THE Worcester City Police recruits were well known at the Midland Police School after the war because, like all other recruits, we wore a close neck tunic.

Ours had silver braid sewn into the neck. Very outstanding, but in hot weather, when you took off the tunic you had a red mark around your neck like someone had tried to hang you.

At at the Police School, I soon learnt the importance of the opposite sex for more reasons than one.

One of the three ladies in my class was brilliant at law and it was no surprise when she came top of the class.

The second more mature lady found a new career - she married an instructor! Lastly, a lovely petite lady was soon to impress me in other ways.

One week I was class prefect, in other words general dogsbody, and the instructor told me to ensure that the class came in civvies the next morning. Naturally I was interested to know why, but he went all secretive.

"Oh go on Sarg, where we going?" I pleaded and he replied "I'll give you a clue it ends with ry."

"Oh good' I replied "a brewery!" he laughed and said "hard luck, it's a mortuary!"

I was mortified and the next morning we all piled into a coach and soon reached our destination, a forbidding looking building.

"Right" said the sergeant, "have a good look while your inside and don't flake out on me!" I was a bit apprehensive because I had never seen a corpse before, but of course, it was necessary for us to get used to death because, sadly, we were going to see our share of it in our chosen careers.'

I was quite pleased when we all returned to the coach and then my face fell when I realised that the petite policewoman was still inside.

"Well go and find her," the sergeant said and I returned with a heavy heart fearing I would find her flaked out. But was surprised to find this great gal covering up all the cadavers. What a policewoman she was about to become!.

JOE WALTER,

Worcester