Whoops wrong train!

Published with the kind permission Harold Philbin ex-BTP

Police Dog 'Storm' back from the age of 'steam'

National Police Dog Trials 2007

Pc Johnson & Jet Pc Buckley & Chaz

Nottinghamshire Police dominated the 2007 national police dog trials in Surrey, with PC David Buckley and police dog Chaz crowned overall champions and PC Mark Johnson and police dog Jet achieving third place.
PC Buckley and Chaz performed strongly in each of the three phases of the trials to win the outright title, beating competitors from no fewer than 15 other UK forces.
The pair won the Phase Two trophy and finished runners up in the final phase to seal victory.
In claiming third place overall PC Johnson and Jet led the field after scoring the highest marks in Phase One of the competition which tests tracking, the use of force, chase and stand-off and an element of agility.

Manchester and Salford Police Dog Competition 1969

Many thanks to ex-Pc Harold Philbin for supplying these details


Manchester & Salford Police Dog Competition 1969.
Handler Dog. Marks out of 400.
P.C. Farrell. Arno. 326
P.C. Butcher. Tina. 319
P.C. Flemming. Jason. 358.
Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Constabulary.
P.C. Newby. Zimba. 323.
P.C. Wilson. Zan. 332.
Birmingham City Constabulary.
P.C. Wright. Cody. 312
P.C. Stewart. Shep. 279.
Bristol Constabulary.
P.C. Haddy. Sheba. 367.
P.C. Nosworthy. Rolf. 258.
City Of London Police.
P.C. Jolly. Barriemilne. 388.
Northumberland Constabulary.
P.C. Humphrey. Simba. 357.
Cheshire Constabulary.
The Winner.
P.C. Evans. Kim. 394.
P.C. Taylor. Arno. 364.
P.C. Ferch. Kim. 337.
P.C. Stuart. Rebel. 346.
Liverpool & Bootle Constabulary.
P.C. Inwood. Major. 288.
P.C. Walker. Rex. 298.
P.C. Barnes. Tara. 298
Leeds City Police.
P.C. Oates. Freda. 324.
P.C. Hawkins. Caesar. 282.
Sheffield & Rotherham Constabulary.
P.C. Medhurst. Zorra. 339
British Transport Police.
P.C. Philbin. Storm. 393.
P.C. Harrop. Ferdl. 285.
West Yorkshire Constabulary.
P.C. Rollin. Ajax. 206.
P.C. Vowles. Amos. 345.
Bradford City Police.
P.C. Sykes. Simba. 177.
Nottinghamshire Combined Constabulary.
P.C. Crosby. Blitz. 327.
P.C. Fearn. King. 285.
Lancashire Constabulary.
P.C. Nichols. Gus. 384.
P.C. McNeilie. Rebel. 307.

Police dog vehicles

Not a local one, but a lot better than the old 'Escort van'.

Another photo from Dave Simpson's album!

More from Dave Simpson

Chicago Police Officers & self. 1975.

Self and PC D. Ralph on a building training excercise. Leicester City Police.
Prior to 1967.

HMI (Mr Manuel?) inspecting members of the Dog Section prior to 1967.
Leicester City Police. Sir Robert Mark the CC is in the background.

Dave Simpson, Ex Leics Police Dog Handler

On patrol in Chicago 1979

Dave with his last Police Dog 1979

Durham County Police Dog Training School

L to R. Jack (Kennel man) Durham handler. Tyneside handler. South Wales handler.
D. Simpson Leicester City handler. Durham handler. (Ex Submariner) The course is shown in the DTS grounds. Sgt Steve Reagan was in charge of the course

LtoR.1. Jack Horne assistant trainer. 2. Dave Simpson Leicester City. 3. John Wanless Co Durham handler (ex-submariner) with PD Bogey. 4. Cambridgeshire police handler (Course winner) 5. Co Durham handler. 6. South Wales police handler. 7. Maurice Potter Tyneside handler. 8. 'Little Jack' trainer & Kennelman.

With kind permission of Dave Simpson

Cambridgeshire Police Dog Handler

Identity not known

With kind permission of Dave Simpson

Staffordshire Police Dog Training School

Initial Doghandlers course at Staffordshire Police training establishment.
With kind permission of Dave Simpson

Metpol circa 1960

(Left) unknown Met Sgt (Right) Pc Charlie Stocker

Unknown dog handler from Malta, Met Police Dog Training School

Again with the kind permission of Dave Simpson

A slight digression from Dog History

Retired to a life of Crime? Never did admit to anything.

