Calling WPC Crockford

In the early 1950s, the Berkshire Constabulary finally opened its ranks to more women. And WPC Crockford was one of those early pioneers...

When 21-year-old Gwendoline Crockford signed up to join the Berkshire Constabulary in 1951, she had little idea of what she was getting herself into. Whether carrying a human skeleton out of the woods, finding a missing child, investigating thefts, or chasing an escaped zebra, every day brought fresh adventures.

In this nostalgic, tender and honest account of post-war British society, we follow a bright, determined woman navigating a man's world, serving as many people as she can. From performing traffic duties to unravelling a dark secret at the heart of an impoverished family, WPC Crockford's career was full of joy, thrills and heartbreak.

Written by her daughter Ruth, this is the story of a real-life woman police constable as she embarks on her police career.

Ruth D'Alessandro is the daughter of police parents and was born and brought up in Shinfield, mid-way between Reading and Wokingham in Berkshire. She studied Modern Arabic at Durham University, and worked for 10 years with Librairie du Liban, the Middle East's largest reference publisher. After having her daughters, Ruth worked as a freelance educational writer, then built up her business as a commercial digital content writer. Calling WPC Crockford is her debut, to be followed by two more police memoirs, Calling WDC Crockford and Calling WPS Crockford.

The story of a real-life woman police constable as she tackles her new life in the police force in 1950s Berkshire. In the early 1950s, the Berkshire Constabulary finally opened its ranks to more women. And WPC Crockford was one of those early pioneers... When 21-year-old Gwendoline Crockford signed up to join the Berkshire Constabulary in 1951, she had little idea of what she was getting herself into. Whether carrying a human skeleton out of the woods, finding a missing child, investigating thefts, or chasing an escaped zebra, every day brought fresh adventures. In this nostalgic, tender and honest account of post-war British society, we follow a bright, determined woman navigating a man's world, serving as many people as she can. From performing traffic duties to unravelling a dark secret at the heart of an impoverished family, WPC Crockford's career was full of joy, thrills - and heartbreak. Written by her daughter Ruth, this is the story of a real-life woman police constable as she embarks on her police career.

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