Story
Thank you for visiting The Harry Cole Tribute Fund page.
Born and bred in Bermondsey, South London, Harry Cole left school at 14, during World War Two, to become a cricket-bat maker, soldier and then stonemason, before joining the Metropolitan Police in 1952.
For thirty years, Harry served at Carter Street Police Station in Walworth Road as a police constable, until retiring in 1983. He became a well known and popular figure in the local community and, after retirement, a national celebrity when he wrote many books, including a series of best selling memoirs about his experiences as a bobby on the beat in Walworth. These include Policeman's Lot, Policeman's Patch, Policeman's Story, Policeman's Patrol and Policeman's Progress. Poignant and entertaining, this series also provides rare published accounts of the life and times of a London policeman in the 21st century.
In 1978 Harry was awarded the British Empire Medal for voluntary work. He has a weekly column in the South London Press.
Sadly, Harry died on 17th April 2008 of end stage renal failure, at Kings College Hospital. For the last three years of his life he required dialysis treatment to keep him alive. Much-loved Harry leaves behind a wife, daughter, grandson and great-grandson.
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