AUCTION CATALOGUE: FROM CONSTABLE TO COMMISSIONER
SIR ROBERT MARK
COMMISSIONER OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE 1972-1975
INTRODUCTION
My father was given many awards and gifts during his time as the Commissioner of the Metropolis. As time passed almost everything in his house, such as china, cutlery, ornaments and pictures, had a plaque on it! As the last surviving member of the Mark family comprising Robert, Kathleen, Christopher and Christina, I have inherited many items of both personal and historical interest. I have kept some of them as a welcome and loving reminder of my father’s most remarkable career ; however there are thirty items that I propose to send to auction, to raise funds for an annual bursary to be given to an officer from the Metropolitan Police Service demonstrating integrity. This is the word that is used most often when people talk to me about my father, both in his personal and his public life. He was an open and an honourable man and because he demonstrated these qualities so well he became a very highly regarded one as well. The items in this auction bear witness to his standing, not only as a highly prominent figure in twentieth century history but also as an inspiration to the police service today.
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ITEMS:
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11 – THE GRAND ORDER OF WATER RATS
My father very much appreciated and enjoyed his association with the Grand Order of Water Rats, which exists as a wonderful fraternity and charitable organisation for people involved with the […]
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12 – WHEN THE MET MET THE FBI
Here is a photograph of my father in Washington DC on the 14th April 1976, with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, M. Kelley, and seven of his […]
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13 – HONORARY FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER
Here is the programme for the ceremony that bestowed upon my father the Freedom of the City of Westminster and three photographs that were taken at the event. This honour […]
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14 – PORTRAIT OF SIR ROBERT by ADRIAN RAMOS
This portrait of my father by the artist Adrian Ramos was presented to him at the Thunderers’ New Year’s Lunch at the Reform Club in 1978.
The Thunderers are clubmen […]
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15 – PHOTOGRAPH OF SIR ROBERT AS COMMISSIONER
This photograph is one of those portraits in which the eyes follow you wherever you go! There is a gentle, questioning and amused look in my father’s expression that I […]
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16 – A METROPOLITAL POLICE WHISTLE – 60424 – WITH A KEY
This item speaks, or perhaps whistles, for itself! The Police Whistle, invented by Joseph Hudson, became an essential piece of equipment to every bobby on the beat. He copied the […]
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17 – THE THUNDERERS MAN OF THE YEAR
This silver platter was given to my father by The Thunderers to commemorate their choice of him as their Man of the Year for 1977.
By this time my father […]
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18 – SHIELD: ISLE OF MAN
This shield was given to my father in the year of his retirement. It bears the coat of arms of the Isle of Man that reads: “Whithersoever you throw it, […]
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19 – SHIELD: “V” DISTRICT – METROPOLITAN POLICE
This shield was given to my father by the Joint Federation Committee of V District who represent Kingston upon Thames. My parents’ home came under their domain, although it required […]
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20 – SHIELD: EXPOLSIVES SECTION NEW SCOTLAND YARD
This shield was given to my father by C7, the Explosives Section of Scotland Yard. One of the officers from this section was Captain Roger Goad, who was killed in […]