Obituary Year: 2021

Date of Death: 14th April 2021

Aged: 81

Formerly of Manchester City. Served 4 years on C Div, being returned unfit after being knocked from the noddy bike by a lorry. Subsequently worked in the Fingerprint Dept. for 28 years.

Formerly a motor-cycle officer with C-Division of Manchester City Police, latterly a civilian employee and Section Leader of the GMP Fingerprint Department, Gerard retired early from his role as Supervising Senior Fingerprint Expert in 1993.

Gerard joined the Police shortly after his 19th birthday on 28th August 1959. He then completed the 13-week initial training at the Police Training Centre, Bruche, and a two-week local procedure course at St. Joseph’s, Longsight, Manchester. Three days later he was a Police Constable – operating alone on the street.

Gerard served until January 1964 when his career was cut short by a collision with a Coca-Cola delivery lorry on a rainy afternoon in Bradford. The accident was severe, and it cost Gerard one-year’s sick leave, after which he was returned “Unfit for Duty”, and retired on Pension. The then Chief Constable, Sir John Mackay, suggested to Gerard that once he recovered from his surgery, he might take a civilian post in the Fingerprint Department, so in August 1965 Gerard returned to work in the Fingerprint Department without a single sick-day (he’d had more than enough of that!) until his retirement in 1993.

Gerard made many good friends in his time, and had plenty of stories to tell about the cases in which he’d given expert testimony: the production ‘factory’ turning out counterfeit five-pound notes in Hulme; a heroine smuggler using an urn as his vessel; even some work in support of the team working the Yorkshire Ripper investigation in the late Seventies.

The family's favourite story is the incident that became known as ‘The Throne’…

H.R.H. The Princess Anne, visited the Fingerprint Department on May 30th, 1979 – part of a visit in her official capacity to open Chester House, the new Greater Manchester Police Force Headquarters. At the time Gerard was working at his desk preparing an exhibit to produce at the Crown Court.

H.R.H. was accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant, Lord Mayor, Chairman of the Police Authority, The Chief Constable and more. Princess Anne stopped and asked Gerard what he was doing, leading to Gerard taking his time to explain in some detail! Whilst the throng stood around , H.R.H. sat on Gerard’s chair and listened enthusiastically. She thanked Gerard and continued her tour, leaving the throng well-satisfied. When the office cleared, Gerard upended his chair and wrote in large letters under the seat: H.R.H. & G.R.B. together with the date. Gerard’s seat in the office was known as The Throne from that day until its demise.

Gerard was eventually granted early retirement on compassionate grounds in June 1993, allowing him to become full-time-carer for his Mother, Anne Burns.

After his mother passed in 2000 Gerard discovered the Wanderlust and travelled far and wide. Gerard was one of four: his elder sister Pat and two brothers, Leo & Peter, and whilst Gerard proudly remained a bachelor until his dying day, he will be much missed by a large and loving family of nephews, nieces, grand-nephews & grand-nieces from Switzerland and Canada to Manchester and the North-East of England.