Inspector Hugh Robert Harold Hart Gloucestershire Constabulary
Hugh Robert Harold Hart
The Man Hugh Robert Harold Hart was born on Thursday 31st January 1929 in Cheltenham, son of William a Police Inspector, later Superintendent with Gloucestershire Constabulary and Julia Elizabeth May nee Fowler, he had one brother John Edward C (16 Apr 1925 – 1980).
The 1939 Register shows that Hart family, Hugh’s name, aged 10, redacted, living at The Police Station, 732 Southmead Road, Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire. Hugh was too young to serve in World War II, but I about 1947 when aged 18 he followed his father and brother and joined Gloucestershire Constabulary as a Police Constable.
On Saturday 20th September 1952 aged 23, at All Saints Church, Winterborne Down, Gloucestershire he married Marie Rhoda Turner. They had Two children Susan Marilyn (1953-2013) and Amanda Jane (1957) and in 1955 were living at 5 Albert Place, Cheltenham.
Hugh, like his father before him was a keen sportsman, playing football for Gloucestershire Police Football Club. He was promoted to Sergeant and Inspector and awarded his Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in about 1970. He later became a Detective Inspector attending his Advanced Detective Training Course 5th January – 13th February 1976.
In 1980 his brother, John passed away aged just 55 and in 1987 his father William aged 88.
Hugh retired from the Police in about 1983 aged 55 and lived with Marie at Coppins, Rea Lane, Hempstead. Marie passed away 22nd May 1995 aged 65 in Gloucestershire Royal Hospital having suffered from Multiple Sclerosis. Her funeral was held at Hempstead Church on 26th May followed by Cremation at Gloucestershire Crematorium and her ashes placed in St Swithun’s Church.
In 2013, Hugh’s eldest daughter Susan also passed away aged just 60 and Hugh was living at 4 Colerne Drive, Hucclecote, Gloucester. Hugh passed away on Thursday 6th October 2022 aged 93. He too was cremated and his ashes placed with Marie’s at St Swithun’s Church, Hempstead.
The 1939 Register shows that Hart family, Hugh’s name, aged 10, redacted, living at The Police Station, 732 Southmead Road, Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire. Hugh was too young to serve in World War II, but I about 1947 when aged 18 he followed his father and brother and joined Gloucestershire Constabulary as a Police Constable.
On Saturday 20th September 1952 aged 23, at All Saints Church, Winterborne Down, Gloucestershire he married Marie Rhoda Turner. They had Two children Susan Marilyn (1953-2013) and Amanda Jane (1957) and in 1955 were living at 5 Albert Place, Cheltenham.
Hugh, like his father before him was a keen sportsman, playing football for Gloucestershire Police Football Club. He was promoted to Sergeant and Inspector and awarded his Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in about 1970. He later became a Detective Inspector attending his Advanced Detective Training Course 5th January – 13th February 1976.
In 1980 his brother, John passed away aged just 55 and in 1987 his father William aged 88.
Hugh retired from the Police in about 1983 aged 55 and lived with Marie at Coppins, Rea Lane, Hempstead. Marie passed away 22nd May 1995 aged 65 in Gloucestershire Royal Hospital having suffered from Multiple Sclerosis. Her funeral was held at Hempstead Church on 26th May followed by Cremation at Gloucestershire Crematorium and her ashes placed in St Swithun’s Church.
In 2013, Hugh’s eldest daughter Susan also passed away aged just 60 and Hugh was living at 4 Colerne Drive, Hucclecote, Gloucester. Hugh passed away on Thursday 6th October 2022 aged 93. He too was cremated and his ashes placed with Marie’s at St Swithun’s Church, Hempstead.
Police Exemplary Service Medal.
The Story The Police Exemplary Service Medal awarded to Hugh Robert Harold Hart was purchased at Malvern Flea Market on Sunday 30th March 2025.
It was spotted amongst a lot of other police badges on a dealers table with no ribbon and the only medal present. The rank and name spiked interest being to an Inspector with three first names.
The asking price was so low that it couldn’t be refused and having acquired the medal the dealer produced a folder full of photographs he claimed had arrived with the ‘lot’.
A look through the folder revealed all the photographs to be police related and annotated on the reverse with names. There were a large number named Supt W Hart and four to H Hart, clearly, they belonged with the medal and were acquired separately.
W Hart proved to be William, Hugh’s father and because of the three initials Ancestry, Newspaper archives and Wills enabled a brief biography to be put together for Hugh.
A very pleasing find and especially so to have a photograph of the recipient of a notoriously difficult to research medal.
An original Home Office suspender and ribbon were attached to the medal and a Royal Mint Box acquired, enabling the medal to be restored to its original award condition.
It was spotted amongst a lot of other police badges on a dealers table with no ribbon and the only medal present. The rank and name spiked interest being to an Inspector with three first names.
The asking price was so low that it couldn’t be refused and having acquired the medal the dealer produced a folder full of photographs he claimed had arrived with the ‘lot’.
A look through the folder revealed all the photographs to be police related and annotated on the reverse with names. There were a large number named Supt W Hart and four to H Hart, clearly, they belonged with the medal and were acquired separately.
W Hart proved to be William, Hugh’s father and because of the three initials Ancestry, Newspaper archives and Wills enabled a brief biography to be put together for Hugh.
A very pleasing find and especially so to have a photograph of the recipient of a notoriously difficult to research medal.
An original Home Office suspender and ribbon were attached to the medal and a Royal Mint Box acquired, enabling the medal to be restored to its original award condition.
St Swithun's Church, Hempstead.
7 District Cup Winners 1957. Defeated Somerset 7-2 in final. (Hugh Hart 2nd row third from right).
GLOS POLICE FC. Rear: PC Jack Brennan (Trainer), PC D Bunson, PC R Vizard, Supt W Hart, PC M Morris, ?, PC J Wakefield, Sgt P Franklin (Manager). Front: PC D Willetts, PC Hugh Hart, PCR May, PC R Button, PC Peter Hanks, PC Cliff Viles.
Glos Constabulary Winning Relay Team. P Keene, B Marshall, C Jefferies, C Viles, H Hart.
Hugh Hart's PAA Badge
Superintendent William Hart. Gloucester Constabulary (Hugh's father).
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Western Daily Press. 4th September 1987.
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Medal Details:
- Police Exemplary Service Medal: INSPR. HUGH.R.H.HART.
This page last updated 10 Apr 25
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