Page 88 - Once a copper 10 03 2020

We were dismissed and sent out to our postings and I made my way with
other officers to Witton Lane. On arrival, we spaced ourselves out along the
Lane, stopping the arriving supporters from parking outside residents’ houses.
As the crowds built up nearer to kick off, our parking duty was taken over by
Special Constables and traffic wardens and we moved over to stand outside
the turnstiles.

As I stood there, I recognised a stout bloke walking toward me as my old
maths teacher from Grammar school, Robin Leeke. My mind rushed back to
my last memory of him. At 16, ever the class waster and clown, I was totally
phased by the mysteries of algebra, On the day in question, I was holding
court in class, disrupting the lesson. I had a mathematics text book standing
up on my desk concealing a copy of a mens ‘Penthouse’ magazine. Of
course, this was of greater interest to my mates around me than anything
mathematical Mr Leeke was trying to teach us. So distracted was I by the
frivolity, I didn’t spot him circle the class and appearing behind me. He seized
the magazine and said, ‘Mine I think’. I didn’t help my case by saying ‘thanks
for lending it me sir!’.

He took the seized article and placed it in his desk. We were to tease him
mercilessly in the last weeks of term as he failed to dispose of it, and we
would accuse him of having a peak every time he opened the lid of his desk.
Robin Leeke was a good sport, who went against the grain of a strict
Grammar school, understanding that ‘boys will be boys’. I knew that despite
my failings at Maths that he liked me, and we all liked his humorous style.
Years later I was to wish I’d paid more attention to his lessons.

As Robin walked toward me with a Villa scarf wrapped around his neck, he
looked at me, incredulous that I was now a police officer. “Fucking hell how
desperate are the old bill making Bennett a copper?”. Was his opening line
as he laughed and shook my hand. Grinning from ear to ear I said “Well some
of the shit you taught must have gone in ‘because I passed the entrance
exam. Anyway, less of your cheek Leeke or I won’t let you in” I joked.
“Fucking bluenose” he said still laughing. I wished him good luck and that I
hoped he’d enjoy the match.

The game went without incident with Villa winning 2-1, their striker Peter Withe
scoring both Villa goals. This was my first of many experiences on football duty
and it was only when I arrived back at my car at Queens Road, removing my
uniform that I saw all the saliva and phlegm the palace fans had successfully
aimed at my back. Inspecting and removing human fluids from uniform
would be a common unpleasant routine after football duties. Oh, what fun
they had.

My twelve-month appraisal was due, and I was pleased that Gaffer Brown
endorsed it with positive comments: - Page88