The Village Policeman 1979 To 1989

A Memory of Kempston.

I remember well pushing my police bicycle around Kempston, covering Spring Road across to St Johns Avenue and over to the chantry factory estate. I was the last of the resident beat officers living and working my patch from my police house in Chantry Road, then moved to Ash Walk. Great times giving talks to pre school children at the hall near the fire station and visiting Springfield and Daubeney school and Camestone, giving talks on my role in the community. Then being with the lollipop women when children came out and crossed the many roads. I recall the head of Daubeney school asking the 600 children who was the most important person in the community, expecting the reply to be the Mayor, but instead they said PC UNDERWOOD - what a great moment and meant so much as I knew I had won over the people I was there to watch over and protect. Kempston was a great place to live and work and my 10 years service, doing my job well, still remain with me now in my retirement. And the civic reception held by Kempston Town Council, who with the Mayor presented me with a plaque for service to Kempston - great days great people.