You do know that is my left breast you are passing that pin through, Chief Constable, Sir

Now we know the grass on TD(M) and it wasn't under our feet!

If anyone remembers 'teleprinters', this was before computers and 'no smoking'. It's no wonder they got in a mess!!!!

Please place a comment if you can spot him. Click on photo to enlarge.

A legend in his own lifetime ex-Pc 464/1264 Antony Vincent Parkin.

Sherwood Lodge before the Police invasion

23 March 2007 reunion

This ode was created by an unknown author prior to Christmas Eve 1976

A CHRISTMAS HOWL

T'was Christmas Eve in the Police Force and the Sherbert Lodge clock struck ten,
Scrooge McCraddock sat in his office and in his misers hand a pen,
Outside t'was cold and frosty and snow lay all around,
Scrooge McCraddock was shivering though his lips uttered not a sound.
As he sat in his quiet office,
At his hand stood a bottle a gin,
Icicles formed at his noseholes,
And hung from his wiskery chin.
His eyes they glowed like rubies,
And his face was dark and grim.
He dreamed of revenge, on Mansfield Traffic
For all they had done to him.
As he leapt to his feet in a fury,
He cried, "I hate the Mansfield crew".
He babbled to himself inanely,
And thought of what he would do.
For many long years I've suffered the jibes,
And taunts of those Mansfield twits.
But now I shall take for myself "Revenge"
On that horrible shower of 's....s'.
A Christmas message is what I'll send,
With jibes and sarcastic parts.
I'll give them, 'Buy a blue battleship',
Merry Christmas you horrible farts.
To Pc POINTON I shall send
A Marjorie Proops slimming guide.
Cause we're buying smaller patrol cars
And he's too fat to get inside.
For Pc PIERCE, (The Silent One),
Squeaky boots for when he walks,
And in case he wants to say something,
A loud hailer for when he talks.
Outside the house of Dave HALLAM,
Yellow lines on the road I'll unroll.
To stop him parking his Police car,
When he really should be on patrol.
To Vic PATTINSON known as old 'Fish Face',
I'll send a bionic lung.
'Cause the longer he stays underwater,
The less I have to look at the bum.
I've heard of this Pc Dave HEWITT,
Between blonde curtly hair and nice molars.
I know what I'll send him for Xmas,
A set of Carmen Hair Rollers.
The hair of Pc T. SPENCER,
Is exceedingly grey I am told.
I wonder if there's truth in the rumour,
He's not grey at all, he's just bald.
Jim MOODY's a new chap at Traffic,
And under his feet there's no hairs.
But with regard to producing your sketch plans,
You produce them in ones lad, not pairs.
Pc HOLMES has been Acting up Sergeant,
At Mansfield and Worksop Police Station.
I know what I'll send him for Xmas,
A Passover Feast invitation.
Pc TROLLEY they say has got everything,
With silver spoon in his mouth he was born.
He'll tell you that his is the greatest,
And it's longer and stronger than your'n.
Pc GREADY's also been Acting Sergeant,
And I think a fair Sergeant he'd make.
But this lad has quite a problem,
He has difficulty staying awake.
Pc HILL who is nicknamed the 'Smiler',
Has never been known to laugh.
Because if he did, it's a pound to a quid,
That his face would fall in half.
"Stoolie Rembrant" they call Pc SENTANCE,
Drawing sketch plans has won him his name,
But he spends lots of time in 'Mins' office,
I wonder what's his little game.
Jim DOOHAN, he has a slight problem,
That even his best friend can't tell.
But I can't stand by and say nothing,
Jim land, your armholes they smell.
I've heard about Pc Clive STARKEY,
I'm told that he's a bit thick,
I don't know a great deal about this lad,
'Cause the bugger is always off sick.
In a home owned by D SULLEY,
Overalls are worn by the mouse,
In respect of the area surrounding,
Wipe your feet please when leaving his house.
On Sundays I've heard Pc STEVENS,
Get up to his usual frolics,
Swinging round goalposts like 'Urko',
And when spoke to he'll just say 'Aw Bollocks'.
Pc JONES has gone in for dressmaking,
And sewing and all that sort of stuff.
I think JONES has been underrated,
Do you think he's becoming a Puff.
Keith HARDSTAFF is known as the 'Slurper',
He drinks tea with noise like a weir.
Before I make him up Sergeant,
He can learn to drink through his ear.
Phil HURT, the immaculate conception,
Striven with his might and mane.
To present himself as perfection,
But in my asshole he gives me a pain.
When J. ALLCOCK calls up on duty,
We never know what call sign he'll use.
Tango, Charlie, Bravo or Alpha,
I think the boy is confused.
There's nothing I know of John DILLON,
He's not been in trouble I hear,
He must get up to something,
I wonder if the buggers a queer.
Min MARRIOTT the Typist at Mansfield,
A lady of good repute,
She paints up her face and combs up her hair,
'Till she looks like an old hobnailed boot.
Merry Xmas to Inspector TEATHER,
He'd leave Mansfield if he had his way.
But 'till Hell freezes over Inspector,
At Mansfield you're going to stay.
Inspector BLAGG likes to send nasty memo's,
To the lads on his section, I see.
I like to send nasty memo's,
I think he's modelling himself on me.
Sergeant WIGGLESWORTH the worrier at Mansfield,
and jobwise he don't get much fun,
But if any of the lads defect motors,
It's, "Oh Sir, just look what they've done".
By now Scrooge McCraddock was exhausted,
His head hanging low on his chest,
The whole of his body fell forward,
And he thumped his head on the desk.
"One last greeting", he cried in his anguish,
"And my work is finished down here".,
A very miserable Christmas,
And a Most Unhappy New Year.
From Scrooge McCraddoc life now departed,
But Police Angels were standing close by,
And they carried the soul of our master,
To the great Police Force in the sky.

