A POLICEMAN'S lot can be quite a poetic one. The Dartmoor patch of Constable John Webber proved inspirational for this 19th century part-time writer of verse, writes Roger Malone.

It was a chance remark in conversation between Police Constable Simon Dell from Tavistock and Radio Devon's 'Widecombe Wag', Tony Beard, that raised the subject of Constable Webber.

'Have you ever heard of our policeman poet?' said Tony, and proceeded to tell Simon about Constable John Webber. The policeman served in the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary from 1863 until 1891 — and for a quarter of a century he was based at Widecombe-in-the-Moor.

It was while at Widecombe that he began writing poetry relating to his work. He also wrote about the village, its surroundings and especially the churches of both Widecombe and nearby Leusdon.

In 1878 a pamphlet by John Webber was printed and published by Wood and Tozer of Devonport. It was called 'Poems on Widecombe-in-the-Moor and Neighbourhood' written by John L Webber (The Dartmoor Poet) and was priced six pence. The print works was destroyed during the wartime blitz and never rebuilt.

It was at Exeter that Simon Dell tracked down the only printed copy of the work known to have survived.

'Tony had explained that the church tower of St Pancras, at Widecombe, was unfortunately in much need of restoration — costing to the tune of many thousands of pounds,' said Simon.

Browsing through the pages of Webber's small pamphlet it was clear the passion Webber had for this church as well as the village.

Simon felt that in publishing these verses, well over a century since they were written, some new pleasure might be derived from them.

'Also, by donating the profits from the sales of this book to the church tower appeal fund, his works might provide some much-needed financial support to the restoration of the church that he was so fond of,' he said.

In a foreword to the present publication, Sir Roger Birch, former Chief Constable of the Sussex Police, reflected how he, as a very young police constable — then with the Devon Constabulary — spent a brief period as the Widecombe-in-the-Moor village bobby.

With his own love of the moor he said it was easy to identify with his talented predecessor as he marched around the parish on his beat.

'Not much had changed in my day — save that I enjoyed the advantage of a bicycle!' says Sir Roger.

'We both heard the same bells of the lovely Parish Church of St Pancras, albeit tolled by different hands. And we no doubt sheltered under the same windswept trees and leaned on the same field-gates.'

Sir Roger says we are 'fortunate indeed' that John Webber was able to translate so much of his vision into verse. This in turn left an important legacy of the social history of the parish.

In 1876 John Webber was subscriber to a book called 'Things New and Old concerning the Parish of Widecombe-in-the-Moor and its neighbourhood'.

This was published at the time to raise funds for the restoration of St Pancras Church.

'There can be no doubt that he would have applauded the fact that, over a century later, his poetry is supporting an identical cause,' writes Sir Roger.

The book is available priced £4.99 from local bookshops from December 1 or from Simon Dell at Callington Police Station, at £5.99 per copy to cover postage. Cheques to be made payable to Devon and Cornwall Police Authority.

All profit from the sales are being donated to the Widecombe parish church tower restoration appeal fund.

Simon Dell will be signing copies of the publication at Book Stop in Market Street, Tavistock, on Saturday, December 2 from 10am to noon.

Simon is the author of two previous charitable books: 'The Beat On Western Dartmoor' and 'Policing the Peninsula.'

l Dartmoor's Policeman Poet, compiled by Simon Dell, is published by Forest Publishing