What's tha up to-Memories of an Attercliffe Bobby,Signd

WHAT’S THA UP TO?

Memories of an Attercliffe Bobby

SIGNED COPY

by Martyn Johnson

Born the son of a Houghton Main Miner, Martyn spent his formative years in the Parish of Darfield, where he still has close contacts, although he has been a resident of Wentworth village for many years. Following his first job as a Blacksmith, he went on to join the Sheffield City Police Force in 1962 where he experienced a culture shock. From a life living in a rural village he was posted to Attercliffe & Darnall, in Sheffield’s East end. Even the dialect was different and it was, at first, like ‘Life on Mars’ the television series.

In 1969 he was promoted to Detective Constable, but missing his old job, it’s day-to-day challenges, and especially the people, returned to grass-root policing.

By the late 1970s, the job had changed. The old ‘bobby on the beat’ era was almost gone. Martyn left the police force for other occupations.

His recollections of the twilight period of the beat bobby is therefore not just entertaining but also of considerable historical interest. I would not be surprised if Martyn Johnson’s modern-day Dickensian writings continue, much to the dekight of further readers.

Brian Elliott (Editor)