‘I faced a mafia threat when I was a Birmingham New Street police officer in the 1970s’

A policeman’s lot is not always a happy one, and that includes a British Transport Policeman’s lot. But it is eventful. 

Take Bill Rogerson… During his time on the beat at Midland rail stations, he faced a Mafia threat, arrested a member of the aristocracy and narrowly avoided taking a pasting from Villa fans. 

Bill, a true larger than life character, recites the anecdotes with a rich, infectious belly laugh. They surface in his book “Old Bill’s Tales of the Railway Old Bill” – a stream of hilarious stories from the sergeant’s time in the force. 

He was based at Birmingham New Street from 1971 to 74 and also patrolled Coventry and Leicester before signing off in 2001. Bill, who received an MBE for charity work in 1995, is still a volunteer for the transport police at the age of 72.

Travelling with Villa fans to away matches

Speaking from his home in Holyhead, north Wales, Bill recalled the days of football specials – trains that ferried noisy fans to away games. Those were noisy, uncomfortable journeys. 

“At New Street, we covered the Blues, Villa, Wolves, Coventry. There was one hairy moment when I took a train full of Villa supporters up to Blackpool for a night match. It was the days of the open plan carriages. 

“At Preston, the lights went out and I found myself being punched and kicked from all sides. Thankfully, one Villa supporter came to my aid. Later, my damaged helmet was sent back to New Street with a message, ‘one helmet for the wearing of’. 

“The start of the ’72 season saw me travelling to Cardiff with Villa fans on a football special. For the return, we were on platform one and two waiting our train. 

“Cardiff fans were on three and four. They managed to get hold of six foot long shunting poles and were hurling them at Villa fans. It was like a scene from Zulu – all we needed was Ivor Emmanuel to come along then platform singing ‘Men of Harlech’.” 

‘The silly old goose is p****d again’

Bill can now chuckle at the memory. He positively roars over the time he nabbed a very prominent aristocrat, though his lips are sealed over the VIP prisoner’s identity. 

The pair clashed in 1972 shortly after a late train from Glasgow arrived at New Street. “This very well dressed man came over and said, ‘get my ****ing car, officer’. He gave me the keys and told me it was parked in the multi-storey. I told him he was in no state to drive. 

“He was effing and blinding, but not your usual drunk. He got my helmet off, became increasingly agitated and, with a large crowd watching, I arrested him and took him to Digbeth. In his jacket was a business card that said ‘Sir so-and-so’. I showed it to the sergeant and he remarked, ‘he’s a conman, CID will be interested’. 

“But in his suitcase was a picture of this man with a very prominent member of the Royal Family. We went white – he was in custody with the rest of the drunks.” Bill rang the individual’s wife and found she was remarkably unmoved. In clipped tones, she snapped: “The silly old goose is pissed again.” 

What about the mafia threat?

The Mafia threat surfaced when youths repeatedly caused trouble for a row of shops, which included an Italian restaurant. Bill’s team received an anonymous call warning that if they couldn’t sort it out, the Mafia would. 

“We had visions of large individuals carrying violin cases,” Bill laughed. “Thankfully, me and another Pc hid in the unfinished shop units and one morning caught the lads.” Thankfully, no one ended up “sleeping with the fishes”, to use a Godfather term. "Old Bill’s Tales of the Railway Old Bill” is available on Amazon.