This is Alan, a police officer from Nottinghamshire Police force.
I saw Alan walking through the Nottingham's Lace Market on Sunday morning with another Police Officer.
I thought Alan would make a great stranger, so I approached him and explained my project.
Alan has been a Police Officer for an incredible 47 years ! Yes 47 years
I asked Alan about the medals he was wearing and hew went through them one by one explaining what they all meant.
He went through them quite quickly so I didn't get them all, but I did note that one of them was an award for gallantry.
Policeman don't always wear medals for duty, but alan was making his way towards St. Mary's Church for an official engagement at the High Sheriffs Service.
I was amazed at the 47 years service and Alan explained he was retiring next year.
I took a few shots of Alan but I was drawn to doing a black and white as I think it suited both the location and Alan's uniform.
I gave Alan one of my little cards and told him to contact me for some of the photos I took.
I shook hands with Alan and noticed he was holding white ceremonial gloves for the occasion.
As I walked away up the side of the church, I heard the national anthem playing from the church, I hoped I hadn't made Alan and his colleague late for the service.
This is my 3rd police officer in my 100 strangers project.
I edited the photo in Darktable and then sent the edited file to GIMP to clone out a bit of reflected light in Alan's glasses
This picture is number 72 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
https://www.flickr.com/groups/100strangers/
My own strangers can be seen here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/57144254@N08/albums/72157657822400168
***** Additional Information supplied from a Facebook comment on this image . Alan has had an incredible journey *****
From August 2016-
LIFETIME OF SERVICE - SPECIAL CONSTABLE ALAN MARWOOD CELEBRATES 46-YEAR-LONG CAREER:
Meet Special Constable Alan Marwood - a volunteer who has dedicated almost his entire adult life to Nottinghamshire Police and who this month marks an incredible 46-year-long commitment to the force and the people of Nottinghamshire.
At some point during his career - which has so far spanned almost five decades - Alan has patrolled every divisional and boundary area across Nottinghamshire, and has made a positive difference to countless lives over the years.
Starting out as a rookie back in August 1970, the police service couldn't have been more different than it is today.
Based at what was then known as Bath Street Police Station and being equipped with little more than a pocket notebook and pen, a smartly pressed tunic and and a pair of buffed patrol shoes Alan quickly became a familiar face in his local community and would often be seen patrolling the local neighbourhood and city centre.
In 1972, just two years into his career, Alan and his fellow Special Constable colleague were on patrol when they were shot at by armed robbers, following a short foot pursuit near to Sneinton, which led to him being awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal.
Reflecting back on this harrowing moment, Alan Said: "We were on patrol in the City Centre and less than 100 metres away from those responsible for committing an armed robbery.
We immediately sprang into action and gave chase, subsequently detaining two of them. In the process of the foot pursuit, we were shot at. I knew we had to do something. When the bad guys are out and the public run away, we've got to run towards them."
For some, this would have perhaps made them reconsider their future as a Police Officer - not Alan Marwood.
He's personally been responsible for saving the lives of at least six people, including a two-year-old boy who was choking near to where Alan was on patrol. He's also come face-to-face with and arrested two murderers in his time.
In 2012, Alan was among the first officers on scene at a fatal collision on the A6097 in which two people sadly lost their lives after the vehicle exploded into flames.
Working from many stations across the County over his time including Newark, Cotgrave, Carlton, Arnold and now Ollerton, Alan has served under 9 Chief Constables, received countless awards and recognition for his efforts and in 2010, he received the Chief Constable's Lifetime Achievement Award.
There's no sign of Alan hanging up his boots either - today, he continues to volunteer an average of 30 hours per month, working as a Rural Special Constable from Ollerton Police Station, focusing on Rural and Wildlife Crime.
We're #PROUD to have Alan Marwood and *THANK* him for his contributions to the people of Nottinghamshire as he celebrates his 46th year as a Special Constable.
Thanks everyone for your kind words . I've added an addendum to the narrative, ehich was a Facebook comment from someone who knows Alan. It is an impressive read and tribute to Alan.
I've also posted it in this comment box too:
***** Additional Information supplied from a Facebook comment on this image . Alan has had an incredible journey *****
From August 2016-
LIFETIME OF SERVICE - SPECIAL CONSTABLE ALAN MARWOOD CELEBRATES 46-YEAR-LONG CAREER:
Meet Special Constable Alan Marwood - a volunteer who has dedicated almost his entire adult life to Nottinghamshire Police and who this month marks an incredible 46-year-long commitment to the force and the people of Nottinghamshire.
At some point during his career - which has so far spanned almost five decades - Alan has patrolled every divisional and boundary area across Nottinghamshire, and has made a positive difference to countless lives over the years.
Starting out as a rookie back in August 1970, the police service couldn't have been more different than it is today.
Based at what was then known as Bath Street Police Station and being equipped with little more than a pocket notebook and pen, a smartly pressed tunic and and a pair of buffed patrol shoes Alan quickly became a familiar face in his local community and would often be seen patrolling the local neighbourhood and city centre.
In 1972, just two years into his career, Alan and his fellow Special Constable colleague were on patrol when they were shot at by armed robbers, following a short foot pursuit near to Sneinton, which led to him being awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal.
Reflecting back on this harrowing moment, Alan Said: "We were on patrol in the City Centre and less than 100 metres away from those responsible for committing an armed robbery.
We immediately sprang into action and gave chase, subsequently detaining two of them. In the process of the foot pursuit, we were shot at. I knew we had to do something. When the bad guys are out and the public run away, we've got to run towards them."
For some, this would have perhaps made them reconsider their future as a Police Officer - not Alan Marwood.
He's personally been responsible for saving the lives of at least six people, including a two-year-old boy who was choking near to where Alan was on patrol. He's also come face-to-face with and arrested two murderers in his time.
In 2012, Alan was among the first officers on scene at a fatal collision on the A6097 in which two people sadly lost their lives after the vehicle exploded into flames.
Working from many stations across the County over his time including Newark, Cotgrave, Carlton, Arnold and now Ollerton, Alan has served under 9 Chief Constables, received countless awards and recognition for his efforts and in 2010, he received the Chief Constable's Lifetime Achievement Award.
There's no sign of Alan hanging up his boots either - today, he continues to volunteer an average of 30 hours per month, working as a Rural Special Constable from Ollerton Police Station, focusing on Rural and Wildlife Crime.
We're #PROUD to have Alan Marwood and *THANK* him for his contributions to the people of Nottinghamshire as he celebrates his 46th year as a Special Constable.