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Derek Thompson

Derek died on the 28th May, 2023 aged 84 years. He leaves a widow, Beryl. His funeral will be held at 1.45 pm on Friday 16th June, 2023 at Northumberland Woodland Burials and Crematorium, Bockenfield Wood, Felton, Morpeth. NE65 9QJ. Derek joined Bedfordshire Constabulary in the early 1960s, after working as an electrician in the coal industry. After a few years, he transferred to Northumberland County Constabulary being posted to Blyth and Morpeth. On promotion to sergeant, Derek was posted to Traffic North in 1971. On promotion to inspector, he was posted to the Underwater Search Unit. His next promotion was to chief inspector of Marine Division. Derek retired from Northumbria Police in 1991.

Tommy McKitten

Tommy died on the 25th May, 2023 aged 80 years. His funeral will take place at 12 noon on Thursday 8th June, 2023 at St Mary's Church, Heworth followed at 1 pm by cremation at Saltwell Crematorium. Originally a member of Gateshead Borough Police, Tommy was a dog handler for a period of his service. However, he spent much of his service in the CID including a spell at Felling, and retired as a DCI

Douglas Hudson

Dougie died on the 6th June, 2023. His age was not reported. He spent most of his service working in the Newcastle divisions and retired as a constable in 1990. No further details are available.

Oswald Burt

Ossie died on the 12th June, 2023 aged 87 years. He had been unwell for quite some time. Ossie's funeral will take place at 10.30 am on Tuesday, 27th June, 2023 at Tynemouth Crematorium, Walton Avenue, North Shields with private interment to follow. He joined Tyne Borough Police in 1956 and was one of several officers who worked out of the Percy Park Section House in the '60s. He retired in 1987 as a chief inspector from the Mounted/Dogs section of Operations Division

James Walter Walton

Jim died on the 20th June, 2023, aged 83 years, leaving a widow, Maureen. Jim's funeral will be held at 1.45 pm on Thursday 6th July, 2023 at St Simon's Church, Wenlock Road, South Shields followed by an interment at 2.30 pm at Harton Cemetery. Joining South Shields Borough Police in 1959, subsequent amalgamation saw Jim serve in Durham and then Northumbria. His postings were with Traffic South, Marine Division, Felling, Gateshead, Traffic Central and finally, Traffic South again from which role he retired in 1989 as a uniformed inspector

Derek Ferguson

Derek died on the 15th June, 2023. His age was not reported. He retired in 1997 to live in the Morpeth area however, his rank on retiring, service history or funeral arrangements were not reported.

Alan Mitchell

Alan died on the 3rd July, 2023. He leaves a widow, Gillian. Alan's funeral will take place at 11am on Tuesday, 18th July, 2023 at Sunderland Minster followed by cremation at 12.30pm. Alan retired as a uniformed inspector in 1997.He had served in several of the Sunderland divisions and also was the oic of Probationer Training at HQ Ponteland in the late 1980s

Ronald McAllister

Ron died on the 1st July, 2023 aged 85 years. He leaves a widow, Sylvia. Ron's funeral will take place at 2pm on Monday 17 July, 2023 at the Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Church Lane, Adel, Leeds LS16 8DW followed by a short committal at Lawnswood Crematorium, Otley Road, Leeds, LS16 6AH. Ron joined Durham County Constabulary following the completion of his national service with the Royal Marines. At one stage of his service, he was a uniformed inspector at the Wheatsheaf, Sunderland where he later returned as a unformed superintendent, sub-divisional commander, retiring in that rank in 1991. Apart from the regular football duties falling the way of Ron, he also had both the annual Sunderland Illumination and the Air Show on his patch.

Philip George Butler

Phil died on the 24th June, 2023 aged 63 years. His funeral will take place at 3pm on Tuesday, 18th July, 2023 at Tynemouth Crematorium. Phil retired as a DI in 2009 after being a member of CID through the ranks and also spending some time running CID Training at HQ Ponteland.

Kevin (MKE) Doyle

Kevin died on the 19th June,2023 aged 84 years. He leaves a widow Barbara. His funeral has already taken place. Kevin joined Northumberland County Constabulary in 1962 when he was posted to Ashington. In the late '60s, he was a member of Traffic Department stationed at Hexham and retired as a uniformed constable in 1977.

James Walter Walton

Jim died on the 20th June, 2023 aged 83 years. He leaves a widow, Maureen. Jim joined South Shields Borough in 1959 and, through amalgamation, was a member of both Durham County, and Northumbria Police from which he retired as a uniformed inspector in 1989. During his service, Jim served with Traffic South, Marine Division, Felling, Gateshead and Traffic Central before returning to Traffic South until his retirement. Funeral details are unknown.

Philip John Appleby

Philip died on the 28th June, 2023 aged 65 years. His funeral has already taken place. Philip had a varied career including HM Forces, Northumbria Police, Ministry of Defence and the NCA amongst others. He retired from Northumbria Police in 1989 as a DC.

