An Unusual Sudden Death.
While writing about distasteful events, one of the most interesting occurred during very cold weather and again while visiting Ware. Being the only officer available; at least that was what I was told, I got instructions to inspect a body in an ambulance in the centre of the town. When viewing the victim, nothing untoward was seen that could not be expected on a manual worker that would make me suspicious. His work mate was traced and interviewed at the scene. The scene being open frozen fields covered in thick frost on Ware Meads. It transpired that two men, employed by the electricity authority had been performing a normal regular task of measuring the height of high tension cables from the ground, the type one sees straddling the countryside and sagging between pylons. The following procedure that I was to hear about was really unbelievable, but true. At that time the method used countrywide, to measure the cable height was to hang a long insulated pole of known length and insulation from the high tension cable, then measure the distance from the bottom of the pole to the ground. A pole found on the ground had a metal hook at one end and a fifty foot roll of cloth tape attached. About fifteen foot of unrolled tape remained out of its case and fitted to the end of the tape was the usual square type brass holding hook. About six inches of string was still attached to the hook.
The employee who had been working with the deceased was questioned over a long period and remained adamant that the pair of them had adhered to the Company’s procedure, this he repeated as hanging a known length of insulated pole onto the high tension cable, then measuring the distance from the bottom of the cable to the ground. This gave the required height the high tension cable was from ground level.
Engineers of the Electricity Authority assured me the correct procedure had been complied with. The pole was tested to the specified rate of insulation, which as far as I can remember, was something like thirty thousand volts. Tests established it to be properly insulated. As far as I could fathom out either the equipment was faulty or the set procedure had not been kept to. At that stage it was possible another look at the body might assist, that meant a trip back to Hertford mortuary where the body had been moved to. It was still dressed so after undressing it a thorough inspection produced two pieces of evidence. The soles of the feet were covered by pinhead burn marks equidistant apart and in a pattern. The heels had a quarter inch wide mark in the shape of a half circle. Turning the deceased’s boots over I saw the stud pattern and heel tip matched the burn marks exactly. Further exploration revealed two thin burn marks on each hand palm, both stretching between the fingers and base of the palm, the marks on each hand were of equal width; about half an inch. After taking exact measurements from the hands I hastily returned to Ware, where the fifty yards cloth tape had been locked away. Verifying the width of the tape was the same as the marks on the hands, but that only verified the man had been electrocuted and that I knew already. Two days later, while just experimenting in the station yard, winding the tape in and out of its leather case something sharp pricked my hand. Taking the tape apart, a number of copper wires were seen to run its entire length. It was impossible to see these from the outside or when in normal use. My next hurdle was to establish how a hand held cloth tape conducted electricity from the high tension cable. Further talks with the deceased’s colleagues indicated the men concerned were not of very high intelligence and were in the habit of trying to catch up on their work, so were inclined to take short cuts. This is where the short piece of string attached to the hook fitted in place. The string had been used to tie the tape to the insulated pole hook, then the hook had been placed over the high tension cable so that the second man was able to take a direct measurement between the high tension cable and the ground. The survivor of the pair admitted taking part in doing this, so they did not have to add two measurements together. Later, scientific examination revealed only one strand out of sixteen still ran throughout the tape’s length. Possible this unofficial, but dangerous procedure had been got away with for years. The combination of a complete single strand of copper wire touching the high tension cable, plus the abnormal weather conditions of heavy frost this making an excellent conductor through studded boots caused the deceased’s luck to run out.
At a crowded inquest at Hertford where many Electricity Authority members and Union representatives attended, I was to create rather a stir. Unbeknown to almost all those present, the fact many strands of copper wires ran throughout the whole length of the cloth tape was given in evidence. Men hastily left the court to send messages by telephone throughout the country giving instructions for all fifty foot measuring tapes to be withdrawn!
A Pregnancy Check Up – Is All Well?
