Cadets at Proteus
These four photos are from Proteus Army Camp, Ollerton. In October 1979 the Cadets were taken there for a month where they underwent an induction course. The course involved some elementary law instruction, Police definitions (from the P.M.A.S. booklet) and general stuff connected with the Police. They did first aid sessions and 'outward bound' type activities. Early starts were compulsory (and for the staff) with a run around the camp, complete with 'bunny hops' up and down the drive and the usual 'circuit training' elements to it, and all before breakfast. Staff included, Insp Dennis Smith, Sgt Mel Musson, Pc's Andy Padmore, Ted Allsopp, Keith Bosworth and Maggie Winfield (later Clark) and Sgt Pete Wharmby also made regular visits and contributed in 'lessons' and sessions.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Mel Musson gave the cadets the run around in his inimitable style and was dubbed, "The biggest 'b--t--d' at Proteus Camp". He was presented with a wooden plaque bearing the words so that he might remember his achievements. One of his exploits was to produce a pair of knackered old boots and as a punishment make the cadets polish one of them to a 'mirror like finish'. The cadets rose ably to the challenge and the photo of the boots is the result. The boot on the left of the grainy polaroid picture was immaculate when finished and the one on the right was the 'control sample' for later comparison. During an evening 'disco' Insp Smith got up and danced with a few of the female cadets just to show them that he could still, 'swing a nifty hoof' (as he called it) when called upon.
Insp Smith introduced the cadets to his famous 'one liners' - "chop bloody chop", "you march like a Parissienne ponse" and, "You're like a load of French pastry cooks". They had already been treated to the delights of running up Hagg Lane and '10 circuits of the bowling green' while at Epperstone Manor in the weeks prior to the course. A few senior Cadets were taken along for cooking and washing and to provide bodies in the first aid sessions, but mainly cooking and washing.
