A diary of one man's (Using the term lossely) utter failure, depression, frustration, cock-ups, and impecuniousness, starting in August 1947
The second and last time I was assigned to a CIT shift (Cash In Transit), was when I was at a factory in Lenton, Nottingham.
They had a large amount of money (£12k) they wanted collecting from a bank in Nottingham's city centre, and taking back to the factory's wages department offices.
I was to escort a clerk in a taxi to and from the bank.
The taxi arrived, we both climbed in, and got to the bank at the allotted time. I entered the bank alongside the clerk, and he received the cash in an armoured box (E1 type).
Back to the office without any problems, and I returned to my gatehouse duties.
An hour or so later, the finance manager along with the factory manager and two police officers came to the gatehouse, to inform me that the money was £20 short!
I explained that i had no contact with the actual cash, just picked up the E1 and carried it to the taxi, keeping it on my knees until we returned, then carried it upstairs to the cash office with the clerk.
They seemed to think that I'd pocketed the missing note.
I explained further, that if anyone tried to force open an EI, it would emit the spray of dye.
They still seemed to think that I'd pocketed the missing note.
A replacement officer was found, and I was taken, along with the clerk to Canning Street police station to be interviewed.
They still seemed to think that I'd pocketed the missing note.
I was briefly questioned, and left sat in an office on my own for an hour or so, while they obtained and viewed some CCTV footage.
An officer returned, and said he had no idea why I'd been bought in at all!
But the site manager still seemed to think that I'd pocketed the missing note.
Shortly after that, I was given a cup of tea, and released, going back to the factory.
When I arrived, I felt the need to tackle the manager face to face - and went to his office, bypassing his secretary, knocking on and opening his door, I entered. He jumped with surprise, and put on a weak smile, asking me to 'Please take a seat!'
He explained that it had just come to light that the money had been miscounted by accounts. And gave me a £20 note as compensation for the error!
Many months later, on a Tuesday morning at 1015hrs, I was doing a patrol of the site, when the fire-alarm sounded.
I went to the gatehouse, opened the barriers, and checked the panel - the fire was indicated as being in the managers office.
The fire team arrived at the gatehouse and we sorted who would guide the staff out, one to guide the brigade when they arrived, and two of us went up to the managers office to check and validate the incident.
There was a small fire in a waste bin near the desk, that we dealt with using the extinguisher, as the Brigade arrived.
The manager was found apparently in a store cupboard with his secretary and his demeanour was ruffled!
I did laugh!