At the end of March, although only five months into her pregnancy, Maria’s size appeared rather larger than expected. Ruth, her midwife, gave her a check up and then suggested that our doctor should be seen. Although he visited our village surgery, the only convenient time for me was to visit Much Hadham after work. That village being two miles away. To travel there would normally be by bus so to allow Maria to eat a meal after work I chanced police transport, my issue motorcycle. With Maria astride and behind me and with her hair flowing we motorcycled over country roads, uphill and down dale, to Dr Barker’s surgery. After pushing, poking and listening, he assured us that everything was as it should be with nothing out of the ordinary. As a result of the visit Maria continued to work, travelling daily to Hatfield.
Buying A First Car.
My close friendship with my neighbour, Charlie Vigus, continued. One day during conversation the subject of cars came up, he knew that was my next objective and he had knowledge of one that was likely to be for sale. As I have already said earlier, Charlie knew many people including the proprietor of a local garage, a Mr. Hodges, whose wife wished to obtain a new car, leaving her old one for disposal. We talked about the price and if I had enough. We also discussed where it could be garaged. Charlie overcome the latter problem as one of his sheds was partly empty, it had easy access from his paddock, he also agreed to check the vehicle over for me. The matter was not mentioned again for several weeks until giving Vic a training session Charlie suddenly appeared at the fence to tell me he had inspected the car, he found it to be in good condition, considering its age, now twenty years old. I didn’t have to worry about the money straight away, the amount being £100.00. In those days a deal was a deal, people were honest and expected to owe money, the two participants trusting each other on a handshake, so much so I could take delivery as Mr. Hodge now required the garage space. The collection date was arranged and Charlie took me over to Much Hadham. You can imagine how excited I was going to collect my own first car. Up to that time it had not been seen properly by me except for a quick glance but my complete trust was in Charlie’s judgement; he being an expert mechanic. Several times on the way I touched my pocket to ensure the large amount of down payment, £75.00, was still there. The remainder they trusted me for.
The car, a black Ford 8 HP Popular with wire wheels was standing on the drive. It could only be described as the sit-up straight and beg type with an extending luggage carrier at the rear. How handy the carrier was to become. The car originally cost £100.00 in 1932. Eight years later it was still the same price new, no inflation, if it could be done then why not now! As that day was my rest day and time was my own I had to wash and polish it although it was already clean enough to eat off. Having a garage available in the next field to my house gave easy access to my conveyance. At about 6 p.m., and being very anxious to show Maria our new “old” purchase, I drove the half mile to where she alighted from her lift from work. Both of us were very excited as we travelled the short distance home, planning future trips and continuing to do so for the rest of the evening.
A 1936 Ford Popular
News travelled fast through the villages, no doubt my registration number, DVW 209, had been taken note by other doubtful characters. My first weekend off duty gave us an opportunity to make a long run to Garston and visit mum and dad. That journey allowed us to find out what the old car would do. I obtained the great speed of 60 mph on a straight downward stretch of road on my own Beat and established an average of 36 mpg. Gradually our excitement waned and the car became a normal part of our life and solely a means of transport.
Persuading Reluctant Farmers To Keep Their Records Up To Date!
My country copper’s work seemed to settle into a routine, giving me time to do some farm visits and check movement registers. Unfortunately, I discovered that a farmer with a large dairy herd and large acreage to match had got a little lazy with his “Movement entries.” He was in the titled gentry class and thought that he was above such mundane tasks as making entries in the register. The Disease of Animals Act sets down strict rules about the movement of animals and all such movements had to be recorded by everyone who moved animals to different premises. These records made it easy to trace any suspected infected animal in the case of contagious outbreaks, such as swine fever, foot and mouth, anthrax or other such diseases. During my previous seven or eight inspections his register had not been written in. He had been questioned about the non-movement of cattle over such a long period and given a chance to rectify matters but he failed to be honest. Gossip in villages soon reached my ears and this disclosed that the farmer in question had a money problem, many transactions had not been recorded, even those that would have interested the Inland Revenue. My main concern was to keep our area clean of animal diseases or being able to trace such if required to do so. Observations and discreet enquiries revealed regular visits to the farm of a well-known firm of cattle transporters, these transporters also had to keep records. On the following local cattle market day I happened to stop a transporter that had just collected cattle and calves from the suspected farmer’s property. Inspecting the vehicle’s “Movement register,” entries indicated numerous calves and cows were on the way to market from “You know who.” Looking back through the months entries revealed a substantial number of his cattle went to market. A visit to the transporter’s premises to check old registers, disclosed the continuous movement over the previous two years. It was easy enough to prove offences of failing to keep movement records, but this culprit made it easier for me. At an interview I disclosed to him the result of my enquiries and gave him forty eight hours to bring up to date missing entries covering the previous two years. After two days his register was inspected and confiscated, later to be produced as evidence in court. Something like five hundred animals had been moved and not recorded, very heavy fines were given for each animal he had moved. As a result of articles in the local paper my visits to farms from then on were easy. They were only too willing to produce up to date registers as well as plenty of tea and cakes!
