Sir (Thomas) Eric St Johnston
(1911-1986), ColonelSitter in 6 portraits
by Elliott & Fry
half-plate glass negative, 1950
NPG x99757
by Bassano & Vandyk Studios
half-plate film negative, 23 April 1969
NPG x174545
by Bassano & Vandyk Studios
half-plate film negative, 23 April 1969
NPG x174547
by Bassano & Vandyk Studios
half-plate film negative, 23 April 1969
NPG x174548
by Bassano & Vandyk Studios
half-plate film negative, 23 April 1969
NPG x174546
by Bassano & Vandyk Studios
half-plate film negative, 23 April 1969
NPG x174549
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Barry Walsh
06 May 2020, 16:24
FAO Paul West
The Queensland Police Museum https://www.police.qld.gov.au/policemuseum have a photo of Sir Thomas with their Commissioner, Francis Bischof. For more info please email.
Paul West QPM
08 March 2019, 06:57
I am currently researching the life of Sir Eric St Johnston on behalf of both Bromsgrove School and the British Police Service. (Thomas) Eric was Head Boy at Bromsgrove School and, much later in life, was appointed to the prestigious honorary role of School President. He was arguably the most visionary police leader of the 1960s and is credited with a number of significant innovations that transformed British policing, including being the 'father' of the panda car. He had a hugely successful policing career, serving as Chief Constable in three different police forces - Oxfordshire, Durham and Lancashire - before moving on to become Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary. He holds the record as Britain's youngest ever Chief Constable (Oxfordshire, aged 29) - an achievement that will never be bettered. My aim is to create a commemorative installation about Sir Eric's life and professional achievements in Bromsgrove School's new Heritage Centre (being established in 2020) and to establish a central archive of information relating to this outstanding public servant, for whom there is currently no such record. I would be delighted to make contact with any of his descendents or members of the wider St Johnston/Wilkinson families who may possibly have documents, artefacts or personal memories to contribute to this project.
marie-rose wilkinson
13 December 2015, 05:53
The Johnstones were a fierce border clan from Annandale in Scotland. From what I gather they fought for King James and were given land. The name was sometimes spelt with an "e". There had not been a clan chief for a long, long time. It was decided to choose a chief around the 1870/80's. Thomas George Johnston (the grandfather of Sir Eric) was in line for clan chief, but the Scottish branch won the title, this caused a rift in the clan and the Scottish family changed name to Hope-Johnston, the English family to Saint Johnston. there were numbers of the Hope-Johnstones migrated to South Africa. i believe there are many families still there and according to my grandmother (Edith St. Johnston) were either barristers or judges. I myself cannot remember seeing Eric, but his parents visited my grandmother regularly. They lived in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
marie-rose wilkinson
13 December 2015, 05:29
He was my fathers cousin. My grandmother was Edith Marie Saint Johnston she came from a large family who lived in Kings Heath, then in Worcestershire. His father was Thomas Gerald who took over the family wines & spirits business. Eric St. Johnston's mother was Ethel Riley. There was a Thomas St. Johnston whisky but they sold out to Grants of St. James. Ann Haydon Jones the tennis player was also of St. Johnston origin. My grandmother married William Wilkinson of Wilkinson (Shustoke) Ltd. an electro plater, the family of Thomas Wilkinson of the Pelican Works fame.
Denis Lenihan
04 November 2020, 15:51
Dear Paul West
Here is an obscure reference for you at the Archives: CAB 201/301 re the appointment of Furnival Jones as head of MI5 to succeed Hollis. St Johnston's name came up - perhaps proposed by Harold Wilson, who wanted an outsider - but was withdrawn following a devastating minute from Sir Charles Cunningham the PUS at the Home Office. St Johnston's prior and subsequent appointments give cause for concern about Cunningham's judgment.