When Leamington man George Bubb brought a picture of this procession to the Courier weeks ago he was not sure what the occasion may have been.

It came from a collection left by his father Jack ‘Kelly’ Bubb, an auxiliary fireman who served during the Second World War. Eagle-eyed reader Richard King correctly worked out that the iron railings dated it to before the war, and the ‘candlesticks’ on the horse-chestnut tree meant it must have been springtime. The delivery boy on a bicycle put it during the week and the policemen wearing white gloves meant they were in parade order.

But Warwickshire police historian Terry Gardner was able to pinpoint the occasion. The procession took place at the funeral of Chief Constable of Leamington, Thomas Taylor Earnshaw, on May 4, 1938.

Mr Gardner brought in these two further pictures of the procession as it passed down Bath Street and Brunswick Street.

The chief constable had held the position from 1902 until his death after joining the Leamington force following service in Wakefield and Wigan. The Courier at the time wrote: “In July 1898, out of a large number of applicants, he was selected for his present position as superintendent of the Wigan County Borough Police Force. The Watch Committee are to be congratulated on the excellent appointment they have made.”

When he died the forces of Warwickshire, Birmingham, Leicester, Coventry and Kidderminster sent officers to take part in the funeral procession. The auxiliary fire service was part of the police force in those days, which explains why Mr Bubb would have been involved.

The Courier devoted most of a broadsheet page to the occasion, recalling his “wise attitude” and integrity. Alderman KR England wrote: “His keen eye and alert brain, together with his ability as a reader of character, fitted him to deal with difficult people.

“Never afraid to ‘read the riot act’ to a delinquent, he was always prepared with good practical advice when it could suitably be given.”

It emerged Chief Const. Earnshaw was also a pioneer of late licensing. A letter from ‘John Bull’ in 1824 read: “Sir, you appear to have some very sound views, and as this is a rarity among gentlemen of your position, I heartily congratulate you. Instead of opposing an application for extension of licence for local public houses on New Year’s Eve, you told the magistrates that you were in favour of it because it did away with secret drinking. If only all Chief Constables had such sanity and all magistrates had such sound common sense as those of Leamington, social life would be much sweeter.”