Diseased Livestock!
When we were unlucky enough to have an outbreak of disease it was not very pleasant. Swine fever was bad enough, all pigs being destroyed, but I think Foot and Mouth is the most dreaded. A farmer who might have worked for anything up to twenty years to build up a good milking herd, could find that overnight all his efforts had come to an end. In such cases Police were then in overall charge working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture vets. The disease of Foot and Mouth was suspected only once in my area. I had to serve notices on the farmer, display same at all entrances and ensure that such things as disinfectant were placed out and used. When one entered the farm you smartly jumped into the pan of smelly liquid to stop the disease being transported by foot. All movement of animals onto or off the land was stopped and we had to ensure that this was enforced. Once The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that the suspected animals had the disease, they had to be destroyed. To complete this unpleasant task I obtained the services of a bulldozer to dig the pit and provide tons of coal, enough to destroy possibly fifty or more carcasses. A full grown cow needs a lot of heat to destroy it. After a day of this I would cycle home with the continuous banging of the humane killer echoing in my ears, plus the smell of burned meat up my nostrils. My uniform would reek of the smoke for days so it was left outside in the cycle shed to “sweeten up.”
Finally Buying Chickens.
My trial of hens laying had produced enough information for me to decide which breeds I would purchase. So, the next time motor patrol duty came around a visit was made to a hatchery at Chapmore End. Fifty Rhode Island Red day old chicks were ordered first, to be followed at three week intervals by Rhode Island Red crossbreed, then lastly, fifty large White Leghorns. Once ordered preparation for housing them was a priority. As mentioned earlier there was a sort of bathroom partitioned off in our kitchen, this was the only suitable space where electricity was available. A home made brooder was constructed in a large wooden box, in its centre at the top an electric bulb was secured. Surrounding this at a safe distance I attached many strips of warm flannel which draped down forming a warm, cosy artificial mother. Heat was provided by the electric bulb, the size of wattage being reduced as the chicks feathered up. After three weeks the feathered chicks were placed outside into our old wooden toilet shed which by then had been replaced by a modern one. Our ground floor bathroom, once empty, was filled again by the second batch of chicks, then the third; the White Leghorns. This was a very busy time, within six weeks something like a hundred chicks were running about in the garden guarded by Vic. They couldn’t be housed in the small shed much longer so a visit to Westminister Bank College was called for. That solved the problem. Negotiations to purchase a large chicken house had already been started and was successfully completed. A building worth £100.00, at that time, was obtained for £10.00. All my free time during the next fortnight was used dismantling the shed, transporting it on a borrowed lorry, then re-erecting it on my large patch of spare ground. Six foot chicken wire and wooden posts became available at an auction where I successfully made a bid, obtaining enough for my needs and some spare. The finished henhouse was large enough to take about one hundred and sixty birds, poles and wire made up four good sized grass runs that could be used alternatively. An electric cable placed underground from the house provided lights operated on a time switch, these were set to be switched on at various times during the early morning as winter times progressed. To obtain good egg production it is necessary to give birds at least twelve hours of light and warmth. The warmth they will produce themselves by scratching for food placed in deep litter the night before. The first week in June saw all pullets housed in their new quarters and I was looking forward to them coming into lay.
