Big Jim's Beat

By Mark Long

Caught in the battle between the IRA, the British Government and the Loyalists, a young recruit to the RUC police force performs his duties and leads his precarious, adventurous life. Surviving on comradeship, wits, love and courage.

A fascinating tale of a troubadour in Ulster’s notorious police force honestly related by a thoughtful officer who never lost his enjoyment of the good life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Long
• Release date: Aug 26, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476457857

Book preview

Big Jim’s Beat

By Mark Long

[A maverick Constable tries to weave his way through the Troubles in Northern Ireland]

Caught in the battle between the IRA, the British Government and the Loyalists, a young recruit to the RUC police force performs his duties and leads his precarious, adventurous life. Surviving on comradeship, wits, love and courage.

A fascinating tale of a troubadour in Ulster’s notorious police force honestly related by a thoughtful officer who never lost his enjoyment of the good life.

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Copyright © 2012 by Mark Long

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Chapter 1

It was always my ambition from my early schooldays to join the Police. I liked the uniform, the excitement and the power that these huge men in black engendered when they walked the streets of my native city Derry or Londonderry; with their bulging revolvers at their sides. In the 1950s Northern Ireland was a relatively peaceful place with only sporadic bouts of sectarian violence disturbing the humdrum lives of the people, usually around the 12th of July when Protestants marched to celebrate the victory of a Dutch prince over an English King near a river in the south of Ireland.

I wasn’t aware until my early teens that many of my childhood playmates were Catholics or Taigs which was the more familiar Protestant term for them. When I joined Derry City football team religion didn’t seem to matter. Only when we played the fanatically Protestant Belfast team Linfield did I realize the fervour that religious and political differences could raise.

At school I didn’t have much interest in the academic side of life, favouring football and music. It was no surprise to my parents when I undertook a Printer’s apprenticeship, although my main interest was in football and after playing in a minor league I was offered amateur status by Derry City who were then playing in the northern Irish League.

The Derry team were a happy religiously mixed team successfully competing against the Belfast giants Linfield and Glentoran. Politics were rarely mentioned but in the mid 1960s the atmosphere began to change. Inspired by the American Civil Rights’ movement, groups in Northern Ireland began some marches demanding equal voting rights and housing rights for Catholics. These were demands with which I fully sympathised and I took part in the first Derry Civil Rights’ march with friends such as Irish rugby legend Ken Goodall, Claude Wilton and Paddy McGonigle along with a few hundred other protestors. Little did I know I would be facing these people in a different guise a few years hence.

However, the rewards of being a reserve player and prospects in the printing trade did not offer much hope for a restless young man who just discovered the pleasure of female company and the need to impress, with suitable financial probity. I had begun to grow a black moustache and found after a few pints of the black national beverage, my natural dancing rhythms and singing voice attracted them rather favourably. Therefore I decided to seek entry into the Royal Ulster Constabulary, which offered a reasonably profitable career and most of all the black uniform and the powerful image, which was the attraction for many young ladies. I was accepted; being fit, six foot and a Protestant there were few obstacles to overcome. I set off for the RUC Training school in Enniskillen, with some doubts, a heavy heart at leaving my beloved Londonderry but eager to don the black garb, black boots and gun and holster of this semi Para Military force. Enniskillen is the small market town of the County of Fermanagh. I later discovered