1989
It all started with a simple comment. Having lived in a small log cabin tucked away in a corner of the hotel garden for a week, Dave said:
'It's like living in a chicken coop!'
'It's like living in a chicken coop!'
Other events found their way into the cartoon. It was the first year this hotel had taken the contract to house the police working at Balmoral. They had installed three log cabins and farmed other officers out to B&B's. The hotel didn't seem too keen to see one officer rebuild his car engine outside the cabin. The love of golf also featured and clothes line was a poke at another officer who had a habit of washing his clothes daily, we suspected he may not have packed more than one days worth for a 5 week trip...
Lenny was our 'All Action Hero' who took working in the wilds of Balmoral in his stride, unlike some city dwellers. Once on post he rarely needed relieving, preferring to be self sufficient in every way.
Russell was our expert. He knew everything about everything, he really did. He knew everything about Balmoral, the Royals, the local hills, golf, fishing, birds, trees and the stars. He did, however, enjoy telling everyone what he knew. This cartoon lost me sleep. We were on our final night shift of seven with a 5am finish and due back at 1pm the same afternoon. I sketched this before going to sleep.
Nearing the end of the night shift Russell announce he had just spotted an UFO. No mistake, it wasn't a satellite, which we would see a dozen of each hour, but an UFO and he gave details of where in the sky, the direction, turns etc. Trying to humour him the Grampian Sergeant attached to the Police Control Room thought he would see if there was a form he could produce on his computer. Luck had it there was a button on the screen listing UFO sightings.
What he didn't know was once pressed it alerted the local RAF base who phone Grampian HQ in Aberdeen. I can't remember if that sergeant worked at Balmoral again but Russell wasn't allowed to forget. This cartoon was added to the hotel dinner menu that evening together with suitably named dishes and Holst Planet music playing in the background. Although the lights where dimmed when he entered the dining room, his face lit it a glowing red, even though he stuck to his story.
Nearing the end of the night shift Russell announce he had just spotted an UFO. No mistake, it wasn't a satellite, which we would see a dozen of each hour, but an UFO and he gave details of where in the sky, the direction, turns etc. Trying to humour him the Grampian Sergeant attached to the Police Control Room thought he would see if there was a form he could produce on his computer. Luck had it there was a button on the screen listing UFO sightings.
What he didn't know was once pressed it alerted the local RAF base who phone Grampian HQ in Aberdeen. I can't remember if that sergeant worked at Balmoral again but Russell wasn't allowed to forget. This cartoon was added to the hotel dinner menu that evening together with suitably named dishes and Holst Planet music playing in the background. Although the lights where dimmed when he entered the dining room, his face lit it a glowing red, even though he stuck to his story.
Early teething problems where experienced that year with the accommodation. Having seven guys in a rented house with only one bathroom was never going to work. Added to this a visiting wife or girlfriend and the strain was too much for some.
When it came to accommodation there were two camps. The Townies, housed by the hotel and the Bothy Boys, who lived in the Castle grounds in a 12 roomed bothy. The Bothy was only for the experienced officers, including the night shift corridor officers. This year saw a first. A WPC was housed in the Bothy! Sharing the facilities is one thing (the cartoon isn't made up) but when she rebuilt her motorbike engine on the kitchen table the 'old boys' nearly had a heart attack!
Since Victorian times Deeside and Ballater have hosted the Royals and the Metropolitan Police. Working together was a way of life. No more so than with the local garage where our stores and vehicle maintenance man, Dave, would often be found.
Finally for that year. Working at Balmoral had its dangers. At least I could laugh about this, I wasn't one of the two officers who got bitten!
© Alan Graham 2015