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David Gray

David died on the 12th May, 2024, age not disclosed. He was an ex-Newcastle City officer who retired in 1989 as a constable

John Sim

John died on the 24th May, 2024 aged 80 years. He leaves a widow, Gillian. John's funeral will be held at 11am on Wednesday, 12th June, 2024 at the West Road Crematorium, Newcastle on Tyne. An ex-Newcastle City officer, John joined the police service in 1964. In 1969 he was posted to Traffic North and spent much of the remainder of his career invoved in motor patrol duties, later, becoming a driving instructor with the Advanced Driver Traing Wing of the Force Driving School.

Terrence Vissenga

Terry died on the 20th May, 2024. No other information has been disclosed.

John Stephenson

John died on the 5th January, 2024 aged 91 years having retired from the police service in 1987

John William Wilfred Scott

John died on the 11th April, 2024 aged 73 years, having retired from the police service in 1983. John spent quite a bit of his service involved in investigative duties with Crime Team North, RCS, Intelligence Unit and as an instructor with the Surveilllance Training Unit with Training Department.

Jeffrey Heron

Jeffrey died on the 12th June, 2024 aged 74 years.His funeral has taken place. Jeff was a Sunderland officer who worked as a uniformed constable in Sunderland Central and then as a panda driver in Sunderland West, taking early retirement due to ill health. He was a member of the Sunderland NARPO Branch.

Lesley Thompson (nee Scott)

Lesley died on the 20th June, 2024, aged 65 years. Her funeral will take place at 11.30am on Tuesday, 16th July, 2024 at St John Boste RC Church, Washington followed at 1pm by interment at Washington Cemetery. A member of Northumbria Police Cadets between 1975 and 1977, Lesley was based at Aykley Heads, Durham, and the Kylins, Morpeth.. After being attested as a constable in 1977 and following initial training, Lesley was posted to South Shields, her home town. In 1979, she transferred to the Wheatsheat, Sunderland, where she was stationed until 1983 when she left on the birth of the family's first child. Later, she returned to work, part time, as a call taker at SAOR, then, as a store detective at Makro, and, later, for HMRC. For the last 10 years, Lesley, with fortitude, had bravely battled serious ilness and the side effects of her treatment .

Robert Patterson

Robert died on the 9th June, 2024 aged, it is believed, 80 years. He was living in New Zealand at the time where he is survived by his widow, Petreece. No other details are known.

David Slaughter

Dave died on the 10th June, 2024 aged, it is believed, 83 years. He leaves a widow, Florence. Dave joined Northumberland County Constabulry in 1960 when he was ststaoned at Blyth. Throughout his service, Dave spent time as a uniformed officer and in various branches of the CID including a secondment to No2 RCS.

John Shipley

John died on the 17th July, 2024 , age not reported. He retired in 1985, rank unknown. Unfortunately nothing further is known of his service history.

Phyllis Sigsworth QPM

Phyllis died on the 1^st August, 2024 aged 94 years. She retired as a chief superintendent in 1979. Phyllis enjoyed a varied career in the police service. She served with Northumberland County Constabulary as a sergeant from 1955 to 1960 then, later, as a chief inspector, which rank she enjoyed at the time of the 1969 amalgamation, through to that of chief superintendent, before leaving the force to become an Assistant to Chief HMI, as a member of the Police Inspectorate at the Home Office. Phyllis was a member of NARPO for almost 45 years and had lived in retirement in the south of England.

John (Jack) Stephenson

Jack died on the 8th August, 2024 aged 91 years. He retired as a uniformed sergeant. Amongst other duties, Jack was responsible for road safety training around schools and Cub Scouts and Guides in the 1970s. He was a keen golfer, playing regularly until a couple of weeks ago. His funeral will take place at 10.30am on Tuesday, 20th August, 2024 at Sunderland Crematorium.

George Edward Stones

George died on the 5th August, 2024 aged 90 years. He retired as a constable in the mid '80s. An ex-Sunderland Borough officer, George was a footbeat officer in Sunderland centre and was one of the first unit beat patrol officers (panda drivers) in 1967, when the system was introduced. He later joined Traffic Department after the amalgamation with Durham Constabulary and was a member of Traffic South, based at Houghton -le- Spring with Northumbria Police.

