Police Archive Update

We have had a very busy few months and it has been wonderful to see the volunteers returning to the office it’s been lonely without them. We have also managed to recruit a few more volunteers so things are looking up.

Our volunteers are working on all sorts of projects, SH has just finished a project on Police Houses she has plans in hand for another project, DW is working on officers that served in both world wars, PD is adding to information found in General orders, JN is compiling a list of where officers served and LH is updating our photograph albums as lots of photographs have come in over the last 2 years as people have been sorting out. I have been working on the death in service information and our early Irish officers and we are looking forward to and planning for the return (fingers crossed) of the Police Open Day next year. We also have some unofficial volunteers who send us information and are able to put us right when we get things wrong and we often ask them questions about all sorts of things. Thank you MH and DH.

The number of queries has risen to 187 some very quick and general and others that take many hours of work, plus several pop ins at the HH office just for a chat or to impart information and to look at the items on display.

There have been two talks given in the Heritage Hub one for Gloucestershire family History Society on helping to find police ancestors an amalgam of in person and Zoom and one for Gloucestershire Local History Association on the history of the constabulary. Requests for talks for next year are coming in again and we have three bookings already, dates are going fast. We have expanded our reach and are giving talks all over the pre 1974 county of Gloucestershire.

Displays were put up in HQ for remembrance and police memorial day.

Poppies were made using the old black uniform buttons

The archives were recognised at the Constabulary awards for the service that they provide. Sue Webb is pictured receiving the award.

For more information visit gloucestershirepolicearchives.org.uk/