Kenneth Farrow

Kenneth Farrow GC (29 May 1924 – 30 March 2007) was an English Police officer and recipient of the Albert Medal, one of the highest medals for civilian gallantry in the United Kingdom, which was later exchanged for the George Cross.

Early life He was born in Sedgefield, County Durham, the only son of William and Christina Farrow. He was educated at Sedgefield Junior School, and attended St Michael's School, Buckingham Palace Road, after he and his family moved to London.

Citation The KING has been pleased to award the Albert Medal to Constable Kenneth Farrow in recognition of his gallantry in the following circumstances: —

On 21 June 1948, Constable Kenneth Farrow of the Cardiff City Police Force attempted to rescue a four-year-old boy from drowning in the Feeder, Pembroke Terrace, Cardiff.

The incident occurred at about 7 p.m. when Constable Farrow was on police patrol duty. He saw a number of persons running, and, on enquiry, was informed that a child had fallen into the Feeder. He at once ran to the place, divested himself of his police clothing, dived into the Feeder and swam underneath a long concrete covering for a distance of about 180 yards in search of the child.

The Feeder is an aqueduct running under concrete slabs and supplying water from the River Taff to Cardiff Docks. It was uncovered at the spot where the child fell in. The speed of the current was about six miles an hour and, whereas headroom at the end of the concrete covering is 2 feet 2 inches (where the accident occurred) it decreases till it is only six inches. The water is black with a considerable amount of mud or silt at the bottom, and it is not possible to stand up in the water with head above water level.

Although the child's body was not recovered till later, Constable Farrow greatly exhausted himself in the search and in the ordeal of making his way back against the current, with very little facility for obtaining a proper handgrip. According to witnesses, he was in the waters of the Feeder and underneath the concrete slabs for about a quarter of an hour, in pitch darkness.

Constable Farrow joined the Cardiff City Police on 7 February 1947. He was then a poor swimmer, but he obtained his Life Saving certificate and medallion a few months later. He is not yet a strong swimmer, but unhesitatingly risked his life under conditions which would have daunted even the strongest swimmer.

Constable Farrow's gallantry was commended by the Coroner and highly praised by the witnesses of his action.

London Gazette, 15 October 1948

Later life On retirement from the Police in 1972 as Sergeant, he joined the traffic management section of Glamorgan County Council.