History of the Trust

Michael Winner, film producer, food critic and raconteur, became the founder and chairman of The Police Memorial Trust on the 3rd May 1984 until his death in 2013.

Being so very moved at the death of WPC Yvonne Fletcher in St James’s square, Mr Winner wrote a letter to the Times on the 21 st April 1984 suggesting that a Memorial be erected.

When the letter was published Mr Winner received donations from the public and hundreds of letters in support of his idea.

Mr Winner wrote in the Daily Mail on the 27th April 1984 the day of WPC Fletcher’s funeral, “It would serve to indicate that not everyone in this Country takes seeming pleasure in attacking the Police in the execution of their difficult duties, but that most regard their conduct and bravery, under a whole series of endless and varied provocations, as demonstrably noble and worthy of our thanks”. The article ended with the words,

“l can see a day in the future when human memory, being what it is, has discarded the events that now seem so important, and the shadows from the trees above sway slowly to and fro on the pavement of St James’s Square, the sunlight catching a small Memorial”.

“Maybe two people passing by will stop and one will say to the other – “Yvonne Fletcher? Who was she?” “To which there is a simple and noble answer: She was a member of the British Police Force.”

A Memorial to WPC Fletcher was erected on 1 st February 1985 and was unveiled by The Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and a tradition was begun that subsequent unveilings have all been attended by the Prime Minister of the day. Continuing Mr Winner’s legacy The Police Memorial Trust has to date placed 58 such Memorials around the Country.

Michael Winner