Popular community beat officer presented with gifts at a surprise farewell party

‘Softy, softly’ policing was taken to a new level at Seaton last week when Community Support Officer Chris Bolsover was presented with a woollen truncheon.

It was one of a number of gifts the popular neighbourhood beat bobby received at a surprise farewell party.

PCSO Bolsover, who is being transferred to Sidmouth next month, thought he was going to a normal Thursday gathering of the Knit and Natter group.

Instead, a big cheer greeted him as he entered the hall at Number One Harepath Road, where more than 50 local residents, including mayor, Councillor Gaynor Sedgwick, had gathered.

For the past five years, PCSO Bolsover has been regularly attending afternoon meetings of the town’s Age UK support groups, giving them advice on policing matters and listening to their concerns.

As a thank you organisers Anne Howe and Wendy Millet decided to arrange a surprise Devon cream tea for him last Thursday (June 20) to wish him well in his new job.

The unsuspecting officer was taken to the party by PCSO Samantha Slater who had been let in on the secret. She will be taking over from him in Seaton.

After the thank you speeches PCSO Bolsover was presented with flowers and a going away gift of a teddy dressed as a policeman and a truncheon, both knitted, of course, by one of the knit and natter group, Jean Fagin.

The Age UK Volunteers then served cream teas to all.