Michael James Whitty of The Liverpool Town Police Night Watch

He was born in 1798 in Nicharee in the old Parish of Duncormick in Rathangan, County Wexford. At the age of 23 he left Wexford and went to live in London and commenced work as a journalist following a literary career. His career was to bring him fame and fortune in an affluent London society, to which he had not been accustomed in his rural upbringing in Wexford. His father was a Farmer and owned a few ships plying from the port of Wexford. He is also described as being a local Maltster, somewhat like Nicholas Dixon from the nearby village of Castlebridge, who supplied the malt for the Guinness brewery.

Michael James Whitty’s family were of the Roman Catholic faith, being greatly admired and respected. The family had resided for generations in the same thatched home built circa 1600. In 1829 Whitty came to Liverpool and met up with Robert Rockliff (1797 -1894) who was so greatly impressed with Whitty that he appointed him as the Editor of The Liverpool Journal, which was founded, published and printed by Rockliff Brothers of 44 Castle Street in Liverpool.

Rockliff Brothers over the years published many books, journals and some of the first Police Constable note books. In the 1960's the business was located at the Industrial Estate in Long Lane, Aintree, Liverpool.

Michael James Whitty died the 10th June 1873 aged 75 years, at the time of his death he resided in Liverpool’s Princes Park. His funeral was one of the biggest ever seen in Liverpool, people turned out in their thousands and lined the route from the Roman Catholic Pro cathedral in Copperas Hill to his grave site at Anfield Cemetery.

Liverpool Market Constables

The Office of Market Constable can be traced back many years and was part of the town’s early development – maybe the first police officers of any form to police Liverpool. The officers were deployed to ensure that law and good order was kept at the town’s Markets and Fairs.

In May 1886 two Market Constables James McKINLEY and Daniel McALISTER were on duty in Liverpool.

• Thomas Herbert was born in West Derby, Liverpool in 1785. In November 1844 at the time of his second marriage, he was employed as a Liverpool Town Market Constable. In 1851 he was still a Market Constable and living with his family at Gore Street in the Toxteth Park area of Liverpool. In 1861 he is recorded as a "Superintendent Constable"; his death took place in West Derby in 1867 aged 82 years.
  Note:- 'Superintendent Constable' was a rank recognised under the provisions of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847.
• James Jones of Bolton Street was a Market Constable in January 1845
• In 1845 Ralph Bolton a resident of 16 Ben Johnson Street
• In 1832 Hugh McEvoy who resided in Portland Street a short walk via Clement Street to the towns Chisenhale Street Bridewell
• Another Constable known in 1837 was Charles Worrall, who later became the Head Market Constable in about 1851
• Much later in 1885 William Blackwell of 27 Cowel Street was recorded as a Markets’ Constable
• Liverpool Town Market Constable John Blair aged 37 years. On the 6th January 1877 he appeared before The Liverpool Town Quarter Sessions and the Grand Jury. He was found guilty of the theft of apples and oranges and jailed for 12 months.

Liverpool Park Constables: ‘The Toff’s Police’

From before the Cholera Riots of 1832 the Park Constables had played a role in maintaining the town’s law and order. Well into the late 1950s older Liverpudlians often referred to them as ‘The Toff’s Police’. This was a left over reference to their role policing the grand Liverpool Parks, which were the homes of some of the county’s wealthiest and influential people during the Victorian and Edwardian days.

The large Liverpool Parks had been designed to incorporate large and grand Victorian villas. It was said that during the late 1800s there was more millionaires living in and around the Liverpool Parks than there was in Belgravia in London. Such people made their money from shipping. Some had their business roots in the slaving days, whilst others were industrialists and entrepreneurs.

Although the parks were open to the public during daylight hours the gates were locked one hour after sunset. However many of the residents of those grand houses paid an annual fee to the Liverpool Corporation Parks Department, for the right for them and their servants to access and use the park, when it was closed to other members of the public. A special key was issued by the Liverpool Corporation Parks Department on payment of an annual fee. However such an agreement was only possible if the property backed onto the park and formed part of the boundary – such a situation was still in place up to 1972 at Liverpool’s Stanley Park which was backed onto by Victorian villas in Anfield Road. A number of smaller parks in the city had a similar arrangement among its wealthy residents.

After the disbandment of the Liverpool Parks Police the council decided not to lock the gates at various parks. A procedure that had been enacted each day of the week since Victorian times – then many of Liverpool’s parks were locked one hour after sunset by the police officers stationed at the park including the city’s larger parks of Stanley and Walton Hall Park.

Within three years of the disbandment of Liverpool Parks Constabulary, the closing of the Police Office and the gate policy being implemented, a murder took place of a local boy in Stanley Park. This was the second known murder of a child in STANLEY PARK since it opened. In APRIL 1883, a boy aged three months was found dead – MURDER was the outcome of the investigation.

The murder of a local boy John Anthony Noon of City Road Walton took place in the winter of 1975. Public outrage within the Community and the City followed and the question asked by the people of Liverpool was:

‘Murder in Stanley Park:
Where Have All Liverpool Parks Policemen Gone?’

The infamous Liverpool murder in 1993 of toddler James Bulger took place on a railroad embankment boarding onto a cemetery next to Stanley Park.

Liverpool Park Keepers with the Peelers Style of Uniform

• Thomas Mahon
• Henry Lunt
• Thomas Quick
• Charles Lovelady
• Others appointed shortly afterwards included officers Jones and Sworebrick.

