About Me
I went to the RIAT Air Show this year and loved all the Squadron patches.
I decided I’d like to do patches for Police Officers when they pass courses – like the ones my Dad teaches; so they can feel good like I do when I do well.
So, that is how my idea for PATCHBAY was born.
Hi, I’m Ben.
I’ve grown up in a Police family; my mum and dad are Police Officers. I have a younger sister too. Mum & Dad have worked in different departments in the Police including Response, Firearms, ARV, Road Policing, Initial Training, Driver Training, and more. Dad is now a Police Driving Instructor and mum teaches other Police Officers in all sorts of things.
I love playing rugby, I really like school with all my mates, and I love watching The Apprentice on tele with Mum!
I really like getting awards in sports and Cubs & Scouts, like medals and patches; they make me feel good.
I asked Mum & Dad if I could start a business like they do on The Apprentice! And they said I could but I needed to think of something I enjoy.
I like getting awards like my swimming and rugby ones when I’ve done well and I know Dad really enjoys teaching people to drive Police cars.
I asked if the Police Officers he teaches get anything when they do courses, and they get a certificate but no trophies or medals. I think it would be really cool if they could have something when they pass their courses.
I have spoken to my Dad and he gave me advice for designing a morale patch for the different driving courses including: Response; Advanced; TPAC (Tactical Pursuit and Containment); Stinger; Police Driving Instructor and a Driver Training Unit patch.
Mum & Dad helped with my research and I have used the old driver training wings & wheels logo idea but I wanted to modernise it. I completely redesigned it to what I think is a sleek and innovative design, but really professional looking and something I’d be proud of if I had one; and I think Police Officers will love it too.
For the text I used the same font style the Police have on their cars. This is used through all the patches and is a nod to Driver Training and all of the amazing Police drivers who work really hard on their courses.
ARTES AD VITUM
I also really love the Air Force and military patches with their mottos. I wanted to use one on my patches so asked if there was anything that encapsulates what the Driver Training Unit does. He told me that many of the skills he teaches can be used in everyday driving, even in peoples’ own cars when they’re out with friends and families to keep them safe. So, they really are skills for life.
I have designed and translated a motto that will run through all my Driver Training patches and this is ‘ARTES AD VITUM’. Latin for SKILLS FOR LIFE. I think it adds a real sense of belonging and unity to all the patches.
DONATION PROMISE
I hope you all love them and I promise to donate 50p from every patch sold to the Police Benevolent Fund (from whichever Force you work for) AND I will donate 50p from every sale to my local Air Ambulance as I love to see them flying off to save people.
Thanks for reading about me and why I created PATCHBAY by Ben.