Page 26 - WMPF Federation Aug-Sept 2020_Neat

Federation stalwart

‘Tough and tenacious’

– a tribute to former

branch secretary Ernie

and a life well led

ormer West Midlands Police
Federation secretary Ernie Hanrahan
Fhas died.
Ernie, who was instrumental in
establishing Guardians House as the
Federation offices, went on from West
Midlands Police Federation to serve on the
Joint Central Committee at the Police
Federation of England and Wales’ head
office, which was then in Surbiton.
Here, Joe Tildesley, who was the West
Midlands Police Federation chair from 2000
– 2002 pays tribute to his former colleague
and friend.
It is a very great privilege to talk a little
about the life and many achievements of
Ernie Hanrahan. I appreciate for many of you
currently serving his name might not even
register but every operational officer owes
him a debt of gratitude.
Ernie’s police career began in the tough
environment of Birmingham city centre in
the 1980s. He was a larger than life
character, tough and tenacious, never
frightened to express his opinion and his
previous trade union involvement swiftly
marked him out as a future Police
Federation representative.
Within a very short period, he was the
West Midlands Police Federation secretary
working from the then Headquarters in
Garretts Green. He cared about people,
would not tolerate bullying of any kind and
every day he made a difference to the lives An effective partnership, at the opening of Guardians House are Joe Tildesley (left) and
of those he represented. Ernie Hanrahan.
I hope you will not mind me sharing a Ernie recognised our individual roles and With a cigarette in one hand and a
few personal recollections of him when he over the next two years we forged a working mobile phone in the other, Ernie was
first burst over my horizon when I became relationship the like of which I had never determined to make the whole move a
the chairman in April 2000. It had been a experienced before or since. He was success. Kicking and screaming, he turned a
difficult period for the Federation and our adamant that the whole organisation vision into reality. Without him there would
relationship with the Force. There were just needed to move and single-handedly set be no Guardians House.
four full-time officers looking after more about convincing both the Benevolent Fund On 16 November 2000 the move to the
than 8,000 officers and we were busy. and the Credit Union to join us on the new premises was officially recognised by
Blimey, were we busy. journey to Guardians House. the opening ceremony being carried out by

26 federation August/September 2020 www.polfed.org/westmids