Looking Back By a Country Copper

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Looking Back By a Country Copper

Ron Brooksbank During the course of my service I became involved in many aspects of police work. In one incident I had to deal with a domestic situation in one of the villages. As I had attended initially, every time the quarrel erupted I responded. Hoping I had settled the matter. But I was wrong; one afternoon I found myself being interviewed by a Detective Superintendent as a complaint had been made against me, which, I had to admit, surprised me. The outcome was that I had to attend the High Court in London, an awe inspiring experience. After waiting all day to give evidence I was told by Lord Justice May that I was not required and I heard no more of the matter. As I left the court I thought I won’t be coming back. Some 12 years later as an Inspector I did return once again, this time I did make the witness stand giving evidence in a much more serious matter. More of this later.

I have made mention in a previous issue of the section being equipped with a mini van for patrol work. Experience proved it was not a very satisfactory vehicle for this section. It was additionally used for night crime patrols. My officers left me in no doubt; it was most uncomfortable and far from perfect for large policemen to spend an 8 hour tour of duty in one. The crew had to spend their break time in designated section station and ours was one, much to the annoyance of myself and my wife. The crews tended to forget it was the middle of the night, which is not the time to wake up the sergeant with peals of laughter.

Like everyone else who saw the picture recently of the telephone kiosk at the Cross wrecked reminded me of how many young policemen had their first point at the kiosk and who sheltered from the weather, particularly when they knew the sergeant was not about. My first point at the spot was a February evening in 1951 while PC ‘Dick’ Barton’ was showing me round the area.

Recently I pulled up outside the old post office and thought of my earlier days as the sergeant. Every day I walked up to the post office to post correspondence to headquarters. I recall the the heavily built postmaster Mr Gordon Child and in later years his son Robert, whose wife Celia was in charge of the confectionery etc. Getting back into the car I glanced at the new houses next door to the post office and recalled Mr Stockbridges shop which had occupied the site. Occasionally I see Mrs Freda Kefford, the manageress, aided in those days by the late Mrs ‘Bet’ Cooper and the other staff member, known as ‘Tops’.

In the autumn of 1968 we received our first ‘Panda’. It was a brand new vehicle painted pale blue/white and had the word POLICE on the side, but most importantly it had a blue light on the roof. At first it was like a new toy and everyone wanted to go out in ‘Bravo 26’. Eventually there were 3 such vehicles based on the section. Only regular officers drove these vehicles and time to time they had to be ferried between the stations . Due to the first class cooperation between us all the vehicles were always where they should be.

Since my arrival on the section there had been at least 10 changes in personnel. The central house at the section station had about five changes and Steeple Morden had about four. Moving was a part of the country officers life and we just got on with it.

On several occasions the section was inspected by HM Inspectors of Constabulary, when all officers were paraded at the police station. Questions were asked by the senior police who wanted to know what each officer did and details of any cases of interest. On one inspection my living quarters were examined in my wife’s presence. On reaching the bedroom of my youngest son he was rather surprised to find a large notice bearing the words ‘Keep Out’. Rather surprisingly he obeyed these instructions.