Volunteer at Croydon police stations "just wants to be useful"
by Dave Burke
dave.burke@essnmedia.co.uk
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HAPPY TO HELP: John Hunt at work CCRIS010709C03
"Being interviewed in a police station, that sounds quite bad doesn't it?" jokes Metropolitan Police volunteer John Hunt with a huge smile across his face as he meets the Advertiser at Croydon police station.
Until the 88-year-old started helping the force last year, he had never even set foot in a police station.
But since then he has taken to his duties like a duck to water, and has now even agreed to take on an extra shift each week.
Every Wednesday, he catches two buses from his home in Purley to Croydon police station, and every Friday he catches a train to Norwood Junction to do a shift at South Norwood police station as well.
By helping to pack first aid kits for patrol cars, John frees up time for serving officers to go about their duties.
He even manned the front desk at Croydon police station when he first started, before deciding his hearing was no longer good enough.
Despite the good turn he does each week, John is very modest about the work he does in the community.
He quipped: "I haven't earned any wings, I just do it because I enjoy it.
"If I was at home my wife would only find me jobs to do. I just want to be useful, and I hope I am."
John, who used to work as a timber merchant in Addiscombe, and served in the Punjab Regiment of the army during the Second World War, is one of 50 volunteers who give up their time each week to help police in Croydon.
He said: "As long as I can do it I certainly will, I like to be useful."
John has also spent 27 years giving up his time to help at Fairfield Halls, helping manage the crowds for around eight hours a week.
Jane Spayne, Met volunteer manager for the Croydon borough, is astounded by the energy John puts into his work, and paid tribute to all the volunteers who help out.
She said: "We've got some wonderful people, we get people from all ages and all walks of life.
"We've also noticed that since the economic downturn, we've had such an influx of people who don't want to be sitting there doing nothing."
17 Comments
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by hmmmmmm, Spain
Sunday, July 05 2009, 11:44PM
“lmfao”
by happygolucky, croydon
Sunday, July 05 2009, 8:43PM
“thats not sick, have a look in the real world, things that are going on, like stabbings etc: thats sick..”
by R Burton, Coulsdon
Sunday, July 05 2009, 7:16PM
“The 3rd is right. If I was 12 years old I'd consider some of the comments on here embarrassingly childish.
Good on you John - nice to read such a heartwarming and positive story.”
by The3rd, Croydon
Sunday, July 05 2009, 7:05PM
“What is wrong with you people, it's like a school play ground here.
Well done to John for doing something worth while.”
by Mrs smith, croydon
Sunday, July 05 2009, 6:56PM
“Thats disgusting....
Hats off to the ole boy...”
by oh dear!!!, croydon
Sunday, July 05 2009, 6:29PM
“what are all these carrie maries...think ones bad enough..lol”
by carrie marie,, Ex Croydon
Sunday, July 05 2009, 4:57PM
“sorry anne for being ruse 2 yuse..yes im am a gossiping nosey woman, and im receiving treatment for it...”
by Anon, Anon
Sunday, July 05 2009, 4:26PM
“carrie marie, Ex Croydon
Try a bit of common sense...and we may just hear something interesting come out of that thick brain of yours....”
by Anon, Anon
Sunday, July 05 2009, 4:19PM
“carrie marie, Ex Croydon
you couldn't possibly know Anne..what you talking about..lol
come on carrie..there must be more intelligence in there somewhere..good luck trying to find it...:)”
by ANNE, SELSDON
Sunday, July 05 2009, 12:28PM
“Thanks, ANON ANON. I do admire this old boy, as it happens, because of his age, A lot of retired people just sit at home and vegetate. Sending information to the police is not time wasting, even if there are those who obviously think it is, but then they don't actually know what exactly is going on and they never will! :-)”