The Rotary Nostalgia Thread

[Savoia]

Brantly in the Docks!

When Prime Minister Harold Wilson visited Newport Docks in 1967 to open a major new timber wharf, some of the officers on duty stood in front of the ministerial helicopter for a photograph. Included in the picture, wearing a motorcycle helmet, was motorcyclist Pc Percy Sharland.

The local Divisional Commander, Superintendent William Voyle was not a man noted for his sense of humour but he smiled when he saw the photograph and sent it to the editor of the British Transport Police Journal at Force Headquarters with a note to the effect that the Docks Division were proud to announce that it had taken possession of a police helicopter and that Pc Sharland had been trained as its pilot.

When the article was published it certainly came as news to the chief constable and it raised a few eyebrows until the truth came out when everyone could see the funny side of it.

S.