Speke Airport - Police

[airportbobby]

I am looking for photos of the members of the SPEKE AIRPORT POLICE during the 1950s to the 1970s.

Sgt Darcy was the senior Sgt till 1960 when he left Liverpool Airport and was posted to Scotland. After he retired he returned to Liverpool.

From 1960 the supervisiory officers were Sgt Steve Kelly, Eric Fitton, Bruce Liggett and Sid Cox - the officer in charge was Inspector John Buchanan.

Sgt Kelly had served in the Irish Guards during the war. He was one of the first members of the SAS, operating in North African behind German lines.

Sgt Eric Fitton looked after the late King Hussan of Jordon on his private visits to his wifes family, who resided in the Fulwood Park of Liverpool.

Photos of the police dogs patrols and vehicles used are also sort.

Any help will be appreciated in this research project - to compile a history of the policing of the airport.

.

[Deleted]

I certainly remember Sergeant D'Arcy - badge No.110. How could I forget him? He stopped me from going into the airport more times than I can remember until my father had words with him!

I can't remember when the changeover to the local police took place - maybe about 1962?

Eric Fitton certainly rings a bell, but none of the other names do.
Sergeant D'Arcy would have been employed by the Ministry of Aviation at the time. Eric Fitton and co may have been employed by a branch of the Liverpool Police by then. I don't recall seeing any photos of the police from those days - there was no staff magazine at the airport, and I can't think of an incident where they would have been photographed.
Sorry I can't help any more than that.

[FoLA]

Jul 29, 2010 0:32:27 GMT 1 airportbobby said:

I am looking for photos of the members of the SPEKE AIRPORT POLICE during the 1950s to the 1970s.

airportbobby - if you 'pm' me your e-mail address we have at least one great photo you will be interested in. Maybe more!

We would also be interested in the outcome of your work.

FoLA

[Biggles]

I recall some time ago now there was a cap badge for sale on ebay, from the Liverpool Airport Police as usual with a Liver Bird as the emblem and those words around the edge.

[airportbobby]

Thanks for your reply -

Some 50 cap badges were manufactured and issued at Liverpool to Constables and Sgts. Inspectors badges and senior officers - amount not known.

The helmet badge (or plate as its called ) was never issue and was retained in stores.

In the early 1960s Chief Constables authorised the continued wearing of patrol helmets by Airport Police, but this was not actioned by the Airport Authority at Liverpool.

Visit the Manchester Police Museum and you will see police helmets on display - including Manchester Airport Police

The Liverpool Airport cap badge was similar in design to the old Liverpool Corporation police, later called the Liverpool City Police.... and the Liverpool Park Police, both of which were disbanded under police reform in the 1970s.

If you see a 'Liverpool Airport Police' badge for sale - buy it, very rear and highly collectable.

[Biggles]

Thanks I did miss winning it on the auction/

[airportbobby]

Jul 29, 2010 20:38:51 GMT 1 garstonboy said:

I certainly remember Sergeant D'Arcy - badge No.110. How could I forget him? He stopped me from going into the airport more times than I can remember until my father had words with him!

I can't remember when the changeover to the local police took place - maybe about 1962?

Eric Fitton certainly rings a bell, but none of the other names do.
Sergeant D'Arcy would have been employed by the Ministry of Aviation at the time. Eric Fitton and co may have been employed by a branch of the Liverpool Police by then. I don't recall seeing any photos of the police from those days - there was no staff magazine at the airport, and I can't think of an incident where they would have been photographed.
Sorry I can't help any more than that.

[airportbobby]

Garstonboy :- Sorry I have been slow in my reply.

You are "Spot On" in every detail - with regards to Sgt D'Arcy in spelling and description.

I hold a photo of him and also a group picture of other officers from the Civil Aviation Authority Constabulary, some of them stationed at Speke Liverpool Airport in the 1950s.

Your local knowledge is called for :- I suspect you may have resided in the area around Banks Lane near the River Mersey and Sgt D'Arcy and the other officers would have been viewed as "Your Local Bobbies "

In those days you would not run very far away - he would have caught up with you , if not later that day - within the week, depending on his rest days. Simple uncomplicated and enjoyable days growing up - and we all remember the local bobby.

