Riot Squad training session
Apologies first for the delay in trying to sort out this photo. This was a difficult one, partly because Riot Squads are supposed to be neatly lined up, but these guys are all over the place!
Many thanks to Terry Cabral for providing us with the photo which he also has displayed on his Facebook. Terry advises that it was taken at Police Headquarters in 1977 while he was working in Admin, and that it was a great bunch of lads who were taking a break from Riot Training.
We have a few disputes about who is who, but here goes with what I believe are the closest answers so far:-
(Upper l-r) John Baxter, Tony Smith, Steve Petty, John Lynchwade, Leonard “Shinah” Simons, originally believed to be Carlton Adams but now confirmed as Ralph Furbert (see comments below), George Rushe, Gerald Fletcher. It’s almost impossible to believe Carlton in uniform, but Terry believed that he had just been promoted and was back in uniform for a while. We have subsequently checked with Carlton who tells us that he had not yet been promotoed when this photo was taken in 1977. He was promoted in 1979 and he also assures us that it is definitely not him in the photo. Ralph Furbert has now contacted us and says he is the person in this photo.
(Lower) Roger Kendall, Reg “Buster” Brown (resting), either Hensley Herrodeus George or Chris Graham-Ward on the bumper with Ronnie Smith? Louis Griffiths, and Barrie Meade.
(Upper l-r ) Paul Burch, Steve Perinchief, Ken Lewis, Chris Spencer on roof, Bernie Pitman, Jeff Payne, Barry Walkes, Andy Fielding, Kevin Hamilton, has to be Alan Barker with moustache, Steve Peterson, Reggie Horseman.
(Lower) Earlston Thompson, Laurie Phillips, Terry Cabral, Stuart Innes, and Richard Basden.
We can, of course be wrong with a few names. Terry can you let us know who has been identified on your Facebook photo and whether we are close? There was a suggestion the person we identify as Alan Barker might be Dave King but we will check that with Alan Barker in Nova Scotia.
Many thanks to everyone who gave their input.