Page 39 - Once a copper 10 03 2020

When I tried on the whole outfit for the first time, I remember feeling
embarrassed as I saw myself in the mirror in the cramped changing room.
Nothing fitted properly but we were all in the same boat and had a good
laugh at each other’s expense.

I fitted my numbers to my epaulettes and
that’s when it hit me, I was now West Midlands
Police Constable 8777 Bennett. ‘Eight-treble
seven, that should be easy to remember’, I
thought. To this day, I’ve never forgotten it.

The only item not provided was footwear. We
were told to find a military store and buy good
quality forces type leather boots (shoes for the
ladies), that would be both durable for
workwear and importantly, could be polished
to a ‘mirror-like’ finish. On the afternoon we got
our uniforms we were dismissed early, so on
recommendation, I went to Ryders, an Army &
Navy supplies store on my way home. Ryders
were established in 1960 the year I was born, so
the staff were experienced in helping forces Figure 16 Stop laughing, yes it's me at 20!
personnel and new police recruits. I came
away happy with my pair of army style boots.

I arrived home that evening, tried on my uniform and boots so my wife and
her brother could cast their critical eye over my new identity. We had a good
chuckle about my shiny new truncheon and handcuffs which I will leave to
the readers imagination. Mr brother-in-law would play his own part in the
police story, but more about that later.
We were instructed to wear our uniform to class for the rest of the week, but
not to wear it ‘outside’ yet as were not ready for the public attention and our
inexperience would undoubtedly cause embarrassment. ‘Half blues’ is a term
we would come to know well. It describes wearing uniform (minus headgear!)
with a civilian jacket on top, for travelling to and from work.

The end of our induction week at Bournville Lane came quickly. The other
outing that week was a trip to Lloyd House to have our warrant cards made,
complete with a head and shoulders photograph in uniform. Back in class, I
was filled with excitement and no small sense of trepidation about the
unknown experiences that lay ahead from next week, when we were due to
start our residential course at Ryton. Ten weeks away from home comforts,
coming home on Fridays, travelling back on Sunday evenings.

Married less than six months, this would be almost three months apart, the first Page39
of many tests the service would place on our relationship. Hardly surprising