National Police Memorial, The Mall, London 2018. 

Attribution: Irid Escent [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]

Northumbria NARPO relies entirely on information provided to us to compile the obituaries. 

They are provided for the benefit of friends and colleagues and are not intended to replace full obituaries published elsewhere.

The obituaries appearing below will be published in the Summer 2024 edition of the Northumbria Bobby

Wiliam Furness

Bill died aged 73 years having retired as a constable in 2001. Funeral arrangements or service history are unavailable.

David Brown

David died on the 5th August, 2023 aged 75 years having retired as a constable in 1999. The funeral has taken place. 

Kenneth Thomas Preston

Ken died on the 6th December, 2023 aged 83 years. Retriring in 1988, he had served for some time with Traffic North and Traffic Management. We have no retiring rank nor funeral details.

Denis Charles Harriman

Denis died on the 29th November, 2023 aged 95 years. Joining Northumberland County Constabulary in 1950 after National service with the RAF, he was posted to varoious locations around the force area including Forest Hall, Ponteland, Allendale, and Morpeth. Denis was, by 1962, a uniformed sergeant at Rosehill in the Wallsend Division. In 1974, as a uniformed inspector, he was posted to Morpeth Sub Division. He retired from Traffic Department in 1985 as a uniformed chief inspector. We have no funeral details.

Lance Davison

Lance died on the 16th November, 2023 aged 85 years. He leaves a widow, Patricia. Lance joined Newcastle City Police in the early 1960s and was a uniformed officer at Walker Section Station in 1963. He became a CID Aide in 1965 and, later, was appointed to the CID at Headlam Street. Lance spent much of his service in the CID including the West End of Newcastle and also at HQ. For some time, Lance was also a member of the Newcastle City Police football second team He retired as a DCI in 1987.

Gavin Breeze

Gavin died on the 21st December, 2023 aged 84 years. He was predeceased by his wife. Gavin joined Northumberland County Constabulary in 1961 when he was posted to Gosforth and, later, to other stations throughout the force area including Berwick, Felling, Ashington. In 1973 he was at Traffic North and also worked with Traffic Central. He retired as a chief superintendent in 1996. Gavin's funeral will be held at 10am on Friday 12th January for close family only. Following on after that ceremony, at 11 am, at St Mary's Church, Morpeth there will be a service to which all Gavin's friends and colleagues are invited.

Thomas Hutton

Tommy died on the23rd December, 2023 aged 85 years. He leaves a widow, Alice. Tommy's funeral will take place at 11am on Monday, 8th January, 2024 at Mountsett Crematorium. He retired as a constable in 1990 and additional service history is not currently available.

Albert Kinnear

Albert died on the 17th December, 2023 in Cramlington Hospital. He was predeceased by his wife. The funeral is to be private - family only. Albert was a Tynemouth Borough officer and remained in that area throughout the two amalgamations where he worked as a beat bobby. His twin brother, Andrew, who passed away earlier in 2023,was also a Tynemouth Borough officer.

Keith Little 

Keith died on the 27th December, 2023 aged 83 years. He was predeceased by his wife, Jennifer. Keith's funeral will take place at 12.30pm on Thursday, 18th January, 2024 at the West Road Crematorium, Newcastle upon Tyne. Keith started his police career in Hastings, it is thought to have been, in 1962, before transferring to Newcastle City Police around 1964/1965 . He was a uniformed officer at Market Street in the early '70s when, amongst other duties, he was the shift operator. Later in his service, he worked in communications, first at the AOR at Clifford Street and, later, at Ponteland. On his retirement as a constable in 1992, Keith became a member of NARPO, and, later, branch secretary, a post he held for many years, relinquishing the post because of ill health in 2009. He was a member of the branch management committee and was made a Life Member of NARPO for his services to the branch.

Ernest Leonard Potts

Len died on the 10th January, 2024 aged 81 years. He leaves a widow Roseland. Len's funeral will take place at 12.30pm on Tuesday 30th January, 2024 at South Shields Crematorium. He was a South Shields Borough officer serving in the CID and later, with Durham and Northumbria, following amalgamations. Len was also a member of the RCS and served for some time at Sunderland West as a DS. In 1979, he was a member of the peacekeeping force sent to Rhodesia during its transition to independence and received the Rhodesia Medal in recognition of his service there. On retirement, Len was the regional security manager for Pirelli UK

Peter Lancaster

Peter died on the 12th January, 2024 aged 77 years. He leaves a widow, Jenny. Peter's funeral will take place at 10.15am on Friday, 9th February, 2024 at the West Road Crematorium, Newcastle upon Tyne. During his service, Peter was stationed at Newcastle Central, Traffic North, Newcastle Summons and Warrants Department and Newcastle North. Peter retired as a uniformed constable.

John Charles Pattison

The death has been reported of retired inspector John Pattison aged 88 years. His funeral has already taken place in a private service. John joined Tynemouth Borough Police in the 1950s. On reaching the rank of uniformed inspector, he was posted to Whitley Bay. Later in his service, John was posted to HQ Ponteland where he became the press officer and finally  as a member of the HOLMES security department. John retired on the 13th January, 1984.

