Andy in BedsWell, Jim on here is an old Lincs copper and I think it’s safe and not too unfair to say that apart from a few Slavs getting a kicking from the local Boston branch of the EDL, and a bit of D&D in Skeggy in the summer, Lincs is one of the quieter counties in the UK, with an ageing population and few really large troublesome conurbations.
This made it ideal for our masters to try an experiment.
All support staff in February received an E-mail from the chief constable informing them that as of March 31st 2012, they were no longer part of the Police service but employed by G4S.
As you can no doubt imagine, this caused some consternation and frantic soul searching but in the true spirit of the process, they were also informed that any re-application to join the Police (in another role for instance) by the transferred staff would be blocked—so they were f*ck*d off twice.
Support staff include of course, admin, drivers, front desk, custody, ID, control room and quite a host of other indirect Police roles.
This little act supposedly saved several million quid.
And no, I’m not a copper and never have been.
A very dear friend was though, when she left the WRAF back in the day—she pulled on a Police uniform—she’s now one of the G4S transferees.
My own view on the filf is that once the brown shirts were wound up, then if your idea of a good day out was to pull on a pair of size nines and go and give a good kicking to someone who couldn’t fight back, then plod was the only viable alternative.
However, seeing how hard working and how dedicated she and many of her colleagues actually are, my argument sometimes falls to the floor.
It does make joint viewing of the News at Ten ‘interesting’ though—we agree to differ.
I don’t think it’s wrong to say that morale is low.
Andy in BedsWhat are the contracts for? I’ve not heard anything about that.
Obviously as someone that wants to be a PCSO or PC, I wouldn’t want to see G4S involved in policing!
Too late mate.
They already are in Lincolnshire.
Eighteen years of service counts for exactly f*ck all.
Coming to a Police service near you soon.
Andy
Andy in BedsWhat are the contracts for? I’ve not heard anything about that.
Obviously as someone that wants to be a PCSO or PC, I wouldn’t want to see G4S involved in policing!
Too late mate.
They already are in Lincolnshire.
Eighteen years of service counts for exactly f*ck all.
Coming to a Police service near you soon.
Andy
Andy in BedsJohn.
Up to point I agree.
However, there are still loads of family run cars in the run.
More often than not, these are the ones which arrive in the quickest time (although time isn’t a factor) and in the best shape.
This is because their owners understand them and usually can also wield a spanner.
Yes there are a load of the rich and largely indolent who turn up and take a wheel but they often don’t get too far.
Driving (or riding) anything that old is a seat of the pants type thing. The Marot Gardon and Aurora which I spend my life worrying about on behalf of the collection respond to extemely gentle amounts of feel. That’s why riding them is such a pleasure–it’s almost art.
The quad in particular will soon have a fit of the (French) vapours should it feel unhappy.
As to American cars.
The Locomobile is American–as are Stanley Steamers.
There are always a goodly selection of them in the run, as there are also those little Buicks.
Like all things sadly, the VCC is politics driven.
The thought of Ford T’s taking part might change the flavour a bit I suppose.
As far as I’m concerned by 1912, things were getting horribly modern.
Sadlu also, almost anything nice–two wheeled or four has got very silly price wise here in recent years.
Due mainly I think to people having little faith in the aforementioned bankers.
Andy
Andy in BedsJohn.
Up to point I agree.
However, there are still loads of family run cars in the run.
More often than not, these are the ones which arrive in the quickest time (although time isn’t a factor) and in the best shape.
This is because their owners understand them and usually can also wield a spanner.
Yes there are a load of the rich and largely indolent who turn up and take a wheel but they often don’t get too far.
Driving (or riding) anything that old is a seat of the pants type thing. The Marot Gardon and Aurora which I spend my life worrying about on behalf of the collection respond to extemely gentle amounts of feel. That’s why riding them is such a pleasure–it’s almost art.
The quad in particular will soon have a fit of the (French) vapours should it feel unhappy.
As to American cars.
The Locomobile is American–as are Stanley Steamers.
There are always a goodly selection of them in the run, as there are also those little Buicks.
Like all things sadly, the VCC is politics driven.
The thought of Ford T’s taking part might change the flavour a bit I suppose.
As far as I’m concerned by 1912, things were getting horribly modern.
Sadlu also, almost anything nice–two wheeled or four has got very silly price wise here in recent years.
Due mainly I think to people having little faith in the aforementioned bankers.
Andy
Andy in BedsCharlie.
