Ray has many stories to tell from his police years
FORMER police officer Ray Brewster has seen some nasty sights during his career. He worked in Scarborough for more than 20 years, before retiring 14 years ago after seeing his colleague and best friend Ken Moss lose his sight after an horrific car accident. Reporter Sophie Barley spoke to the 64-year-old about his policing experiences and his involvement with the Tour of Britain cycling event.
MOTORCYCLE policeman Ray Brewster aimed to become the oldest policeman on a motorbike in the country.
Sadly he retired early and never got to fulfil his ambition.
He was born into a farming family and brought up in Stainsacre near Whitby.
He worked on his father's farm for six years before deciding to join the police force.
He said: "I was not earning enough by being a farm worker so I decided to do something different. Policing was something that always interested me."
Mr Brewster, of Scalby Avenue, joined the Perthshire police force in Scotland where he carried out his training and served for five years.
He said: "I worked in traffic policing for most of my career.
"While in Scotland one of the worst things I dealt with was a car crash near Inverness where three people got killed – a father, his son and his son's friend.
"One of the kids was only six-years-old. The body was just lying there on the road while the ambulance came and it was just awful.
"When there is kids involved it is really hard. It is not nice at all."
Mr Brewster then worked for two years in Catterick for the North Riding Police before moving to Beverley where he worked in the traffic department.
He moved to Scarborough in 1974.
He said: "I always liked Scarborough and it was nice to be nearer to my family."
Mr Brewster worked as a motorcycle police officer, which included VIP escorts.
In the 1970s he escorted prime minister at the time Harold Wilson when he visited Scarborough.
On another occasion he escorted the Duchess of Kent.
Mr Brewster said: " When people do visit, they are always very kind and come and say hello and thank you which is nice.
"I worked on motorbikes for the rest of my policing career. It was something I enjoyed."
The worst moment of his career came in 1992 when he heard the devastating news that his colleague and close friend, Ken Moss, was badly injured in a car accident.
Mr Moss was chasing a stolen car when he was involved in a collision. He lost eyesight in both eyes in the crash.
Mr Brewster said: "We were both on duty that day. He went out in the car and I was in the office. I got a radio call saying that he had been in an accident. He was following the vehicle out towards Malton. I was called out as well and I went towards Pickering, in an attempt to cut him off.
"I then heard over the radio that Ken had been in an accident. I knew straight away it was bad. So I went back to Scarborough to see his wife and I took her to York Hospital.
"He was very lucky to survive. He was given a five per cent chance of living.
"I was and still am very close to Ken. We were colleagues and friends and it was hard to come to terms with what happened. He was very good at what he did and it was sad to think he would never be working again."
Mr Brewster retired at the age of 50. He wanted to be the oldest policeman to ride a motorbike but he didn’t quite make it.
He said: “I worked in Scarborough for about 20 years and most of that time was on motorcycles. I retired due to my bad back and when Ken left it was very hard.
“I have been very busy since then though, I by no means have a quiet life.”
Shortly after Ken Moss’s accident, he won an award for young achiever of the year. His prize was a trip to New York to spend time with officers from the New York Police Department. He invited Mr Brewster to join him.
He said: “It was fantastic. The officers showed us around the city and we spent time seeing how they work. It was definitely a lot different to Scarborough. It was extremely interesting.”
Mr Brewster played an important part in the Tour of Britain cycling event which came through Scarborough last week.
Mr Brewster was the escort for the event. He drove a minibus at the back of the race and made sure anyone who was injured got picked up immediately.
His involvement in the well known event started 20 years ago. Back then it was called the Milk Race and Mr Brewster was asked to escort the bikes.
He said: “It is a fantastic event and I really enjoy it. Since I was first asked I have continued to be involved every year since. It takes about eight days to complete and it is something I always look forward to.
“When I was told this year it would be coming through Scarborough, I was really pleased. It is great to come through my home town and, of course, it was great for the people of Scarborough to play a part in the event.”
Mr Brewster was presented with an award for his involvement with the race. He was given the award at an event to celebrate the race at Whitehall.
He said: “It was a very posh event and I had no idea why I had been invited.
“Then the host was talking about a special award he wanted to give out to someone who has helped out with escorting the race and I knew he was talking about me. I was very honoured.”
The award was in recognition of Mr Brewster’s commitment to the event.
Mr Brewster lives with his wife Eunice who is a deacon at the Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Their son, Kevin, 39, runs the Brewster music shop in St John’s Road and daughter Pamela, 43, is a specialist nurse in Barnsley. They also have an eight-year-old granddaughter called Katie.
Mr Brewster said he enjoyed his career in the police force but is happy enjoying his long retirement.
He said: “Policing has changed a lot now.
“The whole system is different. People seem to do more from the office now.
“It was definitely more hands on before. There was so much going on every day that you got involved in.
“One of the things people always say to me, is that I have some interesting stories to tell, which is true. I have seen and been involved with hundreds of incidents over the years which people like to hear about.
“It is an interesting job and you have a huge resonsibility within the community.
“I do miss it but it was nice to take an early retirement which I am still really enjoying.”
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Weather for Scarborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 10 C to 18 C
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