|
Recollections
West End
'Points Duty' |
|
Question |
|
Thank you to George T Smith for sending me his
recollections of the policeman on 'Points Duty' at the West End of Princes
Street, before traffic lights were installed at that junction. |
George wrote:
West End of Princes
Street
"I wonder if anyone remembers the
policeman on 'Points Duty' at the West End just outside Binns who,
as I recollect, was famous for the balletic movements of his hand
signals?
He did them with a graceful sort of
flourish that seemed personal to him. I imagine he was based
at Torphichen Street."
George Smith,
Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada:
August 11, 2007 |
|
Reply 1
from
Peter Stubbs,
Edinburgh |
|
Foot of the Mound
I don't remember seeing the
policeman that George mentions above, but when I first came to
Edinburgh in 1963, I remember watching the two policemen working together,
one at the foot of
the Mound, the other a few yards away at the foot of Hanover Street, on 'Points Duty'.
They worked together as a
'double act' with lots of waving of arms as they controlled the traffic
from Princes Street, Hanover Street and the Mound.
On one occasion, I filmed them
with a cine camera for about five minutes. The film turned out to be
more amusing than I had anticipated. The camera battery was running
down, so the policemen began to move faster and faster as the film came to
an end!
- Peter
Stubbs: August 11, 2007 |
|
Reply 2
from
George Smith, British
Columbia |
George wrote again:
West End of Princes
Street
"Watch this space - I've asked my
brother ,ex Embro Polis (Edinburgh
Police) who now lives in Italy,
if he can recollect the polisman with the fancy moves.
My brother was based at Torphichen
Street from about 1958 but it may have been before his time.
Did I hallucinate or did they really
wear white gloves?
Any idea when traffic lights took over?"
George Smith,
Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada:
August 16, 2007 |
|
White Gloves
1. It's true. The Police on Points Duty really did wear white
gloves. I remember them.
Traffic Lights
2. I'm not sure when the traffic lights took over. I'd guess some
time around 1970.
- Peter Stubbs: August 16, 2007 |
|
Reply 3
from
Betty Smith,
Italy |
Betty Smith wrote:
West End of Princes
Street
"There is a
picture of a policeman directing traffic at the West End in a book
we have about Edinburgh. He is probably the same person as you
are thinking about.
His name was John Hope,
known jokingly as 'Lord John Hope' after the MP of the same name.
He was on the point up until it was light-controlled."
Ardmillan
"Another flamboyant
policeman who directed traffic was John Robertson, known as
Singapore Sam. He was the one with the really fancy hand
signals, but he was later than John Hope.
I remember him well on the
point at Ardmillan."
Betty Smith, Italy, sister-in-law of
George Smith, British Columbia (above): Aug 22, 2007. |
|
