Retired Sergeant Reg Callingham BEM
It is with great sadness that I inform you that Reg Callingham (retired sergeant) finally succumbed to his poor health and passed away at about 5.40pm this evening, 13th January, in Royal Surrey County Hospital where he had been for just over a week. He had contracted pneumonia and had increased swelling of his legs and as a result had pressure on his heart and fluid in his lungs. Peggy, his wife who is not well herself (with advanced dementia) had been settled into a home at Cranleigh from the day Reg was taken to Royal Surrey County Hospital; she is still there. Reg Callingham was the Secretary of Surrey Constabulary Federation Joint Branch Board from 1958 to 1971.
Reg joined the force as a constable in June 1941 and retired whilst stationed at Godalming in August 1971retired whilst stationed at Godalming in August 1971.Extract from Surrey Constabulary electronic history:
1961 May: PS 72 Reginald Callingham awarded the British Empire Medal for Gallantry for brave conduct when he was shot trying to make an arrest. Jeff Hemmings: I have spoken with Reg Callingham, who tells me: “I was in charge of a section of seven at Warlingham- It was about midday. I was off duty, although in fact you were on duty all the time. I received a telephone call to report, two 'tearaways' in the village. I put my uniform on and went to the village and was told that Roland (a step-son of one of the Bobbies on my section) and Lake were driving around in a car and had been on drugs. I went to the property where I knew they'd be and arrested them. One of them said, 'get the gun' I was struggling with one. The other returned with a twelve bore shot gun. I grabbed the barrel and pointed it towards the floor. The gun went off. Assisted by others, the youths were arrested and I drove myself to hospital. En-route I felt something warm down my leg and discovered I had been shot in the groin. Both youths were charged with attempted murder-reduced to grievous bodily harm with intent.” On the same day a similar incident occurred in the Metropolitan Police area. The bobby, in this case, was awarded the George Medal. Reg goes on to say. “The BEM (no longer in existence) has a rosette to distinguish it as an award for gallantry as opposed to those 'councillors who got theirs for good work' It was presented by the High Sheriff ('not the Queen') at Caterham Social Club.” Reg was recognised as 'grizzled' and an acerbic character by those who knew him.
It is with great sadness that I inform you that Reg Callingham (retired sergeant) finally succumbed to his poor health and passed away at about 5.40pm this evening, 13th January, in Royal Surrey County Hospital where he had been for just over a week. He had contracted pneumonia and had increased swelling of his legs and as a result had pressure on his heart and fluid in his lungs. Peggy, his wife who is not well herself (with advanced dementia) had been settled into a home at Cranleigh from the day Reg was taken to Royal Surrey County Hospital; she is still there. Reg Callingham was the Secretary of Surrey Constabulary Federation Joint Branch Board from 1958 to 1971.
Reg joined the force as a constable in June 1941 and retired whilst stationed at Godalming in August 1971retired whilst stationed at Godalming in August 1971.Extract from Surrey Constabulary electronic history:
1961 May: PS 72 Reginald Callingham awarded the British Empire Medal for Gallantry for brave conduct when he was shot trying to make an arrest. Jeff Hemmings: I have spoken with Reg Callingham, who tells me: “I was in charge of a section of seven at Warlingham- It was about midday. I was off duty, although in fact you were on duty all the time. I received a telephone call to report, two 'tearaways' in the village. I put my uniform on and went to the village and was told that Roland (a step-son of one of the Bobbies on my section) and Lake were driving around in a car and had been on drugs. I went to the property where I knew they'd be and arrested them. One of them said, 'get the gun' I was struggling with one. The other returned with a twelve bore shot gun. I grabbed the barrel and pointed it towards the floor. The gun went off. Assisted by others, the youths were arrested and I drove myself to hospital. En-route I felt something warm down my leg and discovered I had been shot in the groin. Both youths were charged with attempted murder-reduced to grievous bodily harm with intent.” On the same day a similar incident occurred in the Metropolitan Police area. The bobby, in this case, was awarded the George Medal. Reg goes on to say. “The BEM (no longer in existence) has a rosette to distinguish it as an award for gallantry as opposed to those 'councillors who got theirs for good work' It was presented by the High Sheriff ('not the Queen') at Caterham Social Club.” Reg was recognised as 'grizzled' and an acerbic character by those who knew him.
