Dear LPG

I recently went to my front gate to say a proper goodbye to a visitor. As my gaze followed her walk up the road, I saw something that is bound to happen if you live around the corner from what is still officially the biggest Purpose-built police station in Europe. 

I went straight back inside for my smartphone so that I could take this picture.  I still drive and often have to wait while these beautiful animals take a leisurely stroll through the streets of Lewisham. When I am in a bit of a hurry (well, as much in a hurry as you can be when you can only drive at 20 mph), it can be annoying having to slow down even more. However, most of the time, despite the extra harm that moving so slowly must do to the clutch of our cars, following a couple of horses down the road brings back many calming memories.  

These days, when in a moving car, I am usually sitting beside one of my children as they do the driving. On those occasions when the view through the windscreen features a couple of horse’s tales flapping to and fro as they follow the leisurely walk of their owners, I am reminded of a time long ago.  

I am just old enough to remember the days when horseless carriages were a lot less popular on our streets and horses still pulled rag and bone carts and a few other vehicles besides.   I have lived in London all my life, and a trip to the country would be a magical technique for slowing down how our fast-paced, city-minded people are forced to work.  I defy any city-based adult, accompanied by a child, to tell me that they have never looked through the window of a vehicle travelling past country fields without pointing out cows, sheep or horses grazing to the little one.  

I am just about old enough to remember the days when clicking hooves would attract neighbours, armed with buckets and spades, to emerge from their homes to retrieve any residual horse manure for their gardens.    

But seeing horses walking up your road is much more of a rarity now, even if you live near Lewisham Police Station.  The sounds of the many passing internal combustion engines and the radios and televisions in our houses make hearing a passing horse impossible, while true gardeners most probably order their manure deliveries online.   

This is why I was able to take the picture that I have shared.  But it occurred to me that my picture shows a perfect example of our police not practising what they preach.  

According to the internet, Lewisham police station has facilities to house 36 horses and, just like every other animal on our planet, including ourselves, they have to eat, sleep, exercise and poop.   A dog owner would be handed a fixed penalty charge if caught leaving their animal’s poop behind, but the police leave what their horses produce all over the place.   Although, I suppose it gets cleaned up quickly enough.  If you ever drive over, check your tyres when you get home… 

AK, Lewisham.  

LPG found a few other related opinions…

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…and LPG adds some information on today’s celebration…

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