These new type of Park Keepers employed, initially wore civilian clothing with velveteen trousers and gaiters. Within a short time they were provided with black stove hats which had a blue band with the words “Park Keeper” in red letters. Shortly afterwards the uniform was again changed to a ‘Peelers’ style of uniform.

The Peelers style of uniform consisted of a dark blue swallow tailed coat, brass buttons with the officers number in brass was worn on the collar. White pantaloons were issued and worn for Summer time duty and dark blue for the winter months. The uniform trousers were secured by a black leather belt with a brass buckle with Liverpool town’s coat of arms. The top hat continued to be worn and a blue and white duty armlet was also worn on the left forearm.

Like the developing police services the powers of arrest were based on the “Common Law” such as the offences of murder, theft and damage to property. Alongside the common law offences were the then new statutes such as the Town Police Act 1847 and the Vagrancy Act 1842 that gave Constables powers to summon and arrest offenders for many offences.

A person arrested in the “Name of the Queen” by a Liverpool Town Park Keeper would have been frogmarched by the officer to one of the various Police Bridewells located about the town – a procedure that did not change in any way over the years. In fact the procedure was still in use, and often undertaken by Park Constables, right up to the day in 1972 when the Liverpool Parks Police was disbanded.

Appointment of all the Liverpool Park Keepers as
Special Constables: ‘The Constable Park Keepers’

Section 113 of the same Act gave power to order prosecutions for contravening of the Liverpool parks byelaws and the power to prosecute offenders at the various Magistrates Courts located in and around Liverpool such as Walton and West Derby.

At a meeting of Liverpool Council’s Improvements Committee in 1871 a letter was read out from a member of the public. The letter concerned the recently opened Stanley Park:

The committee meeting agreed to approach the Head Constable of the Liverpool Police and request he appoint all the Liverpool Park Keepers as Special Constables. The Head Constable at that time was Captain John James Greig, described as being a man from the same mould as Liverpool’s first Head Constable Michael James Whitty.

Head Constable Greig agreed to appoint the ‘Liverpool Park Keepers’ as Special Constables in the Liverpool Town Borough Police and pledged that the town’s Constables would also provide assistance.

The new ‘Constable Park Keepers’ were appointed and attested accordingly. A new uniform was introduced and came into use, comprising of a dark serge high stand collar tunic and matching trousers.

The buttons and numbers remained brass and a new type of helmet – what we now recognise as the tradition British Police helmet – was issued, with a brass closure mount and side roses displayed. The plate was made of brass and consisted of the ‘Liver Bird’ surrounded with laurel leaves with the words ‘Park Keeper’ upon it. The helmet plate was the same in all aspects of design as that being worn by the town’s Constables.

The first form of patrol vehicles in Liverpool

1881:
John Nott Bower born in York was appointed as Head Constable. He was the son of a Barrister-in-Law and took up his first police appointment in 1873 as a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary.

He introduced to Liverpool the first form of patrol vehicles – a fleet of horse drawn police wagons. Each horse drawn wagon had a section of men who would attend public order incidents and the like.

He is remembered as the officer responsible for introducing the Liverpool police mounted section. Later he made use of the newly invented telephone to link the City’s Bridewells together. He said during his time as Head Constable:

At the same time another observation was being made; a demand came from the more affluent and apparently socially accept citizens, who occupied the grand villas around the Liverpool’s city parks. They wished more police on park patrol in and around the parks and their homes.

PARK CONSTABLE Benjamin CATTRALL

“His Life and Times”

“In the winter of 1970/1971 I was a new recruit to the Liverpool Parks Police, whilst still within my probationary period I was posted to Botanic Park to work alone, this was quite daunting. One day whilst rummaging in the Gardeners restroom (As is my Wont) I came across several pieces of wood which had obviously been cut from benches that had outlived their usefulness, these pieces had various sized metal plates affixed which commemorated people of the past, one stated it was made from wood taken from the Merchant Vessel Bilbao but another commemorated a Park Constable who had patrolled the Park in years past. I enquired of a very old Gardener, Tommy Soloma(o)n, who said that the Officer had high regarded by the community of Edge Hill. I cannot recall the Constables name but I feel that the answer lies in the tale that follows. Research into the life of Benjamin Cattrall has not been made easy by the many miss spellings of his name and the hand written records, which, variously describe him as a Book Keeper and in one instance a Pork keeper, both being corrected, in later Census reports, to Park Keeper.”

Peter Dellius, Ex Park Constable 23
January 2014.

Benjamin Cattrall was born in Low Hill, Edge Hill, Liverpool 7 in 1854 and little is known of his early life in this working class area, he is not listed in the Census for 1861 or 1871, he may well have enrolled in the Army serving overseas or it may well be that he is miss listed due to spelling. By 1881 he is a Park Keeper Constable for Liverpool Corporation Parks and Gardens Department and remains so employed until he retired during the early part of the nineteenth century. This is an early retirement and may have been due to injury/ illness. During his service he was assaulted on occasion whilst effecting arrests.

Newspapers of the day record that Benjamin did not sit on his laurels and the reports of his arrests are wide, varied and numerous as he patrolled Botanic Park and Gardens. Visitors to the Park were indeed safe when the redoubtable Constable Cattrall was on patrol.

Benjamin died at his home in Liverpool in 1932.

