Police Memories

by Bill Williams

  The mini bus stopped, Spud switched off the engine to assist those who required help. There was the usual mad scramble lasting some 10 to fifteen minutes for the passengers to all leave and to get inside the building.

  Miss Prim and Scouser Joe arrived on their floor saying their good byes but on passing the open door of Claude’s room and hearing the noise inside Joe stopped by the door, this caused Miss Prim to look and join him.

  Inside they saw Matron supervising Charles the handyman and Sally working inside Claude’s room. It had been completely changed around, in particular, gone was Claude’s Chair on which he had spent his time looking through the window at the outside world.

  “What is happening?” Enquired Miss Prim.

  Matron Raving turned, looked and replied “Claude passed way suddenly two hours ago his room is required for another resident.”

  “Where are all his things?” asked Miss Prim.

  Matron looked over her nose and replied, “Not as it is any of your business I have disposed of his police memorabilia to the police officer who came to deal with the sudden death on behalf of the Coroner, the personal clothing and other items I have disposed of in the refuse skip that has just left.

  Miss Prim looking a little sad asked, “His computer, camera, books and film discs, where are they?”

  Matron smiled and said “They were of no use to anyone else I shredded the hard copy of the book cut up the discs and disposed of them and the camera in the skip also. In fact I might add I spoke with the police officer, he assured me no one is interested in police stories, even he and his colleagues will not tell or read any nor wish to be reminded of their police service once they leave either on retirement or otherwise.”

  Scouser Joe asked, “You weren’t afraid of anything in his items were you Matron?”

  “No of course not, now please go to your rooms and permit us to finish our work, the new resident will be here shortly,” she said, clearly in a huff.

  It was a month later Matron arrived for duty at 9 am on a cold clear Monday morning unusually she could see several people standing at the reception desk. Approaching the group she recognised Mr Danvers Denton the company chief operating officer, this in itself caused her some consternation.

  “Good morning Mrs Raving, a word in your office please?” said Mr Denton.

  “Mrs Raving, I will give him Mrs,” she muttered under her breath, “Wait till the visitors have left I will put him straight, I am a Matron and a Matron I will remain.”

  They all went inside, Mr Denton walked in first and unusually sat in the Matrons chair. He indicated to the two others with him to take the remaining seats leaving Verity Raving standing.

  Danvers said, “Mrs Raving, may I please introduce, Mr Winston Watson Chief of the Care Homes Standards Agency and Miss Jessie Arnold relief Manager from Head Office.”

  With that, Mr Raving walked into the office without invitation.

  “I say this is a private meeting Mr Raving, please leave,” said Denton abruptly.

  “I insist he should remain. he is my husband and loyal partner and of a great unpaid help to me here,” she replied.

  “Very well, but I advise against it,” said Mr Denton.

  “Mrs Raving,” said Mr Denton “I have here a communication from Messrs Hudson, Dallow, Crampton and Lowry, Solicitors. I will read the contents, which are self-explanatory.”

  Respected Sirs,

  We write upon important and disturbing matters concerning the general running and supervision of your establishment, The Homestead, and in particular the Conduct of Mrs Verity Raving in particular.

  I am to inform you we represented and are now acting upon the instructions of an old adversary of mine Mr Claude Friendly now deceased. Mr Friendly had some time ago deposited certain items and given us specific instructions upon which to act in the event something should befall him.

  Upon his death we are given powers of administration of his Estate currently In Trust, in addition we possess powers of Attorney. Whilst the matters of the Estate are being finalised I attach herewith A Court Order, which I now serve upon you as the Chief Operating officer of The Homestead, a copy will be served upon the Local Authority to ensure no assets are depleted without the consent of the Court. This Court Order freezes all assets of the late Mr Friendly until further notice.

  I now turn to the most serious matters, being allegations against Mrs Raving, the Matron, these amount to, oppressive and Overbearing attitude, Discreditable conduct, Gross Neglect of her duties, which, did or may have contributed to the death(s) of residents in your care.

  We enclose written matters and a film record, the contents which you will no doubt wish to investigate and if necessary report the matters to the police.

  We have already served a copy upon The Care Home Standards Agency.

  We were instructed that should Mrs Raving resign immediately, accepting her misdeeds and assurances are given a more placid and resident friendly regime will be put in place supervised closely by the standards Agency then these allegations may be set aside.

  Respectfully Yours

  Jane Hudson

  Solicitor

  Senior Partner

  Mr Denton continued the saga. “There is also a letter within the communication originating from a Mr and Mrs Edward Edwards, you may know him as Ned, the postman.”

