|
This article was first published in the West Sussex Gazette on 22nd October 1992.
The first motorcycle patrolman in West Sussex, P.C. Bill 'Tiny' Dear wearing a merit stripe above his cuff, pictured on the first police bike, a Sunbeam.
|
In last week's Remember When article, Mrs Ena Clayden spoke candidly of fond memories in the inter-war years when she knew local characters in the police force including Superintendent Bristow and 'Tiny' Dear, so-called because of his 6 feet 4 inches height.
I have now managed to track down the widow of William 'Tiny' Dear -- Mrs Marie Dear -- who remembers much about the local constabulary.
She disclosed an act of bravery by Superintendent Bristow at a time prior to the First World War before his promotion, 'When Worthing Police Sergeant Bristow was on duty at Goodwood races, he endeavoured to stop a runaway horse and carriage. He ran to catch the horse, was injured, and subsequently received a commendation for bravery.'
'Tiny', the first police motorcyclist in West Sussex, also had a connection with the races, for during his time in the Sussex Constabulary he was at one time assigned to a Royal task: when King George V went to the Goodwood races, 'Tiny' escorted the king from Tillington House each day where he was staying for the duration of the races.
It was not until 1933 that 'Tiny' at the age of 33 married Marie.
In those pre-war years Worthing police had their own ambulance. Driven by 'Tiny' it attended road accidents, taking the injured to hospital; and was also hired out privately to transport patients to London and other hospitals outside Worthing.
On the long ambulance journeys, patients were often accompanied by a well-known aristocratic character by the name of Miss Digby, who was a dedicated Red Cross worker and lived at Heene Terrace.
The days of the Police Ambulance soon came to an end, however, when the vehicle was sold to Spain for use during their Civil War in the 1930s.
Prior to transportation, its bell positioned on the running board was removed and presented to 'Tiny' as a treasured memento.
He had joined the Force at the age of 23, when the police station was at Thurlow House in High Street (demolished and replaced by the pay and display car park at the junction of Union Place), and served a total of 32 years before retiring as a sergeant from the Sussex Constabulary in 1955.
To his credit, 'Tiny' was not only the first motorcycle patrolman in West Sussex but also the first 'speed cop'.
 
Worthing Police Ambulance in the 1930s, used to ferry the injured from road accidents to hospital, driven by P.C. 'Tiny' Dear. Note the Sussex Constabulary insignia painted in between the windows; and the electric bell affixed to the running board near the bottom of the driver's door.
|
| |
