Huntsman. I introduced myself whilst he drew local way. This caused a few stifled laughs checked yearly. All these duties are now my sergeant rang me on the telephone MY FIRST DAY AT me a pint of bitter straight from the cask. He from the public, this was not one of my good carried out by specialist people. conference points (telephone boxes) at each then excused himself saying he had to see to days! village at times arranged by him. DAMERHAM As a Disease of Animals Inspector I was his horses. I finished my pint and left. I then EARLY DAYS ON THE BEAT involved in my first case of Anthrax, a steer During these early years at Damerham gypsies George Bowers called in at the local shop next door, now a had died of the disease at Manor Farm, still travelled the drove roads, occasionally The Damerham beat came under the private house, where I met "Herbie" Nicklen. Rockbourne. This disease can transmit to causing trouble and so had to be moved on. Fordingbridge Section of the New Forest Here was my first villager who I found both humans. In those days you had to dig a large Within a few years this stopped when the My marriage in 1951 to June my wife triggered Division. Patrolling the Damerham beat as a 25 friendly and cheerful and remained so during pit, by any means, even by hand if necessary. gypsies became motorised. No longer did they my posting to the Damerham year old Police Constable was by foot or all my years at Damerham. I left with my The pit's angle to the wind was critical because have the excuse not to move, such as "me oss bicycle. My bicycle was a Rudge, 24inch Beat, as the Police Authority had to supply us knowledge of Damerham greatly increased. when you lit the fire the draught had to funnel has thrown a shoe sir "or "me wheel on the van with a house. At that time war conditions still frame with 28 x 1 1/2 inch wheels and Sturmey During that first evening there was a knock on through. When the fire was burning strongly, a is broke". prevailed and we could only buy specially built Archer 4 speed gears. My uniform was the old the door and I found myself being formally grating or an old iron farm gate or similar thing "Beautility" furniture with dockets. All style, with the jacket and overcoat buttoned up In this same period of time Bert Dibden of introduced to Mrs Hibberd, Justice of the was placed over the pit. The dead animal had furniture was in short supply and was difficult to the neck. The uniform cape was used with Martin was still operating steam traction Peace, by her chauffeur. On entering our to be kept close to the pit in order to roll it onto to obtain. leggings in wet weather. Collars and ties came engines to pull his threshing machine. These sparsely furnished room this small, bird like the grating where it was cremated, a two day later in my service. The only Police vehicle wonderful machines were being superseded by On 25 February 1953, with our few articles of elderly lady refused the comfort of our only job at least. This was a dirty, smelly and was a Ford Popular kept at Fordingbridge heavy tractors such as the Field Marshall, used second-hand furniture we set out in a removal easy chair and insisted on an upright chair. dangerous job. Health and Safety Regulations Police Station and I was never allowed to drive by Steve Poore also from Martin. I can still van from Gosport to Damerham, where we She then officially welcomed my wife and I to in those days did not exist. it. The only Police radios in the Fordingbridge visualise Steve's broad grin as he manoeuvred were to start up in our first home. Our newly Damerham and sat chatting for some time. section were in that vehicle and the Police Another job that came under the Diseases of past you in the narrow lanes with his large purchased furniture was to arrive four days During our conversation I became aware that Station. Animals Inspection, was the overseeing of threshing machine. Steve later changed with later. We saw no one in our drive through the this lady had gentle charm and wit. She served sheep dipping. This was a yearly job when all the times and purchased a Claus combine Because we had no personal radios, we had to village and West Park Lane. The newly built in various committees and was also an official sheep had to be cleansed of sheep scab, etc. harvester, for use in contract threshing. use telephone kiosks as fixed points of contact. Police house stood isolated, the bungalows Prison Visitor. As my first day at Damerham No matter how far you stood away from the A changing rota was used for security reasons. The affects of the war gradually receded and now either side of it had not been built. came to a close, I tried to imagine the looks on actual dipping your uniform always smelt of Hours of working were 8 hours, but on a farming prospered in the area. Some important the faces of some of the hardened criminals After settling in with our few sticks of disinfectant. changing rota of 4 hours on, 4 hours off, 4 and historical events took place during my furniture I decided to have a walk around the when this little eccentric looking lady asked hours on, starting at anytime of the day or In the winters of the late 1950's we had very days at Damerham. We only got to hear about village. It was midday so I headed to the about their welfare. night. This locked you into a 12 hour day. heavy falls of snow. Traffic came to a them by newspaper or radio, we had no Compass Hotel, I saw no one, it was like a A few months later when I made my first Rarely did you get a straight 8 hours. It was no standstill and riding a pedal cycle on the beat television. The following events spring to ghost town. I entered the Compass's expecting attendance at the Magistrates Court at fun starting