Bryan Podmore

Bryan Podmore has been a key volunteer and trustee with TASS for many years – he explained to Nichola why his work with TASS has become so important to him…

Born in the small Welsh village of Maerdy nestled in the Rhondda Valley, Bryan had a charmed youth of freedom and carefree adventures. His father was a miner, as were most local men, and despite not having three farthings to rub together, they were happy times; safely embedded in a strong community of people who all looked out for each other, this philosophy of social responsibility has remained with Bryan throughout his life.

At 16, Bryan joined the Metropolitan Police Cadet Corps and spent three wonderful years of hard work and innocent play. Amidst the backdrop of the swinging sixties, Bryan was well placed in the heart of London to enjoy Saturday nights at the Marque Club in Soho watching the likes of the Beatles, Stones, Lulu, Kinks and The Who. His days off were spent in districts such as Carnaby Street where his eyes were opened to a cultural revolution - a far cry from his sheltered upbringing.

In 1965, aged just 19, Bryan entered the Metropolitan Police Force as a constable and was posted to Kennington Road, Waterloo. The division covered parts of London still reeling from the war and Bryan saw first-hand the devastation such deprivation can bring, with many homeless people sleeping rough. He says the support given by the church and agencies such as the Salvation Army was inspiring and he felt well placed to be able to help those who needed it most.

Bryan was selected to be part of a quick response ‘special patrol group’, one of only fifty officers specifically trained to deal with emergencies. The team was sent to Anguilla in the West Indies to calm the uprising in the 70s and Bryan spent a month working with, and helping to pacify, the demonstrators who had called for independence. 

After passing the sergeants’ exam, he was posted to Tooting where he joined Mitcham Rugby Club, having enjoyed playing all sports, but especially rugby in his youth. Alongside playing for the club he joined the coaching team and had many successful seasons with the mini and youth groups. Bryan believes that for many of the local children, this was a great introduction to teamwork, discipline and responsibility, traits which he holds dear.  Bryan then qualified as a rugby referee and travelled all over the UK officiating matches. His personal authority and sense of fairness made him well suited for the role and he eventually became a training officer for referees.

Bryan remained in the police force for 39 years, rising through the ranks and finally joining the traffic division which required an understanding of logistics and traffic management. After retiring from the police force, Bryan moved to Tavistock to be with Sylvia who was later to become his wife. It took a while to get used to the pace of rural life, but he immediately felt at home, as Tavistock very much reminded him of Wales. After 18 months Bryan decided to look for voluntary work and spoke to Peta Humphreys at Tavistock Area Support Services (TASS) and she suggested helping out with the Drop-in Club in Horrabridge - 16 years later he is still there.  In that time Bryan has become a stalwart member of TASS and up until recently was a trustee. He now manages the newly opened TASSBAR in Barley Market Street which sells donated books, art and records. TASS is a local charity which, relies very heavily on its army of dedicated volunteers to keep services running. It offers a huge range of activities and events for older and disabled people, as well as supporting other local charities and support groups. 

Bryan uses the word responsibility a lot during our conversation as he believes we should all look after each other and give back to society wherever possible. With a twinkle in his eye and a ready smile, I get the impression he made an excellent police officer, in the tradition of those fighting for justice. He now makes an excellent volunteer in the tradition of those who enjoy helping.

Nichola Williams

For more information on TASS visit www.tasstavistock.org.uk or call in at The Anchorage Centre, Chapel Street in Tavistock (01822 616958)