10:36am Thursday 7th November 2002
By Alex Lewis
HERTFORDSHIRE'S longest-serving policeman an inspector based at Hatfield has hung up his truncheon for the final time.
Mr Peter Hammond, who lives in the Oaklands area of Welwyn Village, retired last week at the age of 54.
After two years as a cadet in the county police headquarters, which in the 1960's was in Hatfield, he took up a post as a police constable in Berkhamstead in 1966.
Between 1970 and 1977 he was based in Welwyn Garden City, where his duties included guarding the home secretary Jim Callaghan's home in Essendon.
He was also involved in a successful manhunt for an ex-soldier who had killed three policeman and who was eventually found near Bishops Stortford.
In 1977 he was promoted to the rank of sergeant, serving at St Albans, and in 1984 he went to Hemel Hempstead as an inspector.
Five years followed at a desk job in Welwyn Garden City, during which he was involved in contingency planning for emergencies.
This was all experience that became invaluable in May this year, when he was the duty inspector for the Potters Bar rail crash.
His extensive services to his community have included co-ordinating the Queen's visit to the QEII Hospital when she opened its new wing in 1993.
The veteran officer said: "I've had many highlights during my career.
"Seeing the changes in policing including the move from whistles to personal radios, being in service at the time of the Great Train Robbery, and for the Queen's silver and golden jubilees are just some of the great things I am glad to have been involved in."
He said he would definitely recommend joining the police as a career.
"No two days are ever the same," he said.
"There is a lot of satisfaction in being able to make a difference."
Mr Hammond has a wife, Bryony, and two daughters, Nicola, 26, and Lucy, 23.
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