Name/Title
Sussex Police chief constable's greatcoat c1970 - 1980Entry/Object ID
608Description
Dark blue woollen double breasted chief constable's greatcoat with two sets of three large buttons visible to the front, with an additional pair of similar buttons under the lapels, and three small buttons attached to each cuff. There are epaulettes on each shoulder, with small buttons attached and each with a crossed tipstave and wreath badge surmounted with a Queen's crown, both embroidered in silver wire. All of the buttons are chief officer style and are silver plated with a crown inside a laurel leaf wreath. The coat is made of a fine wool fabric and has a silk/satin type lining. There are no markers marks.Use
For use by a male chief constableContext
Uniform overcoats such as this are often called greatcoats.This particular one dates from a period when chief police officers wore uniforms of a superior quality than those of other officers and were often bespoke. It came from Sussex Police and probably dates from the 1970s/1980s, at a time when most officers were no longer issued with overcoats, and is of a much finer quality wool than would have been normally used when officers were issued them within the police forces of Sussex until the late 1960s. This particular overcoat has the insignia of a chief constable and given its size it was probably issued to Sir George Terry rather than Sir Roger Birch, who was smaller. Sir George was the chief constable of Sussex Constabulary, later Sussex Police, from 1972 until 1983. He had previously been the chief constable of Lincolnshire Constabulary, and before that of East Sussex Constabulary until amalgamation. Consequently he may well have been issued with this coat or purchased it when in either of those positions, or when he returned to Sussex.
This item is believed to have been originally accessioned as Item 246, which indeed was recorded as having been Sir George Terry''s overcoat and came to the museum at the same time as his mess dress.