Paternal great great grandfather joined the Police in 1860 to escape the ravages of the cotton famine in Lancashire. He made Inspector.

His son, my great grandfather, also joined the police but was fired for drinking on duty. He somehow managed to re-enlist, but was again sacked for drunkenness. So THAT's where it came from!

His son, my grandfather (a teetotaller) also joined the police. His career was interrupted by WWI during which he was gassed by the Germans. He survived but was rendered almost totally deaf.

His son, my uncle, also joined the police before emigrating to Oz. Four generations of policemen - is that some kind of record?