at 4am in the winter. This system became very tricky indeed. One particular year mind, Stalin of Russia dying, Edmund Hillary to meet somebody, it was empty, gloomy and Fordingbridge. Mrs Hibberd was serving on soon changed to more civilized hours. when snow drifts were hedge high, I pointed and Tenzing Norgay climbing Mount Everest, basic. I called out, but no one came. I then the bench. As I started to give my evidence I this fact out to my sergeant. He told me to Queen Elizabeth's coronation, John Reginald A country beat Constables duties, included searched all through the public house and caught her eye, she smiled sweetly at me and walk my beat. One morning I trudged through Christie hanged at Pentonville Prison, finally acting as a Diseases of Animals Inspector. A could find no one. By this time I was starting discreetly waggled her fingers in recognition. the snow to Martin Village and back, and in my hero Roger Bannister breaking the four Coroners Officer in the case of sudden death to think I would be investigating my first This caused me to lose concentration and my the afternoon to Rockbourne and back, via minute mile. There were many more. where a death certificate could not be issued by crime. I finally went outside and shouted. mind went blank. As I struggled to regain Sandleheath. I was a very tired person who a doctor and, an Aliens Officer, where visitors THE NIGHT INTRUDER From the stables at the rear of the Pub, a figure composure I could hear myself saying "I am went to bed that night. I did this for three days from a foreign country had to be registered and appeared wearing riding breeches. This I PC 281 Bowers, stationed at Damerham", The garden area at the newly built Police house until the snow melted sufficiently to ride my checked regularly. All dog licences were found to be Mr Hockey, Landlord and pronouncing it Dam Mer Ham, and not in the was originally a field and a lot of work had to bicycle. To make sure I did as he instructed

Damerham Domesday Book 2000 be done getting it back into production. The final twist to this story came when one day trying to recall what little instruction I had further problem keeping awake or cycling On a date I am unable to remember but in the Vegetables were a necessity as my pay was I found out by accident that the Police House been given in my first aid classes. In home. In the coming years I was always on the very early hours of a summer's day when poor. After the first year I prepared the ground was built in the wrong place anyway. The desperation I ran back to my office and alert when passing that same spot. returning from patrolling Martin Village. I at the front of the house to lay a lawn. This chosen site of several years previously had telephoned the midwife again, with luck I saw a light shining in the buildings of South BIRD LIFE was how I occupied my 4 hours off duty in been pegged out on council allotments. When contacted her. Allenford Farm, Damerham. As this was Bird life on the beat was always plentiful. between shifts. I viewed the site the pegs were over-planted unusual I investigated. I found Mr Densham, On returning I found Joyce's mother had There are two memories which stand out. with brussels sprouts, cabbages and root the farmer, struggling to bring a calf into the I finally sowed the lawn and was particularly overcome her initial panic and had helped During a certain time of the year my wife and I vegetables, by some industrious allotment world. The calf was lying awkward and was proud that it was nice and level. The following Joyce bring her baby Paul into the world. were given pleasure by the acrobatic display of holder. having difficulty being born. It was at a morning when I looked out of the window at OLYMPIC SPRINT CYCLIST about a dozen lapwings (Peewits) which came critical point so it was off jacket, up sleeves. I my newly laid lawn it was covered with hoof Hampshire County Council surveyor's flying over the field at the rear of the Police I had always been keen on football and played pulled as Mr Densham moved and guided the prints, obviously caused by a horse. It added department at Winchester were informed, and house. In perfect formation and in unison they for many teams. During one week I played calf so it could be born. We delivered the calf, insult to injury by having rolled over it, then eventually two council bungalows were built would perform the most appealing display of football for the Hampshire County Police which was a heifer, just in time for the Vet to when leaving left its mark all along the drive. on the site, which are known as No's 1 & 2 wheeling and diving. After about eight Team and the New Forest Police Divisional check it over and pronounce her healthy. I There was no sign of the animal - Maybe for High Street, Damerham. minutes in the same orderly fashion would fly Team and finally on Saturday for the returned home in time to get some sleep. My the best. NEW BABY SCARES PC off out of the field. They reappeared each Fordingbridge Turks. wife was not particularly happy about having My initial suspicion that it was local lads evening for about two weeks. The open space between the semi-detached the house scented by the smell of cows from I had to sandwich my Police duties between playing a joke on their new policeman council houses in West Park Lane and the Our other pleasure was watching the buzzards my uniform, but forgave me when I explained these games. The evening after the evaporated when I later discovered the horse Police House was finally filled with flying at Blagdon Gap on Martin Down. There what had happened. Fordingbridge game I was called in to do duty was owned by Budgie Jerrard of Crossways bungalows. The bungalow next to the