The Mander of the Mount, Tettenhall Wood

The Manders I met, during the period 1950 to 1955, whilst stationed as a Constable at Tettenhall and Compton, and living at Tettenhall Wood.
I was the fist constable to be stationed at Tettenhall Wood. The Compton sub-section had grown out of proportion with the development of the Tettenhall Wood and Castlecroft estates. We had at this time many of the old families of Wolverhampton, within a decade to be dispersed. The Manders were probably the most important. My memories.
Lady Mander and Daisy St Clair Mander, Mother and daughter lived at The Mount, Tettenhall Wood, a impressive Victorian mansion. One butler, one gardened, I remember, they lived opposite the Mount in semi-detached houses, built at the same time as the Mount. The Butler name, I feel, was Rochester.I visited four times before this house was sold(I would not mention the name of the man who bought it)My visits, were usually confined to taking documents to Miss Mander, for signature, she was a magistrates. You arranged your visit via the butler. My first visit, was to see Lady Mander. She had asked specifically for me, and I was intrigued. I made my first visit, and rang the long pull bell at the door(still in situ)the Butler answered and escorted me, helmet under right arm(Dixon of Dock Green fashion)to the Minstrels Gallery, where sat, this charming elderly lady, who invited me to sit, and offered coffee. She chatted about my service life, my family, told me of her delight at living at the Mount. She then said, “we have discovered in my late husbands gun cabinet Two Steyr Rifles”, I do not think we should have the. What do I do. I explained, the surrender position, which I would deal with. She then said, “I will call Daisy, my daughter”. This she did by alerting the butler. Miss Mander, arrived, I was formally introduced(very embarrassed)Miss mander, who was blunt and to the point, said, “The cleaners from the village, say you are a countryman, and shoot” I agreed. She said, “You can shoot in out grounds abound 6acres at that time. Will you kill the foxes. “I responded, “I will shoot any vermin on your grounds.”. I made three more journeys. Lady Mander died, and the property sold. A link with the past.

During the time that I was a Police Constable, at Tettenhall and Compton, it was necessary to visit Wrottesley Hall, seat of the Wrottesley family. The estate was at this time (1950 to 1955)quite extensive. The hall was marked for "special attention" which meants that any police officers, in the vicinity should walk around the hall, be watchful, but not be obvious. I enjoyed visiting the hall, and the lake(pool)on which there were Black swans, beloved by the 4th Baron Wrottesley. One april afternoon, I walked around the hall, and ended up by the swans which I loved to watch. I had been in position about three minutes, when I saw a man approaching he pool, He was dressed in a nondescript raincoat and an old trilby. I thought, vagrant, but the man continued to walk towards me. He then said, "enjoying the swans" A cultured voice. This was no vagrant. I replied, "Yes" He then said, "They are from Australia" He continued to talk to me, about various subjects. He then said, "Would you like a cup of tea". My reply, was "Yes My Lord" I went into the hall, and he disappeared, and came back with two cups of tea and a tray. I enjoyed my team explained our system of supervision, And left, I never saw hime again. I was impressed by this man, with a title, and the ability to talk to anyone, without side. I never saw hime again. I was quite upset when the 5th Baron, sold the estate

Diamond Jubilee medal. Open scope.

National servicemen and Hostilies only personnel, before the passing of the National service Act, have received no recognition, although many served in dangerous situations, which did not qualify them for a campaign medal. The medal would cost pence, certainly a lot less than the recently issued lapel badge, cost. This may be the last time, men and women who served their Sovereign and country, can be acknowledged. Normally medals are issued to existing members of the armed forces and establishment figures. The rank and file are as usual forgotten. They to are proud and remember their serviceand devotion to their country.The government should use this opportunity to remember the service of a dwindling group of men and women.

This is a petition on the Prime Minister Website to widen the scope of the medal, being considered at this time
Please consider signing it.

A man building a Battleship

During the period 1950 to 1955, I was stationed at Tettenhall and Compton, both beats with a responsibility for Wrottesley Park, which at that time, consisted of hutted sections each side of the road(then called Perton Lane), The communal site, near to the York Farm, and the remnants of huts and control towers on Per ton Airfield. Most of these hutments, had electricity toilet facilities, and most of the inhabitants were former members of the Polish Armed, Forces, a few Displaced, and a few English, awaiting new accommodation. Most of the inhabitants were law abiding and hard working, We had few characters. One family who lived near what is the Brads haw Farm Shop, were a Polish former soldier, his English Wife, and two children His wife, had warned us, that his wartime experiences, were effecting his behaviour, and we always called when in the vicinity Crass, known as POLICE GRASS, told me that the Pole, had gathered hundreds of corrugated sheets and woodwork and was starting to build something. His wife, called in to the police station, and said, she was leaving him. About 2 months later, I went passed the hut, and saw a distinct shaped of a ship, some 100 yards long and 16 feet wide, with a deck, and a guns made out of wood. The Polish former soldier was working his ship, when I called. I conversed with him, he said, "Police Mellor, I am going to sail to Poland and liberate my country". Admirable sentiments, but I could see that he was seriously ill. I had a few weeks later, had to call and serve documents on the Polish man. I went to his hut, he opened the door, he was immaturely dressed in Polish uniform, completed with full marching ebbing order. He had a rifle hand made, a beautiful replica , a rather frightening Great War bayonet, fixed in position. I served the document on him. He lifted the rifle and moved towards e. I closed the door, the bayonet, came straight through the door. I beat a diplomatic retreat. I went to the nearest Police pillar Ergs road junction, and spoke to my Sergeant. Henry Rawlins on, an educated, man, who I greatly admired. He said, "John,you are antagonising this man,leave him alone, return to the station". This I did. It was lunch time. I had my lunch, when PC Ford,a fellow uxonian, said, The Sergeant wants you. The Polish man, is marching up the HOlyhead Road, A41, towards wolverhampton, with miles of traffic behind him. He threatens anyone who attempts to stop him .. He is in full military dress. The Sergeant, told me that he has alerted the TA at Danescourt. They were turning out a Sergeant and a Platoon, to stop him. The Sergeant and I was to join them. We arrived at the A 41, in time to see the military, bring the Polish man down to the ground and disarm him.One of the TA soldiers was injured. The Polish man, was placed in the cells, seen by a doctor, and detained under the Mental Health Act. He was removed to St Georges, Stafford. I never saw him again. Sergeant Rawlinson, had the decency to apologise to me, and said, I had had a lucky escape.The TA soldiers, were Mentioned in Dispatches, or the civil equivalent, by the General Officer, Western Command. A tragic stoy, of a good man, suffering for his wartime experiences

