A former Bradford policeman is celebrating his one hundreth birthday this sunday - and has been honoured by the chief constable of West Yorkshire Police. Left: George shows off his new whistle to Sir Norman Bettison.
Friends, family and old colleagues of former Sergeant George McOnegal surprised him in his Wibsey home yesterday. They thanked him for all his hard work - and shared a celebratory glass of sherry.
George recieved an engraved silver whistle from the National Association of retired Police Officers in West Yorkshire. Dorothy Bell, secretary of NARPO said:
"He always had a very measured way of speaking so there was never any trouble in the charge office. It's alleged that he walked every beat in Bradford and there were one hundred and twenty eight - that was back when policemen used to walk of course. He comes to our renuions still, he's very lively. "
Sir Norman Bettison, Chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, also presented George with a cermonial miniture police helmet to mark the occassion.
Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison said: "During his time in Bradford he covered every beat area, getting to know the people who lived and worked on his patch.
"I am privileged to have been able to present George with a memento to acknowledge his dedication and efforts in keeping the city safe all those years ago. There are not many people who will have seen as many changes as George has witnessed in the City of Bradford."
George was born on 26 June 1911 and joined the merchant navy at the age of sixteen, and served for 5 years. At the age of twenty one he applied to be a police officer and joined the Bradford force in 1932, and served for twenty five years.
George was overwhlemed by the occassion. He said: "It's amazing really. It's very good". George said his job wasn't always easy, but he did enjoy it. "I always used to say you have to take the good with the bad, and vica versa," he said.
George will offically turn one hundred on Sunday and is having a quiet celebratory lunch with his family.
George's 100th Birthday by MissDay
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