Dear old Uncle Ernie is better known as PC Plop. He was a Policeman for most of his working life. This was a time when you spent most of the shift out on the street, on foot, covering miles in all weathers, day and night. I’m not knocking the modern police force at all, I’m just pointing out the difference between 60 years ago and today. The Panda car hadn’t been invented and there was probably less crime to deal with, although that’s an assumption.
Labour of Love
He loved his work and was so enthusiastic about it that I even thought about joining the Police Force when I left school, but I doubt they would have been quite ready to accept me. Uncle Ernie loved being out and about in the open. Chatting and getting to know the people on his ‘beat’ was a daily labour of love. I think most of them grew to love him as much as we did as a family.
Very Popular
He would receive Christmas and birthday cards from a lot of people on his beat over the years by trudging the streets. There were babies named after him where he had had to help with the delivery in an emergency before the midwife arrived. He took it all in his stride. Nothing ever seemed too much. However, there was a story involving Uncle Ernie that I never heard until long after he had left this earth.
Blaggers
Apparently, a gang of would-be robbers had been planning quite a ‘big job’ which involved holding up a local bank and making off with hundreds of thousands of pounds of cash in large postal bags. The house where they were busily engaged in planning this misdemeanour was on Uncle Ernie’s ‘beat’. The bigwigs at the police station had been tipped off by an informer and a raid of the property was set up which would include a team of Police Officers, one of which was Ernie.
Who’s There?
Early one Summer’s morning, before dawn, Officers and Constables arrived together at the house. The front door would be smashed in by two burly Policemen then in go Uncle Ernie and his colleagues. All went to plan, Ernie was first in, shouting something like ‘POLICE, DO NOT MOVE!’ He charged into the front room where the door was slightly ajar and then suddenly, total darkness! He was still standing, wide awake but suddenly felt very wet and there was an awful stink that was enough to make him feel sick.
It’s Gone Awfully Dark
The reason it went dark so quick is that a carefully placed bucket balancing above the opening of the door and filled with all sorts of human waste and rotting vegetation had fallen squarely on his head as he dashed into the house! He wasn’t alone either. It happened to a couple of other unfortunate ‘Bobbies’ in their quest to catch the would-be robbers. The story goes that the gang had got wind of an impending raid by the Police so had been able to stay one step ahead of them on this particular occasion.
There used to be a saying that a Policeman‘s Lot is not a Happy Lot. I think Uncle Ernie’s was, but like most careers, it does have its odd downfall.
Bobbies were so-called because of Sir Robert Peel. You can read more here:
Trev, I love your tales, you always make me laugh.
My dad, twenty years older than mum had had quite a life before I was born and for some of it he was a policeman. It’s probably the only previous job he talked about fondly. He told us they kept the unruly kids out of court by giving them a clip round the ear and dragging them home to their mothers who promptly gave them another.????
Thank you, Sue. It was a different time and I seriously thought about becoming a Policeman. We would be in fear of one if we saw him on his beat. Seems such a different world to nowadays. ????
A splendid, if ultimately hilarious, tribute. I’d like to have seen Jack Warner in the role
Thank you, Derrick. Yes, that would have been funny. Evening all. ????
I suppose we all look back fondly at the village bobby, who seemed to know everything that went on for miles around. The response time, often on a bike, was still much better than it is today, where quite often we get an email acknowledgement at best!
Yes, times have changed so much. I wouldn’t like to be a Policeman these days. Thank you, Peter. ????
Thank you for starting my day off with a laugh. Poor Uncle Ernie!
Thank you, Connie. ????
That is a great story!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. ????
I remember those days. If you needed information or anything you could walk up to a policeman and they were most obliging. We didn’t have Tv but when we went visiting I got to see Dixon of Dock Green. He was lovely!
Thank you, Yeti. Yes, Dixon of Dock Green, I remember those days well. ????
It’s been said this is what we need again in the States — police officers walking neighborhood beats, getting to know the people.
Thank you and I agree, more officers on foot patrols, getting to know the local neighbourhood. 🙂
I always wondered if police men and women were happy, or simply content (perhaps with feelings of accomplishment to serve and protect)? Fascinating read. Thank you! ❤️????????
Thank you, Sheila. 🙂
Who could blame Uncle Ernie for keeping that stink bath a secret?
I know. Thank you, Rosaliene. ????
Poor Uncle Ernie.
Thank you, Herb. ????
Uncle Ernie sounds like a very amiable, hands-on and all-round great guy that a lot of people held in high regard and loved. I wonder who tipped off the raiders? I always find it interesting when an “informer” tips the police, just got to hope they’re not playing both sides. Did they ever catch them, or did they end up pulling more raids? I bet that was a day Ernie couldn’t forget in a hurry, no matter how much he may have wanted to. Eugh, even 10 showers (or tin baths as it would have been then) wouldn’t have been enough! xx
Thank you, Caz. I don’t know if they ever caught them. I know a few of the Policemen including Ernie would have liked to catch up with them! ????
Your uncle sounds like a treasure. I wish we had more like him today. I am not surprised you were shielded from this particular story. How disgusting, but it is an interesting story! Those bank robbers made such vile attacks on police who were just doing their job! Have a good week, Trev!
Thank you, Cheryl. They were certainly very different times. Enjoy your week too. ????