Quite a sad day today as I went to cover the official closure of Hampton police station where the historic fleet of Metropolitan Police vehicles (7-vintage cars and 7-motorbikes) have been kept for a number of years.
The cavalcade started at 10.30am and I was lucky to get there in time as all the publicity had stated 11.00am as the start time and also the wrong address for the police station so I had about 10-minutes to drive 2-miles and find a parking place… I made it with literally 30-seconds to spare before the first bike drove out of the gate! This is one of the original Morris Minor police cars from 1970.
The vehicles headed off to Hendon via central London and New Scotland Yard and it was nice that a number of local people turned out to see the event. The police station will now be sold off and sadly it could be destined to be another supermarket. The only good thing is that the facade is protected and so will have to remain to maintain the look of the high street. If you have time here's my article for Demotix - http://www.demotix.com/news/4033558/vintage-police-vehicles-leave-hampton-police-station-last-time#media-4033484
This was a sad day for sure. Do you know what will become of the cars? I'm glad that the facade of the building has to be maintained. I learned recelyt that an Anglican church not far from where I live, 134 years old (and that's old for Canada) is to be demolished to make way for yet another condo--this makes me feel sick. How I hate to see history just wiped away.
@tristansmum All the cars and motorbikes are safe and will go to the museum in Hendon. They are still occasionally brought out for shows and displays and the old Wolseley dates from 1948. The police station is a lovely Victorian red brick building with the traditional blue lamp outside. It is sad to see the old local stations close. I'm sorry about the Anglican church near you, it really is shortsighted to pull it down. Quite often here if there is a small chapel that is no longer used, they are renovated into houses (very expensive!). I hope your walking cast is helping you. I winced when you described ho painful it was. I really hope it is not quite so painful now.