Colin Briggs

Colin has died after a long illness. Funeral details are not available. Colin was a Tynemouth Borough officer and served most of his service as a member of the North Shields CID. He retired as a constable. Colin's funeral will take place at10.30am on Wednesday, 7th February, 2024 at Tynemouth Crematorium

Peter Marshall

Peter died on the 22nd January, 2024 age not reported. He leaves a widow Joan. Peter's funeral will be held at 1pm on Monday, 5th february, 2024 at Blyth Crematorium, Cowpen Road, Blyth. Peter retired as a constable in 1992 after having completed 34 years service of which 26 years were spent with Traffic Department as a member of the Motorcycle Section, following his earlier service as a beat officer at Bedlington and Newbiggin. In retirement from the police service, Peter took up employment as an HGV driver until illhealth required him to retire.

Gordon Embley

Gordon died on the 12th January, 2024, aged 86 sears. He was predeceased by his wife Maureen. His funeral will take place at 12.15pm on Friday, 9th February 2024 at St Mary's RC Church, Whickham. Gordon was a Newcastle City Police officer. He spent much of his career as a member of the CID where he was a DS at Market Street in the early '70s and, also, worked on Prosecutions Department.. He retired as a D/Superintendent in 1991.

William Stewart Leadbeater

Bill died on the 18th January, 2024 aged 85 years. He leaves a widow, Joyce. Bill's funeral will take place at 1pm on Wednesday 14th February, 2024 at Durham Crematorium followed by a service of celebration at Consett Methodist Church at 2pm. A police officer for 26 years, Bill was medically retired in 1984, leaving the force with the rank of constable. He had served, initially, with Durham Constabulary, transferring to Northumbria Police on amalgamation. Bill did not seek promotion rather he spent his service with the consistent aim of being the best police officer he could be.

John Burn

John died on the 27th October, 2023 leaving a widow, Mary. His funeral has already been held. John retired as a constable in 2000. Nothing is known of his service history. (This bereavement has only recently been reported to NARPO)

Keith Bacon

Keith died on the 24th January, 2024, age undisclosed. He leaves a widow, Sandra. Keith retired as a constable in1986 but further information regarding his service or funeral arrangements are unknown.

Stanley Ford

Stan died on the 29th Janury, 2024, age undisclosed, leaving a widow, Katie. His funeral will be held at 10.30am on Tuesday 13th February, 2024 at South Shields Crematorium. Stan worked in the Sunderalnd area and was a tutor constable at Gillbridge in the late 80s/early 90s, where he also served as a uniformed sergeant in which rank he retired in 1996.

Alan Luke

Alan died on the 1st February, 2024, age undisclosed. He leaves a widow, Adrianne. The funeral will take place at 11am on Wednesday, 28th February, 2024 at St Cuthbert's Parish Church, Plessey Road, Blyth. Alan joined Northumberland County Constabulary in 1966, serving  at Blyth, Rothbury, Forest Hall, North Shields and in the City Centre, where held the rank of sergeant. Promoted to the rank of inspector, he was posted to Ashington where he completed his service retiring in 1996.

Peter Rippon

Peter died on the 23rd January, 2024 aged 76 years. There are no funeral arrangements to hand. Peter joined Northumbria Police in the late 1970s. It is beleived that he spent some of his police career in the South Shields area. Further updates will follow when information is to hand.

William Clark

Bill died on the 5th December, 2023 aged 90 years. He leaves a partner, Alison.His funeral has already taken place. After National Service, Bill joined Northumberland County Constabulary. His final posting was as a sergeant at Newburn  where he performed several roles including that of station sergeant and he retired in that rank in 1985.

James Michael Prail

Jim died, it is believed, on the 4th February, 2024 aged 78 years. His funeral will be held at 11.15am on Tuesday 20th February, 2024 at St John's Church, Sleekburn, Bedlington Station.Leaving school aat the age of 15, Jim worked at the Co-op at Bedlington and Blyth before he joined Northumberland County Constabulary and served at Wallsend, North Shields, and Newcastle East. He was promoted to sergeant in 1978 and moved to the City Centre before being appointed to the CID and working with the Serious Crime Squad. In 1991, he was seconded to the RCS working on surveillance duties from which post he retired from the force in 1994. Jim was a keen rugby union player, turning out for Percy Park Rugby Club. He was a member of the Northumberland/Northumbria Police Rugby team which he played for and captained for many years.

Peter Urwin

Peter died in Friday 23rd February, 2024 aged 84 years. His funeral will take place at 10.00am on Tuesday, 12th March, 2024 at Sunderland Crematorium. Peter was a Sunderland officer who worked 'A' Panda, Warrants Department, as collator and, for many years, was the Coroner's Officer.

Alistair Rae

Alistair died on Thursday, 22nd February, 2024 aged 85 years. His funeral will take place at 3pm on Monday 4th March, 2024 at Whitley Bay Crematorium. Alistair joined Tynemouth Borough  in 1965 serving in North Tyneside as the result of subsequent amalgamations. He retired as a constable in 1993.

James Keith Gilholm

Keith died on Sunday, 18th February, 2024 aged 84 years, it is believed. He leaves a widow, Dorothy. Keith joined Northumberland County Constabulary in 1956 and in 1958 he was a PC clerk in divisional admin at Hexham. Later in service, he was a unformed constable at Corbridge and, in 1973, at Prudhoe. Following promotion, he was a uniformed sergeant at Newcastle West End, in the late '70s, retiring in that rank in 1986. Funeral arrangements are not yet known.

George Ritchie

George died on the 9th February, 2024 aged 83 years. He leaves a widow, Bernadette. Funeral; arrangements are not known. It is thought that George joined the police service in 1969 after service in the Royal Navy and was stationed, initially, at Jarrow. Later in service, he was stationed in Hebburn, and was also a member of Warrants Department.He retired as a constable in 1992