ASTONISHES FAMILY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21324, 19 April 1939, Page 10

ASTONISHES FAMILY

SCOTTISH HEIRESS JOINS LONDON POLICE LONDON, March 18. Barbara Ure, daughter of a wealthy Scottish iron magnate, has become a 565-a-week recruit of the London Metropolitan Women Police. As P.C. 96 she patrols the streets of a poor district south of the Thames. When she is off duty she crosses the river to her luxury flat in South Kensington. Barbara Ure is ready day and night, even in her hours of leisure, to change into P.C. Ure if an emergency comes from her station inspector. None of Miss Ure’s neighbours knows she Is a policewoman. A visiting, card on her door bears just the name “Ure” in pencil. This Scots heiress joined the Metropolitan Police Force because she was friendly with a school caretaker’s daughter in Bonnybridge, Scotland. There the works of her father, Mr George Albert Ure, iron founder, cover 25 acres and employ 1000 workpeople. The caretaker’s daughter, Sarah Wardrope, first became a masseuse. Barbara Ure followed her example. Then Sarah joined the Metropoolitan Police. Barbara astonished her family by doing the same.

Police Constable Barbara and Police Constable Sarah are believed to be the only Scotswomen serving in the Metropolitan Police Force.