A former police officer "put his pen where his mouth is" to reveal his time with the Met.

Malvern resident John Tinnion’s new book, A Policeman’s Lot, recalls his time spent with the Metropolitan Police.

Having heard tales from his firefighter father, world-travelling son, and rugby star daughter, Mr Tinnion realised none of it had ever been written down and didn’t want his time with the Met to be forgotten.

“It was as if someone flicked me behind the ear to get my attention… ‘What about you pal, why don’t you put your pen where your mouth is?’

“I thought of some of the events during my 30 years in the police force and within a few minutes I’d written three sides of A4 and the rest, as they say, is history.

“The Policeman’s Lot is bound for Turner stardom.”

Malvern Gazette: John Tinnion at the launch event of his new book, A Policeman's LotJohn Tinnion at the launch event of his new book, A Policeman's Lot (Image: John Tinnion)

Mr Tinnion joined the Met Police in 1967.

A Policeman’s Lot tells the story of his early days with the force, which he spent zooming around southeast London on motorcycles and in police response cars as a traffic division officer.

Trying to pick a standout memory, he said: “I might as well try to choose my favourite star in the sky."

Mr Tinnion continued, reflecting on one of his more embarrassing memories.

It was around 2.30am when he a message came through his radio to say that his police station’s C.I.D. car was chasing a Ford Escort through the flats off East Street.

Being just a few blocks away, Mr Tinnion made his way to the scene to lend a hand.

“Out of the gloom, I saw a tall male heading straight for me at full pelt.

“I shouted ‘stop’ but he was quite obviously not going to obey me so, sidestepping to the left to give me a better swing at his solar plexus, I delivered the mother of all haymakers. Muhammad Ali would have been proud of me.

“The snag was, milliseconds before the stroke landed I heard a little voice shout ‘no, I’m C.I’ - too late.

“Connection was made, and he went down like a sack of potatoes! Wrong bloke - one of the good guys!

“Not my finest hour."

Mr Tinnion married his wife Angie in 1974 and together they have two children and five grandchildren.

Since retiring from the police in 1997, Mr Tinnion has completed charity in countries such as Thailand, India, Croatia and Uganda and now does some part-time warden work at the Beauchamp Community.

He celebrated the release of A Policeman’s Lot with a launch event at the Beauchamp Boardroom on December 7.