YOUR correspondent M Burcher (You Say, Thursday, August 8) wonders whether I recollect the nicknames of some of Worcester's characters from my days serving in the local police soon after the war.

The police knew all the nicknames and in fact we had some for ourselves. I learnt mine was "Smiler" and, of course, I have secrets that remain locked in my memory.

I do have vivid memories of people like Naughty Nora, a well known character, whose escapades were spoken of when I was a "rookie" but Nora was always a perfect lady to me. Perhaps she realised I was only a youngster!

The "Lady in White" was another famous character who would slowly walk past me on The Cross in her long white dress and always a large hat on with a stuffed white dove perched on to.

She always carried a parasol to help her along and her face powdered to the whiteness of virgin snow.

"Butt End Annie" would often scuttle past her eyes darting along the pavement looking for discarded treasures!

An old chap who lived in the Model Dwellings I called the "Octopus" would try to corner me and grab a piece of my uniform and hoarsely whisper in my ear "if you can't be good be careful" and as I tried to prise myself free one of his other seven hands would grab another bit of my "blues."

So many memories flood my brain, so precious as I get older, and should you like to her more stories of my more humorous escapades, I do give talks in aid of St Richard's Hospice.

So if your groups interested you can become a detective and find out where to contact me!

JOE WALTER,

St John's, Worcester.