Wigan Album
Police
3 CommentsPhoto: Glyn Lloyd (also Police Officer)
Item #: 7093
I remember Eric well. I was in Wigan County Borough Police Force as it was then, between 1963 and 1966 in Basil Whittaker's Section. I remember these radios being introduced though I thought they had a telescopic aerial at one time.We only had whistles up to then! I remember that half the time the radios didn't work much further away than the top of Market Place and the batteries had to be charged after every shift. We shared a waveband with the Fire Brigade and our call sign was 'CY' with the Fire Brigades being 'CYF'.Happy days. I would have been retired 15 years if I had done my 30 years.
By all accounts Wigan Borough Police Force were pioneers in mobile radio development.
In the mid 1930s two Wigan officers designed and built a pocket sized transmitter/receiver, which could send and receive messages over several miles.
The project had to be abandoned owing to ... Yes, you've guessed it ... 'lack of funding' ...
I wonder if that's the call box that stood at the corner of Swinley Rd.