Police were three pairs nesting in that area when we at Fordingbridge Police Station. When I THE ROUNDUP Farm, which had escaped overnight. house was occupied by Jim and Joyce Dyer. first visited, but within a couple of years they finished duty at 2am Sunday morning the Before cattle grids were placed on all roads POLICE HOUSE PLOT BLUNDER Joyce was expecting a child. had all disappeared. hectic schedule of that week was starting to leading out from the New Forest, ponies One day surveyors from Hampshire County On the day Joyce's baby started to arrive, her take effect. I was so tired and not looking A further encounter with birds was not nice but strayed as far as Damerham. Many times when Council came to measure up the vacant plot mother who lived in the village and who I forward to cycling back home to Damerham. I still spectacular. As the winter evenings drew cycling to Fordingbridge I would herd several between the Police House and the semi- thought was going to cope with the home birth struggled up the hill from the railway station in, Damerham and district was invaded by ponies at a time back to Fordingbridge and on detached council houses in West Park Lane. panicked when she could not contact the bridge and free wheeled down the other side millions of starlings from all directions. When to Forest land. This was prior to building further council midwife. When my wife was asked by Mrs towards Sandleheath, practically asleep on my they all joined together they were like large There was one particular time when I managed houses. After a while with embarrassment and Dyer to assist her daughter her face showed bicycle. I entered the area opposite St Aldems black clouds. After feverishly swirling about to get several ponies much tramping over my garden they concluded nervousness and pleaded she had no experience Church with its overhanging trees and gloomy they would settle en masse in the wild that my Police House had been built too close of delivering babies. When they both turned to interior. Passing the closed ornamental gates rhododendrons on the West Park Estate. When with an awkward one amongst them back to to the other council houses. This eventually me I struggled to disguise my panic but in the which sealed off the road to Sandlemanor I was on night duty and cycling along the road Fordingbridge High Street. In those days there resulted in four bungalows being built instead true spirit of the Force reluctantly went to see School, I was aroused out of my stupor by the from Rockbourne to Sandleheath you could was a small barber shop halfway down the of semi-detached houses. To offset the loss of Joyce. I suggested she should prepare herself sight of a tall unearthly looking creature hear them all twittering away to one another. High Street, and on this day its door was wide living accommodation two other bungalows for the birth by undressing. In order to cover moving above the gates. At the same time a Their droppings had coated all the bushes and open. At this point the awkward pony tried to were built on the opposite side of the Police my embarrassment I returned to the Police terrible noise came from it. Now I was no would have done the same to any washing double back and I cut him off, but instead of House. It had been planned that the Police house and tried to contact the midwife with no Olympic Sprint Cyclist, but I bet I broke the foolishly left out on the line. joining the other ponies he ran into the Barbers House was to be the end house. success. I then rushed back to Joyce who by record. I had cycled 100 yards before I shop. I never did know what happened in CALF BEING BORN then was experiencing contractions. I stood realised it was not "Old Nick" but a Peacock. there, but the pony must have been a miracle there steeling myself to do the necessary and My adrenaline was running so hard I had no maker. An elderly gentleman whom I used to

Damerham Domesday Book 2000 see quite regularly walking with two sticks in a the thought of their diseased bodies has put me ammunition. I was to be collected, and with Crime and violence by local people were rare those days. In the meantime the men had made laborious and exaggerated way came flying out off rabbit for life. three other constables taken to Martin Drove on the Damerham beat. So it was a surprise off, but were arrested by the Police crew of the shop waving his arms in the air followed End to set up a road block. that on a summer's evening I was contacted by coming to my assistance. THE PRIMITIVE CHAPEL by the pony. He was still wearing the barber's Fordingbridge Police Station at the Compass's Arriving at Martin Drove End - now the busy In time all four were convicted. They were There were times when I was picked up at my cloth around his neck, and his language was public house. I was informed by PC "Captain" main Salisbury Road (A354) we set about bookmakers and that day had attended the Police house by the patrol car from Lyndhurst, quite colourful. Kidd that some local youths were causing constructing the road block. The main part Salisbury Races. Whilst I was being attacked a Wolseley 6/80, to patrol the whole of the trouble in the Rose and Thistle public house at I did not have to herd the ponies down the consisted of an antiquated four wheel hay by three of the men on the front lawn, the forth, New Forest Division. The patrol of my beat Rockbourne and would I attend. Although street, he did it for me. It was not until he had wagon we confiscated from a nearby farm, and a big man in a mohair jumper which made him came first. officially off duty, as a beat officer it was not gone about a hundred yards that he realised placed at an angle across the road. We parked look huge was challenging the