Sad farewell to one of Oldham's first female WPC's

Peggy Goodwin

The funeral took place today (17th October) of Peggy Goodwin who died on 6th October 2019 at the age of 90.

A native of Greenacres where she lived most of her life Peggy joined the Oldham Borough Police Force in 1951 and was based at the former Townfield Police Station for most of her career.

Peggy was one of only 8 Women Police Constables serving on the Oldham Force at that time, following in the footsteps of Clara Walkden also of Oldham Borough Police, who in 1921, became the first known fully sworn-in PWC in the entire Greater Manchester area.

In those days many authorities were still very reluctant to give women full police powers, and prior to a legal challenge in 1919 some even suggested that it was illegal for a woman to take the Oath of Constable because she was physically unable to carry out the arrest of a violent man.

Malcolm Dean, a close family friend said, “Peggy was a very keen walker and loved exercising her two cairn terrier dogs, firstly Pipper and then Dusty.

They would often be found in Greenacres cemetery or in the wonderful countryside near Lochaber in Scotland where she holidayed on many occasions over the last few years and to where she hoped eventually to move to. She will be sadly missed by all those who knew her.”

Peggy proved this wrong when she made headlines in the Oldham Evening Chronicle on 18th July 1955 after giving chase to and arresting a man who had caused criminal damage after a violent drunken brawl in one of the Town Centre Pubs.

As fully sworn-in WPC’s Peggy and her former colleagues were very much pioneers for the modern role of a Women Police Constable as we know it today.

In recent years, Peggy has suffered gradually declining health after being seriously injured as a pedestrian in a road accident in Scotland in late 2013.

Peggy leaves a daughter Vicki, nieces and nephews including Susan and Philip in Australia and second cousins.

The Police were represented at Peggy’s funeral by, GMP District Commander Superintendent Collette Rose, along with Inspector Karen Taylor and Standard Bearer PC Ian McDonald.

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