David Cyril Attrill MBE

 

David Cyril Attrill was born in October 1937, the second eldest of six children born to Harry and Sylvia Attrill. In 1946, just after the Second World War, the family moved from Carterton near Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, to Wellington, in Shropshire, and it was here in rural countryside that David came to love the great outdoors and especially the bird life, which was to be a passion all his life 

 

David attended Princes Street Junior School followed by Wellington Grammar School, where he excelled at swimming and boxing, for which he was awarded his school colours. From a young age, David always knew that he wanted to be a policeman and at 16, having passed the exam and interview, he left for London to join the Metropolitan Police cadets. 

 

Two years later National Service caught up with him and he joined the Royal Navy. David spent his National Service on a mine sweeper, patrolling the northern seas and arctic waters engaged in fishery protection. In 1957, David finished his National Service and returned to London to join the Metropolitan Police, where he had a hugely successful career. 

 

David started on the beat as a Police Constable and progressed to Superintendent within 20 years. He saw service in Holloway and Hornsey divisions prior to a posting to the Hendon Police Training School, first as an Instructor, and some years later as a Chief Instructor. David became a Staff Officer to the Deputy Assistant Commissioner and had further appointments in Divisional Headquarters and Barnet, Wembley and Paddington. However, it was his final appointment as Chief Superintendent of the Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG) that was the pinnacle of his police career. 

 

David met and courted Frances Ramsay, a teacher from Hastings. They were married in 1960 and remained so for some 63 years. They were blessed with 5 children, James, Stephen, Eleanor, David and Robert. Tragically they lost James just prior to his 21st birthday. 

 

Despite working in London, David was a lover of the outdoor life, and he became an expert on the birds of Great Britain to the extent he was able to give fascinating illustrated lectures. David was interested in home maintenance, gardening, reading, stamp collecting, and music, especially traditional jazz. He became a very good squash player until a fall and subsequent spinal operation put paid to the squash court. 

 

His wife Frances was the organiser of many RSPB bird watching trips with friends around the UK and Europe. The Orkney and Shetland islands were favourite destinations. 

 

For many years David was a Freemason and a member of the Walnut Tree lodge in Cheshunt. Due to the fact his father came from Birmingham, David was an avid Aston Villa fan. In retirement he also became a keen genealogist, tracing his family back to the mid 1700's. 

 

It was in his last job in the Met as head of the DPG, with the responsibility for the security of 10 Downing Street and all of London’s diplomatic embassies that David was awarded the Member of the British Empire in the Queen’s 1989 New Year’s honours list for service to the community which is outstanding in its field. This was a difficult and hugely responsible job, expertly carried out by a dedicated and professional policeman. A twenty-minute farewell interview with Mrs Thatcher in her office was a fitting tribute to David on his retirement from the Met. 

 

David’s study held an amazing collection of memorabilia. From his time in the DPG, this included a personal signed photograph from the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, and another from the then President of the United States of America, Ronald Regan. 

 

In 1988, following his retirement, David was appointed Head of Security in London for the investment bankers Merryl Lynch. David held this post for eight years and his appointment resulted in travelling throughout Europe and the United States. 

 

A photograph of David and his brothers on the steps of the Kings Cross Police station entrance under the famous police blue lamp featured on the front page of the Met Police monthly magazine in the late 1980’s. The magazine reported that together, with his eldest brother Anthony, a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force, and younger brother Roger, a Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army, the brothers had over 85 years’ service between them, albeit in different uniforms, at the time of publication.