surrounding Whilst driving through Martin village the expected that you would refuse. On route I what he was doing and came walking back the Police vehicle opposite to form a chicane. crowd. He was crouching, shrugging his driver pulled my leg about the isolation of the stopped off at my Police house changed into unaided without his walking sticks. Had I shoulders and saying "Come on who wants to We then mounted guard, with our only link to area and questioned what I did as a Policeman. uniform and as an after thought slipped my witnessed a miracle, by then I had faded into be thrown". the outside world the Police car radio. During He said the area was so isolated that even the truncheon into its pocket. I then cycled to the the background. the hours, all four of us wondered what we In the weeks following, and when in uniform village had a "Primitive" Chapel referring to public house. MYXOMATOSIS should do if the gang come upon our makeshift and on patrol, I forgave these law abiding the Methodist Primitive Chapel. To get one On entering the public bar where I expected the barrier. Jokingly, it was suggested that it locals who had come to my rescue when they In my early years at Damerham the over on him I jokingly told him that I knew trouble, the locals all smiled and pointed me to would confuse them, making them think there crouched on my approach and hunched their myxomatosis virus was not in evidence, but it everything about the area, and even where the lounge bar. There I discovered three men had been an accident between a farm cart and a shoulders and cheekily? growled "Do you want soon became prevalent. The gamekeeping every bird roosted at night. Of course he apparently drunk and had thrown champagne police vehicle and maybe slowed or even to be thrown George?" Thanks again lads. fraternity assisting its spread, as an easy way to challenged me on that statement. We were about and abused Mr Greenwood the landlord. stopped. How would we have arrested them, get rid of the rabbit population. I was never passing through Tidpit at the time heading for BEATING FOR GAME who knows? as we were all unarmed. Whilst trying diplomatically to get these men happy with using a virus as a way of dealing Damerham. To prove my point I instructed the The Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) outside and quietly disperse them, the larger of with the over population of these animals. I driver to slow down and stop outside North In the early morning we got the order to stand experimental game farm covered most of the two men attacked me. The other two then found it a distressing disease and I hated to see Allenford farm gate that was overhung by down. Needless to say the armed IRA gang Damerham area. There was always the joined in, I had two down with one to go when the suffering it caused. trees. I then shone my torch onto a pheasant did not show up or anyone else for that demand for men to act as beaters on game I was grasped from behind by an unknown perched on a branch. matter!! It is far cry from today with armed One spring morning I started work at 6am and shoots. forth member of the group, and things started Police Response Teams with vehicle stopping was making my way to Martin Village when I Being a town person he was very surprised. to look ugly. It was then I heard someone Many times I joined in with the group of "Stinger" equipment and personal found many rabbits sitting at the side of the He didn't know the roosting habits of pheasants shout "George is in trouble" and all the local beaters. It was a good day out. However, communications. road all suffering from the virus. The further I as I did and some other knowledgeable lads piled in. The trouble makers were ejected wading through chest high wet kale after rain went the more rabbits I saw, about 50 all told. villagers with catapults and low calibre A day later we found out that the IRA although out onto the front lawn and where they were was not so good. I remember one occasion shotguns. successful in their raid, were too successful. Over the years the virus killed off most of the encircled by the local lads and customers. As when Freddie Gregory, a small man, from They had stolen so much they overloaded their rabbit population. Now, 40 years on, the rabbit IRA they stood waiting for me to arrest them, Damerham was wading through such a tall lorry. Whilst this vehicle was struggling along has overcome the disease and are breeding. In goodness knows how, the men attacked me crop he could not be seen. The call "where are On Saturday 13th August 1955, I had just the High Street of Bracknell, Berkshire, it drew some areas of the country they have once again again. To slow them down a few whacks with you Fred?" was answered by him poking his finished my eight hours of duty when I the attention of a Beat Policeman who stopped become a pest. I hope some more humane way the truncheon on the elbows and knees helped. stick up through the kale. He was then guided received a telephone call from Fordingbridge the vehicle. As it came to rest the men all to control them can be found. In that brief moment I asked if anybody had by shouting of directions until he came out at Police Station to make myself immediately jumped out and escaped. All the stolen arms phoned for assistance, no one had, not even Mr the end of the field looking like a drowned rat. Prior to the introduction of the disease, rabbits available. The reason, an armed IRA gang had and ammunition were recovered. Greenwood, so I had to break off and phone Head gamekeeper Bert Ambrose had great made a cheap and wholesome meal. But now, broken into the Aborfield Barracks Armoury ROSE AND THISTLE, ROCKBOURNE myself - no personal radios or C.S. Gas in in Berkshire, and stolen weapons and

