The Committee has a well-balanced mix of age, background, experience and skill. Everyone involved is committed to making improvements to the branch, its service to members and maintaining that all-important social contact with all our members.
Help them to help you. Tell them what you need, Tell them of members/partners/ex-colleagues who are indisposed.
Ask them about getting advice, legal or otherwise. Committee members are willing and ready to help.
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President: Dennis Glynn
I was born and educated in St Helens and joined St Helens Borough Police in 1959 after having worked at Pilkington Glass on leaving school. As P.C. 33, I was posted to patrol duties on the outskirts of the town. I had various attachments with the CID, Warrants dept, Coroners Officer and trained as a Firearms Officer. Becoming P.C. 5313 on the amalgamation with the Lancashire Constabulary, I was later posted to the Admin unit and had a two year stint in the Control Room. We became part of the Merseyside police on its formation in 1974. I was latterly a Juvenile Liaison Officer until my retirement in 1992.
I took up a post as a Home Liaison Officer at Sutton High School until finally retiring in 2003.
My wife Sue and I have been together for 60 years and have two children. Sue, the daughter of a Police Officer, was a Senior Clerk/Typist in the old prosecutions dept with the police.
Throughout my service, Bishop Road Club has been close to my heart and I was on the committee for 21 years ending up as Secretary for 3 years until 1989.
I am relishing the prospect of a successful term as President and I can assure you that I will concentrate my efforts on supporting our excellent committee, in providing our membership with the service for which they have become renowned in NARPO circles.
Vice President: Brian Forber
Born in Sutton, St Helens l joined St Helens Borough as a Cadet and was appointed Constable L74 on my 19th birthday, serving on foot patrol and traffic and driving the first panda car in St Helens.
As a Sergeant I served in a number of different divisions aross Merseyside including 3 years in Divisional Training. I returned to St Helens on promotion to lnspector before spending a further period in Group 5 Traffic, Smithdown Lane and Group 4 at Oliver Lyme Road. Before retirement I spent my last 5 years as the lnspector in charge of local policing for Prescot, Whiston and Cronton. ln addition to my Police duties I worked for 19 years as an instructor for the Home Office Attendance Centre, Prescot.
Following retirement I was employed as an invigilator for Pearson Education and also appointed a Justice of the Peace at St Helens. I continue to serve on the Education Appeals Panel for the Local Authority. Academically I achieved an LLB in law at Liverpool John Moores University and an MA in Organisation and Management at the University of Liverpool.
Hobbies include playing with Valley Brass Band and spending time with grandchildren.
Chair – Anita Ashcroft QPM
Born and raised in Parr St. Helens, I joined Merseyside Police in 1978. I was first posted to Copperas Hill and then St. Anne Street in Liverpool City centre. In 1984, I transferred home to St. Helens and then Newton le Willows.
I joined the Traffic Department in 1988 and worked at Smithdown Lane, Oliver Lyme Road and Maghull Traffic until 2000. Due to a serious health condition, I was taken off patrols and posted into the IMU at St. Helens, followed by the intelligence unit. During this time I became an integral member of the force Disability Support Network.
In 2003 I was asked to set up Merseyside’s PPO Scheme which was a new Home Office initiative aimed at reducing offending by our most prolific criminals and working with partner agencies – one of five pilots in the country. It was so successful it was rolled out Force wide and became used as best practice. The PPO scheme is now used throughout the UK. The team and I received a Home Office Commendation for our achievements.
In 2009 I was awarded the Queens Police Medal for distinguished service in the New Years Honours list. I retired in 2010 having completed 32 and a half years. In retirement I am currently a local Parish Councillor at Eccleston and enjoy travel, trying to keep fit, DIY and gardening.
Vice Chair – Brenda Neary
I joined Merseyside police in 1978. St. Helens was my initial posting followed by Newton Le Willows. I spent some time in the control room at St. Helens. I was on the first Merseyside HOLMES indexers course in 1988, which resulted in my working in a number of high profile major incidents all over Merseyside. I completed my service as a trainer, working at Mather Avenue, Lea Green and the Crime Faculty.