He was married c 1875 and resided in the Botanic Road/ Clint Road area. In 1877 a Son, Benjamin William Cattrall was born and at age 13 was apprenticed to the Park and Gardens Department as a Gardener where he remained until he was 24 years old – ( Minimum age requirement of Liverpool Parks Police ) In 1901 he joined the Liverpool Parks and Gardens Department as a Park Keeper Constable. He was appointed to Botanic Park also, no doubt to replace his hard working Father.

Benjamin William married during the early part of the 1900’s and lived with his Wife, Jessie and Children at 51 Sutherland Street, Botanic Road. His life must have seemed complete and idyllic in its simplicity, however the storm clouds were gathering and in August 1914 burst upon Europe in a war that would cause misery and death to millions.

Early in the conflict Benjamin William Cattrall was called to the colours although 38/39 years of age and was appointed a Rifleman with the Rifle Brigade, he was numbered 205376, posted to the 23rd Battalion and sent to the North West Frontier. He was killed in Action on the 11th of August 1917 and was buried in Tank Cemetery. He is commemorated on the Delhi Memorial.

And so in that Mysterious land thousands of miles from the tranquillity of Liverpool’s Botanical Gardens lays one of Liverpool’s sons and the end of a Family era in the story of the Liverpool Parks Police. The final twist in my research was to find that we had both been educated at the Liverpool Councils Clint Road School.

The Liverpool Police go on Strike

On 1st August 1919, the Liverpool Police strike takes place. Some 2,364 men responded to the strike in the Liverpool City Police Force and it the neighbouring Borough Police Forces of Bootle, Wallasey and Birkenhead.

• City Sergeant Robert Tissyman, The National Union of Police and Prison Officers leader in Liverpool, who had joined the police in October 1894.
• Another leader of the strike committee was Constable William Smithwick

An Historic Day for Liverpool

1934:
Liverpool Walton Hall Park opened.

On the 18th July King George V opened Walton Hall Park to the public. The park, covering 130 acres, had been part of the land owned by the Walton Family dating back to before 1194 when Henry De Walton was a steward of the West Derby Hundred.

On the same day the King opened the East Lancashire Road situated next to the park, which then linked the City of Liverpool with the City of Manchester;

The day concluded with the opening of the Mersey Tunnel.

The Second World War Years for the Liverpool Parks Police

1939:
The Second World War had a grave effect on the service. The removal of railings around all of the parks and the formation of the National Police Reserve were two effects on the force.

1941:
On Sunday 4th May Park Constable William Clucas was killed in Stanley Park during a German Bombing raid over Liverpool. The Constable, who it is believed was born in the Isle of Man, was aged 43 years. He died alongside his wife Daisy 39 years and their 8 year old twins Barbra and Woodforde.

Bombing had started over Liverpool at about 22.00hrs on Saturday 3rd of May and stopped about 05.00hrs on Sunday morning, later that day at about midnight it resumed until about 04.30hrs on Monday morning.

Constable Clucas and his family resided in The Stanley Park in the Lodge House on Mill Lane at the junction with Anfield Road in Liverpool; called by older residents of the area as the ‘Constables Lodge House’. The officer had been on duty during that period and had presumably at some point taken shelter with his family during the Blitz.

The bodies of the Constable and his family were recovered from the rubble. Attending the site of the bombing were Sgt Morrison and Constable 43 Stanley Irwin of the Liverpool Park Police.

Sgt. "Alf" Morrison was a well known and respected local policeman who lived a short walk from the park at 15 Wenlock Road.

Constable Irwin had been deployed on duty at Liverpool Docks, as part of the war time national police reserve. He arrived at the bomb site to find his friend, colleague and his family had all been killed. The bombing over those few days was described by him as terrible with many people killed.

Note:- The list shows the names of all men employed by Liverpool Corporation Parks Department at Stanley Park in May 1941. Those on active service are also named.

The first five names are Police Officers stationed at the park, followed by the names of gardeners and the Parks administration support staff.

William (Bill) Wilson, a close friend of Constable Clucas, is named on the list. After returning from active service during WW2 he went back to Liverpool Stanley Park. He went on to become a highly respected town gardener for Liverpool City Council and worked on the Liverpool International Garden Festival project. He remains active to this day – but always remembers his friend Constable William Clucas and the officers family.

1942:
The known strength of the force during the wars years was reduced to four sergeants and thirty three constables. This, together with the removal of the gates and metal railings from all Liverpool Parks left them vulnerable and badly exposed. The Watch Committee was approached by the Parks Committee and asked formally for support from the City police to police the parks.

1945:
By the end of the war the force had lost another Sergeant and a further ten more constables, leaving the force with only 3 sergeants and 23 constables – less than half the established strength of 10 years earlier.

Restructuring of the Liverpool Parks Police

1947:
Liverpool City Council made the decision to overhaul the force and manning levels would be increased substantially.

Chief Inspector Charles Dean Gibson was born in Liverpool on 13th October 1894. He was the son of a former Liverpool Police Sergeant Jervis Gibson, who had served some 26 years. Charles's grandfather had also been a policeman with the Royal Irish Constabulary many years before.

On the 14th May 1914 Charles joined the Royal Field Artillery and while on active service was awarded the Military Medal. On the 30th June 1919 he joined Liverpool's City Police as a Constable and in 1925 was promoted to Sergeant. By 1942 he had been appointed as an Inspector and in 1950 a Chief Inspector. He retired from the City force on the 13th October 1954 – but continued his police career with the Liverpool Parks Police until the 13th April 1956. He died on the 18th August 1980.