The Prophecy Comes True – It’s Two Not One New Members Of The Family!
Maria had left work by now feeling very tired and spent most of her time resting and knitting. Ruth was again getting a bit concerned so at the end of June a further visit was made to our local surgery. Ruth had conversed with our local doctor who after a further examination stated, “Only one a heartbeat like a lion,” and so we waited.
About the middle of July we motored to Hertford Hospital where Maria went to have tests, or so I thought. While waiting in the car a Nurse called me upstairs where I saw Maria standing near a Nursing Sister who provided me with a chair and she suggested that I sit down. This seemed a bit puzzling to me, but my bewilderment was soon settled when the Sister announced, “Your wife is being kept in as she had high blood pressure!” That I understood but the next words took a long time to sink in. “She is expecting twins.” After the shock and a quick discussion with Maria she despatched me home to collect clothes that would be required for her stay, along with baby clothes in case of “their” possible early arrival. It has been a long standing joke in our family that while Maria was very heavily pregnant, it was I who was invited to sit down as the news was broken to the both of us! During the sixteen miles return journey my thoughts were jumping from one thing to another, I had a fortnight to sell the pram and buy a twin pram. Another cot also had to be obtained in that short space of time, otherwise one twin would start home life sleeping in a drawer as I had thirty years earlier. Nappies, we wouldn’t have enough of them but perhaps Ruth would help me out by obtaining more. That night after the two return trips from Hertford I crept into a lonely bed, falling asleep after trying to plan the next few days. Being in the police, hospital authorities seemed to turn a blind eye to visiting times and allowed me in at any time, if in uniform. To help me out I contacted mum and dad and fetched them back to Hunsdon where they looked after the house and provided me with meals. Dad fed my livestock, thoroughly enjoying himself while watching the young birds and constantly coming in to describe which he thought would lay next. Daily visits to Maria were at various times, sometimes after 10 p.m. where she gave instructions about what she thought ought to be done at home. It was on one of these visits that I first heard the words “study” and “promotion.” When she remarked, “With only one wage coming in and two extra mouths to feed, promotion would help.” Being very happy with my new stock coming into lay and plenty of customers at the Police Station I was content helping out with a little profit from them, plus providing enough vegetables all the year round from the garden.
Aubrey, my brother, visited for the weekend which included 31st July. That morning he answered the telephone and the caller thought that it was me who they were talking to. Thus, it was Aubrey who ended up being congratulated on becoming the father of two healthy girls. I took over the telephone asking various questions, suggested by mother who was in the background, such as, “What time? What weight?” As far as I can remember the births were about 7 a.m. and ten minutes apart, the heaviest first. They weighed in at 6lbs 10ozs and 7lbs 11ozs. Names had already been decided, Irene after a favourite cousin of mine and Noreen after Maria’s good friend at work, who had voluntarily knitted a second of every item of clothing, for the second twin. We all went to Hertford later that day to visit the new additions who were already in the Baby Ward. As we walked in, there standing at the cots was Ruth casting her professional eye over them. Maria remained in Hospital for a fortnight until they considered her fit to go home. My parents stayed for a further fortnight until they were satisfied that Maria could cope. Cots, including the extra one I had managed to purchase, were placed each side of our bed where the two, young noisy members of the family were to sleep. After feeding them, they were put down at about 11 p.m. for the night, we hoped to get some sleep. At about 1.30 a.m. one twin woke, was fed and replaced in her cot, being full she went to sleep. It appears that twins have some kind of telepathy because the one who was comfortable and content decides to radio to the other, informing her that it was time to wake up as she had left half for her. The same procedure was gone through, ending up at 3.45 a.m.
