🟨 𝐅𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞.

On Saturday the 6th of October 1973, the Yom Kippur war broke out. I was a dustman at the time and the following Monday, I had an appointment at the Carriage Office in regards to the Knowledge of London. I had made arrangements with my work mates who said they would clock me in, if I came to work really early, I could finish early and still have my appearance.

My job was to pull the bins out and leave them on the curb. 

As I walked into the Israeli Embassy residence in Avenue road St John’s Wood, I was jumped on by two burly security guards who arrested me and took me into a little hut. 

When I asked them why they had done this, they said I’d posed a security risk because of what was going on in Israel. 

I said “don’t be silly, do I look like a terrorist?”

They looked me up and down…I was wearing a Parker, with overalls tucked into my socks and Dr Martin boots and as I’d arrived in Avenue Road on my Moped, I was also wearing a balaclava as the morning air was quite chilly. 

The gaurd said “yes, you look exactly like a terrorist!” 

I had no form of ID on me…so I had to wait for them to contact the council who sent an inspector from the yard to identify me. 

When I was finally released by security, it was too late to go home and get changed, and as I didn’t want to miss my appointment (which was frowned upon by Penton Street) I got on my moped and headed straight to Penton Street. It was my third appearance on 21's and I was worried if I didn’t turn up, they would put me back on 28 days. 

That morning, I had Mr Finlay as my examiner. When he called my name out and I stood up, his face was a picture. He ushered me into his office and before I sat down he said to me, “why are you dressed like that?…if I can wear a suit, I think it’s only right that you should dress appropriately.”

After I explained what had happened to me that morning, he invited me to sit down and said he appreciated the fact that I’d found it important to make the appearance rather than cancel. 

He then asked me a few blue book runs, along with a few points, then gave me my card back. I said thank you and walked to the reception to book my next appearance. It was only when she said “oh, well done Mr Thomas”… I realised he had marked my card with a 14, giving me my two’s. 

My following appearances were with Mr Finlay, who treated me well, not at all like the reputation he had of being difficult…and on my second two’s appearance, he gave me my Rec. 

I’ll never forget his final words to me as he handed me my card saying “well done Mr Thomas, now get your arse round the suburbs and good luck”. 

𝐓𝐀𝐗𝐈 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐀 𝐁𝐈𝐓:

I’d started the knowledge in January 1973, after finally having two appearances on Suburbs and passing the driving test, had my badge by December the same year. The best Christmas present I’d ever had. 

I’ve always wondered how much longer my knowledge would have lasted if I’d just not turned up and missed my appointment?