Central's Visit to Booths Gin

Photo: Iain McKinlay

A happy group of Central Officers and two pub landlords pictured in Scotland at their visit to Gordons Gin distillery in 1971. I’m told they toured Dewars Whiskey distillery too and could drink as much there as they wanted. Some took the challenge and promptly went off sick when they were due back on duty. Even the Skills Bus Driver looks happy, if not a little left out of it all due to not being able to drink too much!

(1) Pc Dave Bradley, (2) Pc 300 John Summerton, (3) Pc Dave “Dan” Hyndman, (4) Pc 270 Paul Woodward, (5) Pc 729 Bert Simkin, (6) Sgt 40 “Bas” Key, (7) ? , (8) D.c. Jack Prendergast , (9) Insp Ted Coles, (10) Pc Melvin Crosby, (11) Pc Graham Clark, (12), Pc 581 Mick Clarke, (13) Pc Graham “Plink” Kirk, (14) Ps Tony Finch, (15) Pc 398 "Cis" Williams, (16) Sgt “Bing” Crosby – who had been the chauffer for ex City Chief Constable,Capt Popkiss, (17) Pc 667 Alf Shawyer, (18) Sgt 44 Jack Sly – lead motorcyclist for the escort of the triumphant Forest FA Cup team in 1959, (19) Skills Bus Driver!, (20) Pc 511 Jock McAdam, (21) Sgt Jimmy “Jock” McKinlay, (22) (?), (23) Dick Fletcher – a Prosecuting Solicitor!, (24) ?, (25) Harry Dickens, he was a beer-off shop owner on a side street off Alfreton Road near Canning Circus, that ran down towards Waverley Street, (26) Pc Russell “Bill” Hames.

Mel Crosby remembers the trip well, " I always understood that it was Jock
McKinley that organised that well  lubricated trip. The Scottish Police
Club that entertained us during the evening had an excellent range of
whiskeys.
At the hotel where we stayed we drank the landlords supply of a
particular brand of malt dry, and at an early hour of the morning he
left us in the bar saying "Bugger you lot, I'm off to bed, help
yourselves and straighten up in the morning."       Oh happy day's.
No 24 was a friend of Harry's but I have no name, and I believe no 22
was the father of the friend. "