POPULAR Winsford policeman Pete Gaskell is more clued up than most when it comes to giving his verdict on the town's community.

And in this, the week of his 50th birthday, his reflections on the 25 years of service to Winsford people have led him to conclude that they are "second to none".

Pete moved from Wirral to Winsford in 1973 when the county boundaries changed and has lived and worked in the town ever since.

He said: "Winsford was then in the throes of the new town environment with a lot of overspill coming over, particularly from Manchester, and the estates were in full swing.

"The town has developed a terrific community and is always supportive, and not just with the policing side of things.

"They're second to none and have a real commitment to good causes.

"When a bus was burned at Oaklands School, the people on the estate had raised money for a new one within a few weeks - that's the kind of people they are."

PC Pete has also made his friendly face familiar as a Sunday League referee and at Hebden Green Special School, where he is chairman of governors.

With PC Dave Large he pioneered the junior discos at the town's Civic Hall and was also involved with the youth service and junior football.

And his role as juvenile liaison officer proved that it is his work with the young which has provided Pete with most satisfaction.

He explained: "Going into community liaison, we had to start asking kids on the street what they wanted to do rather than telling them to move along.

"We then got people into the youth forum and social services, getting people to do things together.

"And the schools in Winsford are bursting at the seams now."

Before his career path took him into the force he spent time on the road as a budding Brian Epstein, managing local bands in his home town of Sandbach.

It was during these rock 'n' roll years that Pete experienced his first brush with the law.

He explained: "When I managed bands, I travelled a lot and got stopped by the police all the time. After a while I got to thinking they were actually all right - people get a false impression.

"And after finishing my apprenticeship at Rolls Royce as a fitter, I wanted to do something working with people so I chose the police."

Highlights of his 27 years include a visit from Cilla Black and an appearance on Surprise! Surprise! with Dave Large as reward for their work with kids, and his meeting with the then Shadow Home Secretary for the launch of Project 93 - Tony Blair.

But it is the personalities whom Pete has contact with every day which make the job, and the town of Winsford, special to him.

He added: "We are in the business of preventing crime and looking at the causes of it, and part of that is to gain public confidence.

"You can work closely with people when you live in the town as well. Officers like Bill Glover, Gary Swift and Ray Pond have a real feel for the place and know what makes it tick.

"But when it comes to support the people in Winsford have no equals, they're tremendous."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.