May 09, 2024 - 426 views
A retired police officer’s 50-year hobby has inspired a donation to North Wales Police as the force celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Chris Perkins, who has over 30 years’ service with the Force has kept fish since he was 12-years-old and has recently been looking to find them a new home.
Chris, who transferred to North Wales Police in 1991 from Greater Manchester Police retired in 2010 but later re-joined as a PCSO before becoming the Citizen in Policing Coordinator looking after the North Wales Police Special Constables.
Chris said: “This weekend marked the end of a long-standing hobby for me as I’ve kept fish for 50 years. Most weekends these days I like to get away in my VW Campervan and found I had little time to tend to my pond duties at home.
“After seeking permission to donate my fish to North Wales Police on their 50th anniversary I’ve now rehomed them at the pond located directly outside Police Headquarters in Colwyn Bay. This is my gift to the force for accepting me on a transfer from Greater Manchester Police back in 1991.
“The largest of the fish is a 22-year-old Koi Carp who I named Biggish – he could live to be 70 years or older so hopefully he’ll still be around for the force’s centenary.
“I’m very happy to rehome the fish after the extensive work that’s recently been undertaken outside Police Headquarters, and I hope they’ll be very happy in their new surroundings. I’ll still be keeping an eye on them and assisting our Facilities Team with their care and ensuring the pond is in tip top condition.”
North Wales Police Headquarters was built in the mid 1970’s and was officially opened in 1973 and the pond has always been a key feature of the building – attracting many visitors over the years. The large pond and outside area has recently undergone major refurbishment.
Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman was grateful for Chris’ generosity. She said: “We are very grateful to be able to offer the fish a new home and we’ll make sure they are well cared for.
“2024 is a very special year for the force as we not only look back over five decades but also look forward to the next 50 years. One thing is clear; whatever the year on the calendar, police officers and staff have shown the kind of loyalty, dedication and passion for serving the communities of North Wales that will carry the force forward into the future, and Chris is an example of this. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to him and his family for this very generous gift.”
A total of 24 fish have been donated – which include twelve large Koi Carp, a Comet, a Sturgeon and ten medium to large-sized goldfish.
Visitors coming to the Force Open Day on September 14th will have the opportunity to see the pond and the fish as they’ll enter the front of the building.
Policing has occurred in North Wales for over 160 years but North Wales Police as we now know it was officially formed on 1st April 1974.
The Force was formed when the new counties of Gwynedd and Clwyd came into existence. The force served the geographical areas of both the new counties as had its predecessor, the Gwynedd Police, which had been formed on 1st October 1967 by the merger of the former Flintshire, Denbighshire and Gwynedd Constabularies, the latter having been the police force for Caernarvonshire, Anglesey and Merionethshire.
