It seemed an eternity before Inspector Dan Price emerged and leaving the door open said “You can go in now, when you have finished come back and see me.”
Claude entered and saw two men seated, they were in civilian clothes, as far he could now recall they didn’t identify themselves but he was later to know they were in fact Chief Constable Halford and his Assistant Emery.
The questions asked those many years ago were now vague, “Why did he want to be a Police officer?” he recalled was one.
“To provide a public service,” was his reply, no mention of getting away from the colliery.
The interview lasted about fifteen minutes after which both men conferred, Mr Halford then smiled and said, “Yes, subject to passing the medical examination you are accepted into the Copton Constabulary.”
Having left the office, into which he would later make one final visit he made his way back to the training office and Inspector Price.
“I want you to go into town see Doctor Wales, he will give you a medical, after that go to the infirmary for an X-ray, the cadet (no name given) will come with you, after that report back here, ok off you go.”
Claude turned saw the waiting cadet who was displaying his name badge, Cadet Banks. Claude recalled the journey through the town finally arriving at a number of buildings all ancient with a cobbled yard. Arriving inside, there was a lady behind a counter who instantly said, “You the budding policeman are you? Follow me, doctor is expecting you.”
Claude did as he was asked and within moments was standing waiting for the doctor to finish writing his notes. Claude noted he was a well-built man, sporting a moustache and smoking a cigar. When he stood he was very tall and appeared to Claude to be an ex military man.
“Please strip to your pants,” he said.
Claude did as he was asked. The examination with cigar in hand, was short, stethoscope on back and chest breath in and out, cough, touch your toes. Finally a hand placed inside the pants and he was told, “Turn to the left, cough twice.”
This concluded and fully dressed the final test. “Stand to attention, read the letters on the card on the wall over there.”
Finally each eye covered in turn, read the smallest letters you can on the card.
“Right young man, will you now go for an X-ray, then come back and see me.”
Claude and Cadet Banks left the surgery for the next destination, the infirmary.
It was packed, seemingly hundreds of people moving to and fro, medical staff with folders and cases, trolleys moving in and out, swing doors opening and closing. I will be her for a week Claude thought.
The eventually negotiated the crowds and other obstacles over and arriving in the department signed clearly as “X-ray.”
Both the police arrivals were seated, a nurse arrived took the note from Claude given to him by Doctor Wales and disappeared.
Whilst waiting Claude asked his chaperon what duties he did as a cadet, Claude having hoped to have been one some years before.
“A Cadets duties,” said Banks “Well, we help around the office, make tea, also visit the departments at the Headquarters doing any job they want doing. We also visit the hospital here helping, sort of a community service, that’s about it, oh except for some drill in the yard at Headquarters.”
“Do you carry out any police duties?” asked Claude.
“No,” was the reply at which moment the nurse called “Mr Friendly please come through.”
Once inside he was told to remove his top clothing stand against what appeared to be a flat metal plate. The staff disappeared as they did so, calling to him "stand still."
Moments later it was over, save for a further wait for half an hour then after being handed a folder the nurse said “Take this and give it to Doctor Wales.”
Arriving back the surgery it was a short visit, the doctor opened the package checked the contents and a letter. He then completed a form commenced on the first visit and announced the magic words as far as Claude was concerned “You’re fit.”
Claude and Cadet Banks arrived back outside the training office, a knock on the door and a call “Cadet Banks Sir.”
“Come in Banks,” Claude remained outside whilst the cadet entered but soon emerged and said to Claude “Follow me.”
The two then made what Claude recalled was a mystery tour along passages and down stairs, it seemed never ending.
They eventually arrived in an aged room with a beamed ceiling; there was a mass of police uniform. A tall slim man in a brown overall coat appeared, he had snow-white hair. He looked Claude up and down, turned and reached for a tunic and trousers, saying “Try these on, they look as if they will fit, go in there” pointing to a door at the far end of the room.
Claude went as directed tried on the uniform and was pleased the items did fit, he took them off dressed and returned to the waiting man, confirming his skills in viewing up recruits and their uniform sizes was spot on.
The correct size confirmed the “Stores man” turned and commenced to bring a host of clothing piling the same on a long wooden counter for use of a phrase. Once completed he produced a form and read it, a long list of equipment and clothing.
Two winter tunics.
Four pairs winter trousers.
Two summer tunics.
Four pairs summer trousers.
Four shirts, blue.
Eight loose collars.
1 Cape.
4 Epaulettes.
Miscellaneous numbers but only the 3 and 7.
1 Helmet with day badge.
1 Helmet with night badge.
1 Great coat. (heavy overcoat)
1 light raincoat.
