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Strathclyde Police Museum Thursday 6th
October
I was very relieved when 15 Glenmorons arrived promptly at the
correct location – the corner of Pitt Street and West Regent Street, for
the planned visit to Strathclyde Police Museum. In my very first duty as
Co-ordinator of the month I’d managed to mix up the dates for the 2
indoor meets in the newsletter. This wouldn’t have been much of a
problem if both meets had been in the usual hall but despite my best
efforts to let people know (thank god for email) there was always the
danger of members going to Wellington Church Hall.
May Mitchell who arranges visits and looks after the museum escorted
us in via an underground car park and, as the electrically controlled
shutters closed behind us, there was a slight feeling of being under
surveillance and a need to be ‘on your best behaviour’ as we passed
through a number of corridors and doors to get to the Museum.
May gave us an introduction to the museum, it’s history and
development and the range of exhibits. We then had plenty of time to
wander through, reading the explanatory notes for each exhibit.
The museum provides a social history of crime and punishment.
Exhibits include: - the barrow used to convey drunks to the police
office, the birch and board for the punishment of youths, a fascinating
but frightening array of weapons used by Glasgow street gangs through
the ages, murder weapons, examples of evidence used in criminal cases
(including human body parts), police uniforms and equipment from the
last 200 years and many more.
The museum is well worth a visit - individuals can visit during
daytime normal office hours by appointment or in the evening for groups
only.
Mary Cox
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