Somewhere about 4.30 a.m. the earlier birds wake, but something goes wrong with their telepathy, the other thinks she’s being left behind; there will be nothing left for her, so they both nestle up to mum who as quickly as possible puts them back into their separate cots. However, after laying listening to the Hunsdon dawn chorus they decide they must join in and be even better than the birds. Maria somehow managed to get to sleep, or pretended to be, leaving me with arms outstretched across the bed, hands clasping a cot either side trying to rock them off to sleep. After endless rocking both became silent, through exhaustion, no doubt! At last sleep was round the corner – snore, snore – What the hell was that? The alarm’s going off! 5.45 a.m. Now they all start, both cots vibrating as screaming noises rebound from the cots bars. Vic did not like these strange goings on, so she too uses her vocal cords. When a German Shepherd barks she intends to be heard. Crawling out of bed and trying to prise my eyes open I realise my fifteen minute schedule of dress, eat, wash and shave is ticking away. Walking out of the back door Vic, turns around in a circle and returns and snuggles up to sleep while I switch the Police radio on and book on duty with Headquarters. Sitting astride my motorcycle I think I must do something pleasant so I walk to my chicken house, look into the nest boxes and see numerous young birds in the process of laying eggs.
The procedure at night continued as before, both Maria and I survived on about three hours sleep at night, how my eyes kept open while riding my motorcycle during shifts I don’t know. At the end of the fortnight and on my rest day mum and dad were conveyed home with thanks. After returning home and during the evening when not falling asleep we talked over how we could cope. It was agreed for me to be able to do my daily duties I should get a reasonable night’s sleep every now and then. Whether we were being cruel or not I do not know, but it was agreed we had to be in our bedroom alone without breathing noises or crying, at least we required a few hours undisturbed. While Maria fed the girls and prepared them for the night I moved both cots into the empty bedroom situated just a little farther away from ours, but at the back of the house. At about 10.45 p.m. we put them into their cots and, they both went to sleep, quickly we got into bed ourselves and, being so exhausted, passed out as our heads touched the pillow. We knew nothing until 5.45 a.m. when Maria heard one crying and so went to deal with her. It was never known if they cried half or all of the night, but whatever happened we got some sleep. The next night we did the same thing and within four weeks our daughters were sleeping until 7 a.m. and continued to progress until Maria was able to manage them on her own.
The Twins Thrive.
All summer and throughout the winter, even when the snow covered the ground, the pair of them were outside in their pram almost all the day. Maria, no doubt, kept this up as she insisted it was very healthy, she had been brought up and spent much of her childhood in a similar way, especially holidays high up in the snow covered Carpathian Mountains. Although in those days it was very unlikely that babies would be kidnapped from a country garden as might be the case today, Vic had taken it on herself to guard them in their pram, never leaving it while they were outside alone. Vic, did not allow anyone in the garden unless Maria indicated that they could do so. This task of guarding is verified by all photographs taken of the twins at the time showing Vic on the alert and always within striking distance of them.
My little 1936 Ford Popular, with its wire wheels and luggage rack at the rear, was beginning to come in very handy. Our first visit as a family to see mum and dad at Watford was undertaken on a weekend when the girls were about eight weeks old. The huge, heavy twin pram was tied on to the rear rack secured by rope to the spare wheel. With many pillows on the rear seat, Maria sat in the centre with a twin on either side of her, therefore, in a position to cope with all their needs. This left the front passenger seat filled with such paraphernalia as clothes, nappies and bottles. Vic was left behind to look after the house and livestock, Charlie Vigus being in overall charge. Vic did not mind staying behind as she was then part of another family, romping around with Charlie’s little Terrier and walking over the adjacent fields. On these visits mum was only too willing and pleased to fuss about with babies for a couple of days so that it gave Maria a rest. In fact she even went out shopping on her own. She considered that a real treat, especially to visit Marks and Spencers at Watford.
Egg Production Grows.
October 1952 saw one hundred and fifty pullets all laying, giving a weekly total of approximately fifty five dozen eggs a week. Most of them were conveyed to Ware Police Station where they were left for my colleagues. By coincidence, the pair of metal pannier boxes on the rear of the motorcycle conveniently carried just four dozen eggs in cardboard boxes on each side. Feeding and watering the livestock was a daily chore but was worth it. It doesn’t take any longer to feed a hundred than ten and I enjoyed it.
