1313
formed and Fettes lost its headquarters
function. Gradually, many of the support
functions moved out, leaving the building as an
administrative hub.
Time was catching up with the 1970s
building. Leaks in the flat roofs affected the
lightweight concrete used in the construction,
with parts of the building deemed unsafe and
closed and repair costs would have been
prohibitive.
Besides, use of police buildings was changing
so it was only a matter of time before Fettes was
declared obsolete and scheduled for disposal.
In due course the old building will be pulled
down and the site redeveloped - leaving no
trace of its former existence.
Fifty years to the day of the opening of Fettes
Police Headquarters - Saturday 18 May - Police
Scotland and The Retired Police Officers
Association are inviting serving and former
officers back to Fettes for the last time.
Photographs and displays covering the half
century at Fettes are bound to jog old
memories, as will the many old colleagues who
will gather on the day. For more information
[email protected]
EDINBURGH’S FAMOUS PANDAS Yang
Guang and Tian Tian have returned home to
China, but a replica of the city’s original police
“Panda” car will be on display at a special
event commemorating 50 Years of Fettes
Police HQ.
The first Panda car - so called because the
original design was black and white before the
familiar light blue colour was chosen - arrived
in Edinburgh in 1968 and marked a change in
the way the city was policed.
A new Unit Beat Policing System was
introduced and while the city centre kept the
old foot beat system, everywhere outwith
adopted the new system, with Craigmillar,
Mayfield, Drylaw, Corstorphine, Oxgangs and
Portobello now policed by a combination of
Panda response cars and community officers
on foot.
Former chief officer Tom Wood
commissioned a faithful recreation of
Edinburgh’s very first Panda, registration GWS
462D, and the car will take centre stage at an
event where serving and former officers can
bid farewell to the surplus-to-requirements
former police headquarters.
Tom said: “The first Pandas were all Morris
Minors, tough and reliable little cars that even
police drivers couldn’t break! Always
underpowered, the Morris Pandas were not
designed for pursuit, in fact this was
specifically forbidden and the early cars were
deliberately not fitted with blue lights or
sirens.
“Despite this, pursuits were common as car
theft and joyriding was a problem and a
particular favourite of the thieves was the
early Ford Escorts. Though the Escorts had
greater top speed, Morris Pandas when
driven determinedly and fitted with new
radial tyres, could often chase them
down in the narrow winding streets ofTop right: the former
Fettes HQ is now surplus
to requirements
Centre: interior of the
replica Panda car
Bottom: replica of
Edinburgh’s first Panda car
registration GWS 462Dthe housing estates.”
Following the 50 Years at
Fettes event, Tom hopes to loan
the Panda out for local historical
displays or to be used for TV or
film purposes. He added: “This is
the very car that Edinburgh’s
most famous detective, Inspector
John Rebus, would have driven in
his early days, so when Ian Rankin
writes the prequel about his famous
sleuth I might get a call.”The replica bodywork was completely
renovated by master welder Jim Bayne
(father of a serving Police Scotland Officer),
the engine was rebuilt by Ewan Rutherford of
Monktonhall Motors. Thanks to The Museum of
Communication,131 High Street, Burntisland,
for their donation of period radio equipment.All colour photos Alan Simpson