Damerham Domesday Book 2000 difficulty restraining the resulting good- for a while. Eventually an old caravan beat me. Another event was the greasy pole decoration and also the exterior. Your uniform approached by an elderly gentleman. He told natured banter. replaced the watchman's hut which made life this again gave the local lads a chance to for renewal, office records and pocket books. me of a young boy was playing with the top of more endurable. wallop hell out of their local copper. I well Now, most of these intrusions into your an artillery shell, as used in the Great War FOOT AND MOUTH remember Ken Sims, Budgie Jerrard and Cyril privacy do not exist today. which was dangerous. He was an ex artillery The prize winning herd was finally slaughtered One of the duties of a country beat Constable Hooper as the hardest hitters. One or the other gunner and had used the same type of shell in and buried in a hole excavated by a digger. Discipline was harsh and many senior officers was to act as a Disease of Animals Inspector, used to win the event each year. that war. I took what he told me seriously and The last to go were the heifers, amongst these ruled by fear rather than leadership. My stint and which is now under taken by the County searched and found the boy still playing with were those earmarked by the farm manager as One year my sergeant insisted that I should be in the Coldstream Guards just before the end of Council. This required you to check the the shell. Together we went to his home. On show animals, a culmination of many years of officially on duty and patrol the showground. the last war had hardened me to this type of transport movements of animals, for example, questioning his mother as to how they had breeding. I shall never forget the misery on Prior to this some of the local lads who were treatment. cattle, sheep and pigs. This was done on a come by the shell head, she said it had been that mans face as they were herded to their good runners were slightly peaked by my regular basis when you visited farms and small One of these inspections to the Police house brought home from the war by her father as a destruction. winning races and were intent on beating me. holdings. By law the farmers had to keep an stands out in my mind. My superintendent souvenir. It had remained on the mantle piece This was all friendly and I must admit I did stir official register. This was in case of an That evening he joined me in the caravan from Lyndhurst notified me that he was on his over the fire for many years and the children them up a little. So I could not back out outbreak of a notifiable disease. The register where we talked late into the night. He told me way to visit. It was prudent that I made sure had occasionally played with it. I took competing even if I was on duty. So on the allowed the movement of all animals to be of all the plans he had for the prize winning all office records were in good order. My possession of the shell head telling the mother day of the show I paraded for duty with my traced. herd and his expectations at future shows. houseproud wife went into a frenzy of cleaning that I would get someone from the Military uniform over my running gear. Although he was the farm manager he talked of and polishing. The whole ground floor of the In the mid 1950's there was a serious outbreak Bomb Squad to check it for safety. Being a the herd as his own and not of the person that My sergeant was due to visit so I would not be house was covered with Marley tiles and by of the Foot and Mouth disease which affected Sunday, and the shell head not posing a threat owned it. I am sure our talk eased his pain, but able to take part until he had left the show. I the time my wife had finished they had a large areas of Wiltshire. One evening I for so many years I did not telephone the the bottle of whisky he shared with me blunted waited but he did not turn up. The race was mirror like finish. received a telephone call notifying me that a Bomb Squad. I attached a note to the shell and most of his misery. It certainly helped me to close, so I dived behind the show tent and case of Foot and Mouth had been confirmed at As my superintendent walked up the drive to placed it in one of the two cells that we used finish my uncomfortable night's vigil. stripped to my running gear. I had just put on Tenantry Farm, Rockbourne. This meant the my office, I opened the front door and greeted for storing files and locked it in. my running shoes and my sergeant arrived. I closure of the farm to people and vehicles, in FLOWER SHOW him. He came bustling in and to my shock At the end of my shift at 2am I cycled home to frantically changed back into uniform. As I order to stop the spread of this disease. horror he went flying past me arms flailing and The Damerham Flower Show was always a Damerham with the firm intention of escorted my sergeant around the stalls and Notices had to be displayed. The main entrance crashed heavily into the communication door major event in the village and was attended by telephoning the Bomb Squad later the same show tent I wondered if he noticed that I was to the farm had to be manned for 24 hours a to my private quarters. Standing speechless I people from the surrounding area. The main morning. I was just waking up when I wearing my spiked running shoes. The day, with strict rules of disinfecting peoples realised my wife had polished beneath the door show piece was the marquee that held the received a telephone call from a very irate Organiser of Races could see my predicament footwear and vehicle wheels to be supervised. mat, and when the superintendent stepped on flower show exhibits. I did not enter