Old Timers Galore!

Here we have a group of "Old Timers" from a bygone era, and we wondered just how many of these characters we can collectively recognise, and when and why was it taken. As you scroll down, in addtion to the original photo we have enlarged three sections it to better help you see who is there. So we want to see how many in total can we identify, and althugh the answer is easy, we would like to know and when his photo was taken. We suggest that it will be easier if you identify those in the enlarged photos i.e Photos 1,2 and 3.

23rd June 2020

Editors note - As of today I believe we have been able to identify everyone in this large group except just 2 people (1) the lady in photo 1 standing next to Howard Mitchell, and (2) the police officer in photo 3 standing at top left on the back row behind Dave Ashurst. It took a while to confirm that the lady in photo 2 sitting between John Irving Pearman and Fred Bean is Corrine Clark (Nobby's wife), and the lady in photo 3 standing between Carola Farrell and Ernie Moniz has now been confirmed to be Gwen Nixon (Joe Nixon's wife).

18th August 2020

Editors note - We just received the following comment from our good friend George Rose which not only confirms the date this gathering took place, but also the precise reason for the luncheon. Many thanks George.

115TH ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON FOR RETIREES
The 115th Anniversary Luncheon will be held at the Police Recreation Club from 12 mid-day to 3.00 p.m., on Friday 21st October, 1994.
The Commissioner would appreciate your attendance at this function if at all possible.
Signed. A.J. Forbes, A/Commissioner of Police.

So, I guess that seals the date of this event.

Group Photo

Photo 1

Standing from L:- Sinclair Bean, Westmore Bean, Hubert Simmons, Leon Bean, Larry Smith,

Derek Taylor, Reese Bartley, Dudley Proctor, Bill Bryan, Keith Pratt, Peter Stubbs, Alex Arnfield,

Howard Mitchell, Winston Esdaille, George Rushe, John Instone: Who is the lady next to Howard Mitchell?
Front from L:- George H.R "Mike" Cann, Stewart Lambert, Wayne Perinchief, Jim McMaster.

Photo 2

Back from L:- Derek Fletcher, Brian Malpas, Derek Jenkinson, Jeff Payne, Hubert Swan, Phil Every,

Vendal Bridgeman, Custerfield Crockwell, Norrell Hull, Bill Butterworth.
3rd row from L:- Denis Brookes, Arthur Bean, Dudley Swan, John Marshall,

Charles "Bongo" Williams, Mel Gibbons, Lawrence "Mincy" Rawlins.
2nd row from L:- Brenda Lewis, Dee Tavares, Barbara Clarke, Norma Smith,

Jean Vickers, Natalie Morris, Marian MacNiven, "Mrs B!".
Front from L:- Clive Donald, HE the Governor Lord Waddington,

Alex Forbes, John Irving Pearman, Corrine Clark, Fred Bean.

Photo 3

Back from L:- Possibly Albert Dowling?, Carlton Adams, Barry Smith, Dennis Ramsay.
3rd row from L:- Dave Ashurst, Vic Richmond, Dave Chew, Arthur Rose.
2nd row from L:- Carola Farrell, Gwen Nixon, Ernie Moniz, Dave Cook,

Anthony Roberts, Bill "Spider" Mackenzie, Jeff Sanders.
Front from L:- Harold Moniz, George Rose, Alan Bissell.

Brenda Johnson 2 years 5 months

I am not in this photo.Editors note - I'm not sure who thought it was you standing immediatelt behind Clive Donald and next to Dee Tavares. Would you have any idea who it might be Brenda.

George Rose 2 years 7 months

Referencing Comments 5, 6 and 8 below as to the date of this gathering, I have in my hand an A45 (remember them?) dated 29th September, 1994 distributed to Superintendents and Chief Inspectors from A/Commissioner A. J. Forbes which reads as follows:115TH ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON FOR RETIREESThe 115th Anniversary Luncheon will be held at the Police Recreation Club from 12 mid-day to 3.00 p.m., on Friday 21st October, 1994.The Commissioner would appreciate your attendance at this function if at all possible.Signed. A.J. Forbes, A/Commissioner of Police.So, I guess that seals the date of this event.Editors note - Many thanks for this information George. That's a big 10/4 re your A45. Will note it in the actual article.

A name correction should someone be searching:Photo 3 at extreme right shows Jeff's surname as Saunders. This should read Sanders.And, IMO that is definitely NOT Albert Dowling to the right of Dave Ashhurst.Editors note - Many thanks for the correction re Jeff Sanders. Will adjust spelling accordingly. I tend to agree with you regarding the man standing next to Dave Ashurst not being Albert Dowling, and I've spoken directly with Albert who had no recollection of being in the photo and even he didn't think it was him!

Terry Cabral 2 years 8 months

Well if you checked with Albert and he says he has no recollection but it could be him then it's himThats Albert.Happy 4th July all.Editors note - I guess you weren't there during my conversation with Albert. Not only was he not at all sure it could be him, He also told me that he never weighed more than 165 lbs. Just check the gentleman in the photo and see how broad he is and he also had a beard. The jury is still out on this one Terry but I'm hoping we can find an original copy with the names in a caption.

Davie Kerr 2 years 8 months

As I see one telephonist (Dee Tavares) "on parade", could the unknown lady in Pic 1 be the other one, Esther Smith?Editors note - I donlt think it;s Esther bit trying to check it out - with Esther.

Terry Cabral 2 years 9 months

Albert Dowling next to Dave Ashurst.Editors note - I've had a close look at the original copy of this photo and I doubt that it's Albert Dowling next to Dave Ashurst. The guy appears physically larger and broader than Albert. Somone has suggested that he is a civilian mechanic but I would ask you all to check him out and let us know if you can confirm his identity. Have checked with Vendal Bridgeman and he thinks it probably is Albert. Will try to contact Albert to confirm that it's him because he's just about the last person we need to confirm their identity on this large photo.Editors note - I checked personally with Albert Dowling on 1st July 2020 and he has no recollectionof being at this function. He says it could be him but he's not sure at all.

Phil Taylor 2 years 9 months

Moby ID'd the lady located between Penny and J. Irving Pearman, as Nobby's wife! Also the gentleman located to the upper left of Dave Ashurst looks like one of the garage staff, whose name I don't know.Editors note - I had this lady, Mrs Clark mixed up with the ladt standing next to Eernie Moniz in Photo 3. Thanks for the correction.

Davie Kerr 2 years 9 months

A thought on the lady next to Mitch: as Dee Tavares, one of our telephonists, is included, could the other lady be our other telephonist Esther Smith?

George Rose 2 years 9 months

I believe the gent with the walking cane front row, 1st left is possibly Det. Con. 204 George Herman Ransome 'Mike' Cann of the 'Mike and Spike' fame. I drove him on the night CID shift back in the late 1960's when he was in Western CID and I was in Central.

Ah: my mistake re the date. I thought this was a repost of the "Retirees Reunion 1989", but having checked I see it isn't, so I stand (or rather sit) corrected.