B. 24 Apr 1929 in Westward Ho! but moved to Bideford in 1930.
I attended Northam C of E schools 1934-39 and passed a scholarship for BGS in 1939 where I became captain of Grenville House while still in the Vth Form, which was very unusual. I played both rugby and cricket and equalled the 100 yards sprint record. After leaving in 1945 with a very average School Certificate, I joined Southern National as a Clerk which was a complete waste of time.
I played soccer for various Northam teams and also golf, without achieving any skill at the latter and remained a rabbit! Some people were able to play both cricket and gold to a high standard but I failed to do so. However, I played rugby for Bideford Chiefs before conscription, which took me into the Royal Marines on 1 June 1947, and subsequently acquired the Green Beret as a Commando. I saw service overseas in Palestine, where I was awarded the Royal General Service Medal, and also served in Cyprus and Malta. I took to using my second Christian name, Frank, as Cecil was considered too effeminate; my mother was not pleased!
I then joined the Metropolitan Police Force on 14 November 1949, serving in central and southern London, and Scotland Yard. My police career appears to be very boastful, full of promotions and nothing else, but I just happened to pass a number of exams and be in the right place at the right time:
30 Apr 56: promoted to Station Sergeant
9 Apr 59: Inspector
1 Nov 63: Chief Inspector
1 Apr 65: Chief Inspector
1 Jun 69: Chief Superintendent
1 Jun 70: transferred to Sheffield and Rotherham Constabulary as Assistant Chief Constable.
I expected to be made Chief Constable in 1974-5 but was overlooked as the Sheffield and Rotherham Constabulary was amalgamated with Doncaster and Barnsley to form the South Yorkshire Police, the fifth largest in the country. However, I was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable in 1978 and retired in 1985.
I was awarded the Queens Police Medal in 1975 which is similar to an OBE but acquired because of your rank, nothing else. I played rugby and cricket twice a week for Metropolitan Police teams at various grades but I never reached the first team in either.
Before rugby union became professional, the Met. Police played against the top London clubs, always having at least three players who represented their Counties and one England player in the 1st XV. I captained a second XV to tour S Wales and S Devon, but I could not persuade the management to arrange games against Bideford and Barnstaple – not enough apres-ski appeal!
Upon retirement I was invited by the Home Secretary to become Police Advisor to the newly formed Police Complaints Authority, despite having to move back to London, as it seemed a comfortable way to ease myself away from the Police, on a two-year appointment, which subsequently ended after five years.
I married Yvonne, a Liverpool girl, on 27 March 1953, who like me was living in single accommodation whilst working at the Commonwealth Relations Office. We had a truly happy marriage with five children (4 girls and 1 boy). She provided unstinting loyalty and support, very necessary as I was often regarded enviously be fellow Officers.
We each enjoyed travel, Yvonne arranged many overseas holidays for University of the Third Age. We were also very keen caravanners and between us journeyed through many western European countries. Fortunately, she towed and manoeuvred a caravan just as well as me, so we were able to share the driving. We were also keen Bridge players and went on many overseas Bridge holidays. She died on 19 January 2020 and I am at a complete loss without her; a good example of this is my poorly written scribble here whereas she would have used the computer, which I cannot.
