Pat Smyth, a civil servant with the National Assistance Board in West Tyrone from the 1930's to the 1950's, recalls his memories, experiences and the larger than life personalities he encountered on the way.

Our dealings with the police were minimal, apart from the brush I had with D.I. Small but a few other names come to mind. Detective Sergeant John Garvey, from Mullaghbawn and his charming wife, Gertrude, née Henry from Ballykilbeg, were a couple with whom we formed a lasting friendship.

George Spence, Alfie Woods, Sergeant Bowman and Station Sergeant Lavery were others that we also got to know well. Sergeant Glenny of Mountfield is another officer that I remember.

One day when I was motoring in his district a black and white mongrel raced from a field where men were gathering spuds to chase my car. He hit the back wheel and went off on three legs howling. On my way back through Mountfield, I thought it wise to drop in and report the accident.

Sergeant Glenny listened attentively and with a poker face quizzed me about the exact location and circumstances. Then he grinned and quipped 'Did you kill the brute?' I assured him that the animal seemed likely to survive. 'He has put me off the bicycle about six times and if the owner comes near me I'll talk to him' he responded.
   
I particularly remember Sergeant Bowman who was in charge of traffic matters and was as helpless as Canute when he strove to stem the tide of vehicles that swamped Killyclogher when we buried 'Black John', an extremely popular and well loved local priest.

He told me afterward he had called in the help of Mountfield, Fintona, Gortin and various other local stations on that occasion.
       
Once, I had to enlist Sergeant Garvey's help when a particularly determined fraudster called to seek urgent payment accompanied by a well-primed accomplice. John wandered into my office as an observer, casually dressed in a well-worn dustcoat.

He didn't introduce himself or intervene and the interviewee hardly gave him a second glance. In the event, the police decided to proceed against the chancer under the Larceny Act.

As he was liable to abscond across the border Sergeant Garvey bought him in on a warrant. He treated the Sergeant with much more respect them! I recall that the court sentenced him to one month's gaol.

High Street/Market Street, Omagh

Pat Smyth, 2001