TRUST STAFF

HONORARY MEMBERS

PATRON

Denis O'Connor CBE QPM

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary

The Trust's Patron is traditionally Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary during their term of office and we are honoured to have Denis O'Connor become our Patron on his appointment as HM Chief Inspector in 2009. He began his career with the Metropolitan Police eventually becoming Assistant Chief Constable in Surrey in 1991. He was Deputy Chief of Kent and was appointed Assistant Commissioner in London in 1997. He was Chief Constable of Surrey between 2000- 2004 before joining the Inspectorate. He was awarded the Queens Police Medal in 1996 and the CBE in 2002 becoming Vice President of ACPO in 2003 and has undertaken several significant policing reviews. (For more information visit the HMIC website)

HONORARY PRESIDENT

Sir Hugh Orde OBE

President of the Association of Chief Police Officers
of England, Wales and Northern Ireland

The position of Honorary President of the Trust is traditonally offered to the ACPO President during their term of office and we are grateful to Sir Hugh for accepting this position on his appointment in 2009. Sir Hugh began his career with the Metropolitan Police in 1977 rising to Deputy Assistant Commissioner in 1999. He was awarded the OBE in 2001 for services to policing and was appointed Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2002. He is a graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute and also holds a Degree in Public Administration and an Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law from the University of Kent. Sir Hugh received the Honour of a Knighthood in 2005. (See more information or visit the ACPO website)

TRUSTEES

FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN

Anthony RAE

Police Sergeant, Lancashire Constabulary (Retired), Police Roll of Honour Consultant

Trust Chairman, Research Co-ordinator and Webmaster

Anthony joined the police in 1974 serving in the Metropolitan Police and Lancashire where, in 1983 he lost three friends and colleagues drowned on duty attempting a sea rescue. Discovering there were no records of officers killed on duty, this incident inspired him to ensure no officer who lost their life in the line of duty, in the past or the future, would ever be forgotten again. After years of research, covering three centuries of policing, he formed the National Police Officers Roll of Honour project in 1995 and founded the Trust in 2000. Since retirement in 2004 he has provided his services full time for the charity on both a professional and voluntary basis.

In February 2006 Anthony's son, Jack aged 11 years, died suddenly from an undiagnosed heart condition; this website is now dedicated to his memory.

VICE-CHAIRMAN

John E. JONES B.Sc., F.Inst.L.Ex.

Director for Learning & Development, Goldsmith Williams Solicitors

Vice-Chairman and Advisor on Special Constabulary affairs

Between 1982 and 1998 John served in the Merseyside Police Special Constabulary attaining the rank of Deputy Chief Commandant. He was a founder member of the National Association of Special Constabulary Officers serving as its Secretary until 1997. He researched and compiled the Special Constabulary Book of Remembrance lodged at Coventry Cathedral. He has been involved with the Roll of Honour project since the early 1990s and a charity Trustee since 2002.

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Mark CUSTERSON MA

Programme Manager, Chief Superintendent (Retired) Hertfordshire Constabulary

Trust Managing Director and Fundraising Co-ordinator

Mark has over 40 years service with Hertfordshire Constabulary during which he has been commended on 3 occasions and gained a Post graduate Masters Degree in Decision Making. He has a great deal of experience in management, research and planning including work with ACPO and the Home Office and recently set up a new national association and structure for the largest voluntary organisation in the UK. He was on the Committee of the national Police History Society for several years and in 2001 produced the first Roll of Honour for Hertfordshire Constabulary.

SECRETARY

Keith JACKSON

Inspector, Bedfordshire Police (Retired)

Secretary

Keith has been a member of the Trust since 2004 and was Secretary of Bedfordshire Police Federation Inspectors Branch Board for several years before his retirement in 2006. He has much administrative and organisational experience and has been a school governor and chairman or secretary or otherwise involved with many voluntary organisations, including the Police Insignia Collectors Association, Scouting, Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Royal British Legion. He holds both the Civil Defence and the Police Long Service Medals and continues his work with the service as a volunteer member of Bedfordshire Police and Special Constabulary.

TRUSTEE

Steve LLOYD

Detective Constable, Greater Manchester Police (Retired)

Promotion and Public Relations

Steve retired as a Detective Constable from Greater Manchester Police in 2008 after 30 years service, during which time he received four Chief Constable's Commendations and a Royal Humane Society award; he was an experienced GMP 'murder squad' detective and a committee member on several sports and social clubs. He is the UK Standard Bearer for the National Police Memorial Day Service and the GMP Force Standard Bearer. He has been a  member of the Trust since 2003 and is experienced in working with the Trust in a volunteer capacity.

