A CONSTABLE drowned in one of the first incidents dealt with by the new Oxford City police force.

Pc Joseph Gilkes was swept away in the fast-flowing Thames as he tried to escape from a hostile crowd in St Ebbe’s.

He died on February 4, 1869, just a month after the city force had been formed.

At 9.45pm, the licensee of the Royal Blenheim reported seeing the body of what he thought was a policeman in the river off Blackfriars Road.

Memory Lane this week

Pc Gilkes and a colleague, Pc Wilkes, had been on patrol when they saw a crowd of about 30 outside a shop selling cheap cuts of meat.

When the constables told a woman named Cox to move on, she became abusive and told them: “Who are you? We shall do as we like.”

Pc Wilkes grabbed the woman’s shoulder and she fell into the road. Her husband, John, struck Pc Gilkes, knocking him to the ground. Then Mrs Cox threw a meat dish at Pc Gilkes, striking him on the head.

At this point, Pc Wilkes walked off and returned to his lodgings, leaving his colleague to his fate.

Meanwhile, Pc Gilkes got to his feet and, holding his bleeding head, staggered off down Blackfriars Road followed by an angry mob throwing plates and saucepans at him and shouting abuse.

It appears the young officer tried to escape his attackers across the river, but it was running fast and in flood and he drowned.

Pc Wilkes was later dismissed and the coroner said at an inquest that Pc Gilkes would probably have survived if his colleague had stayed and given assistance.

The story is told in a Pictorial History of the Oxford City Police, by retired Sergeant Geoff Rose.

The city police force was set up on January 1, 1869 by the 1868 Oxford Police Act and replaced a system whereby policing was exercised during the night by the University and during the day by the city.

The city force ceased to exist on March 31, 1968, just nine months short of its centenary, when it amalgamated with Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Reading Borough forces to form Thames Valley Police.

Fondly remembered Force still has its own association

OXFORD City police force, which was in existence for almost 100 years, is still fondly remembered by former officers and staff.

The Oxford City Police Association meets regularly to reminisce on the days when the city had its own constabulary with about 250 officers.

When the Thames Valley force was formed in 1968, many former city officers were moved elsewhere, and there were fears that the city force would be quickly and quietly forgotten.

That was until several attended the funeral of a colleague and said: “Are these the only times we are going to meet?”

The upshot was the formation of the association, which has recently held its 38th annual meeting.

The association is open to all officers and support staff who served in the city force. It meets three times a year at the Rover Sports and Social Club at Roman Way, Cowley. The next meeting is on Wednesday, December 10, 12.30 for 1pm.

Membership costs £10 a year and three newsletters a year are circulated.

Anyone wishing to get back in contact with old friends and colleagues should contact Wally Cox on 01367 860250 or email ocpa@btinternet.com

 

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