Partners in Policing: Ed and Madge’s Journey
Foreword by Evelyn Ryan
In typical fashion for my parents, we realised Dad was going to have completed 50 years continuous service with Thames Valley Police when Mum mentioned it in passing around Christmas time during conversations about what the upcoming year would bring. In their eyes, they’re nothing special but my siblings and I couldn’t disagree more.
Growing up with two parents in the police is probably slightly unconventional, a lot of our lives revolved around their shift patterns, with plans sometimes changing when big jobs came in and there was work to be done. There were definitely some unexpected upsides too, we’re all far more skilled in pools and darts than we probably should be after growing up spending many Friday evenings at the local ‘Police Club’ within the station. They’ve managed to instil in all four of us the importance of a strong work ethic, a decent sense of humour and determination to achieve.
Mum and Dad both have a pretty exceptional level of energy and drive to get out and do things. I’ve no doubt this comes from their careers and their approach of just going for it, because being in the police means you will be there when people need you.
They’ve achieved so much in their careers and their lives outside of work, 45 years of marriage is no small feat either! We’re all so proud of them, their contribution to Thames Valley Police and the hard work they do every day to help keep people safe.
In the town of Henley-on-Thames, a bar and restaurant now stands where the local police station once operated. It was here that Marjory (Madge) got her first exposure to the world of policing. She recalls visiting the station with her mother, who was a traffic warden at the time.
“She was very well respected there and she knew all of the policemen. It wasn’t a very big police station. I was listening to what people were doing, and I thought ‘I want some of that’. “
This exposure would eventually lead Madge into a career that her future husband, Ed had already made a start on just a couple of years previously in 1975, with his introduction to the police coming through his time in the cadets.
Now, as Ed reaches the milestone of 50 years continuous service, we take a look at their combined 80 years of service at Thames Valley Police
“They weren’t given too much money, but we were given a little amount.”
His time in the cadets during the early 70s included outward bound courses to Moray, Scotland, and learning to survive after being dropped off in the middle of the Cairngorms.
“Although you thought it was hard at the time, the opportunities we were given were fantastic – it gave me a buzz.”
Ed soon found himself at the end of the Metropolitan Line, working out of Chesham, and he remembers feeling nervous about his new career – not helped by one of the senior officers – “We were told by someone of senior rank that it was his job to make sure we didn’t get through our probation!”
“They made sure that you understood rank” – Madge agrees. “Perhaps I challenged it a bit,” she adds with a smile.
Her path into policing was a little less straightforward, initially being rejected on her first application. She persevered, however, and her determination to get in saw her reapply and eventually join as what was then known as a WPC (Woman Police Constable).
Madge was also to be posted to Chesham.
Their first meeting in the December of 1978 was unremarkable, yet it set the stage for a partnership that would extend beyond their professional lives. “I thought he looked nice, but let’s put it this way, there wasn’t many options,” Madge jokes, recalling her initial impressions of Ed. But as they worked together, their bond grew stronger, leading to marriage within 18 months of their first encounter.
“You were good too, I thought you were fine…” Ed responds.
Looking back, Ed remembers a favourite police car – a Ford Escort estate with “loads and loads of miles on it,” recalling the races that colleagues would have down the stairs to get to the yard and get first dibs on that particular vehicle. One of his colleagues coming a cropper by running into the Chief Inspector coming the other way!
Being a police officer is about much more than the lighter side of the job – racing your teammates to your favourite car – with Ed pointing out “we were quite quickly introduced to the brutality of things we were expected to deal with. People lost their lives in accidents, and we quickly learnt the process of managing distressing scenes.”
Madge reflects on the “reality setting in.” Having never seen a dead body up to that point, in her six weeks with her tutor she saw five.
Their early years together were not without challenges. Regulations would require them to work on separate shifts, and despite “keeping it quiet,” Madge was eventually transferred to Aylesbury once they became engaged. Despite these obstacles, they navigated their careers and personal lives with determination.
While Ed’s career progressed with a move into CID, Madge faced the difficult decision to resign after the birth of their first child due to the lack of flexibility for working parents in the force at the time.
Ed’s career continued to evolve, working hard and studying to achieve promotions to sergeant and inspector, and contributing to significant projects like the introduction of Airwave radios. His ability to adapt and take on diverse roles within the force highlighting the sheer variety and complexity of policing.
In 2000, Madge returned to the police force as a civilian, driven by her passion for community service. She took on roles that allowed her to interact with the public and contribute to investigations. Ed then retired as an officer in 2008, also taking on a civilian role as a designated investigator, looking into domestic abuse cases.
On top of their paid roles, they also volunteered, taking on would-be police dogs as puppy socialisers – looking after the dogs over the course of a year and getting them ready for their important frontline roles. Taking on six dogs over seven or eight years whilst volunteering, Ed had particularly fond memories of one puppy, Morse, who picked up the nickname “Sick-note” for his ability to put on a limp ahead of an assessment and miraculously recover when he came home!
Reflecting on the changes in policing over the past 50 years, the pair both note the impact of technology and the shift towards reliance on systems like CCTV and AI. Madge observes, “We are so, so reliant on technology. Good or bad… things seemed to be a lot simpler.”
Despite these changes, their commitment to service and their belief in the importance of community remain steady. Looking to the future, they envision a police force that continues to evolve, embracing technology while striving to maintain the human touch that has always been at the heart of their work.
It is often said that policing is a family, Ed and Madge take this a little more literally! Their adaptability, resilience, and dedication to public service has been a constant throughout their professional and personal lives, and they epitomise pride in TVP.
We are equally proud that they are still part of that family after so many years.
If you’re considering embarking on your own journey in policing, learn more by visiting our police officer webpage, or explore the wide range of opportunities at Thames Valley Police by visiting our vacancies portal.
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