General Information
During the year 2000 D J Clark built a visual record of the Lancaster &
Morecambe district using photographs and information submitted by those that
feature in the pictures. The project was conducted in association with Lancaster
Museum and has been archived for future generations to look back at the district
at the turn of the new Millennium. For more information on the project visit
the information page. If you find a caption is
wrong or there is a fault with the page please e-mail D
J Clark.
Date:
October 27th, 2000
Location: Various locations
Photographer's Diary
Friday 27th October - Lancaster Police
I was never sure if this was going to come off, but like many other subjects
all went smoothly. I contacted the Police press unit some weeks previously and
had had a phone call from a P.C. Dodgson. He had called me in the summer but
failed to arrange an appointment as he was about to get married. The winter
was now upon us and I was worried about the day being washed out, but as I showed
up and sat for nearly 20 minutes waiting the rain stopped and the sun broke
through.
P.C. Dodgson was unlike I had imagined. He had gained a reputation as a community
officer on the Ridge estate, though he explained his beat was actually much
wider. He complained about a shortage in staff. "I was the only policeman
on call this morning in Lancaster" but he still had managed to walk the
streets of the ridge and dish out crime awareness newsletters.
Over a cup of tea in the canteen upstairs I suggested we move before the rain
started again, so we jumped into a small police car and went up to the Ridge.
Parking the car and starting to walk it was not far before we found a young
boy appearing to build a bonfire in an apartment building's car park. He questioned
the boy, half tongue in cheek. The boy claimed to be doing the world a favour
by cleaning the canal of debris and moving it to a secure place, it was bonfire
night season and everyone knew what was going on.
Not much further on and we were approached by a woman complaining of kids letting
fireworks off. They could be clearly heard but as we approached, the children
ran off through the smoke. A futile chase got both our feet wet and no signs
of the problem makers. A young boy on a bike, who claimed to be six, quickly
realled off the names with no idea of the consequences. Before he had finished
he also asked if we would like to see his knife and proceeded to pull out a
four inch penknife. That dealt with the tour continued.
PC Dodgson was very relaxed and people called out his name and waved as we passed.
The Kids clearly liked him and ran up to say hello. "This is where I get
most of my information" he told me "not much goes on that these children
don't know about". There was one tense moment as we passed three teenagers
in a doorway. "The one on the left through a fire bomb at Mal Hussein's
shop" , we passed without incident though one shouted out "he's high
you know" they looked drugged up to the eyeballs.
Returning to the Police Station I was offered a tour. Starting in the charge
room we were confronted by a angry solicitor. I didn't shoot the picture but
returned later when she had gone. The rest of the station was clean and functional,
very reassuring for a Lancaster Citizen.
Saying goodbye I made my way to the car in Dallas road car park. As I put my
cameras in the back I noticed some Asian children on the way to the Mosque.
I grabbed the Nikon and stuck a long lens on, then bingo they walked into my
frame and I caught some candid expression.
I drove to Sunderland Point, just missing the rush hour traffic and walked out
to the point for sunset. It came but was disappointing, so I visited the Owen's
for something to eat and get the captions for their day.