The Tottenham Outrage: The Centenary

The Centenary Memorial Ceremony took place on Friday, 23rd January 2009, exactly one hundred years to the day since the Tottenham Outrage occurred. On this cold, wet and blustery Friday an invited group of us gathered at Tottenham Police Station. We were then taken by minibus to Abney Park Cemetery in Stoke Newington, to lay commemorative wreaths on the graves of the Outrage victims - PC William Tyler of Tottenham Police Station and Tottenham schoolboy Ralph Joscelyne. Arriving at Abney Park, we found the muddy, puddled paths to the graves lined with young police constables standing to attention as we passed, despite the pouring rain.
To suit the sombre mood of this overcast day, the icy wind, surely from Russia itself, penetrated even the warmest clothing. Throughout the ceremony this foul weather persisted. Despite this, wreaths were laid, adding splashes of brilliant colour to this dismal scene.

PC TYLER'S GRAVE	RALPH JOCELYNE'S GRAVE

CLOSE UP PHOTOS OF PC TYLER'S GRAVE

After speeches and a short religious ceremony, a two minute silence was observed by everyone, called for by Haringey's Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent David Grant. Following this, despite the icy wind and heavy rain, standing between the two graves, the Borough Commander read a poem composed by “S.J.C” to commemorate PC Tyler and published in the Hackney & Kingsland Gazette of 3rd February 1909.

ENGLAND WILL NOT FORGET
Tramping up the last long beat Comes a serried mass of blue (Mournful roll of muffled drums) Measured tread of many feet All for what, and why, and who? (“For who?” cry the drums, “for who?”) Only a policeman going home To the rest he has nobly won (Mournful roll of muffled drums) Only a humble man in blue, Only a tale of duty done (“Well done”, thrill the drums, “well done”) Only another hero’s name To add to England’s roll of fame (Triumphant rolling of the drums) Only one of our very best Going home to his well earned rest (“To peace”, sigh the drums, “and rest”)

We returned to Tottenham Police Station where, following speeches, a presentation was made to two schoolchildren from Earlsmead School where Ralph had been a pupil. A plaque to PC Tyler was then unveiled by Frederick Williams, Chairman of the Haringey Community and Police Consultative Group.


Strangely enough, when it was time to leave the police station, the weather had changed. The sky was clear and blue, the sun shining, with only that harsh, arctic wind remaining to remind us of what the morning had brought.
FOOTNOTE ONE: Some time after the ceremony, volunteer police cadets retraced the haphazard path of the seven-mile route through Tottenham, Walthamstow and Chingford taken by the robbers Paul Hefeld and Jacob Lapidus. Gordon Johnson, youth and community inspector, said: “The majority of the cadets were absolutely amazed when they realised just how far the chase went. It was a really good opportunity for them to learn about this incredible incident that took place 100 years ago when there wasn't the communications systems and technology that we have now to co-ordinate such a pursuit”.
FOOTNOTE TWO: The memorial plaque to PC Tyler has since been affixed to an outside wall of Tottenham Police Station, facing into Chesnut Road and the spot where the Outrage began. Text © J D.Harris
PHOTOS © ANN ROBERTSON, TOTTENHAM CIVIC SOCIETY