Early Life.
Alec Seymour was born on the 28th May 1918 at New Barnet, Hertfordshire.
His father was Alfred Edward Seymour who was born on the 30th July 1884 in Finsbury Park. His mother was Leah Harston who was born on the 6th January 1881 at Long Bennington, Lincolnshire.
Alfred and Leah were married on the 24th August 1908 at Whetstone. They had 7 children all born in Barnet:
1. Eleanor Rose Seymour born on 11 January 1909. 2. Ronald Seymour born on 8th June 1911. 3. Edward Seymour born on 26th August 1913. 4. Alec Seymour. 5. Violet Seymour born on 3rd May 1921. 6. Thomas Alfred Seymour born on 4th December 1923. 7. Ruth Seymour born in 1930.
In the 1921 census the family were living at 1, Albert Terrace, Albert Road, East Barnet, Middlesex. Alfred is shown as being a Greengrocer working for himself.
Alec attended Margaret Road Boys School, New Barnet.
On leaving school Alec went to work for Messrs. N.D.L. Pascoe Joinery Works, Henry Road, New Barnet initially as a Factory Hand which he did for 5 years, before switching to work in the Stockroom as a Despatch Worker and Clerk. He had been doing that for 18 months when he decided to apply to join the Hertford County Constabulary.
Police Service.
As a first step he completed a Hertford County Constabulary Form 1 Conditions of Entrance Form. He completed it in his own handwriting by giving his full name: Alec Seymour, Address: 19, Albert Road New Barnet, Herts., Age: 20 years 9 months, Occupation: Despatch Worker, Married or Single: Single.
Then on the 10th March 1939 he attended Barnet Metropolitan Police Station where Sergeant 67S Dearman filled in the following: Height (Bare-footed): 6 ft ¼ inches, Weight 12 stones 8 lbs, Chest Deflated: 37 ½ ins, Inflated 41 ins.
He then wrote a brief account of his employment, as previously described, since leaving school.
The Form was date stamped 11th March 1939 as having been received in the Chief Constable’s Office.
He was then given a Hertford County Constabulary Form 2 Conditions of Service Form and asked to complete the Declaration of Candidate,
Age: 20 years 9 months, Place and Date of Birth: 10, Albert Road, New Barnet, Herts, 28th May 1918, Height: 6 ft ¼ ins, Chest 37 ½ ins, Complexion: Fair, Eyes: Grey, Hair: Light Brown, Marks: None, Married or Single: Single, Nationality: British.
He stated that he had not completed any Public Service or been a Boy Scout and he had been employed as a Despatch Worker as given above until 11th March 1939. He said he had never been rejected by any other Police Force.
On the 13th March 1939 he signed a declaration stating his replies had all been truthful and that he agreed to comply with all the conditions of service as shown on the form.
On the 21st April 1939, the Constabulary Surgeon [name illegible Ed.] certified that he had examined Alec Seymour and considered him fit for the duties of the Constabulary.
Alec also provided details of four persons who were happy to recommend him as a candidate for employment in the Hertford County Constabulary and for how long he had been known to them. The four were:
1. Norman Elie de Longueville Pascoe. Domestic Joinery Works, Henry Road, New Barnet 5/9/32 – 11/3/39
2. Chas. C. Marshall. (Works Manager) 15, Shaftsbury Avenue, New Barnet 1/11/37 – 11/3/39
3. J.G. Taylor. Brookview, Brookhill Road, New Barnet ? – 11/3/39
4. A.E. Ginger. Newsagent 32 East Barnet Road, New Barnet 1/1/30 – 13/3/39
A certificate stating that the signatures of the four men and that their recommendations are worthy of confidence has not been completed.
According to his Hertfordshire County Police Personal Record Alec Seymour began his Probationary Training at Police Headquarters at Hatfield on the 1st May 1939 in Class 63, his instructors were PS 33 Warren and PS 309 Tansley. He was Appointed as Constable 66 in the Hertford County Constabulary on the 3rd August 1939 and Posted to D Division at Hemel Hempstead.
His Personal Record contains all of the same information of his Form 1 and Form 2 together with further information as follows below.
In the 1939 Register Alec is shown as Police Constable 66 D lodging at 1 Cemmaes Villas, Collett Road, Hemel Hempstead with a widow and her daughter.
In January 1940 he passed the St. John Ambulance First Aid Certificate.
On the 28th August 1941 he was transferred to C Division at Watford.
Marriage.
Alec Seymour married Eileen Phyliss Gillingham on the 18th January 1942 at Hemel Hempstead. They had a daughter.
On the 13th April 1942 He joined H.M. Forces.
Military Service in WW2.
The only details known of Edward’s Military Service during WW2 are contained within his Police Service Record. It states that he left the Police on the 13th April 1942 and joined the Royal Air Force and then the Royal Navy as an Able Seaman.
He was awarded the 1939/45 Star, France/Germany Star, the Defence Medal, and the War Service Medal.
He was later awarded the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Re-joining The Police.
His Police Service Record shows that he returned to the Police Force on the 12th December 1945 and resumed duty at Watford Police Station.
In April 1947 he passed the St. John Ambulance First Aid Voucher qualification.
On the 2nd December 1947 he was transferred within C Division to Croxley Green. As from the 9th April 1951 Croxley Green became part of Rickmansworth Town.
In November 1948 he passed the St. John Ambulance First Aid Medallion qualification.
He sat and passed Part 2 of the examinations for promotion to Sergeant on the 27th August 1950 and again on the 23rd January 1954.
In November 1950 he passed the St. John Ambulance First Aid 1st Label qualification.
At the second attempt he passed the Part 1 of his examinations for promotion to Sergeant on the 26th March 1955. He was not promoted to Sergeant.
On the 28th May 1955 he passed the Police Vehicle driving qualification to drive vehicles in Class 5.
On the 4th March 1958 he was transferred to E Division at Knebworth.
On the 17th April 1962 he was transferred back to C Division to North Watford.
Retirement.
On the 31st December 1969 Alec Seymour retired on pension after completing 30 year’s service.
On the 13th October 1995 Alec Seymour died. His home address at the time was 25, Belton Avenue, Grantham, Lincolnshire.
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