Former sergeant marks 100th birthday at Pontardawe police station

On Thursday, we celebrated the 100th birthday of former police sergeant, Howard Arthur, at Pontardawe police station.

Howard, from Clydach Vale, joined the force in April 1952 and served the communities of Neath, Resolven, Pontardulais, and Upper Killay. He remembers riding his bicycle from farm to farm each month to sign the cattle movement books.

After his promotion to sergeant in 1968, Howard moved into Pontardawe police station with his family, where he remained until his retirement in 1980. Today, he returned to his former patch with his two sons, Wynford and John, to celebrate his centenary and share his secrets of staying young.

ACC Joanna Maal spoke at the event and presented Howard with a special gift on behalf of the force.

She said:

“It was so good to meet Howard today on his old patch at Pontardawe and hear him recall his memories of serving communities across the western part of our force.

“Howard is an inspiration, and his experiences allow us to understand just how different policing is today compared to how it was when he walked the beat.”