any sergeant. It appears that on seeing the shell and delayed the race. When my sergeant had the mat it acted as a ski sending him along the My first 12 hour overnight shift on the farm exhibits the first year but as I developed my head with my note he had phoned the Bomb left I quickly stripped to my running gear and corridor. None of the apologies I made reduced entrance was pretty rugged. No shelter, just a garden I started with showing vegetables, then Squad. On arrival and after examination the took part in the race. What ever the local lad's the strictest inspection I had ever received. hedge to break the wind. The following day a as the years progressed I started to exhibit Officer of the Bomb Squad was very reluctant plan was too nobble me did not work, I won night watchman's hut was delivered for our use dahlias with some success. Then the friendly Although I made sure the mat would not move to remove the shell head because he considered the race. Another memory of friendly rivalry and a brazier. rivalry grew with other local men. This helped again I noticed that this superintendent always it too dangerous. Eventually all personnel and good clean fun. to revive flagging interest. came into our house with great caution. from the Police Station, people living near by On the morning of the third day I arrived to THE FLYING VISIT and children from the playschool next door relieve my colleague and found him in a bad One year the show committee became THE SHELL HEAD During the early days of my service, all were evacuated. All traffic was stopped as the way. He had forgotten that the fumes from the ambitious and enlarged the show to include an On a Sunday evening I had to perform town country beat officers were subjected to many officer gingerly carried the shell head to a field coke brazier were toxic and the wind had athletic track. I entered to run in several events beat duty at Fordingbridge. When in the area yearly and monthly inspections by senior nearby, now Flaxfield End Road, where it was blown the fumes into the hut. He was off sick and this, I think, encouraged the local lads to near the church of St Mary the Virgin, I was officers. Inspection of rooms in the house for blown up. It made a rather large hole. The

Damerham Domesday Book 2000 main reason my sergeant was irate was because Kemp and I know that he enjoyed his years at working on a farm I explained "They took me, as a resident officer he had been sleeping Damerham, as I did. you should have no trouble". above where I had stored the shell head. So came the day we had to move. With all our To encourage him and not to embarrass him I LEAVING DAMERHAM worldly goods packed in the furniture lorry. loaned him a pile of Police Review magazines. My wife two children and I clambered up into In each, there was a page of mathematical In March 1960 I was notified that I was being the cab of the lorry. We still had not sufficient examination test papers for promotion to transferred from the Damerham beat to money to own our own transport. As we left Sergeant. I advised him to try and complete Farnborough in the Aldershot Division. It was our neighbours waved us goodbye and as we the tests, and from which, he would be able to to be a straight exchange. went past the cottages opposite the Compass's assess his capabilities. It was to my delight Prior to the removal, the exchange constable another group of people waved us on our way. that this and other encouragement eventually and his wife came to view the Police house and We left with a heavy heart, but the memory of led to him becoming a Police Constable and the beat area. We showed them around the these people have lasted. before his death a Police Sergeant. house and whilst the wives visited the school I During my 30 years in the force I served in Another young man from the village, Paul took my colleague on a tour of the beat. This Gosport, Damerham, Farnborough, Rowlands Nicklen, who was mad about cricket, consisted of the villages of Damerham, Martin, Castle, Hayling Island, Andover and finally approached me one day when I was making a Rockbourne and Sandleheath. We finished our Petersfield where I retired from the service. In contact point at the telephone box near the bus tour at Tidpit the site of the old Police House. all of these other places I served, my wife and I shelter at Damerham, which was also used as a I then took my colleague to the hill on Martin have never recaptured the happiness and meeting place for all ages. Paul wanted to Down near the site of the ICI Game Farm friendship that we experienced at Damerham. know all about the Police Force. Whilst we Weather Station (now removed). From this It was this that has drawn us back many times. chatted he said he was going to join the Police vantage point it was easier to show him the when he was old enough. Some youths do boundaries of the beat. These coincided with IAN AND PAUL romance about such things, but I had no doubt the county boundaries of Wiltshire and Dorset. One of the saddest memories of Damerham that he would achieve his ambition. He did, I pointed out Fordingbridge in the distance that was the death of Ian Penny. Ian was a tall finally reaching a senior rank in the Hampshire was the far end of the beat. All I could think of well-built youth, who lived at West Park Lane, Constabulary. was how beautiful it all was, and was angry and worked on a farm. He rode a motorcycle about having to leave. Although the paths of Ian, Paul and myself and like a lot of the local youths used the only crossed briefly during my service I After a while I turned to my colleague and Compasses Hotel as a club as there was little followed their careers with interest. asked him what he thought about