PCSO's requests

I was cycling down a clear Queens Road, riding two abreast in the cycle lane chatting with my mate when an angry PCSO pulls up alongside us and shouts 'SINGLE FILE NOW'.

I could've sworn you're completely within your rights to cycle two abreast as long as your not holding up traffic. I also could've sworn that as a wee 11yo we were told this was ok whilst doing cycling proficiency too.

I ignored him as I was adamant that this was perfectly fine but in retrospect I feel like I could've been a knob. Was he right?

No. He was wrong, and also acting unlawfully, as PCSOs have no general powers to direct traffic (IIRC).

[Edit] It looks as though Met police PCSOs do have powers to direct traffic (and pedestrians).

So he was still wrong?

One of my favourite experiences in a long time was being at an anti-fascist demo a while ago and joining in with ~200 other people pointing and chanting 'You're just a grass in a fancy hat! You're just a grass in a fancy hat!' at a PSCO who was trying to pretend-arrest someone for no reason.

He slunk off to whatever desperate little hole he emerged from.