John Edwards
Posted on 19th March 2024 at 14:18
The funeral of PS 74SW JOHN EDWARDS was held on Monday 11th March 2024 near Beaconsfield, Bucks. The following is a tribute from Eugenie Brookes.
John joined the Met Police as a Cadet in 1968 and enjoyed all the sports including boxing, canoeing and lifesaving. He started his police training at Hendon in 1970. He was posted to the old Paddington Green police station that had featured in the film ‘The Blue Lamp’. In 1971 the station moved to Edgware Road junction with Harrow Road and John lived in the section house above. He enjoyed his time at Paddington which in 2018 was closed down and subsequently demolished.
In February 1972 he was policing a huge demonstration protesting against the deaths in Londonderry the previous week , now known as Bloody Sunday. 13 coffins were carried by the protestors representing the 13 that had died. However, the coffins contained bricks and wood that was used to attack the police. Over 100 arrests were made and John recalled being mown down by a charging police horse!
After 3 years at Paddington Green John joined Traffic Division and was posted to Barnes TDB. He was only 22 years old and the youngest traffic officer in the Met! He was promoted in 1981 and went to Heathrow. He enjoyed his time there but in 1987 he moved back into Traffic and was posted to Alperton Traffic Garage known in those days as TDX. He served there for many years and for the final 5 years of his police service, he transferred back to Hampton Traffic Garage.
John was a police motorcyclist for nearly 27 years and became an advanced car driver in 1976. During the 1980s he was an examiner for the Annual Disabled driver of the year competition held at the Transport and Road Research Lab in Crowthorne, Berks.
When he retired, he set up his own Security Chauffeur business with clients both domestic and international. For many years he was the chauffeur for the Mayor of Slough but finally fully retired from chauffeuring in 2014.
His funeral was so well attended not all the attendees could get into the memorial hall. Two serving Traffic officers from TDX attended in full uniform wearing their medals and looked so very smart. They handed out the order of service and stayed for the Service.
John's coffin was covered in the Force Drape which had his beat helmet and a flat cap, with white cap cover on top. His LSGC Medal was on display and after the service I added a little IMTM sticker to the top of his coffin which I just know would have made him smile.
A tribute was read by a Police Sergeant and both of John's children gave moving tributes to their Dad.
I will always remember John – he was my reporting Sgt both at ID and at TDX. His moral compass was dead straight, he was a loyal honest caring lovely gentleman who did me the honour of giving me away at my wedding last August.
He was just the best and I will miss him and his wise counsel.
Safe journey my reporting Sergeant. Xx
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