1948:
Inspector Charles Dean Gibson of Liverpool City Police was seconded to oversee the restructure of Liverpool's Parks Police.

A new selection criteria based on the City Police was introduced. Recruits needed to be 5’8” in height, under 35 years of age, of unquestionable character and pass both an education and fitness test.

The uniform also came under review; a Metropolitan police style patrol helmet was introduced with chrome metal helmet plate and buttons etc.

On 5th May the 30 Constables appointed from 350 applicants began their Police Induction Training. The training was undertaken by the City Police under the Command of Inspector Gibson at Liverpool Park Police Headquarters, located in the Mansion House at Calderstones Park in Liverpool.

The curriculum included first aid and lifesaving training, with great emphasis on this due to the vast number of persons visiting the park and number of lakes and water features associated with Liverpool parklands.

In late June the new recruits were posted to their respective Park Police divisional areas of duty. The existing Constables were then brought in for retraining, which took a number of months to complete.

The operational deployment of the force was divided into five areas of over 115 parks and cemeteries spread over an “area of green land” covering a 45 square miles area over the City of Liverpool.

The city’s large parks such as Sefton, Stanley, and Newsham Parks, had established Park Police Offices, from which Constables were deployed on foot or cycle to police other smaller parks, recreation grounds and cemeteries.

The Life and Times of my Father:
Constable 30 William Edward Spencer Bond

Bill was born in Swinton, Manchester in a large but not a very close family. He left home and joined the Royal Navy at the outcome of WW2 as a gunner. Like so many others at this time serving in dangerous undertakings all over the world.

Being 17 years of age he was known on board by all the ratings as young "Bondy" as he was the youngest aboard. He never spoke much about the war to me, just places he had seen but on one occasion, he did mention they were torpedoed. Many of the crew looked over the side and watched the torpedo go the full length of the ship just a couple of feet away!!! Wow.

Whether he joined the 'Liverpool Park Police' straight after the war or not we are not sure but I remember him coming home with other policemen in the mid-fifties. As a boy myself at the time I was a bit of a mischievous bugger and I always worried in case they recognized me for one prank or another in vast areas of Liverpool's Stanley Park.

There were always games of football taking place at the park and on Saturdays there was the mass of supporters crossing the park to Liverpool or Everton’s football ground as the park was between them both, at least you always knew who was playing at home.

As for me his young son, I lived in the park as it was a fantastic place to play; it even had its own large paddling pool, bandstand, swings slides the lot – even rowing boats for hire on the lake. As a child you could play football or just explore all day, have a picnic and at the same time we always felt safe.

A couple of incidents I well remember as a lad. One was where I had crossed the sacred bowling green with the policeman chasing me very determined to catch me. I ran into the toilet at the top of the bowling green area jumped on the urinals and over the park wall into a rubbish area then stumbled on some metal and had to have two stitches in my hand and two in my leg, thankfully on this occasion the policeman gave up the chase. (Yes poetic justice) anyway I learnt my lesson.

Another incident was the railings around the park, 6 foot railings but I knew where there was a missing one and managed to stick my head through. The fire brigade had to be called to cut me free.

We lived in Cockerell Street in Walton which was a terraced house across the road from the park. Dad and his wife Margie were totally devoted to each other. He was a fantastic father and at that time I the only child, two more boys would follow over the next 14 years. His in-laws lived around the corner on Walton Lane facing the Park gates so he had to be on his best behavior. Mum still remembers the time Dad has his helmet knocked off by an undesirable and Dad marching him off to the local police station, which would have been the Anfield Road Police Station that remains in use to this day. Knowing Dad it would have hurt his pride a little I’m sure.

When I was an adult I realized that these police officers where very smart, not only in appearance but I remember all the medals they had, very proud men but seemingly poorly paid. One of the main objectives was looking for the various "unwelcome visitors" who they knew frequented the parks and children’s playgrounds. They gave people a great sense of security to see a 'copper' walking around keeping a good grip on things. In those days people where scared of the Police as they had more leeway shall we say.

Anyway back to Dad, he did eventually leave the Police and went to work at Cammel Laird as senior security officer and was proud to have his picture taken with the Queen Mother at the launching of the luxury Cruise Liner the Windsor Castle.

When he was 67 years of age he suffered a massive stroke and this left Dad unable to converse and was unable to do anything for himself and this went on in the nursing home for over 13 years where Mum (Margie) spent every minute she could every day throughout and on many occasions stopping all night in a upright chair as she herself although permanently in great pain as she has been severely disabled since she was 13 years old.

Dad always said to his three sons (look after Mum), “That goes without saying”

Bill Bond (Junior) and wife Cynthia.

Note: Bill (Junior) born in 1949. After army service he later joined the Great Manchester Police as a "Trainer” – he is now retired.

Inspector John Buchanan appointed
as head of the Liverpool Parks Police

He had joined the Liverpool Parks Police in May 1948 and by 1951 had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant. A former wartime member of the RAF in a military police role, he held a law degree and over the years performed valuable work in the preparation of prosecutions and also prosecuted at the City Magistrates Courts.

In statue he was a tall, heavy set man presenting the authority rank and bearing. He was a man well respected by all and was ideal for the position of Head Constable of the Liverpool Parks Police.

