Name/Title
Photograph of a Brighton Borough Police Special Constabulary winning quiz team c1963 - 1966Entry/Object ID
2519Description
A black and white original photographic print (20.6 cm x 15.7 cm) of a Brighton Borough Police Special Constabulary winning quiz team complete with cup, with two Special Constabulary Inspectors, also from Brighton Borough Police. On rear is a stamped mark "Photograph (copyright) Brighton Herald Ltd"Context
When looking at the original print using a magnifying glass, it is possible to pick out the words "Hastings Special Constabulary Cup" on the trophy. This trophy was first presented in 1961 by the chairman of the Hastings Borough Police Watch Committee L.S. Boutwood, to be completed for in a quiz annually by members of the Special Constabulary of the Police Forces of East Sussex (A History of The County Borough of Hastings Police 1967), which would have been those of Brighton, Hastings, Eastbourne and East Sussex.
We know that the officers in the photograph are members of Brighton Borough Police Special Constabulary because it came from the family of the female officer holding the cup, Grace McDonald. She served as a special in the force from 1963 until 1966, so this Brighton team must have won the cup one year between those dates. From other items in the museum collection, it is also known that the officer at the rear on the right is Special Constable William Smith.
The photograph does shown an interesting feature of special constable's uniforms within Brighton Borough Police, the use of simple "SC" metal badges, on the epaulettes of the constables and on the lapels of the inspectors. In many other police forces at this time badges were used with a crown over the top of "SC".