Ray Kemsley has served a long career in the police force and spent much of his time in Upchurch as the resident policeman, where he continues to live today as a retiree.
Ray began duty as a police cadet based at Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay and Nackington in March 1964. On becoming a police constable, Ray was posted to Gillingham first, where he met his future wife, Brenda, who served as a policewoman.
His duty as the resident Upchurch policeman began on 9th March 1965. Ray also served in Hartlip and Lower Halstow on a rota basis. When on duty, he was required to turn up anywhere within the Sittingbourne area, so he had a very full schedule.
What were Ray’s early impressions of Upchurch? Ray explains: “I was used to village life as I was brought up in the country at Badlesmere near Faversham… I spent most of my childhood on a local farm. The farmer had a son six months younger than me, but we were treated the same, and we worked hard from an early age harvesting and feeding the animals.”
During his time as the village policeman, Ray had to deal with a variety of crimes, such as the theft of fruit during the picking season, stolen turkeys at Christmas and sometimes the theft of a vehicle or caravan. Ray says: “Local people were the best source of information for solving these crimes.”
Ray Kemsley in police uniform - 1968.
In March 1973, a siege took place at 90 Chaffes Lane, where an armed and dangerous criminal held a family hostage. Ray did not have much involvement in this. Although he was kept informed of developments. Other police arrived at the scene, and Ray stayed in his office making cups of tea for the officers who were involved. Eventually, the criminal holding the hostages was overpowered and arrested, which brought the siege to an end.
Ray’s worst experience as a local policeman was at Kingsdown near Milstead when a light aircraft crashed, killing four people. Ray says: “In those days, one was not sent to see a psychiatrist - you just had to live with it. The smell of burning flesh lasted with me for about ten years.”
He also remembers funny experiences, particularly when shotgun certificates were first introduced. These had to be renewed every three years, but some people would forget and face prosecution. Ray explains: “Eventually, we were instructed to report people for not having a shotgun certificate, and I would have to confiscate their gun. The first person I reported was a well-known local businessman. I duly reported him and confiscated his gun one Sunday. The next morning, I went to Sittingbourne Police Station, where the station sergeant demanded to know what I had been up to because every local farmer had been in to get their shotgun renewal forms, but the police station had run out of them. Obviously, my reporting the local businessman had the desired effect, and from then on, everyone wanted to renew on time! The businessman I reported was given a conditional discharge by the local magistrate.”
What does Ray think about the village today? “It has changed immensely with the increase in population. Our local school is one of two centres of activity, which I have been part of for many years, first as a police officer organising cycling proficiency and giving talks about the highway code to children and for almost 40 years as a school governor. The other is the village hall, which is used a great deal these days. During the 1960s, I made the odd appearance at the youth club held at the village hall every Sunday evening. I also got involved with the village carnival and served on the carnival committee for a while.”
Ray did not always work alone in the village, he was often assisted by part-time Upchurch policemen Fred Wilson and Cecil Maxted at larger village events during the 1960s, such as the carnival. Outside of Upchurch, Ray was sometimes assisted by a rural sergeant and a police constable based in Newington. There were also rural officers in Bapchild and Tunstall.
After reaching the rank of Detective Sergeant, Ray eventually retired from the police on 31st December 1995 after completing 32 years of service, which included time in the cadets. After this, Ray worked for a security company for six months, then returned to work for Kent Police as a Duties Planning Officer and then as an Assistant Business Manager specialising in health and safety for Swale.
Ray enjoyed his time as a policeman in the village. He says: “I knew several local farmers before I came to Upchurch because my family owned a haulage business and would deliver to them.”
He continued to live in the village after 1973 when rural policing finished, and he was given the opportunity to buy the police house situated opposite the present doctor’s surgery in Oak Lane. Ray finally retired completely from the police in April 2008.
Now happily spending his retirement in the village with his wife, Brenda. Ray says: “I would like to think the village community of today would still pull together at a time of crisis as villagers did during the winter of 1987 and the hurricane of October 1987.”
Ray and Brenda Kemsley have been long-serving and active members of the Upchurch village community since the 1960s and have no plans to move away.
David Wood
About David
David was born and raised at Ham Green and still lives there today.
He writes from personal experience about Upchurch village life and the changes that have taken place over the years.
