Essex Police Memorial Trust: Robert Walsham

Robert Walsham - Essex Police.
Served from November 4th 1989. Died 29th January 2008.

Robert Walsham Bob Walsham transferred to Essex Police in 1989 having served seven years with the Metropolitan Police. He soon gained a reputation as an outstanding 'thief taker' and was second to none in the quality and quantity of his prisoners.

On promotion to sergeant in 2000, Bob was posted to West Clacton on a community team. He spent 5 years leading this team and it will be for his work during this period that he will be best remembered. Bob felt passionately about his community, gaining their support and making a difference to many of their lives, not only with the reduction of crime but also in his fund raising for various local causes. During his 19 years with Essex Police he was awarded three Chief Constable's Commendations and the Millard trophy for his work with the community in West Clacton.

On Tuesday 29th January 2008 Bob was travelling to work on his motor cycle when a car pulled out into his path, knocking him off his bike and killing him instantly. Bob will be remembered for his great sense of humour and the support he gave friends and colleagues in and outside the service. Bob planned to marry his fiancee Emma in August 2008 and leaves behind two sons Fraser and Ben.

Police Sergeant 1829.

The February issue of Essex Police's own newspaper, 'The Law' carried the following report of Bob's funeral which was held at the chapel at West Mersea Crematorium.

A motorbike send-off for an 'outstanding' officer

by Kim Perks

Hundreds of leather-clad bikers and uniformed police officers united in grief to bid farewell to Sgt Bob Walsham.

A keen motorcyclist, Bob died in a road crash on the A12 in Suffolk on January 29. His send-off would have made him proud and it poignantly illustrated his popularity as a family man, an “outstanding” police officer and as a friend.

Two police motorcycles led the cortege and a convoy of Harley motorbikes through a police guard of honour, and the extent to which Bob had touched all of their lives was written across many faces.

Two police motorcycles led the cortege

The sheer numbers of mourners at his funeral on February 19 left many outside the chapel at West Mersea Crematorium, braced against the cold and listening to the service via speakers.

Overcome by tears, Bob’s 15-yearold son Ben was unable to read out the tribute he had penned, in which he described his father as “a machine programmed to love people”. It was not just Bob’s caring side that was evident during the service. Ben’s tribute spoke of the time his fun-loving father took him and his brother Fraser skateboarding, only to break his ankle but still manage to drive home. Retired officer and fellow motorbike enthusiast Pete Gardner also recalled the time Bob dressed up and danced in a white tutu for a bikers’ rendition of Swan Lake.

He put as much enthusiasm into his work as he did to his free time and became an inspiration to a great many colleagues with his strong ethics and a determination to make a difference in the communities that he served, at times with great success.

Bob began his career in the Metropolitan Police before moving to Essex in 1989 and had served for a total of 26 years when he died. During that time he was awarded three commendations as well as the Millard Trophy for his work in Clacton.

Bob was living with his fiancée Emma and her four children and was travelling from their home in Hadleigh, Suffolk, to work in Colchester when the crash happened. Pete Gardner, himself choking back tears, described Bob as a “copper’s copper” with a great sense of humour, who died doing what he loved best - riding his motorbike.

A memorial to Sgt Bob Walsham is to be put up at Clacton police station. The ornamental tree and enscribed brass plate will be placed on the grassed area behind CID.

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