Over the years his personality left its imprint among the rank and file members of the force. He was a police officer years ahead of his time with his views and application of community policing, coupled with the concept of policing with the public consent.

SGT. 75 JAMES GRIFFITHS

The following courtesy of ex-Park Constable 23 R. Peter Dellius:

Captain Johnnie Walker - the man credited with winning the Battle of the Atlantic with his group of U-Boat killers. His ships, HMS Starling, Magpie, Wild Goose, Woodpecker and Kite were instrumental in clearing the path for many convoys and would head out of Liverpool to the blaring tune of “A Hunting we will go”.

Later in the War this small group kept U-Boat at bay during the Normandy landings. Captain Walker, who would die in harness before the wars end hated to be termed – the “U-Boat Killing Hero” and said “That Formidable Character is a thousand British Jack Tars”.

He was referring to the crews of the aforementioned ships of his group. One such Jack Tar among that thousand was:

James Griffiths a young man who was serving his country in one of the most dangerous jobs in the Royal Navy, U-Boat killing escorts to the mercantile Marine convoys, a service that he survived to return home to Liverpool.

During the late 1940’s early 1950’s James joined the Liverpool Parks Police as Constable 75 and served in several of the major Parks in the City. During the mid 1950’s Liverpool Corporation reclaimed from the River Mersey the cast Iron shore in the south end of the city and built Otterspool Promenade and Park for the citizens of Liverpool. The Corporation Parks and Gardens were made responsible for the area and a contingent of Liverpool Parks Police was stationed there, amongst them was Constable 75 Jimmy Griffiths.

During 1959 young Constable Griffiths was patrolling in the Otterspool parkland when he was approached by members of the public who informed him that a female was in the River Mersey and was being swept away by the tide. Jimmy ran towards the promenade, unaware that a City Constable had already attempted a rescue further down river and had failed to reach the woman due to the swell and quick running tide, On arrival on the Promenade Jimmy saw the woman was well out in the river, without further ado he divested himself of tunic and shoe and climbing the safety barrier dived into the River, he gained the female and after a struggle with the drowning woman he brought her to safety. He was exhausted and was removed to hospital.

For this heroic feat James Griffiths was awarded the Marine Medal of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society.

He was later promoted Sergeant and in due course was also designated the Instructor in life saving to the Liverpool Parks Police.

The first time I met “Jimmy Griff” was during the early summer 1972, he sauntered into the Centre of Liverpool’s Sefton Park, with that rolling gait peculiar to sailors, swinging his Sergeant signalling stick and sporting medals on his left breast, I noticed that these included the Atlantic Star, not an easy won medal whether in the Royal or Merchant Navy. I found Jimmy to be a quiet, modest unassuming man but at the same time he was an amusing likeable man and typical of a Jolly Jack Tar. He was never ruffled or blustered and got on with the job in his laid back way.

Jimmy, who resided with his family at a Lodge Building at the entrance to Liverpool’s West Derby Cemetery, told me a story of being awoken in the early hours of one morning. H had looked out of his bedroom window to see, what turned out to be a stolen car, embedded in the ornamental gates of the cemetery and the thieves scuttling over the wall into that dormitory of the dead.

A City Police Landrover then arrived but the officers could not gain access. The ever helpful Jimmy made haste to assist the officers wearing only his light coloured Pyjamas. On getting to the gates he reached through and tapped the Sergeant on the shoulder and asked “IF THEY WANTED TO COME IN” ... the last he saw of the three officers they were heading at speed towards Liverpool’s East Lancashire Road.

Jimmy never talked of his war time service and it was only years later I stumbled upon his part in the Battle of the Atlantic when visiting the Johnnie Walker story at the Western Approaches Museum in Liverpool.

Sgt. James Griffiths in now deceased.

R. Peter Dellius
Ex-Park Constable 23

CONSTABLE 37 STEPHEN NOEL KELLY

The following courtesy of ex-Park Constable 23 R. Peter Dellius:

THERE IS AN OLD SAYING: “ONE OF NATURE’S GENTLEMEN”

This quote is often used and more often misused but not in the case of Stephen Noel Kelly, who truly was one of nature’s gentlemen.

Steve Kelly as he was known was born in 1913 on the Wirral, Cheshire overlooking the City of Liverpool - a City, whose citizens he was to serve well for over forty five years. During the 1930’s jobs were not easy to come by, particularly if you were intent on a career in the Police and so it may be that having no luck in joining the Borough or City Police Force’s young Steve Kelly applied for a position with the Liverpool Parks Police.

He was successful and was “Appointed and Sworn as a Constable ” on the 4th February 1936 as Park Constable 37 - he served at all the major Parks in the City but once told me he had a special love of Liverpool’s Sefton Park.

On the outbreak of war in 1939, Steve who could possibly have applied to be a Police War Reserve Constable with the Liverpool City Police, did not, instead, being fiercely proud of his Irish ancestry, he enrolled in the Irish Guards. He was involved in the Normandy campaign fighting in the most dangerous of battles but not content with this Steve Kelly volunteered as Battalion bomb disposal with regard to booby traps set by the retreating Germans. He could, no doubt have told many blood-curdling tales but that was not the style of this quiet man.

On being demobbed from the Army he returned to the Liverpool Parks Police and once again took up the mantle of Park Constable 37. He was married in 1952 but it is understood was soon widowed, marrying again in 1958. It was realised that Steve was a conscientious and hard working Constable and in due time he was promoted.

