The memoirs of Sergeant Owen were published in 1904 and covered Sgt. Owen's service at Hyde Park Police Station.

He had joined the Met in 1871 and was posted to King Street station and transferred to Hyde Park in 1874 where he was subsequently promoted and stayed until his retirement in May 1896.

 He must have been a glutton for punishment because on 19th June 1897 he rejoined the job for seven days in order to assist in the Policing of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. He retained his rank but was not given a divisional number and wore CO on his collar.

Sergeant Owen describes numerous winters when the 'frost' completely froze the surface of the Serpentine to a depth of several inches thereby enabling ice skating to take place. During most of the 19th century ice skating was extremely popular and thousands of people took part, not only on the Serpentine, but also on the lakes in St. James' and Regent's Parks. Accidents were not infrequent, Sgt Owen describes the death of a Belgian youth who avoided the Police on duty and skated onto the ice which was only an inch thick, the ice broke and despite all efforts to save him, he drowned.

There had been greater tragedies on the lakes during the 19th century, on
Christmas day 1835, seven people were drowned when the ice gave way on the Serpentine, and three people were drowned in St. James' Park Lake. Newspapers of the day called it 'The Christmas day disaster'. The worst incident however, happened on 16th January 1867 at Regent's Park Lake. During the day thousands of skaters had been using the frozen lake and at about 3.30pm., whilst therewere approximately 500 persons on the ice, the ice sheet was seen to move away from the bank and then split into pieces.

A massive rescue operation ensued, but by the next day it became clear that forty people had drowned. The skaters had been on the ice opposite Sussex Terrace, the widest and deepest part of the lake.

The Police were not the only agency involved in the prevention of accidents
and subsequent rescue efforts. In 1774 a group of Doctors concerned with
the number of deaths from drowning, especially in the London parks, had formed an Institution for affording immediate relief to persons apparently dead,from drowning. The Institution became The Humane Society and in 1787, The Royal Humane Society. The Society awarded cash rewards for rescuers and attempts at rescue, needless to say that the system of rewards was abused by hoax rescues and was a continuing concern for The Society which was, as is now, supported entirely by voluntary contributions.

King George III donated a farm house situated on the north bank of the Serpentine which became the society's receiving house. The society employed boatmen during the summer and icemen during the winter; they were equipped with all the apparatus needed for rescues. At other Lakes in central London, marquees were erected by The Society to act as receiving houses during the bathing and skating seasons.
 

A model receiving house was built in 1834 on the site of the farmhouse,
it was equipped with male and female wards, hot baths to aid resuscitation
and accommodation for medical assistants who were invariably local doctors, it was a mini hospital; It had the appearance of a small Greek temple with a portico and pediment supported by columns surrounding the entrance. The building was damaged by enemy action in 1940 and demolished in 1954; this coincided with The Society's decision to withdraw from its original purpose and to become a charity concerned with awards for bravery, as it remains to this day.

 In 1949 there were approximately 400 receiving stations in the
Greater London area, these were handed over to the appropriate local authoritieswho assumed responsibility.

Sgt Owen mentions a method used by Police to clear the ice when a thaw was imminent, a line of Police officers would walk onto the ice holding a rope so as to produce a moving barrier, thereby shepherding the skaters off the ice. The magazine 'Punch'  published a cartoon in its January 1887 issue (see below) showing this procedure. Apparently this dangerous manoeuvre which caused injuries to Police when they slipped and fell caused much amusement.

Are there any readers who remember skating taking place on the Serpentine
or elsewhere in the parks, or of the receiving house in Hyde Park?

Leonard Bentley Ex PC 799 'A'

email:  leonb55@tiscali.co.uk

'AH' IN THE THIRTIES.

Did you know that we locked up AH (Hyde Park) at night in my day,
did they do it in your time??

The fact is that on a couple of occasions I was posted relieving at
AH Night Duty. On both of those occasions I was posted to 'The Backs'.
This referred to the rear of the shops that extended from Hyde Park Corner
towards Sloane Street and rear of those shops backed into the Park, They
were vulnerable to thieves and the usual markings of cotton, pins, and
collar whalebone, were effectively put into use.

It was the duty of this officer to assist putting Hyde Park to
'sleep'. Yep we actually locked the gates to the park, and moving those
gates on thier large hinges required no 'little effort'

At 11.30 pm the key was uplifted from 'AW' as far as my memory
serves me,and the 'Entrance' Gate was swing shut and locked. At 12
Midnight the 'Exit' gate was then shut and locked, the interviening 20
minutes or so would give stragglers time to exit the park. Any straggler
finding himself shut in would have to await the Beat Officer to observe him
and open the gate when it was considered he had 'stewed' for long enough .
The key itself as readers would probably guess was too large to carry in
the pocket, it was made to fit those massive gates which themselves were
heavy to move. All other gates around the park were treated similarly.