I retired in 2008 after gaining a BA. I went on to earn a Masters Degree in history. Once retired I worked briefly for JMU with the Police Recruit Foundation degree. I spend my time knitting, researching local and family history, walking my westie dogs and watching the mighty Saints.
Secretary – John Russell
I joined the Lancashire Constabulary in July 1961 and after initial training at Stanley Grange Preston was posted to Widnes Division as a uniform Police Cadet. In June 1964 was appointed as a Police Constable and again after further training at Stanley Grange and 13 weeks at Bruche Warrington was then posted to foot patrol duties in Prestwich and Radcliffe Sections in Bury Division.
In 1969 I was transferred to Crime Patrol duties with the 5 District Task Force based at Oldham. Becoming a Fingerprint and Photographic officer in Bolton, then Southport, Seaforth and finally St Helens. (In 1974, the area I was serving in became part of the newly formed Merseyside Police). I retired in Feb 1996 and joined the St Helens and District branch of NARPO actively joining in at their functions. In 2004 I was approached to become a member of the committee and remained so until 2006 when at the AGM I was appointed as Branch Secretary. I immediately formed a new committee and was fortunate to utilise some members of the previous committee whose knowledge and experience was a great help. Since that date our branch membership has more than doubled and we have a thriving branch, a hard working dedicated committee and hopefully a happy membership.
Assistant Secretary – Ann Houghton
I have almost 40 years experience in office administration and customer relations, some thirty years of which have been spent with Welfare and Benefit Departments. I have a Diploma in Applied Social Sciences from the Open University.
In 2006 I was co-opted to join the St Helens and District Branch to give advice on Welfare and Benefit matters and assist with the administration. I have also attended the Welfare Course provided by Narpo H/Q Wakefield.
Treasurer – Ray Muspratt
I was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and after a secondary modern education, left school to work at Boscombe Down, working on navigation and radio systems in military aircraft. I decided to join the police and, after some deliberation, opted to join the Liverpool & Bootle Constabulary, which was the geographical area most suited to my biggest passions at the time, music and football. So it was that in 1970 I emigrated to Liverpool. I married in 1972 and moved to Wigan in 1973. I have two children and five grandchildren.
My police career began at Eaton Road and Tuebrook and in 1977 was promoted to Sergeant at Newton-Le-Willows. In 1981, after a short stint at St Helens in the custody office, I was promoted back to Tuebrook as an Inspector. During the ’80’s I gained a B.A. degree with the Open University. I transferred to the OSD Support Group in 1985 where I spent the best 5 years of my life. I had young children growing up and loads of overtime, hence more money to enjoy life. In addition, crime patrols, dealing with public disorder and firearms situations in the company of dedicated, eager, professional men and women gave me 100% job satisfaction.
In 1990, I was promoted to Chief Inspector at Copy Lane where I prepared the order for 2 Grand Nationals and then in 1992 was transferred to Admiral St. I was promoted to Area Commander at Kirkby in 1993 when I trained as a football police commander and silver commander for public disorder and firearms operations and in 1995 got the job as head of the Operations Department. Main responsibilities there were operational planning and football matches (which gave me the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe).
I retired in 1998. My main interests now are spending a lot of time with grandchildren, gardening, family history research, looking after rental properties, live music, taking G.C.S.E.’s (so far 2 A’s and 2 A*) and driving my cabriolet sports car (on sunny summer days), in the main visiting National Trust sites.
Branch Chaplain – John Rowley
I joined Merseyside Police in June 1978 and was posted to ‘L’ Division, St Helens. I was soon to move to Sutton box to work 8 beat. In November 1979 I was moved to Newton-le-Willows to work with fellow committee member Ray Muspratt as my Sergeant. In 1989 I moved on to pastures new, to ‘C’ Division. Apart from six months attachment to the C.I.D. I have always worked in uniform and for the last few years of my service I was a neighbourhood officer.
Since my retirement in 2008 I have been able to renew old friendships. The St Helens branch of NARPO is very friendly and there is a lot of good work done mainly behind the scenes. I was recently voted onto the committee and I look forward to helping and serving our members for as long as you will have me.
I am currently the secretary of the Widnes branch of the Christian Motorcyclists Association. I also assist with the running of the North West Bikers church.