Alan says he joined Portsmouth City Police in 1950 and was posted to the Central Division, a patch which covered the south-western corner of Portsea Island.
He recalls: ‘In those days there were regular point duty policemen at the Guildhall Square, Edinburgh Road, Lake Road and Commercial Road junctions for ordinary traffic control.’
However, he adds: 'At out-muster times for the dockyard workers, other police officers were engaged on point duty at Stanhope Road, Commercial Road and Arundel Street.’
But this job could be fraught with danger.
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Alan adds: ‘You had to beware, for there would be hell to pay if you kept the dockies waiting too long.
‘They would all start ringing their bicycle bells making a hell of racket!
‘Happy days.”