Nine children nominated for new award in honour of former Warrington police officer

NINE local children aged six to 17 were invited to Warrington Police Station recently after being nominated for a special award in memory of former Warrington police officer PC Harold Howarth.

The children were nominated for the positive impact they have made on the local community and beyond such as litter picking, charity work and carol singing.

The accolade, which will be an annual prize-giving, is named after former police officer Harold Howarth, who worked for Cheshire Constabulary from the 1950s.

Harold was very happy working as a “village bobby” based at Padgate Police Station, later transferring to Winwick in 1969 where he finished his career in 1980 after giving 26 years of dedicated service. After he retired he found employment as a Security Officer at Data General and at Warrington New Town.

Sadly, PC Howarth passed away in May 2019 and was remembered by officers on his beat as a firm believer in giving the young people in the village something positive to prevent them from getting into trouble.

The winner of this year’s award was 11-year-old Teegan Ashfield who has spent time helping and working with other children at her school with designated provision classes that have additional needs.

Inspector Ruth Atherton, from the Warrington Beat Team, said: “I am proud to have been able to recognise the actions that all of the children have made in order to be nominated for this award that holds such a special place in our hearts at Warrington Local Policing Unit.

“I want to send my praise to all nine of the nominees for the award and special well done to Teegan who has won the award in its first year of existence.

“Teegan’s cheerful nature is infectious, and it has encouraged others to mix and play too.

“Some of the things that the children have done have really made a positive impact on the local community and will most definitely inspire others to do the same – just what PC Howarth would have wanted in his legacy.”