Commercial vehicles were not allowed into the parks at all . No
coaches or buses the only exception being 'Harrods' 'Fortnum and Masons'
etc. serving the Royal Palaces, taxis were allowed into the park, indeed
if memory serves me correctly any attempt to negotiate a 'double decker'
around the narrow entrance of 'AW' at the top of Constitution Hill would
have met with disaster.
St James Park, also Green Park were locked at night. Thought that
this might be an interesting item.
George .T. Sharp Ex. Pc. 149A
Wt No 121517
EMail geosharp@xtra.co.nz

More Tales of AH from Ex PC 154 'A' Terry Brooks

Another couple of yarns about Hyde Park of which there are many. PC 323 A Cyril Walker used to service Jock Smith's car and had not thrown the old oil away when he and Jock thought they would have a bit of a lark so they went into the bushes which were in regular use by the Toms, Queers and Jimmers.

They knew the trees which the Toms used to lean against and painted up the bark all around the trunk with Jock's old oil. The next late turn they had the night glasses and a coil of wire which after they had seen a few clients of all three denominations, enter the said bushes,

 Cyril quickly ran around the outer bushes tying the wire at knee height to a bush here and there. Then Jock would say in a loud voice " I've seen them going into these bushes" That caused consternation clients trying to pull up there trousers Jimmers running for dear life along with assorted poofs. Suddenly they hit the wire and went crashing down on to the grass outside the bushes. Jock and Cyril just watched it all.

Later that evening one of the Toms was nicked and on getting to the Charge Room said " Cor Blimey look at the state of my F****** Coat"!

Another involving Cyril. He and Jack Sly, a former quite able actor and Ex War Reserve, (due to his need for strong glasses, was declared unfit for active service); nicked a couple of Jewish men, for Cross hands boogie.

Walker had the quiet one, but Jack who was strong, had the difficult one, who was struggling. Jack said to his prisoner " I want none of your flaming Whitechapel antics here old son. Turn it in or you'll be off for resisting arrest, as well". This did not have the desired effect, until suddenly he went very quiet.

At Marlborough Street Court Jack gave evidence first and enjoyed colourful language, so he described the action by saying that the two men were pulling one another ashore. Where upon Paul Bennett QC the Magistrate, who loved a bit banter said " I beg your pardon officer". Before Jack could enlighten the Court, the Clerk who was used to this sort of thing said " Common parlance for mutual masturbation Your Worship". "Thank you I am obliged". replied Paul Bennett.

On cross examination, the counsel for the defence, accused Jack of striking his client. Jack denied this. Cyril was then in the witness box and described the act as Cross Hands Boogie. Paul Bennett said "I assume this is another police description of the same action" Quite so Your Worship" said the Clerk. On cross examination the same counsel, asked Cryil if he had seen Jack strike his client Cyril said " No Sir I struck your client, as he was causing my colleague a great deal of difficulty and we were in danger of your client escaping". There you are Mr (I've forgotten the name)said Paul Bennett. You have your answer, though whether it is relevant to the charge before me, I have my doubts". They were of course found Guilty as Charged.

An early part of the war time story from Jack Clifton, later a POW man. Before Jack joined the Air Force and trained as a Pilot at Thornhild in what was then Rhodesia; he was at Hyde Park and loved to row the skiffs on night duty. His pal whose name I don't know said "lets have a race".

So they duly did, rowing as hard as they could. Unfortunately for Jack, he was heading on a collision course, with another much larger boat, in which Jock Smith was sleeping in the stern along with his alarm clock. Jack's skiff went under the bow of Jock's boat, which was well out of the water, due to Jock's great weight.

Luckily Jack saw Jock's boat as it happened and managed to leap into Jock's boat via the bow. This now redistributed the weight in Jock's boat, causing it to come down on the skiff, sinking it with out trace.

As soon as they had the chance, they told the boat owner and elected to pay for the skiffs recovery. Jacks prospective father in law was a wealthy furniture manufacturer from High Wycombe. I believe he helped out in this matter.

In peace time, during the very early 50's; Jock still used to sleep whilst on night duty, out on the large boat, along with his alarm clock. I do not know whom was responsible. Perhaps they will own up one day. Anyway, the culprit rowed out to Jock who was fast asleep and took his alarm clock and his oars.

Poor old Jock, a heavy sleeper, due to the amount of food he ate and beer he drank, did not awaken until about 6. 30 am. Thank God he had very large hands and was seen rowing back ashore, with only those extremities. It took him quite a while and a deal of explaining to the Duty Officer.

Pete Krebs unfortunately has passed on as have many mentioned here. However, I feel sure he will be remembered with affection by any who knew him. He was such a funny man, and a good musician.

One evening, I was out with Arthur Titmarsh, also of whom the same sentiments are expressed, along with the ladies, who became our wives. W e happened upon the Gyre & Gymbol, Coffee House, which was in Villiers Street. We went down the basement steps and who should be the cabaret but 140 'A' Roy Stead on the banjo and Pete Krebs on the Guitar, singing folk songs and very good they were too. I'll never forget oy singing " My Baby's Gone Down The Plug Hole" to Pete's accompaniament.

Roy still lives in Bahia Grande Mallorca. He unfortunately has a bit of heart trouble, but is in receipt of good care, with Margaret his wife a nurse. Alison his daughter & Miguel his son in law keep us in touch.