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Veteran Kent Police dog handler Mick Bingham who ran the force’s kennels at Stockbury has died aged 86

By: John Nurden jnurden@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 17:01, 10 May 2023

Veteran police dog handler Mick Bingham who ran the force’s kennels at Stockbury until he retired in 2001 has died. He was 86.

Former colleagues formed a guard of honour at his funeral at the Garden of England Cemetery at Bobbing near Sittingbourne, on Tuesday, May 2.

Veteran police dog handler Mick Bingham has died aged 86 after contracting pneumonia. Picture: Roger Vaughan

Mr Bingham, a former Royal Navy radar technician, joined Kent Police in 1963.

After serving as a beat constable at Sevenoaks he joined the force’s motorcycle patrol and then became a detective.

But in January 1970 his life changed when he was selected to join the dog section.

Mick Bingham and his dogs. Picture: Roger Vaughan

Two years later, he was put in charge of the kennels at Stockbury, off the A249, and helped train Sandy, a Labrador, to seek out drugs.

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In 1974 he began training Kent’s first explosives search dog Dina, a German Shepherd, along with Army bomb disposal experts and scientists from the Woolwich Arsenal.

A Guard of Honour from the Kent Police Dog Unit and members of the Royal Navy Ass for Mick Bingham's Funeral. Picture: Roger Vaughan

Mr Bingham retired from the force in 1992 but was allowed to stay on as kennel manager until December 2001 when he turned 65.

His friend Roger Vaughan, a former Kent Messenger photographer, said: “Mick later went on to form and become president of the Stockbury Dog Club which still helps train pets every Sunday morning.

“He was a special guy and very well respected as was illustrated by the huge turn-out at his funeral.”

RBI Standard Beaters escort Mick Bingham's cortege on arrival at the Garden of England Crematorium, Bobbing. Picture: Roger Vaughan

Two police dogs formed part of the guard of honour. The coffin was draped in a union flag.

Mr Bingham was born in Brasted Chart on December 15, 1936.

He once wrote: “Life almost ended shortly after because I caught double-pneumonia. I was christened immediately in our kitchen as there was a suspicion I might not survive.

“Happily for me, the christening worked its magic.”

A Guard of Honour from the Kent Police Dog Unit and members of the Royal Navy Ass for Mick Bingham's Funeral on arrival at the Garden of England Crematorium, in Bobbing. Picture: Roger Vaughan

He won a scholarship to Sir Andrew Judd Grammar School in Tonbridge but had to leave because of a severe case of hay fever.

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After a brief stint as an apprentice carpenter he signed up to the Royal Navy between 1953 and 1963, serving on a number of ships including frigates and minesweepers.

Mick Bingham ran the Kent Force’s kennels at Stockbury until he retired in 2001. Picture: Roger Vaughan

He was stationed at Cyprus and HMS Pembroke in Chatham.

He died after contracting pneumonia and leaves a widow, Brenda.

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