DESCRIBED as a “jewel in crown” the Police Museum based in Warrington, has received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The Museum of Policing in Cheshire based at the Arpley Street Police Stationhas been awarded the Kings’ Award for Voluntary Service – which is equivalent to the MBE for voluntary organisations and recognises outstanding work and dedication over a prolong period.
Based in the old Victorian cells in Arpley Street, Warrington, the museum focuses on police history and heritage going back to the days of Robet Peel in 1829.
It features police uniforms through the ages, police vehicles, knife crime displays and one of the biggest collections in the UK of police helmets and headgear from around the world.
Cheshire Chief Constable Mark Roberts, QPM. MSc, BA (Hons) said “This is a tremendous and well-earned honour for our incredible volunteers at the museum. As well as celebrating the Constabulary’s rich history the team do incredible work engaging our local communities and bringing the public and the force closer together.
“We are all honoured that the team has been recognised by the King in this way and I hope it will highlight the museum to even more people and encourage them to visit.”
Twenty years ago a group of retired police officers persuaded the then Chief Constable to allow them to create a small police museum in the disused female cell block at Warrington Police Station the only Victorian Police Station in Cheshire that still has operational police officers working there.
Little did any of them know, or even envisage at that time, how big and how successful it would become. The museum embraces every law enforcement agency and police force that has at any time had responsibility for policing in Cheshire.
Since those early days the museum has expanded into other areas of the police station which were not being used and has now become one of the foremost police museums in the country and without doubt one of the most visited ones.
In the past year they have shown thousands of visitors around and in August alone their open days attracted over 5,000 visitors with 2,600 of them being on one day. They also take the excitement of the museum to outside events.
Museum Manager Peter Hampson (pictued above) said: “I marvel every day at the work our volunteers put in. They are a great bunch of people and they make my job as manager very easy. They are always smiling and always enthusiastic and I am so proud of them all and of receiving this award which acknowledges all our efforts as volunteers.”
He acknowledged that museums need people to run them, to organise visits, to care for the exhibits, to maintain the displays, to clean, to guide the visitors and explain the exhibits and to ensure that we operate within the Charity Commission’s Guidelines.
“That is a lot of people and the museum has a magnificent and ever giving team of 21volunteers and not a single paid member of staff,” said Peter.
Terry Clarke has been a volunteer at the Museum since it started twenty years ago said “I remember being part of a small group of enthusiastic people with an idea and a dream not sure that the dream would ever come true, but it has and I am very proud that our joint efforts as volunteers have been recognised in such a tremendous way.”
The award is received by less than 300 organisations each year on the King’s Birthday 14th November and out of many nominations only the very best are chosen.
Chairman of the Trustees, Chris Upham MBE, BEM said: “Volunteers do not volunteer for accolades, they volunteer because they want to give something back to society and volunteers at the museum enjoy bringing the heritage of the police to the community, especially to younger visitors.”
He said volunteers were “humbled and proud” to have been chosen to receive this award and will proudly display the emblem wherever possible.
Chris added: “The museum regularly receives accolades from visitors but this award is specifically for our volunteers without whom there would be no museum. They are appreciated more than they will ever know and they are a very happy and committed group of people who I think of as friends.
“I am so pleased that we have received this extremely prestigious award from The King and I think it is well deserved. We now look forward to the presentation and to displaying the logo on our promotional material.”
Long-time volunteer Olive Brererton said: “It was a great thrill just to be nominated for this award let alone get one. It means the world to a great group of people who have become friends over the years and as well as working in the museum we have developed and active social life together. So we are very proud and honoured by this award from His Majesty the King.”
For more information about volunteering at the museum or to arrange a visit go to our website https://cheshirepolicemuseum.org.uk or contact the Museum Manager, Peter Hampson on 01606 365803.
Police museum volunteers
