The Twelfth Man 2018

16 From 1960-1962 he was on the staff of the Detective Training School at Wakefield, training detectives from the United Kingdom and also from many parts of the world. From 1964-1966 he was on the directing staff of the Police Staff College at Bramshill, Hampshire. In 1956, Sir Lawrence graduated at Leeds University with an upper second honours degree in law and two years later was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn. In 1987 he was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) by the University of Leeds. Following his time at Bramshill, he was appointed Assistant Chief Constable of Lincolnshire in 1968, advancing to Deputy Chief Constable in 1970 and Chief Constable two years later. In 1977 he was appointed an Inspector of Constabulary by Her Majesty The Queen and initially covered police forces in the Southern Region and subsequently the North Eastern and Eastern Regions. Sir Lawrence made numerous visits overseas in connection with his official duties and in 1979- 1980 he led a Foreign and Commonwealth Office consultancy team to Turkey advising the Turkish Prime Minister and the Turkish Government on problems relating to terrorism and internal disorder. The conviction of Peter Sutcliffe for the “Yorkshire Ripper” murders led to Sir Lawrence being appointed by the Home Secretary to conduct an inquiry into all aspects of the case and his recommended changes in investigative procedures were adopted throughout the Police Service. Sir Lawrence was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 1974 and he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1979. He was created Knight Bachelor in the 1984 New Year’s Honours and appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in 1987. In January, 1983, he was appointed Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and as such was the principal professional adviser on police matters to the Home Secretary and other Ministers. Sir Lawrence and Lady Muriel, who lived near Pannal, had three children, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. One of their two sons, Mark, was Deputy Director of the BBC and head of BBC Journalism from 2004-2011. By David Warner THE Society was saddened to receive the news in February 2018 of the passing of former Yorkshire CCC President and supportive Wombwell Patron, Sir Lawrence Byford. Sir Lawrence’s first visit to WCLS was back in 1991, the year he became Yorkshire’s new President in succession to Leonard Hutton. He would visit again in 1992, 1995, 2000 and finally in 2011, when he joined fellow Patrons’ Mike Cowan, Sir Michael Parkinson and Society President, Dickie Bird, for Wombwell’s special Christmas 60thAnniversary lunch. It proved an outstanding afternoon, worthy of the Diamond celebrations! Sir Lawrence was appointed a Society Patron back in 2003 and both he and his wife, Muriel, were strong supporters of WCLS’ many activities. Sir Lawrence contributed special messages to a number of Twelfth Man publications and always demonstrated a keen interest in the Society’s events, coaching and its support for youth and grass roots cricket. Mick Pope