When food is regularly left lying about, such as in the henhouse, there are bound to be vermin, so a few mice and rats always made a home in the ground beneath the shed or nearby. Vic made it one of her jobs to keep such pests under reasonable control, her first confrontation with a rat resulted in her being bitten through her lip, that caused loud squeals for a few seconds. As it turned out that bite made her all the more determined and anxious to visit the runs each evening where the rats could be easily caught. With her lightning like movements she would bite at the back of their heads and with a quick flick of her head broke their necks. How pleased she was when a good result was achieved. Food of broken wheat; not good enough for the farmers to sell to corn-merchants, was bought at a very reasonable price thus keeping my costs down. Laying pellets, however, had to be obtained from the chandler, together with shell grit needed for the production of eggs.
Maria continued to perform jobs connected with the Police, such as taking messages, accepting the production of driving documents and farmers or dealers calling for animal movement licences. During a period of bad weather that included heavy snow I left for duty one evening with Ruth keeping Maria company and lending a hand with the twins. On returning home at 11 p.m. nobody was in but the twins were fast asleep upstairs being faithfully guarded by Vic. A note was on the table from Ruth explaining that Maria had gone to a farm half a mile away to deliver an urgent message as the telephone line was down and that she would not be long. Ruth, being on call, had to go out on a confinement. I waited with Vic for about half an hour until Maria struggled in wearing snow covered wellington boots which were very essential but not suitable for wading through knee deep snow.
Poaching.
Men have hunted for game and animals to survive on since the stone age and I suppose they will continue to do so while the earth remains. Centuries ago in this country when open land was not controlled the provision of wild meat continued as it had for so long, but then the time came when estates were formed, either by the taking of land by powerful men, or handed over by the crown as rewards for some reason, often for winning battles for the monarchs either at home or abroad. After land became controlled it was not long before legislation was demanded, making it an offence to kill or take game, or search for same, including rabbits. The licensing of guns soon followed as the landowners thought the poachers were allowed too great an advantage, so soon to be included were powers for gamekeepers and Police. They could seize all types of implements, including guns used to shoot, catch or trap game by the poachers. Many families only just survived on a meagre living, poaching was one of the means for the poor to supplement their diet.
As a country Bobby one soon got to know which families were poor and needed a few supplements. Although it was my duty to enforce the law, at times our actions were decided by what is known in the Police Force as the Ways and Means Act or discretion. Providing such people were not making too great a nuisance of themselves and the feelings of the landowners were known, it, somehow became hard for me to detect minor offences. Many, poor petty poachers were of low mentality and ignorance got them into trouble. Often an otherwise honest man was kept out of trouble by suggesting he obtain a farmer’s permission to snare rabbits, after I assured the farmer I would keep watch on the snarer.
This type of poacher came into the minor category, but the second group was made up of poachers who hunted game for profit and profit alone. Such types sold pheasants, partridges and other more valuable game to anyone who was willing to obtain them at cheaper than shop prices. These men took part in a profitable hobby while also taking an exciting risk. Landowners had a dislike for them as they watched their hand bred pheasants, raised at their expense and the cost of Gamekeeper’s wages and feed bills, being poached. Offences by such men were treated more seriously and numerous types were caught by me and prosecuted. To have looked into my front-room at times one could see various piles of guns, ammunition, nets, traps, snares or any other ingenuous contraption constructed to ensnare the poacher’s intended victim. Dogs we had no power to seize, thank goodness. Perishable birds or animals usually found their way into any convenient refrigerator or cold storage until such time as they needed to be produced in court. As so many offences of poaching were detected I cannot remember the exact details of any specific episode exciting enough to recall.
The third type the legislators thought more serious as the sentences were much heavier, were night poaching where usually gangs of men searched and killed game. Modern poachers use up to date methods and plan their objectives thoroughly, pheasants can be seen easily perching on trees at night, they rest on branches and provide an easy target for a good shot. Fast vans or estate cars are easy transport for conveying both poachers and their spoils. These vehicles are usually hidden in some convenient place. Walkie talkie radios kept members of the gang in touch with one another and enabled large areas to be covered, in addition providing early warnings of the approach of Police or gamekeepers. A 0.22 rifle with a spot torch attached provide excellent means of killing. A gang of four men, at night, can shoot fifty or sixty birds in a very short time and within an hour deliver their spoils to large towns for unscrupulous Hoteliers to make huge profits.
