Like me, you have run the gamut of uniform and CID, Special Branch and DPS, just 15 years apart. With very minor differences, 'Refs 'could have been written about my own experiences! Like society in general, I think the Met stayed broadly the same from post WWII to the millennium. After M2K, Britain in genera,l and the Met in particular, had too many twat's in charge who were there for all the wrong reasons. 'Refs' beautifully encapsulates everything that was enjoyable about being a Met copper,, before the bastards fined it.
I think that timespan you reference is spot-on. I know we all like to identify 'that moment' but for argument's sake I think the period 2000-2005 (and the ascent of Blair - both of them) is a good candidate.
Very funny and spot on Dominic re the Refs. I also remember you weren’t allowed to sit on the area car drivers table in the canteen even if you were his operator for your weekly shift and how funny / frustrating was it when a shout came in whilst tucking into your 999 breakfast. All the team legged it out and then returned to find one of the lovely ladies in the canteen had kept em warm with your name on your half eaten brekkie.
Quality days.. sadly the job has gone to rat shit now and having been retired a year, it was the right time I think we would all agree.
This was just as I remember it. Thanks for reminding me of some good moments. I still miss that cop humour - and the journey to Croydon for a Thursday curry.
Good luck, take it for what it is. Although there's nothing to stop you fostering an old-school spirit. It simply means trying to establish a group connection. Socialise with your colleagues. Have a laugh. Look after each other. Just, for the sake of fuck, ALWAYS buy takeaway from places where you can see them making it!
Great read, as usual. Took me back to The Papermakers arms in Ilford which was the annexe to the CID office. There was talk of having a CRIS machine fitted in there. Shoulder numbers on styrofoam cups, i’d forgotten about that🤣
Even though I’ve been retired for twenty years that brought back many memories. I was lucky enough to serve in Bristol for most of my career. It had many ethnic restaurants that tickled my tastebuds, including the hybrid Chinese chippies where Task Force vans queued on nights for sustenance. The rest of my time was spent on various secondments to London, put two stone on in a matter of months living on free food in the tower blocks at Hendon and a section house in Finchley.
Many trips to NSY including the Tank, the bar in the basement (eventually, horror of horrors, converted to a gym). It still bore the bullet scars on a pillar where some horseplay went wrong.
Bristol and the county outside all had station bars for most of my service for celebrations, commiserations and winding down after a shift. Great for camaraderie and morale, I believe now sadly reduced. The stories will have to stay there, but do you know how many beermats can be stacked in someone’s mouth for a record?
I just hope todays lads and lasses get the chance to enjoy the good and bad times as much as we did. Well done Dom for awakening a few memories. I will never forget the Spreadeagle in Finchley frequented by the Flying Squad. Happy days.
I joined A&S in 1978 and was posted to Staple Hill. I recall the silly games, stupid arguments, but the positives including speaking to retired officers and enjoying their company. Debriefing traumatic incidents, tears turning to laughter. Sadly that’s now gone, retired officers have no club and the police family is now disappearing....
I remember county police HQs with bars with much jealousy Ray! Cumbria was especially good. I went for a beer with the A&S SB guys at a pub in Bradford on Avon once (SB officers - better quality of boozer right?). The story of the Tank (which closed shortly before I started at NSY) is that a refreshed SB protection officer let off a model 10 revolver one night. Dunno if it's true or not.
That’s the story I heard as well, but can’t vouch for it.
Remember a particularly good prisoner escort from Kings Cross back to Bristol, where we were royally entertained by the CID for “refs” at boozer round the corner. When we stopped at the services for a pee, the prisoner begged for food as he said he hadn’t been fed for two days, whoops!
Nerdy gun fact - the SB prot guys used to have the .38 detective specials with the concealed hammer and the Walther PPK a la James Bond. In fact, the only SB protection officer to ever to shoot someone (a Palestinian terrorist who attacked the Israeli ambassador) was armed with the Walther. He was Colin Simpson who was a lovely, lovely man and still in the department when I joined.
Like me, you have run the gamut of uniform and CID, Special Branch and DPS, just 15 years apart. With very minor differences, 'Refs 'could have been written about my own experiences! Like society in general, I think the Met stayed broadly the same from post WWII to the millennium. After M2K, Britain in genera,l and the Met in particular, had too many twat's in charge who were there for all the wrong reasons. 'Refs' beautifully encapsulates everything that was enjoyable about being a Met copper,, before the bastards fined it.
