Mervyn Mitton

[Craig]

For the attention of the members of the British and Colonial Police forum, it is with a heavy heart that I have to pass on the very sad news of the passing of our friend and Senior moderator Mr Mervyn Mitton. Following service as a PC in the East end of London Mervyn became one of the leading lights in the Police collecting world and I'm sure most collectors have a copy of his " The Policemans Lot ".

I'm sure you will join me in sending our thoughts and condolences to his family and friends.

RIP Mervyn

Craig

[Adrob]

Rest In Peace dear Friend !! 

[Brian Wolfe]

As with very close friends we didn't always agree but we always remained friends both on and off the forum.  He is greatly missed.

Regards

Brian

 

[gavinmedals]

Only corresponded over the forum. Sympathies to his family and friends. His presence will be missed certainly by this community. Gavin

[Rogi]

He was always energetic on the forums, helping whenever possible and I will always remember his passion and enthusiasm for organizing the Photo Competition. It won't be the same without you Mervyn, R.I.P my friend.

 

 

[Polsa999]

He once displayed a kindness to me that I will never forget.....RIP, you can stand down, your duty has been done.

 

[The Prussian]

Rest in peace, my friend.

That are very sad news. I didn´t know you personally, but your threads and your knowledge we´ll never forget.

Ruhe in Frieden, mein Freund!

Edited November 6, 2015 by The Prussian

[Herman]

RIP

 

Your knowledge and usefull plus very informative posts will be greatly missed.

 

Herman

[Mike McLellan]

They say that there is no such thing as an irreplaceable man. 'They' are wrong. 

[Robin Lumsden]

Very sad news.  Rest in peace, Mervyn.

[Alan.Cook]

It was after receiving a copy of Mitton's book 'A Policeman's Lot' in the late 1980's that I was inspired to start collecting decorated truncheons. Little did I know where this gift was to lead. I met Mervyn at his home in Bournemouth a few year's ago on what I think was his last trip to the UK. Although the bulk of his truncheons had been sold I was still extremely lucky to walk away with some choice pieces, which I still treasure. Like some others, I can't say we always reached the same conclusion on pieces, but he did have an amazing collection and knowledge. I like to think I gave him due credit when I published my own tome on the subject last year, and that our books complement each other in their very different styles. Trying to follow in his footsteps on a subject so close to his heart was always going to be a challenge, and I still don't think truncheons and tipstaves are cherished by the collecting world as they should be. His passing represents the  closing of a chapter on this topic and others now need to make sure they take up the challenge and build on what he started.

[Nightbreak]

Mervyn was the first authoritative source I came across, after Christopher McCreery mentioned tipstaves in his Canadian Symbols of Authority.  I picked up pieces here and there, always posting them here and asking him questions, which led to Mervyn finally saying (more than once) "You should pick up a copy of my book."

I did, finding an autographed copy for sale, and it's a joy to flip through.  Also, I was fortunate enough to pick up a picture of the lone Canadian truncheon in existence for him late last year.  He'd spoken about it in his book, but never got to see it until now.

I took Policeman's Lot to my OMRS meeting this week and it was only then that someone informed me that Mervyn had passed away. 

[peter monahan]

As I got more deeply involved with this group and, at Mervyn's suggestion I might add, became a moderator, he was always ready and indeed eager to give advice, make comments and generally keep me from making to many new boy errors.  On a personal note, when he discovered my daughter was heade to SA he offered to connect us with friends of his in Capetown, though he had never met either of us.  An expert in many areas but, much more importantly, a true 'gent' in the old school sense.  He will be missed.

[Paul R]

Agreed. His friendship was genuine.  There is nothing that he would not do for anyone he considered a friend of his.  

[Paul R]

Has he ever posted a photo of himself here?

[IrishGunner]

5 minutes ago, Paul R said:

Has he ever posted a photo of himself here?

Yes, he did...  I believe it was in his Garden topic.

[Anthony03]

Very sad news - When I was still in Durban we met on numerous occasions but since moving to the Western Cape our conversations were limited to the odd phone calls -what a knowledgeable gentleman he was - He will really be missed

[MetPolice]

RIP Mervyn. 

Always encouraged me with my collecting, of antique police material and other things. Sadly, only corresponded over the forum. 

Mervyn joined the Met in 1967, and served in the East End (H DIv). Retiring a few years later with a Commissioner's Commendation and, I think,  another Commendation. 

One tends to think of the old Latin phrase, 'de mortis nil nisi bonum' ('of the dead there is nothing but good'. 

 

Zeb