Frank Richardson (police officer)

He remained in this post, receiving the King's Police Coronation Medal in 1912[1] and being decorated[2] at Buckingham Palace in 1917.

He was at that time the "Most Senior Chief Constable of England"[3] He had married in 1870 and had nine children of which seven were sons with only one not joining the police service.

His father and grandfather had a strong work ethic which was passed on to all the children and in Richardson Green's case it led to him using his home knowledge to set up his own business in Gloucester at the early age of seventeen.

[11] Later in the year Frank Richardson Green and his wife returned to Gloucester, where their first child was born.

The family lived in a court, a collection of houses forming a square and overlooking a courtyard, very characteristic of Birmingham city centre at this time.

[13] During his time in Birmingham, he worked closely with Detective (later Chief Superintendent) Gerard Van Helden[14] who was to become very well known later.

[20] The Chief Constable's accommodation was a large one-storey house on its own grounds, known as Security Villa, DeLacey Street[21] within the City of Hereford Police Complex.

[26] A post boy was employed as a runner; one of his duties was to run to the Merton Meadows[27] or the Green Dragon Public House in Broad Street, Hereford, to collect two horses to pull a steam driven fire engine named the Nell Gwynne.

Also a horse and gig cart from the Security Villa's own small stable was made ready by a policeman.

In later years, a taxi would automatically arrive at the front door, again, summoned by the duty police officer.

Apart from the grey uniform, red piping was later added, plus three sets of fire headgear, boots and axes[31] and a motto "Always Ready".

In 1885 300 yards of canvas hose, couplings and stand pipes and a "telescopic fire escape" were added to the equipment.

There was a weak point created at the top of the glass and the idea was to throw it on the fire where it would spray water.

[32] In 1907 a severe fire broke out at Rotherwas House, a country gentleman's mansion with an historic chapel, just outside the city limits.

[34] The officers on the special beat list occupied a row of houses in DeLacy Street, adjacent to the police and fire stations.

The Annual Police Return for 1899 was presented by the Magistrates Clerk from the Hereford Watch Committee who read the contents as supplied by the Head Constable, Frank Richardson, at a Session following a speech by the Bishop of Hereford who was concerned about the number of licensed premises in the city and the serving of children.

[45] A photograph taken in 1914 showing the Special Constable Unit[46] set up in preparation for the expected war with Germany.

The citation stated "Exceptional detective ability in serious cases of crime and admirable service as Chief of City Fire Brigade".

[50] An official photograph of Richardson on a white horse in full dress uniform was taken outside the Hereford Police Station, Gaol Street, in 1919.

Their first son, Ernest Frank, was born in 1872 and he joined the Gloucester City Police in 1892 and in 1903 became the chief constable of Salisbury Wiltshire.

Their second son, Alfred Herbert, joined the Birmingham City Police in 1891 and became the chief constable of Newcastle-under-Lyme in 1901 and later of Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Their fourth son, Major Hubert, born in 1885, joined the City of Birmingham Police Force in 1904.

On 20 January 1885, Frank Richardson Green had officially changed his name by Deed Poll.

[64] In 1900 Chief Constable Frank Richardson had become eligible for a police pension but was persuaded by the Hereford Watch Committee to stay in his post - which he did until 1920.

He did however rent a house [65] in the village of his birth, Upton St Leonards, Gloucestershire in February 1899, later purchasing it in 1912.

[69] In 1931 he marked the occasion by having every member of the family at his (retirement)house and which the local press noted by writing : A long and honourable career in the Police Force is recalled by the celebrations of his 80th birthday on Oct 3rd by Mr. Frank Richardson, formerly Chief Constable of Hereford who since he left the city has been enjoying a well earned repose in the town of his birth Upton St Leonards in the neighbouring county of Gloucestershire.

Altogether Mr. Richardson served the Force nearly 50 years and at the time of his retirement was senior Chief Constable of England.

Prior to the interment at the Hereford cemetery, a service was conducted in St Peters church by the Vicar (the Rev.