- A CROYDON police officer hung up his hat and truncheon today as the country's longest serving police officer of 47
years in the Met.
PC Robert 'Bob' Brown, 64, was surprised by friends, family and colleagues at Croydon police station this morning to
celebrate his retirement after joining the force in 1968.
He was involved with the Carlos the Jackal and Baader-Meinhoff cases, spent 72 hours on duty in the 1980s Brixton
riot and, in New Addington, witnessed the death of his partner, Sergeant Derek Robertson while on duty.
After he arrived in a vintage Morris Minor panda car, he said: "I will miss the people of Croydon. I was born here on
Albert Road and I moved back here about 15 years ago.
"I will miss my friends terribly, but not the job. Enough is enough and the time has come for a change.
"When I was 18, I was in a job I didn't like and a friend of mine joined the police service and I thought I always liked
helping people, so I gave it a try."
Last week, Bob was given the Queen's Police Medal at Buckingham Palace, one of the highest honours bestowed to
police in recognition of his service in keeping Londoners safe over the course of six decades.
Bob has served at Harrow Road, Norbury, Addington, and Sutton before joining Croydon station in 1999.
Last February marked 20 years since the murder of Bob's colleague, Sergeant Derek Robertson in an armed
robbery at sub-post office in New Addington.
Bob, one of the three other officers on the scene, tried to give Derek first aid and save his life before he sadly passed
away.
"Sad things are the most memorable for me; Derek Robertson being killed, Brixton Riots, the miner's strike," he said.
"I watch the young people in the job now who have got so much responsibility; much more than I had.
"What strikes me is how they are carrying out their job fantastically and still in a very professional manner."
His new northern home, in Hipperholme, Halifax, will be named 'Holme Lee' in memorial of his late son, Lee Brown,
who passed away aged 35 from pneumonia.
"He saw the house five times before he passed and it seemed appropriate.
"I've been back to the house since he passed away and it felt very strange at first but then I felt at home again.
"I will be relaxing when I can and after a while, try and find something to do.
"There will be a couple of pints here and there."
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Bob Brown is hailed to be the longest serving police officer in the country, equipped with only a wooden truncheon
and a whistle on his first day 47 years ago.
The bobby was one of the first officers on the scene when 'Carlos the Jackal' shot Joseph Sieff, the Marks and
Spencer boss in 1973.
He supported the Met's Special Branch during the arrest of Astrid Poll in 1978, an early member of the terrorist
group Baader-Meinhoff Gang.
In 1981, he worked for three days in the first Brixton riot and has been on duty at nearly every Notting Hill Carnival.
Croydon Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Andy Tarrant, worked with Bob for seven months and has
colleagues who said Bob has taught them a different way of thinking.
"He is an amazing individual," he said.
"He is so compassionate to victims. Everyone can learn something from him and how he deals with different things.
"It is only fitting that Bob should complete his career in the area that he was born in.
"Croydon Police Station won't be the same without Bob working here."
Chief Superintendent, Carron Schusler said: "He had no idea about this surprise and just look at the amount of
officers that have turned out today.
"It shows how much he is loved and will be really missed by everyone.
"He means something special to all the officers for all different reasons."
Police Community Support Officer, Jacqueline Kufuor has worked with Bob for eight years.
She said: "He is a lovely man and knows everything.
"He is always there to help when you need him and if he can't help you, he will always point you in the right
direction."
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Family and friends travelled from all over the country to surprise Bob this morning, hiding at friends' house to keep it
under wraps.
Bob's sister, Pat Brown, 67, from Halifax, describes him as a caring man who always wanted to help people.
"He was given an office as a sign of good will but even then he didn't want to be in there. He said he want to serve
the public on the streets," she said.
"It's going to be a massive change for him. The police have always been there for him and he's been through so
much."
Twin brother of Pat, Peter, from Bristol, is proud of what his older brother has achieved.
He said: "It's really heart-warming to see this many people turn up; it makes me quite envious.
"He is known by police officers all over the country. I even spoke to a policeman in Bristol who knew who he was."
Brother-in-law, Bob Jones, a 63-year-old HCV driver said: "He is going to miss it big time.
"But, I do think it's got to the stage where the force is not the same as it used to be for him and a lot is changing."
Christine Grace, 68, from Halifax said how the police force has supported him through difficult times.
"He has had so much trauma in his life.
"When his wife was in hospital, the superintendent came down to hospital to be by his side.
"They are true friends."
Watch: Guard of honour @MPSCroydon for PC Bob Brown's 47 years dedicated #police service to #Londonhttps://t.co/mvxjXSXbZF
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) February 13, 2015