Rabbit killing for food was greatly curtailed with the outbreak of myxomatosis, a very virulent disease that almost, but not quite, wiped out the species. Bodies and dying animals were everywhere, in fields, ditches, streams and wherever one went they were there. High banks where rabbits often made their burrows, such as alongside the road opposite Widford railway station had to be cleared daily by the road sweeper after I had visited the evening or the night before. Vic soon got into the habit of breaking the necks of dying rabbits by the score, sometimes the numbers crawling about with swollen eyes and faces were so great my dog got tired of killing them so I had to put them out of their misery with my truncheon. This kept on for months until the district was clear of it and I didn’t see any more rabbits while stationed in the country.
A Pair Of Escapologists!
The turn of 1953 saw the twins moving about freely and we noticed some very minor differences in their features, although they were identical twins. However, because we dressed them alike it was very difficult for others to tell them apart. Only when Maria and I were together could we manage to keep an eye on them both and ensure they were kept out of mischief and danger, so, we took the practical step of buying a playpen. At least when placed inside one could assume where they were. It was not long before they pulled themselves up by the bars, then either by luck, or planning, they realised that if both worked together the playpen could be moved to wherever adjacent furniture would allow. Their pram could not be left in the room with them, otherwise the pen would be moved towards it pushing the pram forward into whatever barred its way. This movement of the playpen had to be stopped, so it was secured by hooks and long screws in the wall in the corner of the room. Securing the pen in such a way gave us a few weeks respite, at least until their devious little brains worked out they could, with a struggle, climb over the top. This was achieved by the co-operation of each other, one would lay down while the other stood on top of her, this gave the climber enough height to swing a leg over the top bar and drop over the side. A surprised Maria found one outside the pen and it took us both long periods of observation to establish just how the escape took place. On realising how easy it was for them to climb over the top, Maria set to work with large balls of string and, somehow, wove or crocheted a net that was tied over the top, this enabled them to be restrained for periods while their mother managed to do some housework! Feeding them in their highchairs was not too bad as lap and shoulder straps kept them in until they got used to sitting, in fact, this was achieved rather quickly, them not attempting to get out until they asked and were allowed. During the summer they spent a lot of the time playing in the garden, where once again Vic acted like a shepherd dog, always keeping them together, even if they strayed into the ploughed field at the rear. All Maria had to do was call Vic and the twins were immediately traced. They could not get into the road as the hawthorn hedge was too thick for them to negotiate without damaging or injuring themselves.
Mid 1953 saw the twins growing fast and Maria was coping well. She had made no mention of my promotion, or the required studies needed to take the examinations, since the twins were born. I had thought about it a couple of times but not until in Ware canteen gossip made a few of us sit up and think. A group of five of us were having our refreshments and just talking when one disclosed that a fairly fattish constable, we will call him Law, had passed both parts of his promotion examinations which entitled him to be promoted to Sergeant. What a thought Fatty Law a Sergeant! This was such a shock to us all and the thought of him being a Sergeant above us filled us with trepidation, resulting in us vowing that we must study and continue doing so until successful. Maria could hardly believe her ears when I brought up the subject, but she was only too willing to assist me in studying. The promotion subjects were the same as those taken when applying to join the Police Force only harder to pass. They consisted of two parts and covered a wider field. I suppose a higher level must be expected as Sergeants were often responsible, at times, for a town the size of Ware or similar. Only one part of the examination was studied at a time. To make sure that regular study sessions were kept to, Maria and I both went to bed at 8 p.m. twice a week during winter months and studied. Once again Maria knew as much or more than I did, she had a very retentive brain and was good at asking questions, so assisted me greatly. The following Spring I sat the examination but failed on one subject by a couple of marks. All five subjects had to be passed at the same time, this meant another lot of studying the following winter, as during the growing season I was too busy in the garden and dealing with my poultry.
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