  “The contents of this letter make disgusting and disturbing allegations concerning the treatment of the mother of Mrs Edwards, now R.I.P and subsequently your attitude at an interview they had with you upon the matters.”

  “Before we continue further, I see you have a DVD machine.”

  He walked over switched it on and inserted a disc. The screen came on and over the next two minutes it displayed film and photographs of Verity Raving along the canal and inside the lock keepers hut.

  “This disgusting conduct goes on for over an hour; I feel we have seen enough.”

  “I might add,” continued Watson “Within the papers I hold is a list of times and dates and details of various incidents.”

  Mr Watson then spoke again. “Mrs Raving, the letter from the solicitors of Mr Friendly states if you are prepared to resign immediately they are prepared to let the matter rest providing Mr Denton here ensures our company has regular Supervisory visits and we put into operation several changes in our operations and management style to which we have agreed. The alternative is for you to be suspended immediately and Miss Arnold here will take over your duties pending the result of an investigation by Mr Watson’s Department and of course the police.”

  He handed Verity Raving, who was no longer raving, a form she could clearly see was headed “Resignation.”

  Mrs Raving looked up, smiled and said, “I resign, do I get a reference?”

  Danvers Denton shook his head in the negative, “You will also lose any claim to pension rights, it says it all in the form.”

  Watson continued, “You will never be permitted to work with elderly or vulnerable people again, to be frank Madam, you are a disgrace.”

  “I will clear my desk,” replied Verity.

  Mr Denton chimed in, “Madam, your desk has been cleared all your personal items have been packed and are being placed by your husband’s car as I speak.”

  “I would add that you will never be permitted to enter this building again and to ensure this; all door codes are being changed.”

  She signed the form, and left the room, followed by her husband.

  Moments later looking through the window Mr Raving was seen climbing into his car and driving off alone leaving what seemingly would be his ex wife standing alone together with her bags and boxes.

  She was not alone for many minutes for through the gates stormed Mrs Lock keeper. She was clearly holding a letter in one hand and what appeared to be a DVD disc in the other. She strode up to Mrs Raving and a heated argument commenced, arms waiving and seemingly much remonstrating.

  By coincidence at the moment a police van arrived an
d on seeing the unruly behaviour the officers left the vehicle and could be seen speaking with the two women in an apparent effort to calm things down.

  Mrs Lock Keeper, began to cry and turned to walk away, not Mrs Raving she attempted to walk after her but was unable to do so for one of the police officers put his arm across her path to prevent her passing. She instantly turned on the officer and hit him on the head with her handbag.

  The second officer took hold of her but she was in a hysterical rage, the first and assaulted officer stood and called to the other who released Mrs Raving but she then reeled back as the CS gas hit her in the face. She fell to the ground still kicking and screaming.

  The officers handcuffed her and unceremoniously “assisted” her into the rear of the police van and they were gone.

  Meanwhile the whole event had been witnessed from every window facing the car park, in addition to the main office the smiling toothless faces was a sight to behold thought Scouser Joe who was smiling to himself.

  “How very unseemly,” commented Mr Danvers Denton, “I don’t think we will be hearing any further from old Raving.”

  There was a sarcastic smile on several of the faces.

  At the town civic centre it was later reported by the cemetery warden that a strange event had taken place whilst he was at work that day.

  He could have sworn he heard distinct laughing about 10am as he had walked passed the tablet marking the final resting place of the ashes of old Claude Friendly the copper whom he had known many years ago.

  He recalled how he was walking home around midnight one night in a storm and a police car stopped, the driver, old Claude gave him a lift home, adding he ought not to be out so late being only 18 years old.

  Two weeks later things had changed at the Homestead, the atmosphere was now pleasant, less rules and regulations, the staff walked with a swagger smiled and laughed with the residents, the “establishment,” gone, now replaced by “The Homestead,” a care home.

  Miss Prim arrived in her office, sat down at her desk to commence her first day as temporary manager. There were two early callers who on arrival saw the sign on the door; Miss Prim Manager (Acting) my door is always open, even on Fridays.

  On entering the room newly appointed Sister Sally Johnson, S.R.N Chief Nurse at the home and her assistant staff nurse Einwen Davies fresh to the area from North Wales sat for the morning briefing.

  They were attracted to the police helmet badge mounted on a piece of polished oak on her desk upon which was written.

  Claude Friendly, the last of the local coppers.

  Sally thought, “What a shame Matron had destroyed the written copy of the book and the various discs, all was lost forever.”

  She then noticed on a wrist of Miss Prim, a chain, attached to which was small computer memory stick!

  Perhaps all the written work of old Claude and the stories revealed, was not lost after all.

  THE END.