the area. He else to do in the village. answered "Its too bloody rural George". You On reflection, as they finally achieved a higher One evening I was sitting in the Compasses could tell by his voice he had no appreciation rank than me it was a good job I did not clip talking to the locals when Ian came in, bought of the area and had no wish to come to the them around the ear for any wrong doings a drink and sat down alongside me. Later in Damerham beat. This highlighted the when they were younger. conservation I discovered he was dissatisfied difference between us, he was a town person with working on a farm and wanted a change. whilst I was country born. I never did find out I urged him to join the Police Force. He how he managed to get out of the posting, but doubted that his educational standard would he stayed in Farnborough the rest of his career. qualify him for entry into the Police. Because Eventually, my next replacement was PC Peter his situation mirrored my own when I was

Damerham Domesday Book 2000 Damerham and Martin villages. A small slice Beth Timothy and Beverley attended We would be pleased to see you. Even those REFLECTIONS OF of the A354 Salisbury to Blandford Road Damerham School which was headed by ~ youngsters who may have found themselves in THE THIRD A COUNTRY formed part of the beat and in the event of a Miss McKenzie and Miss Tiller. I paid trouble with me for using the bus shelter as a POLICEMAN TO serious motor vehicle accident, some 7 miles frequent visits to give my road safety lectures. 'necking' cache. BEAT POLICE cycle ride from Damerham Police House was Meanwhile, Edna with, eventually, our five SERVE AT It was pleasing to be a guest at one our former required of me. More often than not, Salisbury children to feed, kept the village grocery store OFFICER neighbour's, Mrs. Agnes Benham, on her 100th DAMERHAM AND traffic cars had dealt with the incident long healthily financed. Mr & Mrs. Ridout together Peter A.V. Kemp birthday on the 11th. of this month. Her LIVE IN THE before my arrival. with Herbie Nicklen were the mine hosts. husband, Bill, a retired gamekeeper. I found his The country air must have been doing both One of the essentials for the village policeman body in a nearby copse when he suffered his POLICE HOUSE In March, 1960, I received a notice of transfer Edna and I the world of good as two more was to make frequent visits to the public fatal heart attack. 1964-68 from my then station, Fareham, to Damerham. additions to our family arrived in September, houses in his area. I had three such premises. A poser for those villagers from the past. Who Stuart Matcham 1960 and March 1964 in the form of Russell The Compasses at Damerham. Wally & Dot "P.C. Kemp will transfer to Damerham on succeeded me in 1965 as the local bobby - P.C. and Tracey, respectively!! Ings were in charge. The Rose and Thistle at Friday, 8th. April, 1960, replacing the present Nobby Matcham. He became a police resident officer, P.C. George Bowers" Rockbourne and the Coote Arms at Martin. My predecessor, George Bowers had left the superintendent too. We served at Damerham and resided in the There was also the Martin Men's Working garden in excellent condition and I too, grew My wife, Edna, and I were utterly oblivious to Finally, I was in command of the Romsey Sub- Village police house from 1964 to 1968, Club. fond of it. Growing vegetables and dahlias. the whereabouts or even the existence of Division where a vacancy was advertised in the following my police service at New Milton and Fortunately, the land at the back of the house In retrospect, I foolishly aimed for promotion Damerham. However, we knew it would be a Force's Routine Orders. It was as the Country Ringwood. Upon being posted to the beat I did was owned by George Bryant and he kindly and I left Damerham in February 1965 to country beat posting. Much sought after in Beat Officer at Damerham. I recommended look up past crime statistic and was quite supplied the essential nutrients to make the soil become a sergeant at Andover. I say foolishly, those days. We had not risen to the dizzy one of my lads, P.C. Lewis George Batty surprised to find that in 1829 two men were very fertile. because one does not realise the halcyon days heights of owning any mechanical transport so should give it a try. I told him I had enjoyed it hanged and five transported for arson, when the capacity as a village bobby brings. Rarely friends volunteered to drive us to Damerham Highlight of the year was always the when I was here. He did and Lew ended up as involved in the agrarian riots at Damerham that supervised. Hours were at discretion and, most with our three young children, Timothy, Damerham Show. I was able to exert my point the last of the Damerham Village bobbies. year. The unfortunate men had been made of all, the involvement in all aspects of the life Beverley and Morgan, to view the police house duty skills outside the Compasses. Highlight of redundant when having previously been in the community of a village. At my eventual in West Park Lane. After much map searching the week was the trip to the village hall for the employed as agricultural workers residing with retirement from the Hampshire Constabulary in we pinpointed that the village stood on the boys and I to have a sixpenny worth of their large families in tied cottages, they were late 1985 as Acting Superintendent of the New borders with Dorset and Wiltshire. haircut!! made suddenly superfluous to requirements by Forest Sub-Division which, strangely, enough, the introduction of threshing machines on Both Edna and I originate from Portsmouth so included Damerham, found me tied to an office farms. No other work was available and they one can