Somerset(shire) Constabulary

Deputy Chief Constable John Bisgood

John Bisgood was born in 1833 in Ireland. He served in the Royal Irish Constabulary. He joined Somerset Constabulary on its formation in 1856 coming over from Ireland with several other officers including the first Chief Constable of Somerset,

Valentine Goold. He was appointed Deputy Chief Constable in 1872. He retired from the police service on 31 May 1908. In 1860, Bisgood married Mary Kirwan. They had eight boys and three girls. One child predeceased him.

John Bisgood died on 6 February 1916 at his residence in Richmond, Surrey, aged 83. (Submitted by Robin Cain)

Superintendent Alfred Stewart

Superintendent Alfred Stewart joined the Somerset Constabulary in 1893, and served as a Constable at Weston (Bath), Huntspill, Burnham-on-Sea and Taunton.

From Taunton on promotion to the rank of Sergeant he went to Wincanton in 1902 and ten months later in August 1903 he was transferred to the charge of the Glastonbury District under the late Mr. John Bisgood Deputy Chief Constable of Somerset. He remained at Glastonbury till 1910, when he was transferred to Wells, where he served for another three years in charge of that district. He was then promoted to the rank of Inspector and stationed at Radstock, where he had charge of the Superintendent Division under Superintendent Gillbanks.

Six years later further promotion came to him, and brought him back from North Somerset to Central Somerset as Superintendent of the Bridgwater Division in 1919. The division then came up to Ashcott. Four years later in 1923 he succeeded Superintendent Gillbanks at Frome on the latter's retirement, but since that, changes in the police Divisions brought Bridgwater into the Glastonbury Division and added Shepton Mallet Petty Sessional Division to the Frome Division. Other places were also added, 45 parishes in all, the district of which Superintendent Stewart is now in charge extending to within three or four miles of Glastonbury on the East Side.

The last important case which came under his notice in this locality was the murder and suicide at Hembridge a few months ago.

From geniality, courtesy and shrewd common sense in dealings with all classes, Superintendent Stewart has won the respect and sincere regard of all classes of the community, and is very popular in the Force. Superintendent Stewart received the honour of being appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire from his Majesty the King in 1929.