In 1961 the Civil Aviation Authority withdrew from administration of Speke Airport (now John Lennon Airport) Liverpool and this passed to the Liverpool Corporation who now had to Police the airport as the Aviation Authority had withdrawn their Constables. Mr. Buchanan the Chief Officer of the Liverpool Parks Police was appointed to also be Chief Officer of the Liverpool Airport Police. The Chief Officer then set about filling the posts at the airport and amongst others he chose Steve Kelly to be one of the first Airport Police Sergeants, a role he filled with enthusiasm until 1972 when the Liverpool Parks Police and Liverpool Airport Police were used as the nucleus for a Liverpool City Security Force. He retired from a senior position with that force – but did not enjoy a long retirement as he died in 1981.

R. Peter Dellius
Ex-Park Constable 23

Acting Chief Constable Balmer and the Kray Twins

Acting Chief Constable Bert Balmer had spent some 41 years in the City Police and was highly respected by Liverpool people. Born in Liverpool, he was known to have taken the criminal fraternity face on, including the Kray Twins and their London criminal associates.

The Kray twins arrived at Liverpool’s Lime Street Station and Balmer was waiting with his team. Using the police ‘Ways and Means Act’ he put them back on the train to London.

According to some the Kray’s were so shocked by the reception at Liverpool, that they got off the train at nearby Runcorn and stayed overnight in a local hotel, in order to allow them time to get over the shock and rethink matters.

Due to Home Office regulations Assistant Chief Constable Bert Balmer was never appointed as the Chief Constable, as he had never served in another force.

Acting Chief Constable Bert Balmer had tremendous respect for the rank and file members of both his Liverpool City Police and the Liverpool Parks Constabulary. He was often seen walking in Calderstones Park with his wife; the patrolling Park Constables giving a friendly salute as he passed on his patrol. A detachment of officers from the Liverpool Parks Police were among the many who attended his funeral some years later.

New Vehicles for the Liverpool Parks
Constabulary and the latest technology

Liverpool Parks Constabulary introduced a fleet of 5 new green coloured Austin Mini Vans which had police illuminated roof signs – within a few years the vans were painted dark blue.

The Austin Mini patrol vans were fitted with ‘Pye’ manufactured radio systems. Personal radios were introduced for Sergeants and those Constables on isolated patrol duties. A 60 foot mast was erected at the Control Room located in the Police Office at Liverpool Calderstones Park which gave radio cover to all parts of the city.

The challenge of policing fairgrounds visiting the larger parks was handled well by the ranks of the Liverpool Parks Constabulary. The travelling fairgrounds attracted hundreds of Liverpool youths, in various forms from ‘Teddy boys’ to the ‘Mods and Rocker’ gangs.

The well planned and rehearsed policing role, involving traditional helmeted Constables, backed up by members of the dog section was maintained and in place up to day of disbandment in 1972.

Football Hooliganism:
The need for teamwork, steadfastness and
self-discipline in the Liverpool Parks Police

The year of 1969 also saw the development of some aspects of public order that would be challenging both to the Liverpool Parks Constabulary and the police service in general.

Large scale pubic order problems of violent groups of so called football supporters began to appear on match days in and around the 2 large football grounds located between Stanley Park.

The Park Police Constables on duty at the vast Stanley Park had for over 70 years been witness to the tide of jubilant Everton and Liverpool fans as they made their way to and from the grounds. In fact Stanley Park was the original home of Everton Football Club. The clubs first match was played on the 20th December 1892. The players had stored their goalposts in the Constables Park Lodge in Mill Lane.

Individual Park Police Officers had become well known to the supporters over the years and good friendly Liverpudlian humour and banter took place most Saturday’s between the police and supporters.

On warmer days the large boating lake at Stanley Park was traditionally a place to pass a few hours before the big match took place – sometimes the demon drink from the nearby pubs over spilt into the park causing disorder among a few football fans – but was quickly sorted out by the Park Constables on duty in the area.

During the Saturdays when the football games were played an estimated 30,000 people could pass to and from the respective football stadiums via Stanley Park. The members of the Liverpool Parks Constabulary were always supported by officers from the City Police and in general the situation was pleasant for all concerned – both for the fans and the individual police officers.

However things changed in early 1969 with the arrival of waves of youths and men bent on public disorder before and after the football games. The pleasant fields and walkways of Liverpool Stanley Park often became a medieval battle ground with the Parks Constables taking the full force. No time to think or to ask “What am I doing Here”, often the Parks Constables’ life was threatened by the gangs, pushing and fighting their way through the park and fighting with rival football gangs. Team work was essential to survive. No stab proof vests in those days. No riot batons or riot shields, just a wooden baton and a Bobbies helmet. The police issue baton was only to be drawn on a Supervisory Officers order or when you were up against a wall with no way out.

Cars and coaches were smashed up – gangs of so called visiting football supporters often rioted along Priory Road and inside the park. Fighting before and after the football matches became the norm along Priory Road and split over to the nearby Anfield Cemetery next to the park.

The extensive football match car park inside Stanley Park was also policed by members of the Liverpool Parks Constabulary. This location was another flash point and often became the centre of the battle ground – with Sgt 43 Stan Irwin (pictured, right), then in his early 60’s, and who resided in the Constables Lodge House at the corner of Anfield Road in Stanley Park, leading counter charges against the hooligan gangs.