This tale is entirely fictitious and any resemblance of its characters to any persons living or dead is merely coincidental.
And we still have not found the author!

The re-union, Ex-County Traffic & Dog Section held at The Staff of Life Public House, 23 March 2007 was a great success.

Mick Holmes did say it was to be the last, but hopefully he will change his mind.

Bedfordshire Police Dog Section

Posted with the kind permission of Ex-Pc Jeff Whyatt (See link)

Leicestershire/City Police Dogs

PC 169 K. Welsh (L) Pc 347 D. Moore (R) Leicester City Police. 1960s

Half of the Leicestershire Police Dog Section


Police Dog Prince. Cambridge PDT 1979


Leiceter City 1965

Leicetershire and Leicester City Police Dogs and Handlers with the kind permission of ex-Pc Dave Simpson

Regional Police Dog Trials

Note the 70's look! Regional Police Dog Trials RAF Wyton 1979

Click on the photographs will enlarge and make clearer

Myself and Police Dog Rudi

News cuttings

My first experience of seeing a Police Dog in action, as recorded in the Mansfield Chad 1968.
(click on picture to enlarge)

Foreword by Percy Elliott

A little poetic licence

THE START OF MY CAREER, AS A POLICE CADET

Upon leaving school, with little ambition,

No profession to follow from family tradition.

I started at first with a friend, Dad had made

At a place in Nottingham, dyeing and finishing trade.

Gaining results from exams I had sat.

With 5 O'levels and a head too big for my hat,.

I went straight to the manager and asked for a few bob,

To reward these results, or a better job.

He sat at his desk, thought long and hard,

Then said, " Go downstairs lad and pick up your card".

Not Christmas or my birthday I thought, looking back.

When I picked it up, I'd been given the sack.

No hardship, those days, of finding more work,

There was plenty about and no need to shirk.

The money wasn't good, I was only a kid,

But, by living at home, what was a quid?

This time, I wanted to find a position,

With prospects, good pay, a purpose, a mission.

So I landed a job, testing water, from a well.

A lab technician, at Spray & Burgess, Bulwell.

With dye baths, water checks and Technical School,

This gave me nothing and I felt a fool

To continue, when I could do better.

So, to the Notts. Constabulary I wrote a letter.

Saturday morning was the day for the 'tests',

Good knowledge of English, I knew I'd been blessed

With the tools to pass what they could offer.

Big head, once more, I came a cropper.

English, Maths, dictation, all went well,

Then along came Geography, bloody hell!.

Not taught anything at school to do with that,

I felt a little daft, and quite a pratt.

With paper handed in, no answers, quite bare,

Inspector Buckley said, "Now pull up a chair.

Sit down again, you're intelligent, not thick.

Write anything, but make it stick".

Done with conviction and adequate diction,

The answers I gave, were now perfect fiction.

An interview later, with medical, passed.

Outside the office, with others I massed.

To us all, "Well done lads", the Inspector cried,

"Pick up your uniforms and wear 'em wi' pride".

Oxford City Police flying Police Dogs

Circa 1960