Category: News

From John Bryant.

We have no further information.

We have been informed that ex Detective C/Inspector Victor Michael MILLER passed away on 28th February 2021 after a lengthy illness.

He was 76 years old and retired in 1996.

I have no other details at this moment and will be updated later.

For the first time an ex BTP officer has been appointed as the Surveillance Camera Commissioner AND as the Biometrics Commissioner. Both posts were created under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and are high profile public appointments. Dr Fraser Sampson will take up his work later in March 2021. The Home Secretary said: “It is vital the government works to empower police to use technology to keep the public safe while maintaining their trust and Fraser Sampson’s extensive experience in law and policing makes him the right person to take up this role.”

Fraser joined the BTP in the early 1980s and served in the North East Area. He was later seconded to the Home Office Central Planning Unit at Harrogate (now the College of Policing) where he worked as a legal researcher specialising in the application of the criminal law in operational circumstances. He returned to the force and later, in 1992, became an inspector at Tadworth FTC. His work included introducing many innovations in training as well as leading the training team in their own development. His time at Tadworth coincided with a particularly active PIRA campaign so he led operational deployments in the south east when required. He returned to Leeds as an Inspector and was later seconded back to central service. He left the force as a superintendent in 1996. After BTP he qualified as a solicitor working in the area of police law. He wrote several of the Blackstones Police Promotional Manuals and is a prolific author. He became Director of the Civil Nuclear Police Authority and went on to carry out similar roles with West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Police. During his time at Tadworth he offered support to officers who were working to preserve and collect material relating to the history of the force. We wish him well in his new job.

Member and Ambassador Tony Thompson writes as follows.

“You may be aware that the 20^th anniversary of the Great Heck (near Selby) Rail Crash is on 28^th February this month. Coincidentally, it is the also the 46^th, anniversary of the Moorgate Tube Disaster in February 1975).

 I attended at Great Heck and am coordinating arrangements for a live-streamed memorial service at Selby Abbey this year and attach a briefing note for circulation to the History Group and anyone else who may be interested. There are two events taking place, both live-streamed at 1000 and 1400. I am informing all other emergency services and BTP Media Relations at FHQ, and am liaising with the railway operator, Network Rail and relatives of the deceased.

 I also attach a copy of the commendation ceremony booklet from 2003 which provides further information”.

Memorial Events for the 20th Anniversary of the Great Heck Rail Crash Sunday 28th February 2021 What happened At 6.12am on Wednesday 28th February 2001, a Land Rover pulling a trailer on the westbound M62 motorway in North Yorkshire left the carriageway and ended up fouling the main southbound line. Almost immediately afterwards, the 04.45 GNER passenger train from Newcastle to London King's Cross struck the Land Rover partially derailing the driving cab. Some fifteen seconds later, the passenger train struck an oncoming freight train carrying coal. The two trains were derailed killing the coal train driver and the passenger train driver, together with eight other people on the passenger train. Eighty-six people were injured, some severely. What is taking place on 28th February 2021 The 20th anniversary of the Great Heck rail crash will be remembered with commemorative events taking place at Newcastle upon Tyne Central Railway Station, the Great Heck Memorial Garden, and in Selby Abbey. National coronavirus regulations and lockdown restrictions in England severely limit what is legally permissible, so these acts of remembrance will be live-streamed. Details on how to watch them online are given below. 10am Memorial Event 1: Newcastle and Great Heck Train operator LNER, together with Network Rail and Freightliner, is hosting an online memorial which will be live-streamed from Newcastle Central Railway Station and the memorial garden at the crash site at Great Heck. Wreaths will be laid and there will be readings, which will pause as an LNER passenger train passes Great Heck and sounds its horn as a tribute. If you would like to watch this online memorial you will need to register. Please click HERE to register. If you have any questions, please email them to greatheckanniversary@lner.co.uk. 2pm Memorial Event 2: Memorial Service at Selby Abbey, North Yorkshire There will be an online memorial service live-streamed from Selby Abbey, led by Canon John Weetman, Vicar of Selby Abbey, and the Reverend Peter Hibbs. A commemorative candle will be lit for each of the ten men who lost their lives. To watch the service please click HERE. You do not have to register. If you have any questions, please email them to GH20Memorial@gmail.com

Information from Ian Oliver

I have just been informed of the sad passing of Doulas Roy SMITH who died on 13 June 2020.

I have no other information except that he lived in Leominster.

We received this today regarding an old colleague:-

 today we received your Retired Lines for Leonard Boughton who used to live at Bickerley Green. Sadly he passed away over a year ago on 1^st December 2019. Sorry to give you sad news, and please cancel the newsletter.

Sarah Anstey

Bickerley Green Nursing and Residential Home

Kingsbury Lane

RINGWOOD

BH24 1EL

V

Hi All please see below

I have been informed via NARPO of the passing of the below :

Peter John CAIN, who served at Garston Dock and Liverpool, sadly passed away on 9th November 2019 believed aged 94.

No other details are known at this time.