1 long heavy storm coat.
1 staff (truncheon)
1 set of handcuffs
1 pair black leather gloves.
1 pair of white cotton gloves.
1 notebook.
Looking at the numbers he thought “mother will soon have those put on for me, strange he thought, he had only noticed the number three and seven.
Once issued, Claude was told abruptly, “Sign here, if you can’t write your name put X.”
The ordeal finalised the items were bagged up and they together with Claude were unceremoniously shown the door.
Arriving back at the training office, Claude was called.
“Come in here will you.”
He entered, sat down and without delay was shown a form it contained various information some of the points Claude still recalled vividly though not necessarily in the correct order as set out.
1. You will devout the whole of your time to the Police service. (Claude was soon to learn the powers to be meant exactly that)
2. You will at all times attend to any matter that. requires the attention of the office of Constable.
3. You will report all matters that come within your purview to your senior officers.
4. You will serve and carry out such duties and reside at such a place as the Chief Constable determines.
5. You will not have any other occupation.
6. You will not enter licensed premises whilst on duty except in the execution of your duties.
7. You will do nothing, which brings your office into disrepute.
8. You will comply with all Police Regulations.
9. You will not accept any gratuity.
Claude signed the form with little if any thought as to the consequences, he would eventually soon be made aware how important the document he had signed would prove to be.
The additional regulations specified that, in addition to salary officers are provided with a free house, the Police authority would pay for other housing items including Council rates, decorating internally and externally or a rent allowance in lieu and subsequent removal expenses. A torch allowance was payable for torch and batteries, a boot allowance was payable, black boots will be worn.
There was one final and most important task that day, swearing the oath of constable, normally done at the magistrate’s court before
the Justices of the Peace.
Claude avoided this when on being taken to an office he was introduced to a man seated at a table, as being a Magistrate, the other, a senior officer who had just transferred to the Copton Constabulary. To avoid such a high ranking officer having to undergo the reading of the oath in public a magistrate had agreed to visit the Headquarters to perform the swearing in ceremony. The oath was the same irrespective of rank
As Claude was there albeit an also ran, he was sworn in there and then, bible in hand.
Standing before the magistrate Claude’s turn came to swear the
"I, Claude Friendly of Copton Constabulary do solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that I will well and truly serve the Queen in the office of constable, with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality and that I will, to the best of my power, cause the peace to be kept and preserved and prevent all offences against people and property; and that while I continue to hold the said office I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law."
A new item was now including after the words, “impartially” and “Upholding fundamental human rights and according equal respect to all people.”
He was then issued with his warrant card or badge of office. He noted for the first time why he had been allocated the specific numbers it was because he was number “377,” This number was later referred to as a collar number from the old days when uniformed officers tunics had raised collars with their number endorsed thereon.
Having completed the formalities Claude was instructed that he was a police officer but being untrained would not be permitted to do anything he was not to wear his uniform in public.
In addition until his training course had been completed he was to report to Copton Police Headquarters daily to undertake duties there. He would work in uniform and travel daily by train but when in public wear a civilian coat over his uniform.
He struggled homeward massed with bags of uniform and on arrival recalled unpacking it all and then proudly hanging the same around the walls in the spare bedroom. How pleased and proud his parents were that they had a son who was a policeman not a coal miner.
Several days later he left home, as he was to do for several weeks, working at the police headquarters. His duties consisted of picking up paper in the grounds, making tea, carrying files from one office to another.
When no such duties were required he spent his time gossiping around the offices.
A favourite place to hide was the control or information room the hub of activity. A uniform constable and a civilian operator staffed it. There was two staff on duty each shift around the clock plus two on rest days. The police officers were all male and the civilian’s female. Claude found it exciting hearing all the messages coming in especially the “999” calls which were on a loud speaker, a chase or arrests were especially exciting to a young officer, fresh from civilian life.
As always in life, there are incidents and memories one carries away from any situation.
It was frowned on for officers not on duty in there to be found in the information room. One day Claude was chatting with the lady operator with whom he got on well. Suddenly a senior officer walked past the window, Claude recognised him as the local Sergeant from years ago, the one who whilst not employed, had been breaking Police Regulations frequently serving customers in a local shop whilst in uniform. It appeared not to have done him any harm for he was now promoted.
“Quick,” said “the lady operator hide in the records office through that door.”
Claude rose at speed and bolted into the room but could see into the control room. The senior officer arrived, he read through the log sheets then whilst behind the now standing operator began to fondle her breasts. After some moments he left apparently unaware Claude had witnessed the incident.
Claude emerged from the records office and was quietly advised by the lady “If you happened to see anything, better not to say anything, you may get into trouble.”
