Life story shared by Paul Beecroft
IN MEMORY
OF
William Elias LOVEGROVE
1832 – 1864
William Elias LOVEGROVE was born in Reading in January or February 1832. The exact date is not known but he was baptised at St. Giles Church on 5th February 1832. His parents were Charles LOVEGROVE and Elizabeth LOVEGROVE (née SILVER).
The census for 1841 shows that the family are resident in the ‘Hamlet of Whitley’. William is nine years old. He has an elder sister Ellen who is twelve years old.
In 1851, the census shows the family are now resident in Spencers Wood. The occupation of Charles states ‘Farming 22 acres’ and William is shown as an Agricultural Labourer.
Although the date is not known, but most likely during the second half of 1852, William joined the Reading Borough Police Force and was known to have been living in Chatham Street. The first mention of him being on the streets of Reading is in April 1853. On 16th April a local newspaper reported the following:-
A PETTY CHARGE. – Charles Berris, a respectable looking mechanic, was charged with stealing a quantity of broccoli, of the value of 3d. the property of Mrs. Bonny. Mr. F.M. Slocombe appeared for the defendant. The complainant has a garden in the Oxford-road, and on Sunday morning, between six and seven, constable Lovegrove received some information, and thereupon waited on the defendant, and apprehended him near to Sydney Terrace, with a bag in his possession, containing a quantity of broccoli leaves and two broccoli. On being charged with the offence, the defendant said he had leave to go to the garden and get broccoli leaves when he liked. Mrs. Bonny was called and proved that she did not give leave to anyone to go and take broccoli leaves from her garden. Could not say whether her husband who was a long way from Reading had ever given leave. Mr. Slocombe, in defence, urged that the slightest modicum of penalty would satisfy the justice of the case, and mentioned that for 15 years the defendant had worked at Mr. Brown’s, coach maker, Castle-street, and borne an irreproachable character. Mr. Darter thought the case was a very serious one, but looking at all the circumstances of the case, he should deal very leniently with it. Fined 20s. including costs, or 14 days’ imprisonment. The fine was immediately paid.
During the same month William also went to the assistance of another officer who had been seriously assaulted at Somerset-place, Chatham-street when he stopped a man who had his hands around the throat of a woman. The man then assaulted him with a poker or pair of tongs with such force as to cut a hole through his helmet and inflict a serious head wound. The officer was reported as being dazed with blood flowing from his head wound. He then found William and two other officers and the man responsible was arrested. The officer was seen by the Police Doctor who reported a jagged wound on the forehead down to the bone. At the Assizes Court in July the offender was sentenced to imprisonment for a year.
On the evening of Monday 12th November 1855, William went to the Sun Inn, Castle Street where he found the pub in what he described as a state of confusion and uproar. In the pub there was a man named John Leach. William saw that Leach had a gun in his hand, that it was a double-barrelled gun and both triggers were cocked. Someone in the pub called out “Policeman” and just at that moment the gun was discharged. The gunshot tore off a piece of the partition in the bar, broke a pane of glass and blew a hole through the window shutter into the street. William took the gun into his possession and found that the second barrel was also loaded. Leach was then taken into custody. It transpired that an argument had taken place between Leach and two other men, one of which was named Thompson, over the condition of his dogs and that Leach had been out shooting in Burghfield prior to arriving at the pub. An allegation was made that Leach was going to shoot Thompson who as it appears then caught hold of the barrel, turned it away and at this point it was discharged. Thompson ended up with a small wound to the forehead. Leach appeared before the court but initially no witnesses had come forward, including Thompson, and the court stated that this was a serious matter and witnesses should be compelled to appear and a full investigation to be carried out.
The court resumed on Friday 16th. Thompson’s evidence had by then changed and he stated that following a conversation about Leach’s dogs a few seconds later someone said, “His gun is cocked, look out Thompson,” for something of that sort. He turned round, and was Leach with the gun raised to about his waist, and apparently in the act of discharging it,which is when he grabbed the barrel, the gun went off. Thompson then told the court that it wasn’t the shot that caused the injury to his forehead. This was confirmed by other witnesses.
