Elsie Yates oral history recording relating to her service in the East Riding Constabulary

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Elsie Yates oral history recording relating to her service in the East Riding Constabulary

Originally deposited as a DVD-ROM. Contains an interview with Elsie Yates, aged 90 years, one of the first female police officers in the East Riding. Interview recorded by the East Riding Archives and Local Studies Collections Officer with help from Mrs Yates' son-in-law. Duration: 34 mins Timing: (00:07) Elsie Yates was born on Holderness Road near East Park in Hull on 23.10.1918 She had 3 sisters, 1 brother, a mother and father and granny and grandpa. They all lived near East Park. Families lived close together in terraced houses. She mentions that most people stayed in the same area and were very family-minded (1:25) Her upbringing was poor. There were 5 children and her father wouldn't work, he was on the dole. Elsie thought her mother was wonderful, but sometimes she had to hide food, so her father wouldn't be persuaded not to draw the dole. Life was hard and she believed people needed a lot of stamina, because it was up to them to improve their own situation (2:31) Elsie went to East South Coates Lane School. She wasn't clever and had a stutter, so school was a nightmare, she didn't like it. She remembered playing rounders in the field (4:20) She flourished once she left primary school and got a place at Escourt Street High School, but was not encouraged by her family (5:30) On leaving school she became a house maid. It was all that was available at the time, but she felt it taught her a lot (6:19) She met her husband when she was sixteen and they were married for sixty five years. He got a job in London with Lever Brothers. He was not sure whether to accept the job but Elsie encouraged him to do so and he actually stayed there all his working life. (7:45) Her husband decided to volunteer during the Second World War and was sent off just after they were married, so she joined the police force. (8:44) She joined because she thought she could make something of it and she never regretted it (9:17) Wilf, Elsie's husband, wanted her to get a job in Beverley as he was going away (9:54) Elsie still has her Day Book that records her patrols round Beverley. She took statements from people that were suspected of crimes (11:14) She joined the police in 1940 and was the fourth WPC in Beverley at that time (11:56) She says she bluffed her way into the force because she couldn't type or do shorthand. She said there were 7 candidates to be interviewed by the Chief Constable and all the others were interviewed, but she wasn't, so she was very surprised when she got the job (13:10) The office was part of the War Department and she worked in a horrible environment near Leconfield Aerodrome (13:35) Because of her stutter, she was nervous when she started in the police, but doing the work cured it (14:05) Most of the male officers were friendly, particularly the mature ones and especially the sergeant. There was an inspector, a sergeant and Elsie in the same office and the sergeant looked after the female officers. She thought most of the inspectors were nice (14:44) She related an incident that took place one evening. The police had night watches at the Sessions House because of the bombing. There were always 2 WPCs on duty and they slept in the Magistrate's Room. One evening the second WPC was late so Elsie was on her own. A superintendent subjected her to sexual harassment. She mentioned the incident to the sergeant, but asked him not to report it. The sergeant felt he had to follow it up and reported it to the Chief Constable (17:32) This resulted in Elsie being moved to the Beverley Division. The superintendent was not disciplined (18:52) She was moved to CID which she thoroughly enjoyed. She was involved with all sorts of jobs. There were some sad cases such as recovering bodies from the river. The sergeants were helpful and encouraged her (20:03) One of Elsie's responsibilities was to escort lady prisoners from Beverley to Durham. They travelled in a saloon car. One prisoner she remembers came from Cottingham and had murdered her two children. Elsie felt very sad about her (21:14) A WPC's uniform was similar to the one worn by male officers, but instead of a helmet the WPCs wore a cap with a skirt and jacket (21:58) Elsie was a Detective Constable in CID (Criminal Investigation Department) (22:38) Although she was ambitious when she knew her husband was returning after 4 years in the forces she knew she would have to leave, as married women didn't work, their place was in the home. Before her husband returned there was an opportunity to join the regular police force at Scotland Yard, but because Elsie knew he was coming back she didn't sign up. She had no regrets about not going and when her husband returned they had a family. (25:02) Elsie left the police when her husband came home in 1945 (25:17) Whilst in the police force Elsie worked all hours, there was a rota. The Beverley police station was near the Guildhall and Post Office. Prisoners were held in cells at the back of the police station. When she was on night duty Elsie would be responsible for the prisoners and the switchboard. She was often almost alone until the beat police came off duty, but didn't find it daunting (26:30) At this time there were several divisions in the East Riding Constabulary- Driffield, Bridlington, Hessle, Cottingham and Beverley. Elsie conducted conference calls between these divisions to pass on relevant information. (27:39) During the war there were a number of soldiers billeted throughout the area. One of Elsie's duties concerned the black American soldiers (she refers to them as coloured) that were billeted near Cottingham. The camp was surrounded by trees and young girls from Hull used to come and meet the soldiers. Her job was to go through the bushes and tell them to go home. As soon as the soldiers saw her they disappeared, as there were severe penalties if they were caught. (29:45) With the mention of Cottingham Elsie is again reminded of the case she talked about previously, where the woman murdered her children. She thinks the woman committed the crime cause of the problems caused by the menopause. This case really upset Elsie and she still recalls it vividly. (31:44) Petty offenders included shoplifters and pick-pockets (32:00) At this time dance halls closed at 10pm. Two police women were sent in to make sure people left at closing time, even though there were big robust men on the door. The WPCs also went into pubs and told any under-age drinkers to leave (according to Elsie, 14 years was under-age) (33:18) Elsie believes the police force has changed and that in the modern force wouldn't help each other. In her day they did support each other, for example they helped her write reports as she says that many of the officers were very literate Public access copy available on Preservica: https://eastriding.access.preservica.com/ (Search 'DDX1691/1')