I think that timespan you reference is spot-on. I know we all like to identify 'that moment' but for argument's sake I think the period 2000-2005 (and the ascent of Blair - both of them) is a good candidate.
Agreed
Dom, my belly is aching from the laughing, thanks again for another opportunity to snigger on a dull and dreary January afternoon!
The Two Chairmen is still a great little boozer. I was in there after the Remembrance parade last year for the customary Guiness brunch!
You're welcome mate.
Very funny and spot on Dominic re the Refs. I also remember you weren’t allowed to sit on the area car drivers table in the canteen even if you were his operator for your weekly shift and how funny / frustrating was it when a shout came in whilst tucking into your 999 breakfast. All the team legged it out and then returned to find one of the lovely ladies in the canteen had kept em warm with your name on your half eaten brekkie.
Quality days.. sadly the job has gone to rat shit now and having been retired a year, it was the right time I think we would all agree.
Fantastic memories there. I was Met from 1989-1999 and remember it all well.
The good old days..
Retiring in 2019 from a county force - I had had my fill of policing.
Look forward to your next instalment…
Brilliant Dom - unfortunately I missed most of the good old days but am happily retired now!
This was just as I remember it. Thanks for reminding me of some good moments. I still miss that cop humour - and the journey to Croydon for a Thursday curry.
A fun read.
One of my former lecturers for the policing degree had similar stories 😂
It’s a shame to read stuff like this in a way, it’s depressing see how it is now.
I can’t wait to join, but seeing now different it is now compared to ‘back then’ does weigh heavy
Good luck, take it for what it is. Although there's nothing to stop you fostering an old-school spirit. It simply means trying to establish a group connection. Socialise with your colleagues. Have a laugh. Look after each other. Just, for the sake of fuck, ALWAYS buy takeaway from places where you can see them making it!
Thank you Dom, really appreciate that!
Another cracker!
The Holly tree pub in Forest gate has a miniature train set running around the beer garden🤷♂️
Great read, as usual. Took me back to The Papermakers arms in Ilford which was the annexe to the CID office. There was talk of having a CRIS machine fitted in there. Shoulder numbers on styrofoam cups, i’d forgotten about that🤣
I remember a strangle little boozer not far from Ilford nick. It had a trainset running around the walls in the bar.
Even though I’ve been retired for twenty years that brought back many memories. I was lucky enough to serve in Bristol for most of my career. It had many ethnic restaurants that tickled my tastebuds, including the hybrid Chinese chippies where Task Force vans queued on nights for sustenance. The rest of my time was spent on various secondments to London, put two stone on in a matter of months living on free food in the tower blocks at Hendon and a section house in Finchley.
Many trips to NSY including the Tank, the bar in the basement (eventually, horror of horrors, converted to a gym). It still bore the bullet scars on a pillar where some horseplay went wrong.
Bristol and the county outside all had station bars for most of my service for celebrations, commiserations and winding down after a shift. Great for camaraderie and morale, I believe now sadly reduced. The stories will have to stay there, but do you know how many beermats can be stacked in someone’s mouth for a record?
I just hope todays lads and lasses get the chance to enjoy the good and bad times as much as we did. Well done Dom for awakening a few memories. I will never forget the Spreadeagle in Finchley frequented by the Flying Squad. Happy days.
I joined A&S in 1978 and was posted to Staple Hill. I recall the silly games, stupid arguments, but the positives including speaking to retired officers and enjoying their company. Debriefing traumatic incidents, tears turning to laughter. Sadly that’s now gone, retired officers have no club and the police family is now disappearing....
I remember county police HQs with bars with much jealousy Ray! Cumbria was especially good. I went for a beer with the A&S SB guys at a pub in Bradford on Avon once (SB officers - better quality of boozer right?). The story of the Tank (which closed shortly before I started at NSY) is that a refreshed SB protection officer let off a model 10 revolver one night. Dunno if it's true or not.
That’s the story I heard as well, but can’t vouch for it.
Remember a particularly good prisoner escort from Kings Cross back to Bristol, where we were royally entertained by the CID for “refs” at boozer round the corner. When we stopped at the services for a pee, the prisoner begged for food as he said he hadn’t been fed for two days, whoops!
Nerdy gun fact - the SB prot guys used to have the .38 detective specials with the concealed hammer and the Walther PPK a la James Bond. In fact, the only SB protection officer to ever to shoot someone (a Palestinian terrorist who attacked the Israeli ambassador) was armed with the Walther. He was Colin Simpson who was a lovely, lovely man and still in the department when I joined.