The result, perhaps surprisingly, was that Leach was not convicted of any offence as there was no intent to do anyone any harm. It was hoped however, that Leach, when he went shooting again, would discharge his gun before he came into town.
In October 1856, William married Elizabeth TICKNER, the daughter of a farmer in Bramley, Surrey. The marriage is thought to have taken place in St. Giles Church in Reading. Their marriage would result in three children – Elizabeth Emma (1858), Jane Catherine (1860) and Kate Amelia (1862).
In early 1857, William is promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
On the evening of Sunday 30th August 1857, William was on duty with P.C. Hernaman and saved him from what might have been a serious injury. A local newspaper recorded the following:-
ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER. – Charles Collins, a bricklayer, was charged with having assaulted police constable Hernaman, in the execution of his duty.
The police officer stated that he was on duty in Castle-street, about eleven o’clock on Sunday night, when his attention was attracted to a number of persons making a noise in Boarded-lane. Sergeant Lovegrove coming up at the same time, they both walked up to the crowd, and requested them to go away. All went indoors but the defendant and another man persisted in keeping in the lane. Sergeant Lovegrove then put his hands on the shoulders of the defendant, who ran away followed by the other man, whose name was unknown to him. In a short time they both returned, the defendant saying, “I’ve got something for them,” and the other said, “I’ve got a brickbat, and that will do for them.” Defendant then stepped up to him and struck him on the hat. Upon this he closed with the defendant and took from him a poker, and Sergeant Lovegrove had an encounter with the other man, but was obliged to leave him to assist him [P.C. Hernaman] with the defendant, who was very violent with the poker.
The Bench remarked that the defendant had not only been guilty of a breach of good order, but had committed a serious offence in assaulting a police officer in the legitimate discharge of his public duties. Had he not been fortunately restrained in his violence, he might have done a fearful amount of mischief. In order therefore to teach him that such conduct would not be tolerated, as well also to caution others, they should fine him in the mitigated penalty of forty shillings, including costs.
The defendant being unable to pay the amount, he was committed to the County Gaol for twenty-one days’ hard labour.
The census for 1861 shows William, Elizabeth and their daughters resident at 21, Waterloo Street (now Waterloo Road). It also records that William is now an Inspector of Police although the date of his promotion is not known.
On Monday 17th August 1863, William was the victim of an assault, which was reported in a local newspaper:-
SAVAGE ASSAULT ON THE POLICE. – William Pearcey, jun., was charged with breaking seven panes of glass at his father’s house, and with assaulting Inspector Lovegrove in Steeple-court, London-street.
William Pearcey, sen., said that on Monday evening, soon after six, his son (the prisoner), caused a great disturbance at his house, assaulted him and cut his head open, struck his mother several blows on the face, and when he was at length turned out of the house and the door fastened, he broke five panes of glass. There had been a family quarrel, in which witness struck his daughter.
Inspector Lovegrove said that he was passing down London-street at the time, when a little girl came running out of Steeple-court and told him that the prisoner was assaulting his father. He went up, and found it necessary to take him into custody. He resisted very much, and attempted to kick him in the face and to bite his hands. He caught hold of his coat by the collar and tore it right down the front. It was with very great difficulty that the prisoner was at length mastered. He was not drunk, but seemed excited. The coat was produced in court. It was torn in two and damaged past all repairing.
The prisoner acknowledged both offences, but said that it was in defence of his sister that he first struck his father, and that caused all the subsequent disturbance.
The Bench fined him for breaking the windows, including the damages, 20s. or fourteen days’ imprisonment, and for his assault on the police £5, or one month’s imprisonment.
He was locked up.
On Monday 13th July 1863 a sad incident occurred during the funeral of a Reading Borough Police Officer. The incident was reported as follows:-
DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT. – Peter Baldwin appeared in answer to a summons which charged him with using obscene language in Crown-street, to the annoyance of passengers.
