Recollections of Epperstone
My first experiences of the Manor came, like most other officers, with my Induction Course in 1974 when I joined the Nottinghamshire Combined Constablary soon after getting married and moving up to Nottingham from High Wycombe. I think the place must have given me a false impression of how serene everything looked with bowling greens, oak staircases with hunting trophies on the lobby walls - even a bar which was open at lunchtimes. Perhaps joining the police was not as forboding as I dreaded it might be.
However, that was just the first week. That was just the Induction Course and we were all induced gently. The real shock to the system was to follow with the 10 week training course at Pannal Ash. The Induction course was to give us a brief insight into what we had let ourselves into for the next thirty years, starting with a bus trip down to the Guildhall Magistrates Court with Brian Wainwright, the Training PC, to be sworn in as constables. This was not as dignified as I thought it would be with all fifteen of us in our new ill-fitting tunics and helmets standing before three rather bemused magistrates. We all had to simultaneously read from a card, "I (name) do solemly promise etc etc." Unfortunately, Brian had failed to tell us beforehand that when reading from the cue card we should each state our own names as a substitute for the word "name" on the card. Most of us used our common sense and the court-room echoed to a mishmash of names but I can tell you now that at least one recruit was happy just to announce himself as "Name", maybe a sign of not being so committed to his new career as it would appear!
After the ten-week initial training course at Panal Ash being taught how to be a police officer by the Home Office Central Planning Unit we did a weeks Local Procedure Course at Epperstone learning how Nottinghamshire do things. "Forget what they said up in Yorkshire, Bobby this is how we do it here!" Mind you, it was nice to get away from drill, bedpacks and nine-o-clock parades and even nicer to be able to have a pint at lunch times before trying to stay awake in the afternoon while being taught how to fill in the Crime Complaint Book.
During its years as the Force Training School, Epperstone played host to so many varied courses newly promoted sergeants, firearms courses and of course the dreaded Driving Course! Although I spent many years on the traffic department and liked to think of my driving skills as good, the thought of yet another Grade 1 Advanced Refresher Course always filled me with dread. It wasn't the fear of being critisised by the instructor for doing something stupid and dangerous when I was driving. What did scare me was being a back seat passenger sitting in the car being driven dangerously and stupidly by another student at 110mph. How the residents of Epperstone Main Street must have loved the sound of the long horn warning as the driving school cars prepared to turn into the drive several times a day.
Epperstone Manor canteen was always a place for reunions. How many times did you see someone on a course who you hadn't seen for ages and were surprised to be still on the job after all these years. You would stand in the queue at 12.14pm waiting for the doors to open and receive a tray from someone who was now the beat officer for some rural village miles from nowhere. The meals were good value for money at Epperstone, even more so when they used to be free ! Alas, as changes took their toll we all had to pay for our meals. And why not? After all, everyone out on the street and not on a course was having to pay for theirs. And so the buff coloured dinner ticket issued at the beginning of each course was no more and all the goodies behind the stainless steel counters had their price.
The story goes.Inspector Mick Harvey enquired of the rather loud-voiced supervisor, "How much is this rhubarb crumble and custard?"
"Thirty-pence"
"Ok," said Mick, "How much is it without the custard?"
"Its still thirty pence."
After a few seconds pondering, Mick said, "Fine, I'll just have a bowl of custard then."
Epperstone Manor also holds fond memories for Chris Akers.
"The Manor building is a magnificent place with the large staircase. Even in the last days of the Manor I still felt uneasy in walking up the staircase. No one walked up that staircase and anyone who did, did so at their own peril. I managed to get into the attics there and it was a treasure trove of nostalgia.
As a regular officer I attended all the courses such as the "Senile" or Senior Constable’s Course, Driving Courses, Firearms Courses and of course Public Order Training. I later became a Public Order Instructor on a part-time basis, a post I kept for 14 years.
One story that came out of Public Order training was during the time when Dennis Smith (then Inspector) was responsible for the training. At the time he was doing the ‘embussing’ and debussing of officers. This was carried out by placing chairs on the tennis courts in the shape of a bus seating plan and the aim was to have officers getting on and off the ‘bus’ as quickly and efficiently as possible whilst striking fear into any would be pickets. Well that was the idea. Whilst doing this it began to rain quite heavily but as in the true traditions of Epperstone the cry from Dennis, a cry I heard many times, “ Ignore the bloody rain you buggers it never rains in Epperstone”. After a short while the sense of humour failed and when the officers who were on the ‘bus’ were ordered, DEBUSS!!! someone shouted “We’re not getting off we are stopping on the bus where it’s dry!!!
At the time I started there in 1971 the departments in the Manor were – Traffic & Communications HQ (T&C), Traffic Admin and Stats, War Duties, Road Safety and the Driving School. In the ‘New Block’ were the Force Control Room, Dog Section & Kennels, SOCO & Force Training Department. Over the years these were either disbanded, moved to the new FHQ or moved about within the Centre with new departments moving in as well.
Seriously, Epperstone Manor was a lovely place to work and I have some happy memories of the place. To work in an area which was extremely rural with all the peace and quiet was heaven to me. When the news came that it was to be sold off and the various Departments moved around the County I found it quite a sad event. I was quite upset that I was unable to attend the closing ceremony. I realise in the modern world keeping a facility like the Manor is not economical especially when the Police Service is run like a business. It was a shame that the Training Centre could not remain but those that control the purse strings dictated otherwise. I do not know whether long term it was a wise move to sell off the Manor but having worked there as a student or as training staff I have many happy memories and I am quite sure there are good many others out there feel the same way as I do. "
