A memorial to a North Yorkshire Police officer who was murdered in 1977 has been unveiled in Richmond.
The plaque, in memory of 25-year-old PC Norman Garnham, was provided by the Police Memorial Trust and is placed on the courtyard wall of The Green Howards’ Museum in the town centre.
PC Garnham was the first North Yorkshire Police officer to be murdered on duty when, on 2 March 1977, hitch-hiker Colin Simpson, 18, had run away from his home in Richmond after attacking his sisters. PC Garnham pulled over to give him a lift, but when Simpson recognised him as a police officer, he ran off, but then stabbed PC Garnham as he tried to detain him. Simpson was later convicted of murder and jailed for life.
At the time, the then chief constable, Robert Boyes described PC Garnham as “a police officer of the very best quality”
Chair of the Police Memorial Trust, Mrs Geraldine Winner attended the unveiling ceremony on Friday 21 September 2018. She said: “I am very pleased to be here in the beautiful county of North Yorkshire in place of my late husband Michael Winner to remember the service and sacrifice of Police Constable Norman Garnham.
“This is the 45th time the Police Memorial Trust have stood with the families of those officers who have died on duty to remember their loss.
“It’s absolutely right that the landscape of this garden should change just a little to accommodate our memorial to act as a permanent reminder to local residents and visitors alike of the life and death of Constable Garnham.”
North Yorkshire’s Assistant Chief Constable, Phil Cain also attended the ceremony. ACC Cain added: “We’re very pleased that there is now a fitting memorial to Norman in recognition of his selfless act on that fateful night in March 1977.
“Norman was murdered following an initial act of kindness that sadly led to his untimely death. We must never forget the sacrifice that he made and that such tragic events can happen anywhere, and sadly still do.
“Our thanks go to the Police Memorial Trust for providing the plaque and to Richmondshire District Council for their work to provide a peaceful but prominent site so that Norman’s family, friends, colleagues and members of the public now have a permanent and poignant place to remember him. Our thoughts remain with his family at this time.”
A meeting room at North Yorkshire Police’s headquarters in Northallerton has been named after PC Garnham. Following a memorial service in May this year to remember all the force’s fallen officers and staff, Temporary Chief Constable Winward presented PC Garnham’s family with a canvas of a painting which hangs in the meeting room by local artist Gerald Hodgson.
The force also has two memorial gardens at police headquarters and Harrogate police station where fallen officers and staff are remembered.
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