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Essex Police Memorial Trust
Honouring fallen officers
The Essex Police Memorial Trust honours officers and staff who died while serving with Essex Police or the earlier police forces in the county. We also remember those who lost their lives in the first and second World Wars.
Police in Essex began in 1840 with the Essex County Constabulary, one of the first forces created after the 1839 County Police Act. Over time, smaller borough forces in Saffron Walden, Harwich, Maldon and Colchester joined Essex Police. Southend-on-Sea had its own force from 1914 until 1969, when it merged with Essex to form the Essex and Southend-on-Sea Joint Constabulary. In 1974, this became Essex Police.
About the Trust
The Essex Police Memorial Trust is a registered charity (No. 1026884), set up in 1993. It grew from earlier memorial funds, including one started in 1918 after World War I.
The idea for the Trust began after the tragic murder of PC Brian 'Bill' Bishop in 1984. Officers wanted a way to honour colleagues who died on duty.
Fundraising started in 1989, and in 1992 the Memorial Stone and Roll of Honour were unveiled at Essex Police Headquarters. The Book of Remembrance followed in 1997.
Who we honour
- Officers and staff who died on duty while serving Essex Police or earlier forces.
- Officers who died in World War One and World War Two.
About our Memorials
The Essex Police Memorial Trust has created three memorials at our Headquarters to remember officers who lost their lives on duty.
These memorials provide a place of reflection and remembrance for families, colleagues, and the public. They honour the bravery and sacrifice of officers who gave their lives to keep Essex safe.
The Roll of Honour is located in the Reception Foyer at Essex Police Headquarters. It's made from American Oak with 24-carat gold leaf lettering and created by Lomas Pigeon & Co of Chelmsford.
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The final memorial is the Book of Remembrance, hand-written by calligrapher Sam Somerville and bound by George Kirkpatrick. It was introduced on 30 November 1997 by Chief Constable John Burrow during a special ceremony. The book is displayed in a glass case in the Reception Foyer, near the Roll of Honour and World War memorial plaques.
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The first memorials were the Roll of Honour and the Memorial Stone, unveiled on 7 October 1992 at Headquarters in Chelmsford. The ceremony was led by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Braybrooke, with a Service of Dedication by the Bishop of Chelmsford.
The event was attended by:
- Members of the Police Authority and judiciary
- MPs and current and former Chief Constables
- 123 relatives of those remembered
- Serving and retired officers and staff
The Memorial Stone is:
- Made from Portland Stone, engraved with the Essex Police Crest and the words “In Honoured Remembrance.”
- Positioned on the lawn opposite the main reception entrance at Essex Police Headquarters.
- Installed by Abbey Memorials Ltd of Benfleet
- Two additional marble stones and English Ash trees were added in 2004 to honour 62 officers who died during the World Wars.
One stone remembers officers from Essex Constabulary, Colchester Borough Police, and Southend-on-Sea Constabulary who died in the First World War. The other honours those who died in World War Two.
A commemorative booklet about the Roll of Honour was also produced by the Essex Police Museum as part of the 150th anniversary of policing in Essex.
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Help us remember
We want to make sure every name is included. If you have any information about someone on our memorial - or someone who may have been missed - please contact us.
The current Trustees of Essex Police Memorial Trust are:
- Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Nolan (Chair)
- Martyn Lockwood (Secretary)
- Jack Williamson (Treasurer)
- Brian Hindley
- Roy Scanes
- Bob Ward
- Alan Cook
- Andy Hastings
- Jim Dickinson
These web page were made possible thanks to the help and support of many people and organisations, including:
- Maureen Scollan
- Dick Giggins
- Gordon Oakley,
- Martyn Lockwood
- Andy Begent
- John Grainger
- Adrian Jones
- Richard Goring
- Essex Police Museum
- David White
- Steven Pollard
- Phil Fazzini
- David Waring,
- Friends and relatives of those commemorated
- And Essex Police.
Contact the Trust
The Secretary
Essex Police Memorial Trust
PO Box 2
Sandford Road
Chelmsford
CM2 6DA