A wonderful donation to the collection by his great-grand daughter - this inscribed tea set, presented to Sergeant Phillips of the Glamorgan Constabulary back in 1914.

The next part of the story will be bringing the set back to its gleaming silver shine, as well as cleaning and treating the wood tray - getting it all looking as close as possible to the way it would have looked when presented some 110 years ago.

The inscription reads:-

'PRESENTED TO EX- SERGT & MRS. PHILLIPS BY THE INHABITANTS OF ABERKENFIG & DISTRICT AS A TOKEN OF RESPECT UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE GLAMORGAN POLICE FORCE AFTER 25 YEARS SERVICE. JUNE 19th 1914'.

From what I understand, Sergeant Phillips passed away not long after the presentation. He had contracted pneumonia from which he never recovered. The illness seems to have come about following a fall into either the river or dock at Port Talbot.

I hope that research on the incident may be discovered.

*THE ROSS MATHER POLICE MEMORABILIA OF WALES COLLECTION.