Reg Cranfield was a police constable. On 23 November 1963, he made his rounds on Totter's Lane, complaining about the fog and the cold, when he heard a voice calling out his name. He shone his light on the fog to reveal the face of his recently-deceased father (which was actually the Shroud). The Shroud, still masquerading as Reg's father, convinced him that it was Reg's fault that he passed away, and that he felt betrayed by him leaving, causing him to go mad with grief. (PROSE: Shroud of Sorrow)
Behind the scenes
Reg's name, the setting, and the setting's description are all a reference to An Unearthly Child, the first televised episode of Doctor Who, which opens with Reg Cranfield, playing a policeman, making his rounds through Totter's Lane on a foggy night.