Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

michael scuffil wrote:

sejintenej wrote:
He did say "during the late 60's and early 70's. The Guildford Flyer ceased operation in the mid to late 50's; I used to use that route to get to South Brent (stop before Plymouth) but had to change to Victoria - Paddington. Then they closed the South Brent to Kingsbridge line so had to get off at Totnes which made the journey even worse.

The Guildford Flyer closed on 14 June 1965. (It has its own wikipedia entry, see 'Cranleigh Line'.)

Surely 'having to get off at Totnes' is not a punishment... or so I thought, but then for a teenager, perhaps it is. Incidentally, the establishment that until recently was called 'the totnes bear shop' has changed its name to 'not made in china'. (If you don't know Totnes, you may be getting the idea...)

In those days one had to travel in penguin suits - apart from flannels in July we had nothing remotely like civvies and in summer we sometimes recorded temperatures over 100°F. From Kingsbridge it was 17 miles home (14 miles at low tide) through narrow country lanes with passing places (grockles couldn't go backwards so one had to reverse if you came across one even if they were 10 yards from one) so the extra distance to Totnes was simply a pain in the neck. I never saw the town until years after I left CH - it wasn't "convenient".

Oh, the blessings of being able to travel from Stockwell to Victoria Station by Tram !

I seem to remember it was a number 34, from Stockwell Road, which was about 150 yards from where we lived !

Later, after I was spending my School holidays in Salisbury (Considered safer, due to A. Hitler's activities) it was more complicated, and, having been bombed out of Stockwell, we were based at Crystal Palace, good trains and busus, but not directly to Victoria !
Hence, I was met by my Father, a City Copper, at Waterloo, and escorted to Victoria.
He had to wear a raincoat over his uniform, as he was out of City Jurisdiction---- JR will understand the significance of this !!!

NEILL THE NOTORIOUS wrote:Oh, the blessings of being able to travel from Stockwell to Victoria Station by Tram !

I seem to remember it was a number 34, from Stockwell Road, which was about 150 yards from where we lived !

Later, after I was spending my School holidays in Salisbury (Considered safer, due to A. Hitler's activities) it was more complicated, and, having been bombed out of Stockwell, we were based at Crystal Palace, good trains and busus, but not directly to Victoria !
Hence, I was met by my Father, a City Copper, at Waterloo, and escorted to Victoria.
He had to wear a raincoat over his uniform, as he was out of City Jurisdiction---- JR will understand the significance of this !!!

Indeed !!

Off topic --- but--- JR
My Mother, aged 93, as Senior City Widow, was taken by Patrol car and an Outrider, from Bishopsgate to Waterloo, with the complete co-operation and approval of the Metropolitan Police, who quite appreciated the honour.
She was also escorted onto the platform, with the addition of a British Transport Policeman,

It couldn't happen now --- how would it be "Costed" !!!
(Off Duty -- pusuing enquiries ??)

NEILL THE NOTORIOUS wrote:Off topic --- but--- JR
My Mother, aged 93, as Senior City Widow, was taken by Patrol car and an Outrider, from Bishopsgate to Waterloo, with the complete co-operation and approval of the Metropolitan Police, who quite appreciated the honour.
She was also escorted onto the platform, with the addition of a British Transport Policeman,

It couldn't happen now --- how would it be "Costed" !!!
(Off Duty -- pusuing enquiries ??)

Exactly, Neill.

In fact, two very senior, (and fairly local) police officers have just been disciplined for 'unauthorised use of police vehicles' !

I'll give you another example of 'the good old days'.

Many years ago, whilst in the job, I went to a party near Kingston on Thames. The guy who was supposed to be taking me home, and therefore staying dry, DIDN'T.

Consequence - I had to start walking. At about 3:00am, I had walked about 7 miles, and was approaching the Surrey/Met border just south of Chessington Zoo, when I was 'pulled' on a routine-check by a Met patrol car.

I explained my predicament, and said as it was a lovely summers morning, I was quite prepared to walk the remaining 6 or 7 miles.

They radioed M-P, who made another call, and within 10 minutes I was sitting in a Surrey traffic-car, (my mob), and was home within a further 10 minutes.

This, of course, was in the days when the law WAS the law, and the villains knew it !

Well off topic but related to JR´s experience.
In my last year at University in Nottingham, I lived in a flat on the banks of the Trent, about half a mile from Trent Bridge.
One January night I had see my girlfriend off on the last bus back to her lodgings, walked back from the centre and along the banks of the Trent. Since it was bitterly cold, I started jogging.
Within a couple of minutes a police car pulled up on the path and I was called over to explain what I was up to.
One of them asked if I had a criminal record, to which I answered, "No, wouldn't dare".
When asked why, I explained that my father was a policeman in the Met.
At this, I was told to be on my way, no more questions, nothing, leaving me a little confused.
When I mentioned this to my father, he said that the only people who called the London Police the "Met", were the police, so obviously I was one of them.

Honour among thieves?

Rather like people who refer to CH as 'Christ's' rather than Housey - you just know they are outsiders!!

Another clue is --- "The job" !!

I have "Connections" with the Dorset Police, and when I remarked "! was born into the job" attitudes warmed.

They cooled a bit, when I admitted that I had also been on the Police Authority

NEILL THE NOTORIOUS wrote:Another clue is --- "The job" !!

I have "Connections" with the Dorset Police, and when I remarked "! was born into the job" attitudes warmed.

They cooled a bit, when I admitted that I had also been on the Police Authority

Why am I not just slightly surprised ??

YEAH !!-----

When I was a medical student in London I used to hitchhike home to Hastings every other weekend. I used to start on London Bridge. I got a few lifts in police cars in south London.