An article in the Selby Times in 1933 reported that Hambleton and its inhabitants are proud of the fact that they possess many veterans between the ages of 70 and 85 years, and especially of the fact that they have living in their midst the oldest police pensioner in the West riding in the person of Mr Samuel Thwaites. Mr Thwaites is 82 years of age, and has been retired on pension since June,1903. He joined the police force at Barnby Dun, in the Doncaster Division, in 1875, and after being stationed there for three years his wife died, and Mr. Thwaites left the force, but he married again and re-joined the force in 1878, and was posted to Selby Division and stationed at Wistow. In 1882, Mr Thwaites was transferred to Selby, and took up duty as orderly in turn to the superintendents Boshier, Stott and Burkitt. Superintendent Burkitt was transferred to Goole, and Mr Thwaites accompanied him as orderly until he retired in 1903, and with his wife, who is 78 years of age has since resided in Hambleton. Mr Thwaites was a real sportsman and never missed a hunt meet in Hambleton and attended all the local football matches, dances, concerts and boxing matches. Following his death on 19th October, 1934 aged 83 he was interned in Hambleton Cemetery. The chief mourners included his sons Mr & Mrs J. Thwaites, Mr & Mrs W Thwaites, Mr W. Thwaites, Mr A Thwaites; Miss E. Thwaites, Miss A Thwaites, Mr F. Thwaites, Miss E. E. Thwaites and Mr G. Thwaites.