Claude being the new boy and a nobody, he revealed nothing of this incident. He did wonder from how many times he was later asked to pick up paper and clear out drains if the senior officer ever knew, in any event thought Claude it is now RIP for him.
On another occasion he wondered if he was actually working at the Police Headquarters.
One day carrying a tray of cups up the main stairs he was nearly at the top when one of the doors of the Chief Officers opened, simultaneously there were loud voices, a man in civilian clothes had a uniformed senior officer by his tie and collar, shouting, “Get out and don’t come back you bastard.”
Pushing or rather shoving him away.
Claude was seen on the stairs, the uniformed officer sped off presumably to his office shouting and pointing at Claude, “You saw that.”
Claude heard no more of the matter.
After about two weeks Claude was called into the training office and Inspector Dan Price informed him he was to attend the District Police Training centre the following week on his thirteen weeks initial training course.
The old mans eyes began to haze and the words on his computer blurred, he looked up at the clock if was 5pm he had typed for just about three hours, time to stop.
Having closed down his machine, he sat for a while, the weather sounded just as wild, no matter, he rose had a shower, dressed and on hearing the closing of doors outside assumed his neighbours were going down for dinner, he left to join them.
Chapter 11
Dinner completed the diners left for the lounges; the wind outside could clearly be heard.
“I say Claude,” said Miss Prim, “I have read the portion of your book you gave me some time ago, there are several typing mistakes, I will let you have it back for amending.”
“Great,” replied Claude “I will take it this evening and get to it tomorrow, what did you think of the book?”
“Interesting I must say, yes interesting, I look forward to the next chapters, put it that way.”
The lounge began to empty around 9pm and so the folks from the third floor also made their way to the solace of their own rooms.
Arriving Angelina said, “Hang on Claude I will find your book.”
She had gone in a flash but returned smiling, handing him the book, which he took, said thank you, turned and closed his room door.
The following morning, he did not feel like typing nor did he for several days then one mid morning the inspiration finally arrived back. He opened his machine, soon amended the few pages he had done and then printed out those which required it.
“Ah,” he thought, “I might as well do those I have already done and so printed out chapter two and onwards.”
The amending and printing done he now chose to sit and contemplate.
It was later that afternoon, the weather still atrocious when he recommenced his story; yes he mumbled looking at the last page, the training course.
It was a Sunday, no public transport so Copton Police Headquarters arranged for a police patrol car to give him a lift from Hafod to Copton and onwards by a service bus to the District Police Centre.
All the required police uniform and accessories packed plus his civilian clothes he waited anxiously for the black Austin Westminster car with its police sign and blue lamp on the top to arrive.
He recalled vividly the parting messages of his parents that day.
His father had said, “Well son do your best if you fail all you can look forward to is a life down Copton pit, this is your chance, try, do your best.”
His mother looked at him and said “I will tell you of an old saying told to me many years ago it was true then and is true to day.”
“What’s in your mind let no-one know
Or to a friend some favour show
For if your friend becomes you foe
Then all the world, will your secrets know.”
The Police car arrived on time and in half an hour Claude was seated on a bus with four
other recruits heading into the unknown of a Police District Training Centre, what lay ahead Claude had not the faintest idea, he would however be fully briefed, soon after his arrival.
Since that day Claude had often recalled the advice given to him by his mother, if only he always thought and often said, even now in old age had he been able to keep to that advice how much simpler and easier would his life have been. There was no laughing at that moment thought Claude not a sign of it more like dread of what more might follow.
The journey took over two hours finally arriving in a village previously unknown to Claude, Ridley, according to the sign on the outskirts which invitingly read “Welcome to Ridley,” with the words the real home of William Shakespeare written underneath.
The village was attractive, several stone dwellings with the pleasantly situated black and white houses with thatched roves.
The scene soon changed as they left the village for on the left hand side of the road was a vast expanse of familiar looking buildings.
Claude arrives at the Police Training Centre
They had all the appearance of the old prisoner of war camp back at his home in Hafod. Single story, the building sides lined with small square windows a door at the each end. There was a large building at the front with a tarmac wide-open space on the approach, this building fitted in well with the remaining dismal looking places.
The bus stopped, the driver called “Police Training Centre.”
Claude and his compatriots stood and by the number of suit cases that were struggling with, Claude was certain all else on board would be pleased to see the back of them.
Once they were all standing outside, the driver looked, put his fore finger across his throat and called, “Good Luck” and he was gone.
As he departed he gave the “Da did he Da Da, Da Da” sound with the vehicle horn. Causing Claude to wonder what he may have possibly have been thinking to get himself into this situation.
Police Memories Page 14