He was a man who always led from the front – often waving his Sergeants signal stick, unique to the Liverpool Police, above his head accompanied by verbal comments which ended with the words “Get Out of My Park”.

The mobile section and dog handlers, under the command of Sgt Bill Quick and Sgt 48 Bill Noakes, were also a formidable group on those difficult days. Liverpool Parks Constabulary dog handlers, who included Constable David Brookfield, Constable Peter Smith, Constable Alan Grisedale, Constable Joe Beeley, Constable Terry Gaven and Acting Sgt Jim Putt all remained steadfast and never flinched against the violent groups of hooligans.

Within a few hours all would be back to normal at Liverpool’s Stanley Park and the area in and around the football grounds would became peaceful again. The Liverpool Parks Constabulary members would then return to their normal duties. However, like it or not those experiences were a training ground for teamwork, steadfastness and self discipline – against tremendous provocation and operational difficulties.

Liverpool Park Constables to be proud of
– but changing attitudes

Park Constables such as Constable Peter Ashcroft, who died in service in 1969, Constable 29 Frank Diggle (pictured below), Constable 52 Ben Johnson, Constable Jimmy Price, Constable 49 Len Marsden, Constable J Connor, Constable 89 John Hutchinson, Constable 31 Brian Grenville, Constable 78 Frank Evans, Constable 83 Len Mulvern, Constable David Brookfield and Constable 47 Alan Leitch (pictured below) were all classic examples of what British policing was all about.

These men along with Sgt 43 Stanley Irwin and Constable 42 Alan Grisedale, who resided in a Park Police House in nearby Walton Lane, had policed Stanley Park for many years. They had been witness to the comings and goings of generations of people living in and around the two parks that dominated the heavily populated areas of north Liverpool.

At the same time the South Liverpool parks in and around the grandeur of Toxteth were also feeling a change towards the Liverpool Parks Constabulary and the members of the local police.

Attitudes among both black and white Liverpool youths appeared to be changing. Liverpool is a great city of tolerance and people of all colours, races and religion have freely mixed and intermarried. An unwritten respect for the individual police officer who patrolled the local streets was always evident with most Liverpool people, the same applied to the Park Bobbies, who the public respected as they looked after their children’s safety while playing in the parks.

However in the summer months of late 60’s a change was being seen among long serving and experienced officers; a change in attitude and respect was seen among the young. Large gangs of youths, mainly local lads, and sometimes numbering 200 would converge in and around the large boating lake at Sefton Park.

The groups of young men would occupy the hilly areas overlooking the boating lake; a lot of them had been moved into the park by City Constables, without any malice or any bad feeling to them, but to get them off the streets out of trouble and into the parks.

SGT. 43 STANLEY IRWIN

The following courtesy of ex-Park Constable 23 R. Peter Dellius:

On joining the Liverpool Parks Police in early 1971 I was posted to Newsham Park, where, upon arrival I was informed that I had been fortunate not to be posted to Stanley Park. The domain of Sergeant Stanley Irwin, who, I was reliably, informed, was a hard taskmaster who was so keen that he would “Lock his own Mother up”. During my service I later met with other officers who would not hear a bad word spoken about “Stan”. It later dawned on me that those I considered lazy and idle Policemen were in the main the detractors and those I considered hard working “Good Coppers” were Sgt Stanley Irwin’s most loyal protectors who described him as an Honest, Loyal and hard-working Policeman.

I decided to research this enigma that was Stanley Irwin:

Stanley was born in 1907; his birth being registered in Toxteth Park, Liverpool, his Father was William George Irwin, born Brampton, Cumberland 1867 and died Liverpool 1953, a Park Keeper Constable of 20 Briardale Road, Mossley Hill, an upper working and middle class area of Liverpool.

Stanley would have grown up in a family household against the backdrop of the First World War and the tumultuous years that followed including the Liverpool Police strike of 1919. No doubt the young Stanley accompanied his Father to the many memorial services and dedications to the fallen employees of the Liverpool Parks.

They were innocent days for the young of the Mossley Hill area of Liverpool and in my minds eye I can see the young Stanley skipping along in his sailor suit, which was the main garb for the young boys of the time, making his way to Sefton or Greenbank Park with his muslin covered bowl of hot food for his Fathers dinner. My own Mother made similar journeys from Everton to Prince’s Park to her Step Father who was a gardener there. He must have been impressed by what he saw in the fine men that formed the Liverpool Parks Police and the stories they told for he was determined to join them as soon as he could.

We do not know what Stanley did before he joined the Liverpool Parks Police but he probably took up a gardening apprenticeship, as did a lot of the Park Bobbies Son’s, this would last for seven years or until he was 21 years old.

As soon as he was of age Stanley joined the Liverpool Parks Police c. 1930 and was designated Park Constable 43, a number he was to keep his whole service, and was posted to the North End of the City. He married in 1931 and took up residence at 57 Formosa Drive on the newly built Liverpool housing estate in Fazakerley, near Aintree.

In September 1939 the Second World War broke out and Stanley was seconded to the Liverpool City Police as a Police War Reserve, he served with distinction and was involved in many terrible air raids and assisted in many rescues. He was commended many times in the City Police and his war service earned him the Defence Medal.

