him in 1997. But for Deeping he will go down in the annals of history as ‘our’ Dixon of Dock Green!
Anne & Ronald Blessett 1964
Margaret & Michael Chambers 1973
DEEPING ST JAMES PHARMACY DEEPING PHARMACY
Deeping St James Pharmacy
We are small independent, family run pharmacy and we pride ourselves on the personal touch. You will see the same friendly faces here along with a quick dispensing turn around time and we also offer free delivery to vulnerable patients. REPEAT PRESCRIPTION FORM
If you take regular prescribed medication, you will know how time-consuming it can be to go to the doctors’ surgery, then to collect your prescription and go to your chemist FREE BLISTER PACKAGING OF MEDICATION Deeping St James Pharmacy can help. We will order and collect your prescription from the surgery. This will then be dispensed ready for you to collect or to have delivered to you*. It saves time, no waiting for stock to be ordered. One call to order that’s all you need to do. JUST FILL IN THE DETAILS AND WE WILL DO THE REST
We are offering a new service to the area – free blister packaging of medication.
Blister packs are a medication aid, which helps you take the correct tablets at the right time of day. They are usually made of recyclable cardboard and plastic, and are organised by time of day and day of the week. This makes it easy for a patient to select the correct time and day, and push out all of their required medication for that time. Blister packs can help patients improve their adherence to their prescribed medication, and improve health outcomes. We can also order your prescription automatically every month, making it easier for you.
PATIENTS DETAILS
REPEAT PRESCRIPTION FORM
Let us make your life easier
If you take regular prescribed medication, you will know how time-consuming it can be to go to the doctors’ surgery, then to collect your prescription and go to your chemist to have your medication dispensed. Deeping St James Pharmacy can help. We will order and collect your prescription from the surgery. This will then be dispensed ready for you to collect or to have delivered to you. Delivery is available for vulnerable patients. It saves time, no waiting for stock to be ordered. One call to order that’s all you need to do.
JUST FILL IN THE DETAILS AND WE WILL DO THE REST
PATIENTS DETAILS
Title (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Dr): Surname: Address: Tel:
NHS Number (can be found on repeat prescription slip): Doctors Name: Surgery Address: Surgery Tel: First Name:
Postcode: Date of Birth:
NHS Number (can be found on repeat prescription slip):
Postcode:
I hereby authorise The Chemist Shop, Peterborough to collect, either in person or by means of electronic transfer, prescriptions from the surgery shown above on my behalf. I will inform you if I wish to make any changes to this agreement.
Signed: Date:
I hereby authorise The Chemist Shop, Peterborough to collect, either in person or by means of electronic transfer, prescriptions from the surgery shown above on my behalf. I will inform you if I wish to make any changes to this agreement.
