Harp Scratchings 6 - The Speed Trap

The meadow gate, directly across from the Harp's car park

The empty cups and crumb riddled plates rattled on the tea tray as Mum hurried breathlessly into the top bar from the car park. “They’ve got another one!” she exclaimed. Dad nodded, a man of few words at the best of times.

Because we lived on a relatively straight segment of the main road between Hay and Three Cocks there was a tendency for drivers to become a little lead footed as they drove through Glasbury.

While traffic was relatively quiet most of the time, this activity did draw the attention of the local constabulary who would occasionally knock on the door of the Harp with a request to set up “the trap” in our car park. It seemed the car park was an ideal location to hide their equipment and squad car from unsuspecting drivers who exceeded 35 miles an hour past the pub.

My mother’s hospitality gene usually kicked into gear within the hour, and taking pity on the officers “being outside in the cold for all that time”, she would muster up tea and welsh cakes although not in the best china of course.

There was a hierarchy for china. Mugs for every day, cups and saucers acquired from Typhoo Tea coupons and the tea set in the glass cupboard that was only aired for weddings, christenings and funerals, usually funerals. The police received Typhoo Tea treatment.

On this particular day Mum was quite excited because the driver who was now in the process of receiving a ticket, and a telling off for his transgressions, was a radio personality whose name escapes me, but not my mother. "Where does fame get them" she remarked philosophically.

That night in the bar the day’s speed trap activities were reported by Dad to his patrons and received in typical Welsh fashion. “Bloody drivers, serve them right – when you’re ready Bill can you pull another pint please”.