September 1958 A meet a vagrant, I knew.

In 1957, I was appointed to be Village Constable, at Lower Penn, Wolverhampton, a upper class district of wolverhampton.My station, was in Springhill Park. The beat was divided by the A449, The SW Trunk Road, no M5 in those days. One side of the beat was Lower Penn, the other Penn Common, both different.It was my want, to be on the main road, in the mornings, as a large number of vagrants, passed in both directions, some coming out of New Cross, Wolverhampton, some travelling to New Cross, from Kidderminster.
I noticed a man sitting on the bench on Lloyd Hill, A449, he did not quite fit the description of the average vagrant. He looked familiar. I decided to speak to him. As I approached him, He asid, "Hello, Jack, how is your Dad". I was astounded. I immediately, recognised him, it was "Jim", a second world War veteran, a hard working man.I will not go into details, but his marriage had broken down, and his established life disrupted, his sister who we all knew, would have helped him, but he was too proud to ask. I took him to my Police Station, my wife, fed him, I telephoned my father. He contactesd his sister, and they asked my to get him home. I took him to Bone Mill Lane, Wolverhampton, then the Coop diary, with regular transport to FOLe, Nr Uttoxeter. I got him a ride. and he returned to his native heath. is saw him several times after, he was always grateful. Whether he is alive or dead I do not know. An act, which I remember.

A sharp reminder of my schooldays.

I attended Bradley Street, Church of England Primary and Junior school, Uttoxeter. Some teachers, remain in your memory, others disappear. I remember in particular, Miss Kingshott, a tall, a dark,angular lady. Her teaching was always forceful, her discipline strong. I remember her telling us of a visit to Oberamagau and the Passion play. I do not think, I thought of her again. After the Royal Marines, I became a police constable in the Staffordshire Constabulary, later to be the Staffordshire County Police,I was stationed in Willenhall Division, at Tettenhall Station. Bill ford from Uttoxeter, was on my shift. In 1951, I became the second man at Compton sub-section, which comprised the villages and hamlets of Tettenhall Wood, Compton, Finchfield, Trescott and Wightwick. Very little supervision, only means of communication, a Police Pillar at Tettenhall Wood Cross Roads.In 1952, about April time, we changed from flat caps to Helmets, and on my helmets first outing, I was in School road, when a shrill voice, behind me, said, "John Mellor" I turned and said, Yes, Miss". Automatic reaction. It was Miss Kingshott, a little older, but still very much with it. She explained, she was staying with her sister, in School Road, I gathered, but did not previously know, that Miss Kingshott was a native of Tettenhall Wood, although she lived in Uttoxeter for years, I left a year later. I never saw Miss Kingsott again. Pity

Elections are comionbg

Elections approach.
The elections always bring headaches to Graiseley Ward in the City of Wolverhampton. For the last 2o years, we have suffered from personation, interference with postal votes, the dead voting and other problems. usually associated with other countries, or parts of Birmingham The approaching elections, have a subtle change, brought about by one man. For years I complained that the dead were voting, Senior council officers and councillors, told me it was impossible to stop, if in fact, it, happened.. I was unimpressed. I have now been told that our new Electoral Registration officer, being made aware of past allegations. arranged a liaison between the office of the Registrar, and all deaths reported are now removed from the electoral register Average deaths over the 20 years 149 per annum. One door closed. At last.
Personation. This requires the cooperation of landlords, tenants and political representatives. The polling cards are send to the addresses of all voters. The address may contain 6 polling cards:, students who have left and moved address, or are lodgers or other transients. . The cars are collected , redistributed and despite the penalties involved personation takes place.Very difficult to prove, Requires high grade technical ability. Postal voting. This is usual;; confined to the old, those without English or the illiterate. They require help and can get it from the Presiding Officer at the Polling Booth. In practice, the unscrupulous, get the voting forms, complete them, and the selected elderly are unaware, as to what has happened. Difficult to detect. In my view. based on many elections, the "floating vote" takes Graiseley, with the aid of the improper voting practices.