Panda-monium
Photo: Andy Padmore
An embarrasing tale of woe from Andy Padmore
" This photo of a Mk 1 Ford Escort Panda car WRR 107M on its roof.was taken Tuesday 9th september 1975. The accident occurred at 9.45am. I was on first shift at Russell Drive Police Station and had been to do the breakfast run. I was on my way back and went over the 'tin bridge' which linked Wigman Road with Lambourne Drive. As I passed the gates of Richardsons Cash & Carry the car seemed to lose control, went into a spin, rolled over one and a half turns, and ended up as in the picture. Kingswood Church was not touched but the breakfast was scattered around the floor. A typist who had watched the whole thing thought I was dead, but realised I was OK when she saw my boots poke out of the smashed drivers door window.
I remember it being a very strange feeling sitting on the roof inside the car. I went to hospital, had a week off sick with bruising, was reported for Due Care, suspended for
a month, reinstated to Panda duties, and received a reprimand. It was concluded that
the car had lost control on some spilled diesel oil outside the gates of Richardsons.
The car never came back into service but it was repaired and sold into the trade and was never seen again. On the day of the accident an ambulance was called and as I sat in it P.C. 1775 John Beeston arrived (to check on the state of the breakfast). A lady from a local office brought me a cup of tea. I was about to drink it when the ambulance man instructed me not to until I had been examined properly. John Bravely stepped forward and without thought for the consequences, drank the tea himself."
" This photo of a Mk 1 Ford Escort Panda car WRR 107M on its roof.was taken Tuesday 9th september 1975. The accident occurred at 9.45am. I was on first shift at Russell Drive Police Station and had been to do the breakfast run. I was on my way back and went over the 'tin bridge' which linked Wigman Road with Lambourne Drive. As I passed the gates of Richardsons Cash & Carry the car seemed to lose control, went into a spin, rolled over one and a half turns, and ended up as in the picture. Kingswood Church was not touched but the breakfast was scattered around the floor. A typist who had watched the whole thing thought I was dead, but realised I was OK when she saw my boots poke out of the smashed drivers door window.
I remember it being a very strange feeling sitting on the roof inside the car. I went to hospital, had a week off sick with bruising, was reported for Due Care, suspended for
a month, reinstated to Panda duties, and received a reprimand. It was concluded that
the car had lost control on some spilled diesel oil outside the gates of Richardsons.
The car never came back into service but it was repaired and sold into the trade and was never seen again. On the day of the accident an ambulance was called and as I sat in it P.C. 1775 John Beeston arrived (to check on the state of the breakfast). A lady from a local office brought me a cup of tea. I was about to drink it when the ambulance man instructed me not to until I had been examined properly. John Bravely stepped forward and without thought for the consequences, drank the tea himself."