Catalogue

Finding Aid: DDX1691/1

Title: Elsie Yates oral history recording relating to her service in the East Riding Constabulary

Repository: East Riding of Yorkshire Archives and Local Studies (UK47)

Level: Item

Description: Originally deposited as a DVD-ROM.Contains an interview with Elsie Yates, aged 90 years, one of the first female police officers in the East Riding. Interview recorded by the East Riding Archives and Local Studies Collections Officer with help from Mrs Yates' son-in-law.Duration: 34 minsTiming:(00:07) Elsie Yates was born on Holderness Road near East Park in Hull on 23.10.1918She had 3 sisters, 1 brother, a mother and father and granny and grandpa. They all lived near East Park. Families lived close together in terraced houses. She mentions that most people stayed in the same area and were very family-minded(1:25) Her upbringing was poor. There were 5 children and her father wouldn't work, he was on the dole. Elsie thought her mother was wonderful, but sometimes she had to hide food, so her father wouldn't be persuaded not to draw the dole. Life was hard and she believed people needed a lot of stamina, because it was up to them to improve their own situation(2:31) Elsie went to East South Coates Lane School. She wasn't clever and had a stutter, so school was a nightmare, she didn't like it. She remembered playing rounders in the field(4:20) She flourished once she left primary school and got a place at Escourt Street High School, but was not encouraged by her family(5:30) On leaving school she became a house maid. It was all that was available at the time, but she felt it taught her a lot(6:19) She met her husband when she was sixteen and they were married for sixty five years. He got a job in London with Lever Brothers. He was not sure whether to accept the job but Elsie encouraged him to do so and he actually stayed there all his working life.(7:45) Her husband decided to volunteer during the Second World War and was sent off just after they were married, so she joined the police force.(8:44) She joined because she thought she could make something of it and she never regretted it(9:17) Wilf, Elsie's husband, wanted her to get a job in Beverley as he was going away(9:54) Elsie still has her Day Book that records her patrols round Beverley. She took statements from people that were suspected of crimes(11:14) She joined the police in 1940 and was the fourth WPC in Beverley at that time(11:56) She says she bluffed her way into the force because she couldn't type or do shorthand. She said there were 7 candidates to be interviewed by the Chief Constable and all the others were interviewed, but she wasn't, so she was very surprised when she got the job(13:10) The office was part of the War Department and she worked in a horrible environment near Leconfield Aerodrome(13:35) Because of her stutter, she was nervous when she started in the police, but doing the work cured it(14:05) Most of the male officers were friendly, particularly the mature ones and especially the sergeant. There was an inspector, a sergeant and Elsie in the same office and the sergeant looked after the female officers. She thought most of the inspectors were nice(14:44) She related an incident that took place one evening. The police had night watches at the Sessions House because of the bombing. There were always 2 WPCs on duty and they slept in the Magistrate's Room. One evening the second WPC was late so Elsie was on her own. A superintendent subjected her to sexual harassment. She mentioned the incident to the sergeant, but asked him not to report it. The sergeant felt he had to follow it up and reported it to the Chief Constable(17:32) This resulted in Elsie being moved to the Beverley Division. The superintendent was not disciplined(18:52) She was moved to CID which she thoroughly enjoyed. She was involved with all sorts of jobs. There were some sad cases such as recovering bodies from the river. The sergeants were helpful and encouraged her(20:03) One of Elsie's responsibilities was to escort lady prisoners from Beverley to Durham. They travelled in a saloon car. One prisoner she remembers came from Cottingham and had murdered her two children. Elsie felt very sad about her(21:14) A WPC's uniform was similar to the one worn by male officers, but instead of a helmet the WPCs wore a cap with a skirt and jacket(21:58) Elsie was a Detective Constable in CID (Criminal Investigation Department)(22:38) Although she was ambitious when she knew her husband was returning after 4 years in the forces she knew she would have to leave, as married women didn't work, their place was in the home. Before her husband returned there was an opportunity to join the regular police force at Scotland Yard, but because Elsie knew he was coming back she didn't sign up. She had no regrets about not going and when her husband returned they had a family.(25:02) Elsie left the police when her husband came home in 1945(25:17) Whilst in the police force Elsie worked all hours, there was a rota. The Beverley police station was near the Guildhall and Post Office. Prisoners were held in cells at the back of the police station. When she was on night duty Elsie would be responsible for the prisoners and the switchboard. She was often almost alone until the beat police came off duty, but didn't find it daunting(26:30) At this time there were several divisions in the East Riding Constabulary- Driffield, Bridlington, Hessle, Cottingham and Beverley. Elsie conducted conference calls between these divisions to pass on relevant information.(27:39) During the war there were a number of soldiers billeted throughout the area. One of Elsie's duties concerned the black American soldiers (she refers to them as coloured) that were billeted near Cottingham. The camp was surrounded by trees and young girls from Hull used to come and meet the soldiers. Her job was to go through the bushes and tell them to go home. As soon as the soldiers saw her they disappeared, as there were severe penalties if they were caught.(29:45) With the mention of Cottingham Elsie is again reminded of the case she talked about previously, where the woman murdered her children. She thinks the woman committed the crimecause of the problems caused by the menopause. This case really upset Elsie and she still recalls it vividly.(31:44) Petty offenders included shoplifters and pick-pockets(32:00) At this time dance halls closed at 10pm. Two police women were sent in to make sure people left at closing time, even though there were big robust men on the door. The WPCs also went into pubs and told any under-age drinkers to leave (according to Elsie, 14 years was under-age)(33:18) Elsie believes the police force has changed and that in the modern force wouldn't help each other. In her day they did support each other, for example they helped her write reports as she says that many of the officers were very literatePublic access copy available on Preservica: https://eastriding.access.preservica.com/(Search 'DDX1691/1')

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DDX1691-1 Elsie Yates oral history