Wigan Album

Albert - may I copy this photo, to post on the Bruche PTC Facebook site?
I will of course credit you for the photo.

Is that Mike Higham on the front row, also Wigan Borough!

No Bernard. I was the only Wigan Borough bobby, on that particular course. Yes Mick you can, credit it to yourself. You are initiating it.

What a handsome lad, Albert! My brother Colin trained at Bruche in the late 1960s. We went to his passing-out parade and watched amazing feats performed by the Police Doga. They are so clever!

Many thanks, Albert.

If I may, I should like to relate to all who are interested, a true story, having connections with Bruche. When I was at Bruche, many years ago, they had what were called Ram Sammy nights. One evening a week, the large dining hall became a temporary theatre, where police students' did a turn, to entertain all other students'. On these nights the hall was filled to capacity. I always attended with my room mate, Harry Hurst, a Burnley Borough police student. About twenty years ago, I was on holiday in Spain, staying with a friend. One day we were in a small coastal village, my friend, his wife, and my wife. A man, and a woman approached us, needing some directions, my friend was able to oblige. The man continued to converse with us, telling us that five years previously, he had retired from the Sussex police, after thirty years service, but when he first joined, he was in the Burley Borough Police. I told him that I retired at the same time, having at first served in the Wigan Borough Police, so we must have been doing our training about the same time, at Bruche. Jokingly, he said. "I think Sussex accepted my transfer because I had a good tenor voice, and they wanted a tenor in their police choir". Something then jangled in my brain. "When you were at Bruche, did you have a friend, Harry Hurst?." "Yes". "One Ram Sammy night didn't you come to where Harry and I where sitting, and Joined us". "Yes, I believe I did". "You then got up and sang. "On a street where you live," from My fair Lady". "You are correct". "Your voice was so good everyone was clapping, and whistling. In fact the centre commandant CH/Supt Seagrave, requested you to sing, "I'll Join the Legion," a Joseph Locke song. When you finished you got a standing ovation, for well over a minute." Each of us were absolutely dumbfounded, that such a coincidence had occurred, in a small Spanish seaside village. His course was two, or three weeks behind our course, and I had never come into contact with him again, until then.

Amazing, Albert! What a coincidence. Thanks for sharing the story with us.

As a matter of interest, Harry Hurst, is seated, on the extreme left.

Albert, first time I have seen you since leaving Bruche. I shared a room with you as an 18 year old cadet from Lancs and you were fresh out of the RAF after national service. I recognise Roy Pizzey from Salford on the back row and Stand Collier from Oldham middle row but regret cannot remember other names. Instructor was Liverpool City and I always found him a "bit strange" On the course before us was my closest friend Gordon Burton who finished up in GMP as Ch.Supt Wigan division and I was down from Aberdeen to see him at his home in Whittle Springs in Feb this year. We were discussing old buddies and I brought your name up but you must have left before he arrived at Wigan. Anyway great to see the pic - brought back happy memories. Cheers Bernard

Bernard. Where are you on the photograph, and where is the other Bernard? This photograph is also on the Bruche website. I left Wigan Borough in July, 1964,when I transferred to the Kent Police. I now live in Blackpool.

Bernard. Sorry, I should have put Gordon, and not Bernard.

Albert I am on back row second from right just over your shoulder. Sorry taken me so long to see this. I left the job in 1968 but still stay in close contact with many old friends and have been down to Lancashire Day celebrations at Blackpool a couple of times.

Sorry Bernard, I have just come across your comment. I hope you are well, as this comment leaves me. I wasn't national service Bernard. I completed five years service in the R.A.F. I was twenty four, when I joined.

Just another point, Bernard. When it was on the cards for the demise of the borough forces, I transferred to Kent, in 1964. I retired in 1988, in the rank of inspector. I served at Folkestone for nine years, and the Medway Towns, for the next fifteen years.