TRUSTEE

Peter OLPHERT

Constable, Royal Ulster Constabulary GC & Police Service of Northern Ireland 

Family Support Advisor, Promotion and Public Relations

Peter is a serving PSNI/former RUC Constable and a Trust member since 2005. Peter's father, John Olphert, was murdered by terrorists in 1983, he was a Part Time Reserve Constable with the Royal Ulster Constabulary when he was shot and fatally wounded by terrorist gunmen while he was off duty working in his shop.  "Father's Footsteps" - an Article by Peter Olphert 23.01.2009

TRUSTEE

Karin WILLIAMS

Payroll Manager

Family Support Advisor

Karin is Payroll Manager in a firm of Chartered Accountants and a Trust member since 2003. She is the youngest daughter of the late Edna Williams whose first husband, PC James Dolan of Hampshire Constabulary, was killed on duty in a road accident while carrying out road checks for a stolen car in 1956. Karin witnessed first hand the benefits of our work when her mum learned of it 50 years after her husband's death and became one of the Trust's first family members. Karin wishes to use her experience to assist the Trust to manage its finances and to help bereaved families.

ADVISORS

MEMORIAL ADVISOR

Freddie HALL OBE QGM DL MA

Assistant Chief Constable RUC GC (Retired), Trustee RUC GC Foundation

Police Memorial Advisor

Freddie retired from the RUC GC in 2001 after 32 years service and became a member of Directing Staff at Bramshill Police College from 2001-2003. During his RUC service he was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal in 1977 and the OBE in 1997. He is a graduate of the United States FBI National Academy and in 2007 was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Co. Antrim. His brother-in-law, Constable Andrew Beacom, RUC GC, was murdered by terrorists on 12 December 1993. As a Trustee of the RUC GC Foundation he helps to oversee the RUC GC Garden of Remembrance and Roll of Honour. He is a past Chairman and life member of the RUC GC Historical Society.

FAMILY SUPPORT ADVISOR

Sidney MACKAY

Chief Superintendent, Metropolitan Police (Retired)

Family Support Advisor

Sid is a retired Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent and has been a Trust member since 2005. Sid's daughter, Nina aged 25, was murdered on duty in 1997 when as a Constable with the Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Group she forced entry to a flat to arrest a violent and deranged wanted man. Sid's son is also a serving Metropolitan Police Officer.

FAMILY SUPPORT ADVISOR

Gill MERRIN

Bereavement coordinator and counsellor

Family Support Advisor

Gill is a professional Bereavement coordinator/counsellor, working in a hospice. Gill's first husband Bill Forth, a Northumbria Police Sergeant, was murdered on duty when he was beaten and fatally stabbed while dealing with a late night disturbance in 1993. Gill has been a Trust member since 2004.

RESEARCH ADVISOR

Richard ABBOTT QPM

Inspector, Royal Ulster Constabulary GC (Retd) & Police Service of Northern Ireland

Researcher & Advisor on Irish Police Forces - RIC/USC/RUC

Richard retired as a police Inspector in 2008 after more than 30 years service during which he was awarded seven Chief Constable's commendations and was twice highly commended. He is a published author and his book Police Casualties in Ireland 1919-1922 received widespread acclaim for its meticulous research and even handed approach. He was awarded the Queen's Police Medal for services in 2002 and compiled the names for the RUC GC Memorial Garden.

RESEARCH ADVISOR

Joseph CRAIG

Police Inspector, Strathclyde Police (Retired).

Researcher and Advisor on Scottish Police Forces

Joe has had a keen interest in the history of the Police Service for many years and assists the Glasgow Police Heritage Society and Museum as a volunteer. He has a great deal of expertise in the history of Scottish Police Forces and deaths in police service and has assisted with research since the Roll of Honour Project began in 1995.

RESEARCH ADVISOR

Keith FOSTER

Retired Insurance Administrator and local historian

Researcher and Advisor on London and Metropolitan Police records and memorials.

Keith, a Londoner, is a family and local historian and a member of Society of Genealogists with a keen interest in policing history after discovering several relatives had served. He is an experienced researcher and photographer and in recent years he has applied his skills to the research and re-discovery of many long forgotten police memorials in the London area.