Name/Title
Sussex Police retirement drinks poster 1980Entry/Object ID
2369Description
A group of 5 x A4 size black and white posters, comprising of one original and 4 copies, advertising a retirement gathering for "Bert Hother" and "Eric Noble" dated 1980Use
To advertise a farewell drink to celebrate the retirement of two officersContext
As with other forms of employment, retirement farewell drinks or "leaving do's", have always been a popular social gatherings within the police service. In the past most larger police stations had their own social clubs, which is where such gatherings were often held. These clubs date to a time when police forces did not want their officers to socialise in commercial licensed premises. This was seen as a way of preventing fraternisation with publicans and thereby compromising and officer's ability to deal effectively with licensing offences. Brighton Police station in John Street used to have a social club on the top floor of the building. In recent years with the changing attitudes towards alcohol, there are no longer any social clubs on Sussex Police premises.
The typical police "leaving do", as elsewhere, consists of a round of drinks on the host, sometimes food, catching up with old colleagues, and a speech by a senior officer, recounting humorous incidents from the retiring officer's past service, ending with a presentation of gifts.
One of the officers mentioned in these posters is Sergeant Herbert Hother, who joined Brighton Borough Police in 1950, was later promoted to sergeant and went onto serve in Sussex Constabulary/Police, retiring in 1980. The radio references in the poster may indicate that he finished his service in the Brighton control room. On his retirement he received a Sussex Police shield plaque with a handwritten inscription on the rear from the then Chief Constable, Sir George Terry (see item 2367).