It’s always been known as the Emancipation Run because it celebrates the passing of the ‘Locomotives on Highways Act 1896’, which allowed for the first time, vehicles to move along the highway without a man to precede them carrying a red warning flag. It also put the speed limit up to 14 mph.
It always takes place in November–in fact the first weekend of November and although doesn’t get too much media coverage has grown to be one of the biggest motoring events in the World.
This year over 500 pre 1905 vehicles took part.
Plus all the clubs etc which have meetings along the way.
Jim.
Thanks–the collection is very special–as you and many here know.
Andy
Andy in BedsCharlie.
It’s always been known as the Emancipation Run because it celebrates the passing of the ‘Locomotives on Highways Act 1896’, which allowed for the first time, vehicles to move along the highway without a man to precede them carrying a red warning flag. It also put the speed limit up to 14 mph.
It always takes place in November–in fact the first weekend of November and although doesn’t get too much media coverage has grown to be one of the biggest motoring events in the World.
This year over 500 pre 1905 vehicles took part.
Plus all the clubs etc which have meetings along the way.
Jim.
Thanks–the collection is very special–as you and many here know.
Andy
Andy in BedsWell sorry Charlie.
I’m a non voter.
Non of them represent my opinions–so why should I vote for them?
In the same way as why should I employ someone who I consider to be a useless w*nker??
Sadly, I’d like to be able to describe politicians in those simple terms but my contempt for them runs much deeper than that.
As to American politicians my life isn’t long enough to find out or care.
I used to be rather fond of Americans and certainly the country. These days it seems like it was another person.
As I now can’t stand airports, I can’t ever see myself getting there again.
And Derek.
You’re correct–that piece is very old.
It’s an odd day, I’m almost in agreement with you.
I must try harder in future.
Andy in BedsWell sorry Charlie.
I’m a non voter.
Non of them represent my opinions–so why should I vote for them?
In the same way as why should I employ someone who I consider to be a useless w*nker??
Sadly, I’d like to be able to describe politicians in those simple terms but my contempt for them runs much deeper than that.
As to American politicians my life isn’t long enough to find out or care.
I used to be rather fond of Americans and certainly the country. These days it seems like it was another person.
As I now can’t stand airports, I can’t ever see myself getting there again.
And Derek.
You’re correct–that piece is very old.
It’s an odd day, I’m almost in agreement with you.
I must try harder in future.
Andy in BedsJim.
There’s a discreet little shop in The Kings Road which caters for all my requirements.
After giving up the rigours of freemasonry, the simple act of dressing as a woman seemed relatively straightforward.
Andy in BedsJim.
There’s a discreet little shop in The Kings Road which caters for all my requirements.
After giving up the rigours of freemasonry, the simple act of dressing as a woman seemed relatively straightforward.
Andy in BedsDespite contributions of worthy regular hobbies it is interesting that no one has emulated the OP who asked about “unusual hobbies”. Perhaps we are all rather conventional!!:D
Well, on a weekend I prefer to dress as a woman, I assume the personality of Sheila.
Is that unusual enough for you?
A–or is that S..?
Andy in BedsDespite contributions of worthy regular hobbies it is interesting that no one has emulated the OP who asked about “unusual hobbies”. Perhaps we are all rather conventional!!:D
Well, on a weekend I prefer to dress as a woman, I assume the personality of Sheila.
Is that unusual enough for you?
A–or is that S..?
Andy in BedsKev.
You know that those are some of my favourite lines.
I’ve always rather hoped that one day I might take you to Essex Farm and show you where they were written.
Also Kev.
About twenty five years ago I came across a middle aged lady who was doing exactly what you’re doing for the village war memorial in Weeley in Essex.
Eventually her book was published in a small way. In those pre-internet days I was able to help her by bringing back pictures of graves in Gallipoli.
That’s a place I’d like to visit again before I pop orf to a better place–or get too infirm.
Charlie.
I for one will be keeping dates throughout the centenary period.
There are so many.
Andy
Andy in BedsKev.
You know that those are some of my favourite lines.
I’ve always rather hoped that one day I might take you to Essex Farm and show you where they were written.
Also Kev.
About twenty five years ago I came across a middle aged lady who was doing exactly what you’re doing for the village war memorial in Weeley in Essex.
Eventually her book was published in a small way. In those pre-internet days I was able to help her by bringing back pictures of graves in Gallipoli.
That’s a place I’d like to visit again before I pop orf to a better place–or get too infirm.
Charlie.
I for one will be keeping dates throughout the centenary period.
There are so many.
Andy
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