The three men gaze into the camera, and behind them is what looks like a recreation ground or school field. The two on the left of the photograph stand as if to attention, but the chap on the right looks more relaxed – he has his hands on his hips and a slight smile on his face. Ian Cooper’s mother had always told him that the man in the middle was her “Grandpa, Nathaniel Allen, with two other policemen”, but when a newspaper story surfaced about the 100th birthday of one of Nathaniel’s daughters, its contents prompted Ian to start investigating his great grandfather in depth. He has uncovered links to notable events in Liverpool’s history, including a notorious murder trial. And there’s even a Jack the Ripper connection.
“I had known Grandpa Allen was a policeman for as long as I can remember. I still have his whistle,”