Inspector Lovegrove deposed that at about half-past four o’clock on Monday week, he, with twenty-one other police officers, attended the funeral of Police Constable Burrett, and as the procession turned round the “Carpenters’ Arms” corner, into Crown-street, witness saw the defendant, who was sitting on the top of a waggon on the opposite side of the road, near the “Red Cow,” public-house. Defendant halloed out as they were passing. “I’m —— here’s a —– lot of policemen,” and added, “That ——” (alluding to deceased) “will never get anyone else into trouble.” He also exclaimed “That is how I should like to see all the ——.” Defendant did not appear to be intoxicated, and anyone might have heard him 100 yards off.
Defendant told the Bench he could not say what remark he made before he saw the hearse, but after seeing that he was “beat,” and said nothing, but went on loading the waggon. He dared say he made use of some blackguardly remarks, but only on seeing so many policemen.
The Magistrate then referred to a list of charges on which defendant had been previously brought before this Bench, and it appeared he had been guilty of assaulting the police, disturbing the public peace, &c.
Mr. B. Dunn, Junr., builder, &c., Crown-street, deposed that he acted as undertaker on the occasion of Burrett’s funeral, and he was sorry to say that defendant used the expression detailed by Inspector Lovegrove, not only while the police were walking past him, but also while the hearse and mourning coaches were passing.
Defendant said he meant no harm and what he said was in a joke.
Mr. Harris [Magistrate] commented upon the defendant’s improper conduct, particularly on such a solemn occasion, and the offence he had been guilty of was one the Bench could not overlook. Defendant had been before them on various occasions; and he must now pay a fine of 7s. 6d., and 11s. 6d. costs, or seven days’ imprisonment. The money not being forthcoming, defendant was removed in custody.
The last known incident that William was involved in was in February1864 when he discovered a fire at Mr. Collier’s Kilns in Coley in the early hours of the morning on 11th February. William raised the alarm and woke up the inhabitants of the neighbouring properties. Much damage was caused before the fire was brought under control. Both the police and firemen were praised for their untiring exertions in fighting the fire.
Just three months later on 26th May, William passed away. A local newspaper reported:-
On Thursday last Inspector Lovegrove, of the Reading police force, died of disease of the heart. For some time he had been suffering from that disease, and had been unable to attend to his police duties. He was an excellent officer, uniformly courteous in his demeanour, and faithful in the discharge of his duties. He has left, unprovided for, a wife and four young children, two of whom cannot yet walk, and a third is a cripple. We understand a subscription is being set on foot for this bereaved family, and that Mr. Peck, the superintendent of police, will be glad to receive donations on their behalf. It is a case well deserving the notice of the charitably disposed inhabitants of the town.
William’s funeral took place on 29th May and was again reported in the newspaper:-
FUNERAL OF A POLICE OFFICER. – On Sunday afternoon the funeral of Inspector Lovegrove (whose death in the prime of life we announced last week) took place at the Cemetery. The deceased belonged to the Court “Sherwood Forest,” Ancient Order of Foresters, and his remains were followed to the grave by nearly 100 members, each of whom wore a black scarf and caried a sprig of green. The Chief Superintendent of the Borough Police (Mr. Peck), Inspectors Townsend and Hernaman, with upwards of twenty sergeants and constables also joined the mournful procession, in order to pay a sincere tribute of respect to their late brother officer, and the event attracted a large concourse of spectators. The burial service was read by the Rev. J. Ball, who addressed a few remarks to the bystanders, and Chief Ranger Brown read the form usually gone through at a Forester’s funeral. The deceased has left a wife and four young children wholly unprovided for, and we are gratified to learn that the appeal made on their behalf last week has been responded to.
In August 1864, the Watch Committee recommended that a gratuity of £10 be granted to William’s wife Elizabeth and this was adopted. This was equivalent to approximately £1600.00 in today’s money.
Elizabeth eventually moved away from Reading. She passed away in December 1917 in her 90th year in Blackwater, Hampshire. She is buried elsewhere.
William is buried in Reading Old Cemetery somewhere in Division 44. Since his burial, three other persons have been buried in this plot who are not related to William. This occurred in 1908, 1929 and 1933.
N. B. The newspapers recorded that William and Elizabeth had four children. I have not been able to confirm if there was in fact a fourth child or not.
Division 44