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HM Customs & Excise at Swansea Docks |
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Probably
the least loved members of the dock fraternity were the staff
of HM Customs and Excise who occupied premises at the Pier
Head, Kings Dock, Swansea. Prior to 1975 the building was
solely occupied by the uniformed members of the service (Waterguard).
However, diminishing and changing trade patterns and the UK’s
entry into the European Union coupled with departmental
re-organisation brought about the demise of other local
offices and the transfer of their functions to the Pier Head
Office at Swansea. Over the years, offices that closed
included Burry Port Harbour; Llanelli North Dock; Custom
House, Station Road, Llanelli; Swansea West Pier; Swansea
Custom House, Cambrian Place; Landing & Shipping Office
(opposite ‘B' shed Kings Dock);
Custom House, Eagle Street, Port Talbot, and the Waterguard
Office, Pier Head, Port Talbot.
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Staff
undertook a variety of tasks, both physical and documentary;
their primary functions being the collection and protection of
revenue and the control of the import and export of prohibited
and restricted goods. Their area of responsibility stretched
from Carmarthen Quay to Nash Point, including Swansea Airport,
together with inland excise control. From time to time
officers were required to serve in
other locations throughout the United Kingdom.
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In
addition, agency work was undertaken on behalf of other
government departments and public bodies, e.g: Registry of
British ships and fishing vessels; Receiver of Wreck;
collection of light dues for Trinity House; collection of
statistics for balance of trade
purposes; CAP (common agricultural policy) monetary
payments and refunds relating to the import and export of
foodstuffs; issue of 'Pratique’
(Public Health Ships Regulations), and the issue of writs on
behalf of the Admiralty Marshall.
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In 2005 HM
Customs & Excise amalgamated with the Inland Revenue to form
HM Revenue & Customs and, although the newly formed department
adopted the revenue aspects of the work carried out at the
dock, other functions were transferred to the Border Agency,
SOCA (Serious & Organised Crime Agency) and MCA (Maritime &
Coastguard Agency).
The Pier Head Office of HM Customs & Excise finally closed its
doors in February 2010
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The above
article and the photos below were kindly provided by former HM
Customs & Excise Officer Peter Hopkins |
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Victorian
Grades & date unknown |
Edwardian
Grades & Date unknown |
APO / CPO pre 1953
Laurel leaves & crown in gold wire |
APO / CPO post 1953
Laurel leaves & crown in gold wire |
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APO / CPO post 1953
Economy badge in cheap metal |
APO / CPO circa 1965
Laurel leaves & crown in gold wire |
APOs-Rummage Crew circa 1967
Embroidered laurel leaves & crown |
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HM Customs & Excise
Office, Pierhead Swansea. The ship entering the lock is the Royal
Yacht ‘Britannia’
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Waterguard Staff
outside the Pierhead Office in 1959. Left to right standing:- Trevor
Jenkins, Alan Douglas,
Eric Davies and Haydn Edwards. In front are (left) Dick Bartlett and
(right) Peter Hopkins
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Waterguard Officers
Ben Howell (left) and Jim Williamson (right) at Kings Dock Lock in
1959.
The ship in the lock is the Federal Steam Navigation Company’s m/t
‘Lincoln’
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HM Customs & Excise Dinner Dance
at the Mackworth
Hotel, Swansea, on the 24th
November 1961
Back row, left to
right:- Graham Enoch, Paul Whitmore, Unknown, Frank Davies,
Rev. Jasper (Missions to Seamen), Roley Bickley, Alec Miller
(Burgess & Co.), Bill Sutton and George Morrison.
Front row, left to right:- Dick Jones, R S Hayes (Fultons
wine merchants), A W Rolfe and George Shaddick (Burgess &
Co.)
Unfortunately the ladies cannot be identified
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Les Jones on his wedding day at St. Thomas church c. 1972 – a
group of colleagues get him to the church on time
Pictured left to right are:- Fred Bewen, Bryn Jones, Les Jones,
Mike Luxton, Frank Davies and Len Scales
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The above photograph was taken at the Custom House during the mid 1980's
left to right:- Yvonne Jenkins, Nicola Matthews, Pauline Bruce,
Cheryl Cart, Joanne Gwynne, Kim Landry and Elaine Farrer.
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9th
September 2003 - The last members of Swansea
Anti-Smuggling Team and honoured ex-members |
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Back row from left :
Dorian Elias, Simon Williams, Ron Woodland, Stuart Delfosse,
Graham Reynolds, Kelvin Jones
Front
row from left : Stuart Fenton, Phil Thorne, Kim Fenton (nee
Landry), Sarah Plumb, Les Jones, Huw Walters
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This
particular trophy was given to Mike Luxton who
was the first Customs Officer in Swansea to board the
MV Connacht on her maiden voyage to Swansea.
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The
caricature was given to us by Maureen Luxton, one of our ex
colleagues, it depicts her late husband Mike in a relaxing posture |
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