Dennis G Ashmore

Dennis died on the 15th July, 2023 aged 88 years. He was predeceased by his wife. His funeral will take place at 12.30 pm on Tuesday, 8th August, 2023 at Mountsett Crematorium. Dennis joined Northumberland County Constabulary in 1955 and in 1959 was a uniformed constable at Wallsend. In the late 60s, he was stationed in the Hexham sub division working a detached beat in the Prudhoe section. In 1974 he was promoted uniformed sergeant and posted to Prudoe where he remained until his retirement in that rank in 1985.

Ronald Lambert

Ronnie died on the 24th July, 2023 aged 87 years. He was predeceased by his wife, Joan. His funeral will be held at 2.30 pm on Monday, 7th August, 2023 at Saltwell Crematorium, Gateshead. Ronnie was an ex-Gateshead Borough officer and, apart from his routine uniformed duties in sub division, he will be remembered for the period when he was involved in police cadet training both within force and at the cadet training centre provided by Durham Constabulary where residential training was provided for Northumbria and Durham officers. Ronnie also spent several years as a member of the SPG.

Brian McLoughlin

Brian died on the 22nd July, 2023 having retired in 1993. After 7 years in the Army (RASC), Brian joined Durham County Constabulary and served through into the Northumbria days, on the beat and sometimes in the Town Office at Jarrow, as well as at Hebburn and Felling.

James M Fleming

Jimmy died on the 8th May, 2023 aged 86 years. His funeral has taken place. He joined Northumberland County Constabulary in the early 1960s and was posted to Alnwick. He left the service for a short while, rejoining in 1973 and in 1974 was posted to Firearms Training as a constable firearms instructor. He spent several years in Firearms Department eventually retiring as a uniformed sergeant from that post. During his service, Jimmy was also posted to Berwick and Traffic North.

Joseph Watkinson

Joe died on the 2nd August, 2023 having retired in 1985. He is survived by his widow, Margaret. Joe was a former South Shields Borough officer serving with both Durham and Northumbria as the result of amalgamations. His funeral will be held at 11.15 am on Thursday 24th August, 2023 at South Shields Crematorium

Colin Mewes

Colin died on the 16th August, 2023 aged 72 years. He leaves a widow, Carole. Colin retired as a constable in 2005. His funeral will take place at 11 am on Thursday 31st August, 2023 at the West Road Crematorium, Newcastle upon Tyne.

John Jeremiah

John died on the 14th August, 2023. He is survived by his widow, Diane. John joined Northumbria Police after service with the Royal Corps of Transport. He worked as a uniformed officer on the streets at Bedlington and later he is remembered for the highly efficient way her worked as a detention officer in Bedlington custody suite. He retired as a uniformed constable in 2003. No other details have been supplied.

Keith Alexander

Keith died on the 6th August, 2023 aged 73 years. His funeral has already taken place. Keith retired as a uniformed sergeant but will probably better be remembered as a member of the CID where he spent many years of his service.

Edward Limbrick

Ted died on the 29th August, 2023 aged 77 years. He is survived by his widow, Ann. Ted was medically retired in 1974 and is thought to have been a member of Traffic Department working out of Sackville Road in and around 1973 - 74.

Robert Hogg

Bob died on the 4th September, 2023, aged, it is believed to be, 85 years. He joined Northumberland County Constabulary in 1957 after service as a police cadet. In 1960 he was posted to Warkworth where he was still serving in 1975. During his time there, Bob became an AFO and authorised to use CS. In the late '70s, he was involved with Firearms Training, a role in which he continued for several years, retiring as a uniformed constable in 1987.

Paul Sainthouse

Paul died on the 16th September, 2023 aged 61 years. He leaves a widow, Simone. Paul retired in September 2011 to live in the Morpeth area. Nothing is known of his service history. Funeral arrangements are unknown.

John Burchell

John died on the 13th September, 2023 aged 84 years old. He joined Newcastle City Police in 1964 and subsequently became a member of Northumberland Constabulary with the 1969 amalgamation. He was posted to the Motor Cycle Secton of Traffic Department based at Cramlington in 1970. The force had recently taken possession of 21 motor cycles and John was asked to assist in setting up the section. Whilst nominally based at Cramlington, John was also based at Ashington and Morpeth, spending 15 years on the Section and a total of 23 years as a member of Traffic Department. John's funeral will take place at 2.45 pm on Friday, 29th September, 2023 at the West Road Crematorium when former colleagues are welcome to attend.

Adrian Whitley Barker

Adrian died on the 14th September, 2023 aged 84 years. He leaves a widow, June. Funeral arrangements are not yet known. Adrian joined Newcastle City Police in 1965. In his early service, he was a beat officer at Headlam Street. By the early '70s, he was a member of the Drug Squad, based at Market Street, and In 1974 he moved to Blyth CID as a DC. He retired as a constable in 1990.

Alexander Turner

Alex died on the 19th September, 2023 aged 77 years. He leaves a widow, Marie. No other details are known.

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 Winter 2023 edition of the Northumbria Bobby