Brian Hawkins

Brian died on the 16th August, 2024. His funeral will take place at 11.15am on Monday, 2nd September, 2024 at Saltwell Crematorium follwed by a private family gathering. Brian was a Gateshead Borough officer, also serving with Durham Constabulary and Northumbria Police, following amalgamations.Mainly, he worked in Gateshead Division and on South Tyneside, serving in a number of roles, in additon to the routine of foot beats and panda driver. Brian worked in plain clothes, as a member of the CID, and was a member of the Dealer Squads covering Newcastle and South Tyneside. On promotion, he worked as a section sergeant and in CID. He retired from the service as a D/S, Crime Intelligence, Gateshead HQ. Brian was a member of the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards, seeing service with them betweem 1956 and 59, where he was a L/Sgt in the Signal Platoon.

Derek Wright

Derek died on the 13th August, 2024 aged 75 years. He moved to Spain on retirement and his funeral was held there. He leaves a widow, Margaret. Derek spent most of his service as a detective in the Gateshead area. He was also a DC at Whickham, a member of the Surveillance Unit, and, later, a member of Crime Team South. He retired as a DC in 2004.

Simon Crosthwaite

Simon died on the 11th August, 2024 aged 67 years. Joining the Metropolitan Police after service in the Royal Navy, Simon later transferred to Northumbria Police when he was posted to Felling, Newcastle City Centre, Training Department and, later, Newcastle North, from which posting he retired.

Stephen Lowdon

Stephen died on the 20th August, 2024 aged 66 years having retired in September 2007. Funeral details and service history are not known.`

Colin Thirkle (Late entry)

Colin died on 6th December, 2023, aged 75 years. He was a Gateshead Borough officer who worked in Felling, Gateshead and as the the Old Fold PBO.As a public order trained officer, Colin was deployed to Toxteth during the riots and in various locations during the Miners' Strike. Outside the job, Colin was a member of the Army Fellowship and would organise their choir to sing at funeral services of colleagues who were also Fellowship members. He maintained a keen interest in the social wellbeing of friends and colleagues, frequently volunteering to help with activities outside work created for the benefit of shift members. Colin was also a keen 5-a-side player.

Michael Desmond Quinn

Des died on the 27th August, 2024 aged 86 years. He leaves a widow, Dorothy. The funeral will take place at 11.45am on Thursday, 5th September at Corpus Christi RC Church, Gateshead. Des, known affectionately in the job as Uncle Des, was a Gateshead Borough officer, joining in 1959, when he was posted to Swinburne Street, and, following amalgamations, saw service with both Durham Constabulary and Northumbria Police. He retired in 1989.

Reginald Johnson (Late entry)

Reg died on the 19th August, 2024, age undisclosed. He joined Northumberland County Constabulary in 1961 when he was posted to Gosforth. Thereafter, much of his service was spent in the CID, serving at Felling, Sunderland, the West End and Wallsend and including a secondment to Hong Kong from 1977 to 1980. Reg retired in 1991 and a DCI.

George Gibson (Late entry)

George's death was recorded in August, 2024 date and age at death undisclosed. George joined Northumberland County Constabulary in 1960 and in 1962 was posted to the Information Room at the Kylins, Morpeth. In 1973, he was posted as a uniformed sergeant to the West End and, later in service, promoted to the rank of uniformed inspector in which rank he retired in 1991.

Colin Millar (Late entry)

Colin's death was recorded in August, date and age at death undisclosed. He retired as a sergeant in 2001 but nothing further is known of his service history.

Leslie Dixon (Late entry)

Leslie's death was recorded in September 2024, date and age of death undisclosed. He retired as a sergeant but nothing further is known of hi s service history.

Wendy Lamb (Late entry)

Wendy died on the 26th June, 2024 aged 72 years with her funeral and cremation in July. Wendy joined Northumberland Constabulary in 1972 when she was posted to the West End and, later, was a DC with the West End CID in 1977. Her service history thereafter is unknown.

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 2024 edition of the Northumbria Bobby