imagine our trepidation in taking on a I was always a keen sportsman and Joined both and heaps of paperwork in between, Edna and I and their families were hungry. The men were bucolic lifestyle. Refuse collection once a the Damerham Village cricket team, under the had endured at least 10 house moves. desperate and set fire to the machines. month. Bus service to Fordingbridge daily but secretaryship of Cyril Hooper. The match was irregular and, once a week, a coach from the Come March next year, it will be forty years It may also be of interest to be aware that always followed by sandwiches and cakes in village to Salisbury for a shopping expedition. since Edna and I looked at each other and said, Hampshire Constabulary had used the the Village Hall. In the winter, I played "Where's Damerham?" All our children are Damerham posting as a punishment for Improved advances in transport has taken place football for Martin village before moving on to alive and well Timothy, the oldest, will be 43 wrongdoing by former constables, when the since that time. Even to the extent of the play for Fordingbridge Turks and eventually years old in November. We are blessed with police house an the beat was situated at Tidpit. village 'copper' having more than just my pedal captaining Ringwood Town F.C. ten grandchildren and live quietly in New Constables and their families re-located to the power to cover what, to all intents and Milton. If you were in Damerham all those Tidpit police house found themselves isolated purposes, was a very large rural area. My 'beat' years ago then do not hesitate to pay us a visit. by distance from town and habitation when the consisted of Sandleheath, Rockbourne,

Damerham Domesday Book 2000 only means of travel available was an foot or who became great friends ran Damerham my police helmet slightly askew. Upon arrival, by pedal cycle. The constable posted to Tidpit Garage with David Herrington's help. I found that I needed to go to bed immediately must have hoped that a replacement to get over the effects of my visit. I clearly remember being called to a field at transgressor would soon be found to relieve Damerham early one morning by a local vet. I On 8th, May 1968, I had completed 8 hours him. I must add that I feel that the constables found a large number of dead and dying pigs in duty at Fordingbridge at 2 a.m. in morning and appointed to serve in the new Damerham the field as well as sane rather undernourished was cycling home to Damerham Police House. Police house did not occupy the post as a live ones. The vet suspected malnutrition and I had passed Ings Pig Farm at Sandleheath and punishment, indeed it was a happy tine for my felt very strongly that the owner, who lived was just about 100 yards from the top of the wife, Joy and our two young boys (now aged away from the area, had neglected the pig. I hill and the freewheel cycle ride into 41 years and 37 years). assisted him all day to catch up the remaining Damerham Village when I became aware of Upon my arrival, in 1964, Peter Kemp and his live pigs, some of which had to be put down. beautiful bird sang filling the night. One bird family were moving out. I think that he was He carried out post mortems an a sample batch started up dawn in the valley below, and moving on promotion to Sergeant. I found that of five pigs, all of which had disgusting lung suddenly the whole still air was full.1 of quite the beat consisted of a large area encompassing and intestinal worms. I worked all day and beautiful sang. I stayed, transfixed by the the villages of Sandleheath, Martin and arrived home to find that my wife, unaware of efforts of about eight male nightingales calling Rockbourne as well as Damerham, and I was my days work, had prepared pig liver for our to migrating females in the night, for a mate. I given a small monthly sum to provide myself evening meal. I just could not face it. wonder if the nightingales still sing at with a pedal cycle for my duties. I recall Damerham My duties included being appointed, after a cycling 24 miles an most days of duty to cover one week course, an inspector under the the area and the locations given by the Diseases of Animals Act an behalf' of the local supervisory sergeant at Fordingbridge where authority. My duties under the Act, included he might ring at a telephone kiosk or meet me inspection an a regular basis of farm registers in his shiny black Ford Popular car. This car recording the movement of' animals into and was used an1y by the sergeant and was out of each of the farms an the beat. Initially thoroughly cleaned and highly polished every when carrying cut this duty late one afternoon, Sunday. morning by a constable at I attended a farm ( in the Lower Daggons area Fordingbridge. There were no police radios where the occupant will still remember the and police stations remained open all day, with incident), and was very kindly offered a glass most all nightt as well. of home brewed wheat wine which I saw was Landlords of the local pubs were Mr. taken in a good sized tumbler from an Fishwicke (Coote Arms), Wally Ings enormous barrel in the kitchen of the farm (Compasses) and Pam and Pete Read (Rose house. The glass must have contained .half a and Thistle). Bert and Margaret Dunford ran pint, and not being averse to a tipple, I the Post Office at Rockbourne with Bert consumed in a very convivial atmosphere. employed in additional duties as local grave When I mounted my pedal cycle to return the digger. Mr. and Mrs. Rideout ran the village last 3 miles to the police house, I found that I store at Damerham and Mr. and Mrs. Wells had sane difficulty in controlling the machine and I feel that I must have cycled home with

Damerham Domesday Book 2000