THE talk about future plans for the fire station in Clifford Street (The Press, January 25) brings back memories of my early career in York City Police in the 1950s as one of six cadets serving at the time before moving to the Metropolitan Police in London.

The police station had a public entrance situated in Cumberland Street and the fire station entrance was in Peckitt Street. Both services were enshrined by the Law Court building in Clifford Street.

We shared the same courtyard and canteen facilities and the rock cakes served by the on-duty fireman defied description.

The camaraderie extended to producing a seasonal pantomime for the widows and orphans fund, with Widow Twankey performed by a sergeant in charge of traffic control.

Annual dinner dances were held at venues such as the Assembly Rooms, the De Grey Rooms and the Merchant Taylors, with nurses involved from the York City General and County Hospitals.

Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington, York