Memorial plaque moved back to Essex headquarters

SERVING and former officers joined together for a blessing ceremony for Acting Sergeant (APS) Brian ‘Bill’ Bishop, as his memorial plaque was placed in the Chief Constable’s Garden.

The memorial plaque for APS Bishop, which had previously been sited at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire, was removed and requested to be placed at the gardens in Essex Police Headquarters, Chelmsford, at the request of his widow, Sue.
Sadly, shortly after this request was made, Sue, a retired police officer and staff member herself, passed away last month, six days after the 31st anniversary of the incident.

The weather held as Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh led the short memorial ceremony alongside The Reverend Lee Batson, with Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston, Deputy Chief Constable Derek Benson, Assistant Chief Constable Maurice Mason, Chief Superintendent Simon Williams, and retired Inspector Mervyn Fairweather, who was shot and wounded at the incident.

On Wednesday, 22 August 1984, Acting Sergeant (APS) Bishop was one of several officers called to Central Avenue in Frinton following reports that a man had robbed two post offices, one in Walton and another in Frinton.

As officers were tracking the robber, he approached them carrying a shotgun concealed in a plastic carrier bag and opened fire. APS Bishop was shot in the head during the incident and Inspector Mervyn Fairweather was wounded in the groin. Sadly, Brian died five days later in Saint Bartholomew’s Hospital in London.

The armed robber was arrested at the scene, charged and sentenced to life imprisonment on 19 July 1985, after being found guilty of the murder of APS Bishop, and was also found guilty of wounding Insp Fairweather.

APS Bishop and his wife are survived by their son Dave, a Detective Constable for Essex Police.

Mr Kavanagh said: “It is fitting and right for Bill’s plaque to return here to Essex, fulfilling Sue’s wishes.

“Bill’s actions that day, in knowingly placing his life in danger, were in the finest traditions of Essex Police. His legacy to the force is an honourable one and it is our responsibility to remember and respect his devotion to duty.

“We remember both Bill and Sue today, who worked tirelessly for Essex Police in the care of police survivors. Today we celebrate the love Bill and Sue had for one another, as well as their son, Dave, for both.

“We send our thoughts and prayers to Dave at this time.”

Mark Smith, Chairman of Essex Police Federation, passed on the organisation’s condolences to the Bishop family.

He said: “We will never forget Bill or the sacrifices he made. Sue worked tirelessly for police survivors and would regularly come with us to National Police Memorial Day. She will be missed this year.”