Banks Road Entrance to Speke Airport :- Up to the late 1970s it housed a number of gun pillar boxes and underground air raid shelters.

Sited nearby were the old wooden RAF fighter crew huts. They stood as if in some "Sort of Time Hold." waiting for the Scamble Call. Not far away stood the old farm building made of sand stone, which was used as the original terminal control tower building.

Along side the building and at the rear of "Hangar 39" was a strange looking building with a sort of round roof, used as a RAF crew canteen and later by the City Fire Service.

In about 1972 - the building mentioned above was hired out to a breeder of white rabbits.......... I am not joking.

He sold them to butchers shops around south Liverpool and Widnes . The local kids got word of what he was up to........... one night the bobbies and passing members of the public reported seeing up to 50 white rabbits roaming around the Garston and Airport areas of the city

Reports about the rabbits continued for weeks and every kid in Garston had one. Local Garston drunks - kickout time was about 2am....... found some of the rabbits and were seen heading home with rabbits under arm

Reports were received that druken men were banging on the doors of the terraced houses shouting - in a normal polite Liverpool way " It's me my dear wife. Will you kindly getup, open the door and let me it. Before you do my dear please open the window and look what I have got for you "

Back to serious things and my research project :- Do you remember the flat roofed brick built " Police Office " at the entrance to the airport in Banks Road ?. In the 60s it was closed and later used as a local youth employment office . If you remember the police office and the comings and goings etc please inform me.

Best wishes and thank you

[Beemer]

Scanned and posted for Viscount.

Sergeant D'Arcy

'Clearly a posed publicity photo, probably sometime 1960. Makes the children well into retirement now!'

[Deleted]

Yep, exactly as I remember him - but don't recognise the kids in the picture though - maybe they just happened to be around at the time.

[viscount]

I was recently reminded of a story, which I have seen in print (but cannot recall either where or when). A story that might well be of 'urban myth' status, but in the quiet days of the 50s/early 60s, quite believable. The tale runs along the lines of......

....... On a very quiet day, with little happening, a pilot on a near empty Isle of Man flight offered the on-duty Airport policeman a 'jump-seat jolly' flight to the Isle of Man and back to liven up the day, and after all it would only take an hour and a half, no one would notice ....

While at the IoM, the weather at Liverpool turned foul, preventing the flight returning. At the end of his duty period, the Police Constable could not sign off duty at Liverpool, as he was stuck in the Isle of Man!

Now, that would take some inventive talking your way out of!!

[johnoakes]

I remember the Sgt., but mostly I remember the ginger haired bobby who was always throwing us out of the main building.

He was very keen and made you feel like litter. LOL

One day on a day trip to Dubin with my late father and he saw me in the main concourse.
He approached and said, "Come on, just how many times have I got to tell you to get onto the balcony."
I looked him straight in the eye and said "That is no way to address passengers."

He was flabbergasted.

Mind you I kept clear of the main building for some time after that.
Happy days. LOL

I wonder what happened to their police dog handler? He was a decent guy who always had a moment to speak to the spotters.
Never knew his name.

[Samba]

I remember Ginger, like the last story,i was london bound one morning via Eagle. My dad went to the shop for something and left me by the information desk.
Up pops Ginger and told me to get out of the terminal, at that point my dad returned
and the conversation was if my memory serves me right, short and to the point. What a nasty individual, the spotters curse !.

[viscount]

I forgotten about the, I think, relatively short period when the Airport Police had a dog and police dog-handler on strength.

Once, two of us as lads, had called at the Police Office at the front of No.1 Hangar to ask permission to go in and see a particular visiting aircraft. Granted permission by the nice Sargeant (No.2, I seem to recall, the taller Irish one), as we walked down towards the central side entrance, I was downed by the dog racing between my legs, then my mate was knocked over by a good push, downing both of us before we realised what had happened! Very effective. All sorted out very quickly. As to a date, I would think 1963 - 1965, would that match John Oake's memory, I wonder? Oddly, I don't recall a ginger haired Constable specifically, but as a young teenager, one quickly sorted out the friendlier from those to avoid.

[johnoakes]

Yes viscount that was the time frame-if you missed ginger you were a lucky lad.LOL
The dog handler was a really pleasant guy--would not let us stroke the dog--he DID explain why and my hand was withdrawm sharpish.LOL