I was always a dreamer, never really deciding on any particular career, always seeking change and variety. My Mother was old school and so wasn’t particularly perturbed by my lack of direction. In her mind I would end up as someone’s wife with my primary role being to care for family. I had so many other ideas but couldn’t settle on any one in particular.
Then came the trip that provided the turning point and lead to a totally different direction. I did some travelling finding myself back in the UK, reuniting with the family. My cousin lived in London and enthusiastically took me out and about. I told of my passion for crime novels and reading about true crime and he joked about me joining the Met. I laughed saying I’m not good enough, didn’t excel in school. Long story short, there was a recruiting campaign on, encouraging people from all walks of life to apply. We had a wager, I said not a hope, they won’t take me, he said, you’ll get in no probs. I had secured a holiday job in a department store to fund my travels, so I wasn’t too fussed if I got in or not.
The application was duly completed and sent. I forgot about it and continued sightseeing. Then I got that letter, an invite to Scotland Yard, yikes what had I done. My Aunt accompanied me and off we went, by train, to my appointment. After passing the security checks going in, I was ushered to a quiet room with other applicants while my aunt was taken elsewhere. One by one we were taken into the next room; each person went in but never came out. Where did they go. I found myself getting rather apprehensive.
My turn came and I was taken through the door to a rather scary room, dull and formal looking. Three people sat behind a desk, all in uniform and looking rather stern. I sat before them and answered multiple questions being thrown at me simultaneously. It reminded me a little of some of the courtroom dramas or interrogation rooms I had seen in movies. After the grilling I was taken to yet another room, this time, non-uniform people. I wasn’t sure if they were fellow applicants or not, but we had tea and discussed our lives, experiences etc. Very casual, like strangers who meet in tour groups. Then I was taken to the canteen where a complimentary lunch was provided. We, the applicants, then chatted about our experience.
An hour later we were called, one by one, to the big boss, who told us our fate. I was in!!!!! Yikes, how did I manage that? I paid my wager, dinner out for my cousin. A month later I received a package with my join up documentation. I was to be housed in a section house in London right next door to the training college in Hendon. There my newfound life would begin. I served 3 years in the British Police before returning home with more confidence in myself and more direction in my life. I joined the RAAF Police and Security division where I had a great career.
Heather Hartland
October 2024
Then came the trip that provided the turning point and lead to a totally different direction. I did some travelling finding myself back in the UK, reuniting with the family. My cousin lived in London and enthusiastically took me out and about. I told of my passion for crime novels and reading about true crime and he joked about me joining the Met. I laughed saying I’m not good enough, didn’t excel in school. Long story short, there was a recruiting campaign on, encouraging people from all walks of life to apply. We had a wager, I said not a hope, they won’t take me, he said, you’ll get in no probs. I had secured a holiday job in a department store to fund my travels, so I wasn’t too fussed if I got in or not.
The application was duly completed and sent. I forgot about it and continued sightseeing. Then I got that letter, an invite to Scotland Yard, yikes what had I done. My Aunt accompanied me and off we went, by train, to my appointment. After passing the security checks going in, I was ushered to a quiet room with other applicants while my aunt was taken elsewhere. One by one we were taken into the next room; each person went in but never came out. Where did they go. I found myself getting rather apprehensive.
My turn came and I was taken through the door to a rather scary room, dull and formal looking. Three people sat behind a desk, all in uniform and looking rather stern. I sat before them and answered multiple questions being thrown at me simultaneously. It reminded me a little of some of the courtroom dramas or interrogation rooms I had seen in movies. After the grilling I was taken to yet another room, this time, non-uniform people. I wasn’t sure if they were fellow applicants or not, but we had tea and discussed our lives, experiences etc. Very casual, like strangers who meet in tour groups. Then I was taken to the canteen where a complimentary lunch was provided. We, the applicants, then chatted about our experience.
An hour later we were called, one by one, to the big boss, who told us our fate. I was in!!!!! Yikes, how did I manage that? I paid my wager, dinner out for my cousin. A month later I received a package with my join up documentation. I was to be housed in a section house in London right next door to the training college in Hendon. There my newfound life would begin. I served 3 years in the British Police before returning home with more confidence in myself and more direction in my life. I joined the RAAF Police and Security division where I had a great career.
Heather Hartland
October 2024
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