Police dog unit names new pup Primrose after caring hospice - The Redditch Standard

Police dog unit names new pup Primrose after caring hospice

Redditch Editorial 25th Jun, 2021   0

A NEW recruit to West Midlands Police’s latest puppy litter has been named after the Primrose Hospice, writes Sarah Mason.

Heroes in the fight against Motor Neurone Disease (MND) were the inspiration behind the names of the new- born pooches.

The 11-strong litter of Springer Spaniels, who were born at the Balsall Common West Midlands Police dog training unit, were named with MND Heroes to mark Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Day on June 21.

Among them was PD Primrose, named after the caring hospice that looks after people \cross north Worcestershire.




Another new pup was named PD Cheeky in a surprise for the force’s former Assistant Chief Constable Chris Johnson, from Finstall, whose nickname was Cheeky when he was on the force.

Father-of-two Chris was diagnosed with the terminal illness in 2018 but continued to work for almost two years before retiring.


He has carried on raising awareness and fund-raising for research into the disease.

The police said it was his initial idea to name some of our pups after MND heroes – completely unaware they were going to name one after him.

The others have been named:

PD Doddie – after former Scotland rugby union player Doddie Weir

PD Burrow – ex-Leeds Rhinos rugby league player Rob Burrow MBE

PD Darby – after former Liverpool, Notts County and Bradford City footballer Stephen Darby

PD Len – after ex-Burnley, Bury and Swansea City football player Lenny Johnrose

PD Rimmer – after former soldier Chris Rimmer who set up the MND Warriors support group

PD Moss – after Emma Moss who runs the Mummy with MND blog

PD Hawkie – after Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins who has raised awareness of MND

PD Blue – colour for MND

PD Rollo – after retired sergeant John Rollason who was nicknamed Rollo. He was diagnosed in 2018 and sadly passed away last month.

David Burrell, Primrose Hospice CEO, said: “We are incredibly honoured to have a West Midlands Police dog named after the hospice.

“A big thank you to Chris and Sharon Johnson who selected us as one of their MND heroes as a way to thank us for the hospice’s support of Chris and his family since his diagnosis.

“They have been fantastic supporters of the hospice and we are so grateful to them for acknowledging Primrose Hospice in such a special way.

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