If you were caught speeding in 1930 you had to face similar consequences as now; but catching offenders was not straightforward for the police before the advent of the radar gun. P.c. Trundle was kept busy.
Thomas Alfred Trundle, the constable mentioned in this report, was born in Essex in 1888. His family moved to the Peterborough area before 1911, and he married at Whittlesey in 1912. Having joined the Police Force after the War, he was later promoted to sergeant, and by the start of World War II he had left the regular force and was serving as a Special Constable in Peterborough. He appears to have stayed in the area for the rest of his life, and died aged 77 in 1965.
“SPEEDING CASES AT STAMFORD
THREE MOTORISTS FINED
BUS DRIVER’S REMARKABLE STATEMENT
Arising out of speed tests carried out by officers of the Liberty of Peterborough Police near Stamford three cases were heard at St Martin’s Petty Sessions, held at the Town Hall, Stamford on Friday. Fines amounting in all to £9 were inflicted.
AN OLD LORRY’S HUSTLE
George Burgess, Nottingham, was summoned for driving a heavy motor lorry at a speed exceeding 12 miles per hour at Thornhaugh on February 8th. Defendant attended the court and pleaded not guilty.
P.c. Trundle said that he followed defendant’s lorry on his motor cycle, with P.c. Chapman in the side-car, from Sharpley’s Hollow to the Wansford by-pass road. By means of the speedometer attached to his machine he estimated the speed of defendant’s lorry to be from 25 to 30 miles an hour.
This evidence was corroborated by P.c. Chapman.
Burgess told the Magistrates that ‘it was impossible for the lorry to do that speed. It was an old type lorry – nearly eleven years old – and was low geared. His employer had given him permission to let anyone try to get 25 miles an hour out of the lorry, because he knew it was impossible, and the vehicle was capable of a speed of only 12 or 15 miles an hour.’ Defendant also stated that he noticed the Post Office clock as he passed through Stamford, and from the time he was stopped he had travelled five miles in 27 minutes.
A fine of £2 was imposed, and, on defendant’s application, he was allowed a month in which to pay.
21 MILES AN HOUR
Albert Leonard Williams, London, was charged with a similar offence at Wittering.
P.c. Trundle said that defendant travelled at a speed of 21 miles an hour over a section of the Great North Road near Wittering.
Williams, who did not attend the Court, but from whom a letter was received, was fined £2, including costs.
THE TWO “IF’S”
“If we are caught doing up to 35 miles an hour the firm pay our fines. If the speed is more we have to pay our own fines, so I hope you will knock a few miles off”.
This was the remark alleged to have been made by Thomas Wilson Seaman, Ebchester, Durham, when he was stopped by P.c. Trundle and told that he had been driving his motor bus at a speed of 40 miles an hour. The offence was said to have been committed in St Martin’s on February 8th.
P.c. Trundle told the Magistrates defendant drove 26-seater ‘bus at a speed of 40 miles an hour from the George Farm to Flint’s Hollow. Upon being stopped Seaman said ‘Will you test your speedometer with mine?’ The constable agreed, and drove his motor cycle beside the lorry for some distance. When the speedometer on the policeman’s machine registered 20 miles an hour he asked Seaman what the ‘bus’s speedometer registered. He replied that it showed 17 miles an hour. He then made the remark quoted above.
Details of seven previous convictions, including two for similar offences (for one of which he was fined £10) were given by Supt. Hamps, of Peterborough.
In a letter to the Magistrates defendant pleaded guilty, and he was fined £5.
The Magistrates were Mr J.H.J. Phillips, of Stamford (Vice-Chairman) and Mr M. Wolryche-Whitmore, of Ufford Hall.”
The Stamford & Rutland News, 4th March, 1930