Uttoxeter Online Magazine

I attended Bradley Street, Church of England Primary and Junior school, Uttoxeter. Some teachers, remain in your memory, others disappear. I remember in particular, Miss Kingshott, a tall, a dark, angular lady. Her teaching was always forceful, her discipline strong. I remember her telling us of a visit to Oberamagau and the Passion play. I do not think I thought of her again.

After the Royal Marines, I became a police constable in the Staffordshire Constabulary, later to be the Staffordshire County Police, I was stationed in Willenhall Division, at Tettenhall Station. Bill Ford from Uttoxeter, was on my shift. In 1951, I became the second man at Compton sub-section, which comprised the villages and hamlets of Tettenhall Wood, Compton, Finchfield, Trescott and Wightwick.

Very little supervision, only means of communication a Police Pillar at Tettenhall Wood Cross Roads. In 1952, about April time, we changed from flat caps to Helmets, and on my helmets first outing, I was in School road, when a shrill voice, behind me, said, "John Mellor" I turned and said, Yes, Miss". Automatic reaction. It was Miss Kingshott, a little older, but still very much with it.

She explained, she was staying with her sister, in School Road, I gathered, but did not previously know, that Miss Kingshott was a native of Tettenhall Wood, although she lived in Uttoxeter for years, I left a year later. I never saw Miss Kingsott again. Pity

John Mellor