PROVING a hit with Looking Back readers last week was this picture of policemen.

At first we thought it was taken in Dorchester, but it turns out it was taken in Sherborne.

But there seem to be a lot of local people who recognise people in the photo.

Special thanks goes to Melvyn Hann, author of Bobbies on the Beat, who has managed to name everyone in the photo.

The photo shows the 1953 Dorset Constabulary Sherborne Division with sporting trophies won during the 1953 season, including the Superintendent's Gold Trophy.

They are (back, from left) Constables W. Doo, R. Dennis, V. Wilcox, P. O'Shea; (middle) Constable G. Bartlett, A. Dugdale, W. Skinner, R. Beale, A. Channon, A. Loader and G. Shears.

In the front are Constables G. Watts and S. Walker, Sergeant W. Cutler, Superintendent Spiller, Sergeant W. Davis, Constables Stickley, H. Haines.

Well-informed M Hann has also given us information on the police force’s sporting activities.

“It was as early as 1897 that the Dorset Constabulary Athletics club was formed. The same year the first annual athletics meeting was held on the Dorset Regiment sports ground in Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester.

“This continued apart from the war years until 1958. It was held on a Thursday afternoon (half day closing) and was a big sporting occasion, attracting crowds of up to 5,000.”

A picture of the athletics club can be seen in this photo.

  •  THANKS to Ken Osmond of Wyke Regis for getting in touch with Looking Back about the photo we featured of Dorchester bobbies.

He thinks it was taken in the summer of 1953 and shows the cups the police officers were awarded at the annual Dorset police sports day.

Ken said: “The sports day used to be held at the recreation ground in Dorchester.”

He identified in the second row, on the far left, George Bartlett and third from the left in the centre row, Bill Skinner.

George was Ken’s best man on his wedding day in 1956.

The two lost touch after George left the police force and became a school teacher in Reading.

Ken said Chief Constable Lieutenant Colonel Greenwood is also in the photo.

He added that he had many happy memories of being posted to Dorchester after working there for 27 years.

“The closed-neck uniforms were abandoned in the day time at about the end of 1953 and the collar and tie were introduced.

“The closed-neck uniform was used in the night-time for a short while after that.”

  •  THANKS also to Ronald Beale, 93, of Portland, who is in the photo for even more information on this picture! Ronald thought it was taken in the winter time of 1953 or 1954 and pictures the winners of divisional bowls cups.

In the front of the photo he has named, from left to right: PC Watts, PC Walker (Yetminster), Sgt Cutler, Sup Spiller and Sgt Davis.

In the centre are George Bartlett, PC Dugdale, Bill Skinner, PC Ronald Beale, PC A Channon, Arthur Loader and G Shears.

In the back row are PC Bill Doo, Ralf Dennis, V Wilcox and P O’Shea.

  •  YVONNE Skinner of Weymouth contacted us after she recognised her late father, PC William Skinner in the photo.

She said: “I believe the photo was taken outside the old cells in Sherborne.

“My dad was in the police force for 25 years.”

“The photo features in a book called Bobbies on the Beat.”

  •  DEREK Norris of Dorchester got in touch to tell us about the book, by Melvyn Hann, which celebrates 150 years of Dorset Police and let us know the photo was taken in Sherborne.

Derek and Melvyn were members of the police civilian staff at the police headquarters when they were in Dorchester and, latterly, at Winfrith.

“I worked on the civilian staff for 34-and-a-half years and I’ve got some very nice memories of all the people I have worked with.

“I remember the annual police sports day and one of the big events was the tug of war.

“The Met police used to come down and take part – and they always used to win it!”

Des Baker, who spent 30 years in the force based in Dorchester, got in touch to say that he recognises three of the men in the photo who have since passed away.

“The photo was taken seven years before my time – most of these men are quite well decorated up, some of them would have served in the Second World War.”

Thank you to all the Looking Back readers who have provided us with this helpful information.

  •  Finally, can anyone identify the men in the tug of war at the Dorset Constabulary’s athletics meeting?