A SPECIAL event marking 20 years of the Museum of Policing in Cheshire at the old police station in Arpley Street, Warrington, attracted a large crowd – including many familiar faces from the town’s policing and court history.
Among those attending were Cheshire Chief Constable Mark Roberts, Mayor of Warrington Cllr Sagheer Zaman, museum chairman and former detective Chris Upham, and numerous former police officers who served in Warrington with the old Warrington Borough Police Force, Lancashire Police or Cheshire Police.
The museum was formed as a private trust in 2006, with a board of management under the trustees. Its objective is to advance public knowledge of the evolution, development and role of policing in Cheshire.
And 20 years on, it has certainly succeeded in attracting interest. During the anniversary event, the museum revealed that it has welcomed around 10,000 visitors, while more than 300 people visited during the anniversary week alone. Many were children who enjoyed trying on police uniforms, asking questions and getting involved in activities.
The museum has undergone a major refurbishment programme, with £37,000 in funding from Biffa Award and WREN, according to information given at the anniversary event. It now has a Tardis-style entrance and visitors are greeted by a 1900s police officer standing in a Victorian street scene before moving through to the old Victorian cell block, where many of the exhibits are displayed.
The improvements have also made the museum wheelchair accessible. It is run by volunteers and operates as a registered charity, with donations helping to support its work. Admission is free, although because the museum is situated inside a working police station, visits normally need to be arranged in advance. But there is a special opportunity to visit during the anniversary celebrations.
The museum will be open for the next three Tuesdays from 10am until 3pm, giving members of the public the chance to look around the museum and discover more about the history of policing in Cheshire.
For details of visits, go to the Museum of Policing in Cheshire website or telephone 01606 365803.
While the museum is very much about the past, Chris Upham says its ambitions are firmly looking towards the future. There are plans to make use of more of the former police station, including the first floor where the old Warrington Magistrates’ courtrooms were located.
One of the main ambitions is to create an educational facility with a dedicated classroom. The idea is to bring in groups of children, introduce them to policing and the law and then let them explore the museum and take part in activities.
It would give the museum an even greater role in educating young people about the history and work of the police. But Chris says the museum also has another responsibility – to show people what today’s police officers do.
That means looking beyond the old uniforms, equipment and photographs and telling some of the remarkable stories involving officers working in Cheshire today.
A new exhibition does just that. It features eight storyboards telling stories of remarkable incidents involving Cheshire police officers, according to the information presented at the anniversary event.
The stories include officers who have gone the extra mile to protect and save lives. One of them tells the story of Phil Burgess, who risked his own life on a motorway to rescue a man in serious danger.
Other stories involve officers dealing with people attempting to take their own lives. Another tells how an officer was stabbed four times while dealing with an incident in a town centre.
The exhibition gives visitors an insight into some of the risks officers can face while doing their jobs. It also highlights the commitment and courage shown by officers when members of the public need their help.
The exhibition was dedicated during the anniversary event in recognition of acts of bravery.
Chris says the museum wants visitors to understand that policing is not just about what happened 50 or 100 years ago. It is also about the people who put themselves at risk today.
And there is clearly a public appetite for those stories, with the popularity of police programmes on television showing just how fascinated people remain by the work of officers.
The museum has also become an important part of Cheshire Constabulary’s community engagement work, giving people who may not normally meet a police officer the opportunity to visit, talk to volunteers and learn more about policing.
Chris describes the museum as an asset not just to the constabulary but to Warrington and the wider community.
Among the museum’s exhibits is the old press bench from No 1 Court.
And this is where things became particularly interesting for veteran Warrington-Worldwide journalist David Skentelbery.
David arrived in Warrington in 1960 and spent many years reporting on hearings at the court. So imagine his surprise – and not a little embarrassment – when he discovered his name carved into the old press bench.
Chris Upham confirmed during the anniversary event that David’s name is still there and even offered to show him exactly where it appears.
The bench contains the names of many people connected with the court over the years, including police officers, court officials and members of the press.
David was relieved to discover that he was unlikely to find himself in trouble for vandalising public property! Many of the names belong to former police officers and court officials, while others were fellow reporters. Some went on to become well-known names in the national newspapers.
There is even one particularly intriguing name among them – Charles Dickens.
Unfortunately, that one is thought not to be genuine!
The 20th anniversary is therefore about much more than a collection of old police memorabilia. It is about the people behind the uniforms, the stories of those who served and the volunteers who have worked so hard to preserve Warrington and Cheshire’s policing history.
And with ambitious plans for expansion, education and a growing collection covering both past and present policing, the Museum of Policing in Cheshire looks set to have plenty more stories to tell.
