RAF Dishforth PTC 1974 Syndicate 11

PTC Dishforth Syndicate 11 February 1974_opt_compressed   When I joined Gloucestershire in January 1974 there was a shortage of vacancies for training at the usual PTC – Chantmarle in Doreset. I was therefore  sent with Alan Bartholomew and another probationer Steve Pullen to Dishforth in North Yorkshire.

There were 2 unusual things about this course. The first was that it was the first 10 week course ot be held at Dishforth (replacing the previously longer 13 week course). The second feature was that during the time we were in training many force boundaries and names were changed (together with uniforms). In this picture I am second from the right in the rear row sporting the only black helmet plate and rose. In this group of recruits were officers from Lancashire, Norfolk Joint Police, Mid Anglia, Sussex , and  British Airport Authority Police Heathrow . The two  Sergeat Instructors were from I believe West Yokshire and Durham. As you can see at that time Durham had yet to start wearing the chequered cap band.