OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
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WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

Police Chief Superintendent JOHN PHILIP WILLIAM HINGSTON (1893-1976)

John Philip William Hingston was born on September 6th 1893 to Mr John Philip William Hingston, a seaman, and his wife, the former Miss Mary Patterson.  They had been married at the Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity and Saint Saviour on April 10th 1892.

The family quickly grew and by the time of the census in 1911 John, who was then a dock labourer, had five sisters and one brother: Ethel Grace Hingston, born 1897, who was a domestic servant for another family; George James Hingston, born 1901, scholar; Dorothy May Hingston, born 1903; Elsie May Hingston, born 1906; Edith Mary Hingston, born 1909; and Beatrice Sybil Hingston, born 1911.

On September 4th 1914 he joined the 5th Prince of Wales Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment.  His former occupation was quoted as "Railway Porter" with the Great Western Railway Company  He was transferred to the Royal Engineers as a Sapper in the Wessex Division and served in India and Mesopotamia.  He was demobbed on May 6th 1919, following which he joined the Plymouth Borough Police Force as a Police Constable.  At the time of the census on June 19th 1921 he was living at home with his parents at number 79 Cotehele Avenue, Prince Rock, Plymouth, with three of his sisters, 17-years-old Miss Dorothy May Hingston, a shop assistant in the fancy goods department of the Plymouth Co-operative Society; 12-years-old Miss Edith Mary Hingston; and 10-years-old Miss Beatrice Sybil Hingston.

Police Constable John Philip William Hingston, of 79 Cotehele Avenue, married Miss Elsie Grace Ellen Jenkins, of 68 Cotehele Avenue, on November 19th 1921 at the Anglican Church of Saint John the Evangelist at Sutton-on-Plym, Plymouth.

By 1939 John Philip William Hingston had risen to be Chief Inspector Hingston and was living in the Superintendent's Quarters at Greenbank Police Station with his wife and son.

After completing 22 years service, and being promoted to Superintendent, he was created a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) on September 19th 1941, the citation reading: 'Throughout the air raids on Plymouth, Superintendent Hingston, by splendid co-ordination of effort, resourcefulness, and organization ability, has maintained effective control of the most important and serious incidents in his division.  He has displayed courage and cheerfulness in circumstances involving considerable personal risk, sharing to the full the discomforts of the men under his control.

By 1943 Mr Hingston was Chief Superintendent and Deputy Chief Constable.  He was interviewed for the post of Chief Constable but lost out to Mr John Fawke Skittery (1907-1968).

He was honoured in the King's Birthday Honours List 1948 with the King's Police Medal.  He was presented with this by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Lord Fortescue, on Monday September 20th 1948 in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Alderman H J Perry.  It was also the day the Plymouth City Police Force was inspected by His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, Mr W C Johnson, and the Chairman of the Plymouth Watch Committee, Mr William Hamilton Jollow Priest (1895-1957).

Mrs Elsie Grace Ellen Hingston died in May 1954 and was cremated at Efford Crematorium on May 31st 1954.

Chief Superintendent John Philip William Hingston died on February 12th 1976 at his home, number 57 Beaumaris Road, Hartley, Plymouth.  He was cremated at Efford Crematorium on February 17th 1976.