No doubt the many scene’s of death and carnage hardened the young Park Bobby but I also doubt if anything prepared him for the horrible spectacle that confronted him when he attended at the Stanley Park Lodge House in Mill Lane the home of his friend PARK CONSTABLE WILLIAM CLUCAS, his wife and their twin children - and had to help carry their bodies from the rubble. The Constables home had taken a direct hit from a German bomb during the Blitz of Sunday 4th May 1941.

Stanley Irwin was released from the Liverpool City Police in 1946 and returned to being Park Constable 43. There is no doubt that Stanley had impressed in the Liverpool City Police and he had many friends there from humble Constable to the most senior Officers.

In 1970 he was Sergeant in charge of the Liverpool Parks Police contingent at Anfield Crematorium, Priory Road, Liverpool on the occasion of the Funeral of the ex-Liverpool Deputy Chief Constable, Bert Balmer, After the Service Stanley was invited to attend the private wake at the newly opened Lower Lane Police Station in Fazakerley Liverpool. I doubt if another would have been afforded that courtesy.

Stanley plodded on in his hard working style and was the Sgt in charge for many years at Liverpool’s Stanley Park. Many City Constables would out of courtesy inform Stan that they were passing through “His Park”.

He ruled in a firm but very fair manner with Police and public alike, but he ruled with an iron fist where wrongdoers or undesirables were concerned. He resided in the Park Lodge Bungalow on the corner of Liverpool’s Anfield Road and Arkles Lane till his retirement.

Stanley Irwin retired from the Liverpool Parks Police and re-located to Cornwall in 1971 and died there c.1984, another unsung Hero of Liverpool’s great past.

R. Peter Dellius
Ex-Park Constable 23

LIVERPOOL'S FIRST INDIAN-BORN MUSLIM CONSTABLE:
Park Constable 40 BURKI

A number of Parks Police Constables were well established in Sefton Park and were highly respected by the park's residents and visitors.

One outstanding officer was Constable 40 Mohammed Sabir Burki, born on the 20th of June, 1936 in Jhelum India – now part of Pakistan. In 1966, after service with the Royal Navy, he was "Appointed and Sworn" as a Liverpool Parks Police Constable.

From the first day of his appointment he set about policing in a highly professional manner which pleased his senior officers and the general public. In December 1984 he died, aged 48 years, after a long fight with cancer.

He was known to all as ‘Fred’ a man who wanted to be a doctor, who spoke a number of languages and a man who was able to mix freely as a policeman with the various peoples living and using Liverpool’s Princess and Sefton Parks.

The area in and around Liverpool's southern parks have for over 150 years become home to many from all over the world, developing a very unique culture of diversity and harmony.

Park Constable 40 Burki was believed to be the first Indian born police officer appointed as a constable in Liverpool.

During this period one incident remembered was the arrest by Constable Burki of a youth who was frogmarched under arrest across Sefton Park to the front door of the Police Bridewell, located in Lark Lane. Constable Burki was followed by a hostile group of 30 or so youths and men.

Other Constables who received Commendations for their work during those trying days were Constable 47 Joe Beeley and Constable 56 Terry Gaven who were members of the dog section – both officers were assaulted while carrying out their duties by hostile crowds in Liverpool’s Sefton Park. The dog section at that time was lead by Acting Sergeant Jim Putt who also received Commendations alongside Constable 25 Keith Cox.

The disbandment of the Liverpool
Parks Police after 160+ years of service

The Last Tour of Duty of The Liverpool Parks Police

On the 31st March the last tour of duty took place. It was a fine spring morning and the Liverpool Parks Constables marched out for duty for the very last time, knowing that by the end of the day over 100 years of service to the great City of Liverpool and its people will end.

At one hour after sunset police whistles sounded over the miles of the gated Liverpool parks and the tradition of closing the large Liverpool Parks took place for the last time. Officers then returned to their police offices, took off their caps and helmets and put them inside their clothing lockers, locked them and went off duty for the last time – leaving for home wondering and waited in trepidation at what the future would bring.

At the same time Superintendent John Buchannan’s office was closed, police signs on the Park Police Offices were taken down and the doors closed shut.

Superintendent John Buchanan, Head Constable of the Liverpool Parks Constabulary, who was also the Senior Constabulary Officer commanding the Airport Constabulary at Liverpool Airport, then retired to fade into Liverpool history; he died a few years later, unacknowledged or recognised for all he had achieved for the City of Liverpool and its people.

2012 – The Diamond Jubilee Year
of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

On 29th February 2012, The Right Worshipful, The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Frank Prendergast, held a formal Civic Reception at Liverpool Town Hall to commemorate the disbandment of the force 40 years previously.

Eighteen of the surviving former members of the Liverpool Parks Police came together for a “Final Parade” at the reception, they were each presented with an illuminated scroll in recognition of their service to the City by the Lord Mayor.

More pictures may be found in the Gallery (click here).

* Click on either image to view full-screen.

Webmasters Notes

We have had a truly delightful time, working with the retired Liverpool Policemen who – with a passion – put together this history of the Liverpool Parks Police.

It was a story that we never knew about, about a force we had never heard of.

We know this piece of history will be thoroughly captivating for many Liverpudlians, historians, ex police officers and the general public alike.

It has been a real honour in helping to tell this story.

BUT we want to know more!

If YOU have any stories, photos or tales to tell about the Liverpool Parks Police, please Contact Us and help us keep alive the memory this wonderful police force.

Thank You.