Little Common pensioner's book about time in Colonial Police Force

Tony Beaden, 85, of Woodlands, Little Common, penned the autobiography, called 'A Policeman's Lot', 10 years ago but was encouraged by his children and his son-in-law Barry Hinves to get it published.

Mr Beaden said: "I started off making notes about my experiences so I would not forget anything. I finished writing the book 10 years ago but never got around to publishing it until now."

He was stationed in Uganda from the early 1950s until 1965, two years after the country became independent from British rule.

Mr Beaden said: "I joined the Hastings police force in 1948 for three years but decided to apply for a job working for the Colonial Police Force after seeing the advert in Police Review.

"I wanted a bit more adventure as I spent three years in Hastings rattling doorknobs on night duty.

"I really enjoyed my time out in Uganda and even stayed a couple of years after independence."

The pensioner, who is Lord of Bexhill Manor, had numerous tasks to deal with on his stint in Uganda, such as dealing with wild animals, tribal warfare, murders and Mau Mau rebels.

He said: "There were raids landowners' property and we would follow this up with the owners.

"The perpetrators would then be arrested and hung because sometimes they murdered people during the raids."

Mr Beaden finished off as an assistant commissioner, having started off as an inspector.

He was also commandant at the police training school in the Ugandan capital Kampala.

Mr Beaden left school aged 15 at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 to avoid being evacuated to the countryside with his classmates.

He tried to join the Royal Air Force (RAF) but was turned down for being under age.

His family was bombed out during the Blitz and he later repaired crashed Spitfires at Morris Motors in Oxford.

Mr Beaden eventually did join the RAF where he served as a flight engineer until he joined the police force in Hastings.

The pensioner and his wife Margaret, who together recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, returned to Sussex with their family in 1965 where he rejoined the police force as a constable in Bexhill. He retired in 1983.

To arrange to get a copy of Mr Beaden's book, priced 12.95, contact him on 01424 844012.